Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX) Holdings Raised by Commonwealth Equity Services LLC

Commonwealth Equity Services LLC increased its holdings in Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX - Free Report) by 17.9% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 28,368 shares of the medical research company's stock after acquiring an additional 4,298 shares during the quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC's holdings in Quest Diagnostics were worth $4,280,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Sierra Ocean LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Versant Capital Management Inc lifted its stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 340.4% in the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 251 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 194 shares during the period. First Financial Corp IN purchased a new position in Quest Diagnostics during the fourth quarter worth $38,000. FPC Investment Advisory Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics in the fourth quarter valued at $45,000. Finally, Global Trust Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics during the fourth quarter valued at $49,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 88.06% of the company's stock.

Quest Diagnostics Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE DGX traded down $0.49 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $166.13. The company had a trading volume of 871,932 shares, compared to its average volume of 877,390. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated has a 12 month low of $125.42 and a 12 month high of $178.87. The stock has a market cap of $18.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.60, a PEG ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 0.92. 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 simple moving average is $166.03 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $158.87.

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Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The medical research company reported $2.23 earnings per share (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%. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Quest Diagnostics Incorporated will post 9.7 earnings per share for the current year.

Quest Diagnostics Increases Dividend

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

Insider Activity

In other Quest Diagnostics news, EVP Catherine T. Doherty sold 5,370 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $174.13, for a total transaction of $935,078.10. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 68,068 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $11,852,680.84. This trade represents a 7.31 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Vicky B. Gregg sold 1,250 shares of Quest Diagnostics stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $164.57, for a total value of $205,712.50. Following the transaction, the director now owns 16,867 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,775,802.19. This trade represents a 6.90 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. 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. Insiders own 0.79% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have issued reports on DGX shares. StockNews.com lowered shares of Quest Diagnostics from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, February 6th. UBS Group increased their price target on Quest Diagnostics from $166.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on Quest Diagnostics from $190.00 to $191.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, March 20th. Piper Sandler restated a "neutral" rating and set a $180.00 price objective (up from $165.00) on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $168.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently 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.