BNP Paribas Financial Markets Sells 198,094 Shares of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX)

BNP Paribas Financial Markets cut its position in shares of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX - Free Report) by 26.5% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 549,204 shares of the medical research company's stock after selling 198,094 shares during the quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets owned 0.49% of Quest Diagnostics worth $82,853,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Barclays PLC lifted its stake in Quest Diagnostics by 35.9% in the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 298,922 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $46,407,000 after buying an additional 78,980 shares in the last quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new stake in Quest Diagnostics during the 3rd quarter worth about $201,000. Franklin Resources Inc. raised its stake in Quest Diagnostics by 45.8% in the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 54,897 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $8,180,000 after purchasing an additional 17,240 shares during the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Quest Diagnostics by 18.6% in the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 438,977 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $68,144,000 after purchasing an additional 68,844 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Versant Capital Management Inc boosted its stake 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. 88.06% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Quest Diagnostics Stock Performance

Shares of Quest Diagnostics stock traded up $1.06 during trading on Friday, hitting $176.96. 1,309,977 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 974,949. The stock has a market cap of $19.75 billion, a PE ratio of 23.01, a P/E/G ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 0.52. The stock's fifty day moving average is $169.70 and its 200 day moving average is $162.93. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated has a 12 month low of $135.47 and a 12 month high of $179.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a current ratio of 1.10.

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 22nd. The medical research company reported $2.21 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.15 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $2.65 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.63 billion. Quest Diagnostics had a net margin of 8.80% and a return on equity of 15.07%. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Quest Diagnostics Incorporated will post 9.7 EPS for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have weighed in on DGX. Robert W. Baird increased their price target on Quest Diagnostics from $191.00 to $194.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 23rd. Redburn Partners set a $195.00 price target on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. Citigroup cut shares of Quest Diagnostics from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $185.00 price objective for the company. in a research note on Tuesday, March 4th. Truist Financial lifted their target price on Quest Diagnostics from $182.00 to $190.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Finally, Evercore ISI lifted their price objective on Quest Diagnostics from $175.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an "in-line" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 23rd. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $185.73.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Quest Diagnostics news, EVP Catherine T. Doherty sold 5,370 shares of Quest Diagnostics stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $174.13, for a total transaction of $935,078.10. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 68,068 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,852,680.84. The trade was a 7.31 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO J. E. Davis sold 39,191 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $168.46, for a total value of $6,602,115.86. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 127,623 shares of the company's stock, valued at $21,499,370.58. The trade was a 23.49 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 54,250 shares of company stock valued at $9,188,295 over the last three months. Company insiders own 8.16% of the company's stock.

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.