Brokerages Set Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX) Target Price at $150.15

Shares of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX) have been assigned a consensus rating of “Hold” from the twelve research firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $150.58.

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. UBS Group increased their target price on Quest Diagnostics from $139.00 to $146.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 24th. Truist Financial boosted their target price on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $150.00 to $158.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, July 15th. StockNews.com raised shares of Quest Diagnostics from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 23rd. Citigroup raised Quest Diagnostics from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $145.00 to $165.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 10th. Finally, Barclays lifted their target price on Quest Diagnostics from $138.00 to $144.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 25th.

Insider Buying and Selling at Quest Diagnostics

In related news, SVP Mark E. Delaney sold 420 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $143.08, for a total transaction of $60,093.60. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 5,019 shares in the company, valued at approximately $718,118.52. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 0.79% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Quest Diagnostics

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. grew its position in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 10.0% during the 4th quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 57,052 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $7,866,000 after purchasing an additional 5,173 shares in the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its position in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 14.0% during the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,066 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $147,000 after acquiring an additional 131 shares during the last quarter. Oak Thistle LLC grew its holdings in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 31.0% during the fourth quarter. Oak Thistle LLC now owns 6,261 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $863,000 after purchasing an additional 1,480 shares in the last quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System increased its position in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 0.3% in the fourth quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System now owns 33,417 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $4,608,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Arizona State Retirement System lifted its position in Quest Diagnostics by 0.9% during the fourth quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 30,847 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $4,253,000 after purchasing an additional 289 shares during the last quarter. 88.06% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Quest Diagnostics Stock Down 2.9 %

Shares of NYSE:DGX opened at $145.69 on Thursday. The business’s 50-day moving average is $141.41 and its 200-day moving average is $134.77. Quest Diagnostics has a 1 year low of $119.59 and a 1 year high of $151.78. The company has a market capitalization of $16.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.61, a P/E/G ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 0.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 1.00 and a quick ratio of 0.91.

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 23rd. The medical research company reported $2.35 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.31 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $2.40 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.39 billion. Quest Diagnostics had a net margin of 8.99% and a return on equity of 15.35%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 2.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.30 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Quest Diagnostics will post 8.89 earnings per share for the current year.

Quest Diagnostics Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 22nd. Investors of record on Monday, July 8th were issued a $0.75 dividend. This represents a $3.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.06%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, July 8th. Quest Diagnostics’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 40.38%.

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.