Ruffer LLP Purchases Shares of 88,680 Universal Health Services, Inc. $UHS

Ruffer LLP acquired a new stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 88,680 shares of the health services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $18,130,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Invesco Ltd. lifted its stake 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 acquiring an additional 145,730 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 3.5% during the 2nd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 926,669 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $167,866,000 after purchasing an additional 31,201 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 0.8% during the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 639,524 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $115,850,000 after purchasing an additional 4,932 shares during the last quarter. VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the second quarter worth $87,373,000. Finally, Norges Bank purchased a new position in Universal Health Services in the second quarter valued at $83,333,000. 86.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,817 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $223.30, for a total transaction of $852,336.10. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 8,481 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,893,807.30. This trade represents a 31.04% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 16.40% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of UHS opened at $202.56 on Thursday. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $220.68 and its 200-day simple moving average is $202.73. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 12-month low of $152.33 and a 12-month high of $246.32. The firm has a market cap of $12.66 billion, a PE ratio of 9.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.63 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a current ratio of 1.03, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55.

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

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Investors of record on Monday, December 1st were given a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 1st. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is 3.80%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have issued reports on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $219.00 price target for the company. Guggenheim boosted their target price 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. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated a “sector perform” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, October 11th. Finally, TD Cowen dropped their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $251.00 to $245.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have given a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $234.13.

Universal Health Services Company Profile

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.