Malaga Cove Capital LLC Cuts Holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Malaga Cove Capital LLC decreased its stake in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 17.1% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 7,437 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 1,529 shares during the quarter. Malaga Cove Capital LLC’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $1,134,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of UHS. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increased its holdings in Universal Health Services by 48.0% during the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 1,967,220 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $247,339,000 after purchasing an additional 638,166 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 12.9% in the 3rd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,707,708 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $214,710,000 after acquiring an additional 195,650 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 4.1% in the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 3,398,974 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $427,353,000 after acquiring an additional 134,122 shares during the last quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the 3rd quarter valued at about $7,634,000. Finally, Assenagon Asset Management S.A. purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the 3rd quarter valued at about $5,736,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CFO Steve Filton sold 35,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, March 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $176.82, for a total transaction of $6,188,700.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 68,785 shares in the company, valued at $12,162,563.70. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 16.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

NYSE UHS traded down $2.19 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $167.70. The stock had a trading volume of 597,904 shares, compared to its average volume of 757,962. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52-week low of $119.90 and a 52-week high of $183.61. The company has a market cap of $11.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.21, a P/E/G ratio of 0.84 and a beta of 1.26. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $171.24 and a 200 day simple moving average of $155.03. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 24th. The health services provider reported $3.70 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.14 by $0.56. The company had revenue of $3.84 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.78 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 13.34% and a net margin of 5.57%. Universal Health Services’s revenue was up 10.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.34 earnings per share. Equities analysts forecast that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 13.51 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UHS has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Barclays upped their target price on Universal Health Services from $181.00 to $189.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, April 26th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price objective on Universal Health Services from $208.00 to $203.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, April 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Universal Health Services from $144.00 to $182.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 13th. Stephens reaffirmed an “equal weight” rating and set a $185.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Thursday, April 25th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an “underweight” rating and set a $156.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, April 10th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $182.79.

Universal Health Services Company Profile

Universal Health Services, Inc, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates acute care hospitals, and outpatient and behavioral health care facilities. It operates through Acute Care Hospital Services and Behavioral Health Care Services segments. The company's hospitals offer general and specialty surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics, emergency room care, radiology, oncology, diagnostic and coronary care, pediatric services, pharmacy services, and/or behavioral health services.