Dimensional Fund Advisors LP Increases Stock Position in Universal Health Services, Inc. $UHS

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its position in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 13.8% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,494,464 shares of the health services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 181,801 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP owned approximately 2.35% of Universal Health Services worth $305,510,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in UHS. Pzena Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in Universal Health Services by 310.2% during the 3rd quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC now owns 1,607,029 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $328,541,000 after buying an additional 1,215,286 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $83,333,000. Nomura Holdings Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 100.6% in the second quarter. Nomura Holdings Inc. now owns 2,560 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $464,000 after purchasing an additional 426,211 shares in the last quarter. Varenne Capital Partners bought a new stake in Universal Health Services in the third quarter worth $37,670,000. Finally, Invesco Ltd. increased its position in Universal Health Services by 11.1% in the second quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,461,198 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $264,696,000 after purchasing an additional 145,730 shares during the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 2.6%

Shares of NYSE UHS opened at $196.99 on Friday. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1 year low of $152.33 and a 1 year high of $246.32. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $213.93 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $211.36. The company has a market cap of $12.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.51, a PEG ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 1.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 1.05 and a quick ratio of 0.98.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 25th. The health services provider reported $5.88 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $5.92 by ($0.04). Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 19.65% and a net margin of 8.57%.The business had revenue of $4.49 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.50 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $4.92 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 9.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Universal Health Services has set its FY 2026 guidance at 22.640-24.520 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 2nd will be paid a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 2nd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.4%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 3.46%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have commented on UHS. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $262.00 to $268.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 26th. Cantor Fitzgerald lowered their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $250.00 to $229.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 27th. Guggenheim boosted their price objective on Universal Health Services from $253.00 to $274.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 2nd. Wall Street Zen downgraded Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, February 28th. Finally, Zacks Research cut Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $232.21.

About Universal Health Services

Universal Health Services, Inc (NYSE: UHS) is one of the largest diversified health care management companies in the United States, offering a broad spectrum of services through its acute care hospital and behavioral health segments. The company operates general acute care hospitals, surgical hospitals and ambulatory centers, as well as inpatient and outpatient behavioral health facilities. Its network provides emergency and specialized medicine, diagnostic imaging, laboratory services, advanced surgical care and rehabilitation, complemented by a comprehensive array of behavioral services including psychiatric treatment, addiction programs and developmental disabilities care.

In the acute care segment, UHS’s facilities deliver services ranging from emergency department treatment and intensive care to maternity care and outpatient surgery.