Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX) SVP Sells $91,138.08 in Stock

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX - Get Free Report) SVP Michael E. Prevoznik sold 528 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $172.61, for a total value of $91,138.08. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 39,031 shares of the company's stock, valued at $6,737,140.91. This trade represents a 1.33 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink.

Quest Diagnostics Trading Down 0.5 %

NYSE:DGX traded down $0.86 on Tuesday, hitting $176.10. The stock had a trading volume of 719,417 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,052,462. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $160.11 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $157.02. The stock has a market cap of $19.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.91, a PEG ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 0.91. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated has a 1-year low of $124.25 and a 1-year high of $178.09. The company has a quick ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82.

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 for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.19 by $0.04. Quest Diagnostics had a net margin of 8.80% and a return on equity of 15.07%. Equities research analysts expect that Quest Diagnostics Incorporated will post 9.7 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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Quest Diagnostics Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 21st. Investors of record on Monday, April 7th will be paid a dividend of $0.80 per share. This is an increase from Quest Diagnostics's previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. This represents a $3.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.82%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 7th. Quest Diagnostics's dividend payout ratio is presently 41.61%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Quest Diagnostics

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. boosted its position in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 1.6% in the 4th quarter. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. now owns 3,843 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $580,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares during the period. Net Worth Advisory Group grew its holdings in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 1.0% during the fourth quarter. Net Worth Advisory Group now owns 6,495 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $980,000 after buying an additional 62 shares during the last quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. increased its position in Quest Diagnostics by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 20,811 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $3,140,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares during the period. Brooklyn Investment Group raised its stake in Quest Diagnostics by 5.5% during the 4th quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 1,315 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $198,000 after acquiring an additional 68 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Avestar Capital LLC lifted its position in Quest Diagnostics by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter. Avestar Capital LLC now owns 6,288 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $976,000 after acquiring an additional 71 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 88.06% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on DGX shares. Citigroup cut Quest Diagnostics from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $185.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Tuesday. Bank of America lifted their price objective on Quest Diagnostics from $179.00 to $182.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, December 13th. Robert W. Baird set a $189.00 target price on Quest Diagnostics in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Leerink Partnrs upgraded shares of Quest Diagnostics from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Piper Sandler reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and set a $180.00 price target (up previously from $165.00) on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $178.23.

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.