Assenagon Asset Management S.A. Purchases 7,860 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. $UHS

Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lifted its position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 9.8% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 88,340 shares of the health services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 7,860 shares during the quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. owned 0.14% of Universal Health Services worth $15,810,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Elyxium Wealth LLC bought a new stake in Universal Health Services in the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter worth $26,000. Founders Capital Management purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter valued at $28,000. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the second quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, Larson Financial Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 302.9% in the fourth quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 141 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 106 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 0.8%

Shares of Universal Health Services stock opened at $145.58 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 1.01. The stock has a market cap of $8.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.07, a PEG ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 1.07. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $158.55 and its two-hundred day moving average is $189.85. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1 year low of $140.08 and a 1 year high of $246.32.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 28th. The health services provider reported $5.62 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $5.41 by $0.21. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 8.56% and a return on equity of 19.57%. The business had revenue of $4.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.39 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $4.84 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 9.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts expect that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 23.47 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 18th. Investors of record on Monday, June 8th were paid a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 8th. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.5%. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is 3.33%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms recently commented on UHS. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Monday, June 1st. They issued an “equal weight” rating and a $165.00 price target on the stock. TD Cowen lowered their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $197.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, June 22nd. Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $216.00 to $190.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 29th. Raymond James Financial lowered shares of Universal Health Services from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 29th. Finally, Mizuho decreased their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $267.00 to $230.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 29th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Universal Health Services has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $216.56.

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.