Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX - Get Free Report) SVP Michael E. Prevoznik sold 528 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $172.61, for a total transaction of $91,138.08. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 39,031 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,737,140.91. This represents a 1.33 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink.
Quest Diagnostics Stock Down 1.8 %
NYSE:DGX traded down $3.22 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $171.79. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,534,103 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,082,645. 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. The firm has a market capitalization of $19.06 billion, a PE ratio of 22.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 0.92. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $160.54 and a 200-day moving average of $157.18.
Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The medical research company reported $2.23 EPS for the quarter, topping 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 forecast that Quest Diagnostics Incorporated will post 9.7 earnings per share for the current year.
Quest Diagnostics Increases Dividend
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 21st. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 7th will be paid a dividend of $0.80 per share. This is a positive change from Quest Diagnostics's previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. This represents a $3.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.86%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 7th. Quest Diagnostics's payout ratio is 41.61%.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
DGX has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $173.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Robert W. Baird set a $189.00 price objective on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Leerink Partners upgraded shares of Quest Diagnostics from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $169.00 to $174.00 in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Piper Sandler reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $180.00 target price (up from $165.00) on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Bank of America upped their price target on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $179.00 to $182.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, December 13th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $178.23.
Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Quest Diagnostics
Institutional Investors Weigh In On Quest Diagnostics
Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Sierra Ocean LLC purchased a new position in shares of Quest Diagnostics during the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Versant Capital Management Inc lifted its position in shares of 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 purchasing an additional 194 shares during the last quarter. First Financial Corp IN acquired a new position in shares of Quest Diagnostics during the 4th quarter worth about $38,000. FPC Investment Advisory Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics during the 4th quarter worth approximately $45,000. Finally, Global Trust Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Quest Diagnostics in the fourth quarter valued at $49,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.06% of the company's stock.
About Quest Diagnostics
(
Get Free Report)
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.
Featured Articles
Before you consider Quest Diagnostics, you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Quest Diagnostics wasn't on the list.
While Quest Diagnostics currently has a Moderate Buy rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
View The Five Stocks Here
Market downturns give many investors pause, and for good reason. Wondering how to offset this risk? Enter your email address to learn more about using beta to protect your portfolio.
Get This Free Report
Like this article? Share it with a colleague.
Link copied to clipboard.
