Trillium Asset Management LLC Sells 3,400 Shares of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX)

Trillium Asset Management LLC cut its stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX - Free Report) by 8.8% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 35,086 shares of the medical research company's stock after selling 3,400 shares during the quarter. Trillium Asset Management LLC's holdings in Quest Diagnostics were worth $5,293,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Net Worth Advisory Group grew its position in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. Net Worth Advisory Group now owns 6,495 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $980,000 after acquiring an additional 62 shares during the period. Brooklyn Investment Group increased its position in Quest Diagnostics by 5.5% during the fourth quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 1,315 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $198,000 after purchasing an additional 68 shares during the last quarter. Avestar Capital LLC raised its position in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter. Avestar Capital LLC now owns 6,288 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $976,000 after buying an additional 71 shares during the period. Mather Group LLC. raised its position in Quest Diagnostics by 10.4% in the fourth quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 764 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $115,000 after purchasing an additional 72 shares during the period. Finally, Private Trust Co. NA boosted its stake in Quest Diagnostics by 7.7% during the fourth quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 1,053 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $159,000 after buying an additional 75 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 88.06% of the company's stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Quest Diagnostics

In related news, Director Vicky B. Gregg sold 1,250 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $164.57, for a total value of $205,712.50. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 16,867 shares in the company, valued at $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 the SEC website. Also, SVP Michael E. Prevoznik sold 604 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $170.99, for a total value of $103,277.96. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 39,845 shares of the company's stock, valued at $6,813,096.55. The trade was a 1.49 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 14,157 shares of company stock valued at $2,423,755. 0.79% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on DGX shares. UBS Group upped their target price on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $166.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a "buy" rating and set a $185.00 price objective (up previously from $175.00) on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. Leerink Partnrs upgraded Quest Diagnostics from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Mizuho lifted their price objective on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $177.00 to $178.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Truist Financial upped their price target on Quest Diagnostics from $172.00 to $182.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Quest Diagnostics has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $178.38.

Quest Diagnostics Stock Up 0.1 %

Shares of DGX traded up $0.24 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $167.35. 670,768 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 877,391. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $165.18 and a 200-day simple moving average of $158.64. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated has a 12-month low of $125.42 and a 12-month high of $178.87. The company has a market cap of $18.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.76, a P/E/G ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 0.92. 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 released its earnings results 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%. Research analysts forecast that Quest Diagnostics Incorporated will post 9.7 EPS for the current year.

Quest Diagnostics Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 21st. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 7th will be issued a $0.80 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, April 7th. This is a boost from Quest Diagnostics's previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. This represents a $3.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.91%. Quest Diagnostics's dividend payout ratio is presently 41.61%.

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.