Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX) Shares Bought by Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V.

Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. grew its holdings in Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX - Free Report) by 3.8% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 121,732 shares of the medical research company's stock after purchasing an additional 4,452 shares during the period. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. owned approximately 0.11% of Quest Diagnostics worth $20,597,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the company. Wall Street Zen cut Quest Diagnostics from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, June 7th. Barclays boosted their price objective on Quest Diagnostics from $175.00 to $185.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Quest Diagnostics from $180.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 6th. Redburn Partners set a $195.00 price objective on Quest Diagnostics in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. Finally, Mizuho upped their price objective on Quest Diagnostics from $178.00 to $189.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Quest Diagnostics currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $185.73.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CEO J. E. Davis sold 39,191 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $168.46, for a total value of $6,602,115.86. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 127,623 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $21,499,370.58. This represents a 23.49% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Mark E. Delaney sold 874 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, May 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $175.72, for a total value of $153,579.28. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president owned 8,372 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,471,127.84. The trade was a 9.45% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 42,620 shares of company stock worth $7,190,045 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 8.16% of the company's stock.

Quest Diagnostics Stock Up 1.0%

Shares of NYSE DGX traded up $1.69 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $179.52. 819,342 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 993,606. The company has a market cap of $20.04 billion, a PE ratio of 22.70, a P/E/G ratio of 2.48 and a beta of 0.49. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated has a twelve month low of $136.30 and a twelve month high of $187.44. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $175.77 and its 200-day simple moving average is $167.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 1.44 and a quick ratio of 1.31.

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

Quest Diagnostics Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 21st. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 7th will be paid 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 1.78%. Quest Diagnostics's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 40.46%.

About Quest Diagnostics

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.