Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX) SVP Mark E. Delaney Sells 403 Shares

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX - Get Free Report) SVP Mark E. Delaney sold 403 shares of Quest Diagnostics stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $164.30, for a total transaction of $66,212.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 4,624 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $759,723.20. This trade represents a 8.02 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link.

Quest Diagnostics Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:DGX traded up $1.63 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $166.82. The stock had a trading volume of 1,088,208 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,001,285. The company's 50-day moving average price is $155.51 and its 200-day moving average price is $154.49. The company has a market capitalization of $18.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.69, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.04 and a beta of 0.91. 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 Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $123.30 and a fifty-two week high of $168.17.

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The medical research company reported $2.23 earnings per share (EPS) 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%. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Quest Diagnostics Incorporated will post 9.7 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Quest Diagnostics Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 21st. Investors of record on Monday, April 7th will be issued a dividend of $0.80 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 7th. This is a positive change from Quest Diagnostics's previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. This represents a $3.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.92%. Quest Diagnostics's payout ratio is 39.01%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Quest Diagnostics

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Sierra Ocean LLC bought a new stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Versant Capital Management Inc grew its holdings in Quest Diagnostics by 340.4% during the 4th quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 251 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 194 shares during the last quarter. First Financial Corp IN bought a new stake in Quest Diagnostics during the 4th quarter worth approximately $38,000. FPC Investment Advisory Inc. bought a new stake in Quest Diagnostics during the 4th quarter worth approximately $45,000. Finally, Global Trust Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in Quest Diagnostics during the 4th quarter worth approximately $49,000. 88.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have recently commented on DGX. Leerink Partnrs raised shares of Quest Diagnostics from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Barclays raised their target price on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $168.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Mizuho raised their target price on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $177.00 to $178.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Truist Financial raised their target price on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $172.00 to $182.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group restated a "buy" rating and set a $185.00 target price (up previously from $175.00) on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a research note on Tuesday, December 10th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $177.69.

About Quest Diagnostics

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.