DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main Sells 1,591 Shares of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX)

DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main reduced its position in Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX - Free Report) by 4.5% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 33,502 shares of the medical research company's stock after selling 1,591 shares during the quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main's holdings in Quest Diagnostics were worth $5,054,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of DGX. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. boosted its stake in Quest Diagnostics by 1.6% during the fourth quarter. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. now owns 3,843 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $580,000 after acquiring an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. Net Worth Advisory Group boosted its stake in Quest Diagnostics by 1.0% during the fourth quarter. Net Worth Advisory Group now owns 6,495 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $980,000 after acquiring an additional 62 shares in the last quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. boosted its stake in Quest Diagnostics by 0.3% during the fourth quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 20,811 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $3,140,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group boosted its stake 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 acquiring an additional 68 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mather Group LLC. boosted its stake in Quest Diagnostics by 10.4% during the fourth quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 764 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $115,000 after acquiring an additional 72 shares in the last quarter. 88.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Quest Diagnostics Stock Performance

DGX traded up $2.64 during trading on Thursday, hitting $175.12. 822,731 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 978,559. The firm has a market cap of $19.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 0.52. The stock's fifty day moving average is $169.78 and its 200 day moving average is $163.25. 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 one year low of $135.47 and a one year high of $179.32.

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

Quest Diagnostics Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 21st. Investors of record on Monday, July 7th will be given a dividend of $0.80 per share. This represents a $3.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.83%. Quest Diagnostics's payout ratio is currently 40.46%.

Insider Activity at Quest Diagnostics

In other Quest Diagnostics news, SVP Mark E. Delaney sold 874 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $175.72, for a total transaction of $153,579.28. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 8,372 shares in the company, valued at $1,471,127.84. This trade represents a 9.45% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO J. E. Davis sold 39,191 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $168.46, for a total transaction of $6,602,115.86. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 127,623 shares of the company's stock, valued at $21,499,370.58. This represents a 23.49% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 55,124 shares of company stock worth $9,341,875. 8.16% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts recently issued reports on DGX shares. Redburn Partners set a $195.00 target price on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Quest Diagnostics from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Truist Financial upped their price objective on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $182.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Redburn Atlantic initiated coverage on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. They set a "buy" rating and a $195.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $175.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Eight 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 MarketBeat.com, Quest Diagnostics currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $185.73.

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.