Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX) Given Consensus Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by Analysts

Shares of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX - Get Free Report) have earned an average recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from the fourteen ratings firms that are covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $164.58.

Several research firms have issued reports on DGX. Evercore ISI began coverage on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a research report on Wednesday, August 28th. They issued an "in-line" rating and a $165.00 price target on the stock. Piper Sandler increased their price objective on Quest Diagnostics from $150.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Monday, October 28th. Robert W. Baird raised Quest Diagnostics from a "neutral" rating to an "outperform" rating and upped their target price for the stock from $157.00 to $182.00 in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Truist Financial boosted their price objective on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $158.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, October 7th. Finally, Citigroup raised their target price on Quest Diagnostics from $165.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd.

Insider Buying and Selling at Quest Diagnostics

In other news, CAO Michael J. Deppe sold 18,755 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $154.05, for a total transaction of $2,889,207.75. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 34,941 shares in the company, valued at $5,382,661.05. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other news, CAO Michael J. Deppe sold 18,755 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $154.05, for a total value of $2,889,207.75. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 34,941 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $5,382,661.05. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, SVP Karthik Kuppusamy sold 1,775 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $156.92, for a total value of $278,533.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 9,734 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,527,459.28. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 22,520 shares of company stock valued at $3,472,728. Company insiders own 0.79% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Quest Diagnostics

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Rothschild Investment LLC purchased a new position in shares of Quest Diagnostics during the 2nd quarter worth $26,000. Innealta Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Larson Financial Group LLC lifted its position in Quest Diagnostics by 77.5% during the second quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 229 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. TruNorth Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Quest Diagnostics in the second quarter worth about $33,000. Finally, EdgeRock Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Quest Diagnostics in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $35,000. 88.06% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Quest Diagnostics Stock Up 2.0 %

Shares of NYSE:DGX traded up $3.17 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $159.37. The company had a trading volume of 944,008 shares, compared to its average volume of 848,323. The stock has a market capitalization of $17.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.42, a PEG ratio of 2.68 and a beta of 0.89. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $153.52 and its 200-day moving average price is $146.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83, a current ratio of 1.25 and a quick ratio of 1.17. Quest Diagnostics has a one year low of $123.04 and a one year high of $160.95.

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, October 22nd. The medical research company reported $2.30 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.26 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $2.49 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.43 billion. Quest Diagnostics had a return on equity of 15.25% and a net margin of 8.82%. Quest Diagnostics's quarterly revenue was up 8.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.22 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that Quest Diagnostics will post 8.9 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Quest Diagnostics Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, October 21st. Investors of record on Friday, October 4th were issued a $0.75 dividend. This represents a $3.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.88%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, October 4th. Quest Diagnostics's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 40.32%.

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.