Jefferies Financial Group Inc. Cuts Holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. $UHS

Jefferies Financial Group Inc. reduced its holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 15.0% in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 22,552 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 3,972 shares during the quarter. Jefferies Financial Group Inc.’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $4,085,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT purchased a new position in Universal Health Services in the first quarter worth $30,000. First Horizon Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 347.6% in the 2nd quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 188 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 146 shares in the last quarter. Huntington National Bank lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 240.0% in the second quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 204 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 144 shares during the period. Federated Hermes Inc. boosted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 89.7% during the first quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 258 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $48,000 after buying an additional 122 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Farther Finance Advisors LLC grew its position in Universal Health Services by 22.9% during the second quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 354 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $64,000 after buying an additional 66 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on UHS. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated a “sector perform” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Thursday, October 30th. Zacks Research raised Universal Health Services from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, October 27th. Raymond James Financial set a $270.00 target price on Universal Health Services and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. Mizuho set a $242.00 target price on Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, October 28th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b-)” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday, November 19th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have issued a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $233.87.

Insider Activity at Universal Health Services

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,817 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $223.30, for a total value of $852,336.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 8,481 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,893,807.30. The trade was a 31.04% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Elliot J. Md Mba Sussman sold 965 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, October 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $225.70, for a total value of $217,800.50. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 6,113 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,379,704.10. This represents a 13.63% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Corporate insiders own 16.40% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 2.1%

Shares of NYSE:UHS opened at $236.76 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.19, a current ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55. The company has a market capitalization of $14.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.25, a P/E/G ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 1.33. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52-week low of $152.33 and a 52-week high of $239.88. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $211.31 and its 200-day simple moving average is $190.92.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 28th. The health services provider reported $5.69 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.66 by $1.03. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 19.47% and a net margin of 8.09%.The firm had revenue of $4.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.32 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $3.71 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 13.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 1st will be given a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 1st. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is currently 3.80%.

Universal Health Services 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.