Bayesian Capital Management LP Makes New Investment in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Bayesian Capital Management LP bought a new stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm bought 1,360 shares of the health services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $248,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of UHS. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the first quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 1st quarter worth $36,000. Mather Group LLC. purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the first quarter worth $36,000. Denali Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the first quarter valued at about $37,000. Finally, LRI Investments LLC purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the first quarter worth about $43,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Eileen C. Mcdonnell sold 2,535 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $209.55, for a total transaction of $531,209.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 6,413 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,343,844.15. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other Universal Health Services news, EVP Matthew Jay Peterson sold 15,141 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $210.85, for a total value of $3,192,479.85. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 5,253 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,107,595.05. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Eileen C. Mcdonnell sold 2,535 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $209.55, for a total transaction of $531,209.25. Following the sale, the director now owns 6,413 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,343,844.15. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Stephens reaffirmed an “equal weight” rating and set a $200.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Thursday, July 25th. Barclays raised Universal Health Services from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and increased their price target for the company from $198.00 to $256.00 in a report on Friday, July 26th. Robert W. Baird raised Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $198.00 to $236.00 in a research note on Wednesday, June 26th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on Universal Health Services from $183.00 to $189.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 7th. Finally, Baird R W raised shares of Universal Health Services from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 26th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $216.31.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 0.6 %

Universal Health Services stock opened at $213.76 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a current ratio of 1.28. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $187.71 and a 200 day moving average price of $175.18. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $119.90 and a fifty-two week high of $219.61. The company has a market capitalization of $14.31 billion, a PE ratio of 18.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.28.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 24th. The health services provider reported $4.31 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.37 by $0.94. The business had revenue of $3.91 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.87 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.22% and a return on equity of 14.91%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.53 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.96 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services announced that its board has initiated a share repurchase plan on Wednesday, July 24th that authorizes the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the health services provider to reacquire up to 8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are often an indication that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 17th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 3rd will be given a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.37%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 3rd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is presently 6.78%.

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.