Molina Healthcare (NYSE:MOH) Releases Earnings Results, Misses Estimates By $0.02 EPS

Molina Healthcare (NYSE:MOH - Get Free Report) announced its earnings results on Wednesday. The company reported $5.48 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $5.50 by ($0.02), Zacks reports. The company had revenue of $11.43 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.94 billion. Molina Healthcare had a return on equity of 27.84% and a net margin of 2.60%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 15.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $5.86 earnings per share.

Molina Healthcare Stock Performance

NYSE:MOH traded up $6.61 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $164.83. 3,268,454 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 880,995. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $270.58 and a two-hundred day moving average of $297.10. Molina Healthcare has a 12 month low of $156.36 and a 12 month high of $365.23. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 0.55. The company has a current ratio of 1.63, a quick ratio of 1.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on MOH shares. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and set a $210.00 target price (down from $312.00) on shares of Molina Healthcare in a research report on Friday. Sanford C. Bernstein began coverage on Molina Healthcare in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $414.00 target price for the company. Barclays reduced their target price on Molina Healthcare from $270.00 to $186.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Friday. Guggenheim began coverage on Molina Healthcare in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. They issued a "neutral" rating for the company. Finally, Baird R W lowered Molina Healthcare from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. Twelve research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $267.42.

Insider Activity at Molina Healthcare

In related news, CEO Joseph M. Zubretsky sold 87,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $320.06, for a total transaction of $28,005,250.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 257,715 shares in the company, valued at $82,484,262.90. This represents a 25.35% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, Director Richard M. Schapiro sold 669 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $320.50, for a total value of $214,414.50. Following the sale, the director owned 11,244 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,603,702. The trade was a 5.62% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Molina Healthcare

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in MOH. Baird Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in Molina Healthcare during the first quarter worth about $210,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its position in Molina Healthcare by 33.4% during the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 1,106 shares of the company's stock worth $364,000 after buying an additional 277 shares in the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp grew its position in Molina Healthcare by 713.3% during the first quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 1,651 shares of the company's stock worth $544,000 after buying an additional 1,448 shares in the last quarter. Focus Partners Wealth grew its position in Molina Healthcare by 82.7% during the first quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 3,749 shares of the company's stock worth $1,235,000 after buying an additional 1,697 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Woodline Partners LP acquired a new stake in Molina Healthcare during the first quarter worth about $1,541,000. 98.50% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Molina Healthcare

Molina Healthcare, Inc provides managed healthcare services to low-income families and individuals under the Medicaid and Medicare programs and through the state insurance marketplaces. It operates in four segments: Medicaid, Medicare, Marketplace, and Other. The company served in across 19 states. The company was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Long Beach, California.