CHURCHILL MANAGEMENT Corp Buys Shares of 88,416 Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX)

CHURCHILL MANAGEMENT Corp bought a new position in Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX - Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 88,416 shares of the medical research company's stock, valued at approximately $14,960,000. CHURCHILL MANAGEMENT Corp owned approximately 0.08% of Quest Diagnostics at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 57.8% in the 1st quarter. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC now owns 183 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares during the last quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC increased its position in Quest Diagnostics by 157.3% in the 1st quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 193 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 118 shares during the period. NBC Securities Inc. acquired a new stake in Quest Diagnostics in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Continuum Advisory LLC increased its position in Quest Diagnostics by 11,100.0% in the 1st quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC now owns 224 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 222 shares during the period. Finally, SBI Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in Quest Diagnostics in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $54,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.06% of the company's stock.

Quest Diagnostics Stock Up 1.3%

Shares of DGX stock traded up $2.25 on Thursday, reaching $178.85. 432,358 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,162,591. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated has a 12-month low of $136.99 and a 12-month high of $182.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84, a quick ratio of 1.31 and a current ratio of 1.44. The company has a market capitalization of $19.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.50 and a beta of 0.49. The business's 50 day moving average price is $176.31 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $167.42.

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 22nd. The medical research company reported $2.21 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.15 by $0.06. Quest Diagnostics had a return on equity of 15.11% and a net margin of 8.81%. The business had revenue of $2.65 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.63 billion. On average, equities analysts forecast that Quest Diagnostics Incorporated will post 9.7 earnings per share for the current year.

Quest Diagnostics Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 21st. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 7th will be issued a dividend of $0.80 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, July 7th. This represents a $3.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.79%. Quest Diagnostics's dividend payout ratio is 40.46%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Quest Diagnostics

In other news, SVP Mark E. Delaney sold 874 shares of Quest Diagnostics stock in a transaction on Monday, May 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $175.72, for a total transaction of $153,579.28. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 8,372 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,471,127.84. The trade was a 9.45% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 8.16% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently commented on DGX. Wall Street Zen cut Quest Diagnostics from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, June 7th. Mizuho raised their target price on Quest Diagnostics from $178.00 to $189.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Redburn Atlantic began coverage on Quest Diagnostics in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. They issued a "buy" rating and a $195.00 target price on the stock. Truist Financial raised their target price on Quest Diagnostics from $182.00 to $190.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Finally, Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on Quest Diagnostics from $191.00 to $194.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $185.73.

Quest Diagnostics 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.