Humana (NYSE:HUM) Reaches New 12-Month Low - Here's Why

Shares of Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM - Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week low on Friday . The stock traded as low as $212.45 and last traded at $226.26, with a volume of 4228584 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $230.47.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

HUM has been the subject of a number of research reports. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and set a $290.00 target price on shares of Humana in a report on Thursday, May 1st. Raymond James upgraded Humana from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $315.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on Humana from $301.00 to $285.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Oppenheimer raised their price objective on Humana from $300.00 to $310.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, May 1st. Finally, Truist Financial dropped their price objective on Humana from $325.00 to $305.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, May 12th. Seventeen investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $286.81.

Humana Stock Up 3.9%

The business's 50 day simple moving average is $262.94 and its 200 day simple moving average is $269.57. The company has a market capitalization of $29.83 billion, a PE ratio of 24.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.05 and a beta of 0.49. The company has a quick ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 1.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68.

Humana (NYSE:HUM - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The insurance provider reported $11.58 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $10.07 by $1.51. Humana had a return on equity of 11.70% and a net margin of 1.02%. The firm had revenue of $32.11 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $32 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $7.23 earnings per share. The business's quarterly revenue was up 8.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts forecast that Humana Inc. will post 16.47 EPS for the current year.

Humana Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 25th. Investors of record on Friday, June 27th will be given a dividend of $0.885 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 27th. This represents a $3.54 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.43%. Humana's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 25.04%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in HUM. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. grew its holdings in shares of Humana by 21.5% in the 4th quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 4,969 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $1,261,000 after acquiring an additional 879 shares in the last quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC boosted its position in Humana by 16.6% in the fourth quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 1,819 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $461,000 after buying an additional 259 shares in the last quarter. Clarius Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Humana by 7.0% during the fourth quarter. Clarius Group LLC now owns 905 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $230,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares during the period. Liberty One Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Humana during the fourth quarter worth $822,000. Finally, Willner & Heller LLC increased its stake in Humana by 28.2% in the fourth quarter. Willner & Heller LLC now owns 2,002 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $508,000 after purchasing an additional 440 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.38% of the company's stock.

About Humana

Humana Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides medical and specialty insurance products in the United States. It operates through two segments, Insurance and CenterWell. The company offers medical and supplemental benefit plans to individuals. It has a contract with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to administer the Limited Income Newly Eligible Transition prescription drug plan program; and contracts with various states to provide Medicaid, dual eligible, and long-term support services benefits.