Piper Sandler Forecasts Strong Price Appreciation for Humana (NYSE:HUM) Stock

Humana (NYSE:HUM - Free Report) had its price target increased by Piper Sandler from $270.00 to $288.00 in a report issued on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a neutral rating on the insurance provider's stock.

Several other research analysts also recently issued reports on the stock. UBS Group dropped their target price on shares of Humana from $380.00 to $250.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 4th. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded Humana from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and cut their target price for the company from $519.00 to $253.00 in a research note on Monday, October 7th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $395.00 target price on shares of Humana in a report on Tuesday, October 1st. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Humana from $288.00 to $301.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price objective on Humana from $349.00 to $250.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 3rd. Twenty equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $302.70.

Humana Stock Down 0.9 %

NYSE:HUM traded down $2.43 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $280.20. 1,204,346 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,311,672. The company has a market cap of $33.74 billion, a PE ratio of 24.82, a P/E/G ratio of 2.12 and a beta of 0.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 1.76 and a quick ratio of 1.76. Humana has a one year low of $213.31 and a one year high of $455.53. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $274.33 and a 200 day moving average price of $309.10.

Humana (NYSE:HUM - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The insurance provider reported $4.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.48 by $0.68. The firm had revenue of $29.30 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $28.66 billion. Humana had a net margin of 1.18% and a return on equity of 13.20%. Equities analysts predict that Humana will post 16.14 EPS for the current year.

Humana Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be given a dividend of $0.885 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 31st. This represents a $3.54 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.26%. Humana's payout ratio is currently 31.36%.

Insider Activity at Humana

In related news, insider Timothy S. Huval sold 3,703 shares of Humana stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $256.26, for a total transaction of $948,930.78. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 8,181 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,096,463.06. The trade was a 31.16 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 0.32% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Humana

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. FNY Investment Advisers LLC grew its position in shares of Humana by 6,647.5% during the fourth quarter. FNY Investment Advisers LLC now owns 27,260 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $6,916,000 after purchasing an additional 26,856 shares in the last quarter. PDT Partners LLC boosted its stake in Humana by 190.0% in the 3rd quarter. PDT Partners LLC now owns 4,060 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $1,286,000 after purchasing an additional 2,660 shares during the period. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board grew its holdings in Humana by 6.5% during the 3rd quarter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board now owns 1,173,535 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $371,705,000 after buying an additional 71,910 shares in the last quarter. Swedbank AB raised its position in shares of Humana by 3.0% during the third quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 105,976 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $33,567,000 after buying an additional 3,085 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new position in shares of Humana in the third quarter worth $948,000. 92.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Humana Company Profile

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.