GHP Investment Advisors Inc. Boosts Stake in Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX)

GHP Investment Advisors Inc. raised its stake in Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX - Free Report) by 5.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 38,172 shares of the medical research company's stock after buying an additional 2,015 shares during the period. GHP Investment Advisors Inc.'s holdings in Quest Diagnostics were worth $5,759,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of DGX. Versant Capital Management Inc lifted its position in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 340.4% in the 4th quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 251 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 194 shares during the period. First Financial Corp IN purchased a new stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics in the 4th quarter worth approximately $38,000. Global Trust Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics in the 4th quarter worth approximately $49,000. Sentry Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $82,000. Finally, Board of the Pension Protection Fund purchased a new stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics in the 4th quarter worth approximately $91,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 88.06% of the company's stock.

Quest Diagnostics Stock Performance

Quest Diagnostics stock traded up $3.98 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $166.62. 589,177 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 973,181. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 1.02. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $123.30 and a fifty-two week high of $167.08. The company has a market capitalization of $18.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.04 and a beta of 0.91. The firm's fifty day moving average is $155.44 and its two-hundred day moving average is $154.34.

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The medical research company reported $2.23 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.19 by $0.04. Quest Diagnostics had a net margin of 8.80% and a return on equity of 15.07%. On average, 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 declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 21st. Investors of record on Monday, April 7th will be issued a dividend of $0.80 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, April 7th. This is an increase from Quest Diagnostics's previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. This represents a $3.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.92%. Quest Diagnostics's dividend payout ratio is 39.01%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

DGX has been the subject of several research reports. Bank of America upped their price target 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. Leerink Partners raised shares of Quest Diagnostics from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and increased their target price for the company from $169.00 to $174.00 in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Morgan Stanley raised shares of Quest Diagnostics from an "equal weight" rating to an "overweight" rating and increased their target price for the company from $145.00 to $172.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 17th. Robert W. Baird raised shares of Quest Diagnostics from a "neutral" rating to an "outperform" rating and increased their target price for the company from $157.00 to $182.00 in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Finally, Baird R W raised shares of Quest Diagnostics from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $177.69.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Vicky B. Gregg sold 1,250 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $164.57, for a total transaction of $205,712.50. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 16,867 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,775,802.19. This represents a 6.90 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, SVP Mark E. Delaney sold 403 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $164.30, for a total transaction of $66,212.90. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 4,624 shares in the company, valued at approximately $759,723.20. The trade was a 8.02 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.79% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Quest Diagnostics Company Profile

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.