Humana (NYSE:HUM) Raised to "Buy" at StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of Humana (NYSE:HUM - Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note published on Monday morning.

Several other equities research analysts have also recently commented on the company. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on Humana from $301.00 to $285.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Piper Sandler raised their price target on shares of Humana from $270.00 to $288.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 15th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on Humana from $257.00 to $256.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 18th. Truist Financial upped their price target on shares of Humana from $260.00 to $290.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated an "outperform" rating and issued a $283.00 price objective on shares of Humana in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Seventeen analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $288.60.

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Humana Stock Performance

Shares of HUM stock traded up $4.72 on Monday, hitting $294.97. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,674,634 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,751,127. The company has a market capitalization of $35.60 billion, a PE ratio of 29.65, a PEG ratio of 2.05 and a beta of 0.62. Humana has a fifty-two week low of $213.31 and a fifty-two week high of $406.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a quick ratio of 1.76 and a current ratio of 1.76. The stock's 50 day moving average is $265.55 and its 200-day moving average is $270.65.

Humana (NYSE:HUM - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The insurance provider reported ($2.16) EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($2.26) by $0.10. Humana had a net margin of 1.02% and a return on equity of 11.70%. Equities research analysts expect that Humana will post 16.47 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Humana Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 25th. Investors of record on Friday, March 28th will be paid a $0.885 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 28th. This represents a $3.54 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.20%. Humana's payout ratio is 35.58%.

Institutional Trading of Humana

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. FPC Investment Advisory Inc. purchased a new position in Humana in the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. Centricity Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Humana during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $30,000. LFA Lugano Financial Advisors SA grew its position in Humana by 56.3% in the 4th quarter. LFA Lugano Financial Advisors SA now owns 125 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the period. OFI Invest Asset Management purchased a new stake in Humana during the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. Finally, Riverview Trust Co bought a new position in shares of Humana during the 1st quarter valued at $34,000. Institutional investors own 92.38% of the company's stock.

About Humana

Humana Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides medical and specialty insurance products in the United States. It operates through two segments, Insurance and CenterWell. The company offers medical and supplemental benefit plans to individuals. It has a contract with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to administer the Limited Income Newly Eligible Transition prescription drug plan program; and contracts with various states to provide Medicaid, dual eligible, and long-term support services benefits.