Los Angeles Capital Management LLC Grows Stock Holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Los Angeles Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 102.0% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 210,926 shares of the health services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 106,517 shares during the period. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC owned approximately 0.32% of Universal Health Services worth $48,304,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services during the third quarter valued at about $225,000. Baker Avenue Asset Management LP raised its position in Universal Health Services by 15.5% during the third quarter. Baker Avenue Asset Management LP now owns 12,495 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $2,861,000 after purchasing an additional 1,676 shares in the last quarter. Sigma Planning Corp bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the third quarter valued at about $256,000. Assetmark Inc. grew its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 8.8% during the third quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 18,859 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $4,319,000 after buying an additional 1,529 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the third quarter valued at about $66,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on UHS. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday. StockNews.com cut Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday. UBS Group raised their price objective on Universal Health Services from $247.00 to $267.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 14th. Bank of America assumed coverage on Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $223.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald restated a “neutral” rating and set a $219.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Friday, October 25th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $231.14.

Insider Transactions at Universal Health Services

In other news, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,444 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $217.64, for a total value of $749,552.16. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 3,971 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $864,248.44. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 0.4 %

Shares of UHS stock traded down $0.91 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $207.50. 572,838 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 892,318. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1 year low of $127.43 and a 1 year high of $243.25. The company’s 50 day moving average is $224.42 and its two-hundred day moving average is $204.08. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The firm has a market cap of $13.84 billion, a PE ratio of 13.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.66 and a beta of 1.29.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.75 by ($0.04). Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. The firm had revenue of $3.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.90 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.55 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts predict that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.93 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services declared that its board has initiated a stock repurchase plan on Wednesday, July 24th that allows the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the health services provider to repurchase up to 8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are generally a sign that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.

About Universal Health Services

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.