2,361 Shares in Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX) Bought by Stevens Capital Management LP

Stevens Capital Management LP purchased a new position in shares of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 2,361 shares of the medical research company's stock, valued at approximately $356,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in DGX. Net Worth Advisory Group raised its position in Quest Diagnostics by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. Net Worth Advisory Group now owns 6,495 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $980,000 after purchasing an additional 62 shares during the last quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group raised its holdings in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 5.5% in the fourth quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 1,315 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $198,000 after buying an additional 68 shares during the last quarter. Avestar Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 1.1% during the third quarter. Avestar Capital LLC now owns 6,288 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $976,000 after buying an additional 71 shares during the period. Mather Group LLC. grew its holdings in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 10.4% during the fourth quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 764 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $115,000 after buying an additional 72 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Private Trust Co. NA increased its position in Quest Diagnostics by 7.7% in the 4th quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 1,053 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $159,000 after acquiring an additional 75 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 88.06% of the company's stock.

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Insider Activity at Quest Diagnostics

In other Quest Diagnostics news, Director Vicky B. Gregg sold 1,250 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $164.57, for a total transaction of $205,712.50. Following the transaction, the director now owns 16,867 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,775,802.19. This represents a 6.90 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Catherine T. Doherty sold 535 shares of Quest Diagnostics stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $169.71, for a total value of $90,794.85. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 71,356 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $12,109,826.76. This represents a 0.74 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 14,157 shares of company stock valued at $2,423,755. Company insiders own 0.79% of the company's stock.

Quest Diagnostics Price Performance

NYSE:DGX traded down $0.54 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $166.08. 170,324 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 874,685. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 1.02. The firm's 50-day moving average is $166.03 and its 200-day moving average is $158.87. The stock has a market cap of $18.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.61, a P/E/G ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 0.92. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated has a 1-year low of $125.42 and a 1-year high of $178.87.

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The medical research company reported $2.23 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.19 by $0.04. Quest Diagnostics had a return on equity of 15.07% and a net margin of 8.80%. Equities research analysts expect that Quest Diagnostics Incorporated will post 9.7 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Quest Diagnostics Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 21st. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 7th will be given a $0.80 dividend. This represents a $3.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.93%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 7th. This is a positive change from Quest Diagnostics's previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. Quest Diagnostics's payout ratio is currently 41.61%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on DGX. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on Quest Diagnostics from $190.00 to $191.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, March 20th. Bank of America upped their price objective on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $179.00 to $182.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, December 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $173.00 to $180.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Piper Sandler reissued a "neutral" rating and set a $180.00 price target (up from $165.00) on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Leerink Partnrs upgraded Quest Diagnostics from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $178.38.

About Quest Diagnostics

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated provides diagnostic testing and services in the United States and internationally. The company develops and delivers diagnostic information services, such as routine, non-routine and advanced clinical testing, anatomic pathology testing, and other diagnostic information services.