Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX) Shares Sold by Mackenzie Financial Corp

Mackenzie Financial Corp reduced its position in Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX - Free Report) by 49.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 18,131 shares of the medical research company's stock after selling 17,962 shares during the quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp's holdings in Quest Diagnostics were worth $2,500,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in DGX. NBC Securities Inc. acquired a new stake in Quest Diagnostics in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. VisionPoint Advisory Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 100.0% during the third quarter. VisionPoint Advisory Group LLC now owns 218 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 109 shares during the last quarter. BKM Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Quest Diagnostics in the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. FinTrust Capital Advisors LLC raised its stake in Quest Diagnostics by 1,100.0% in the 3rd quarter. FinTrust Capital Advisors LLC now owns 264 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 242 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Headinvest LLC acquired a new stake in Quest Diagnostics during the 3rd quarter worth about $36,000. 88.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Truist Financial restated a "hold" rating and issued a $145.00 price objective on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a research note on Wednesday, March 20th. SVB Leerink began coverage on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a report on Monday, February 26th. They set a "market perform" rating and a $135.00 target price for the company. Leerink Partnrs reaffirmed a "market perform" rating on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a report on Monday, February 26th. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Quest Diagnostics from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $140.00 to $155.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Finally, Barclays started coverage on Quest Diagnostics in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. They set an "equal weight" rating and a $145.00 target price on the stock. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $144.18.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Vicky B. Gregg sold 2,500 shares of Quest Diagnostics stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $126.64, for a total value of $316,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 16,329 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,067,904.56. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Quest Diagnostics news, Director Vicky B. Gregg sold 2,500 shares of Quest Diagnostics stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $126.64, for a total value of $316,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 16,329 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,067,904.56. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Michael E. Prevoznik sold 661 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $126.14, for a total transaction of $83,378.54. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 40,206 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,071,584.84. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 15,150 shares of company stock valued at $1,913,202. Company insiders own 0.79% of the company's stock.

Quest Diagnostics Trading Up 5.1 %

NYSE:DGX traded up $6.65 on Tuesday, hitting $136.74. The stock had a trading volume of 2,088,321 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,057,877. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $128.50 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $131.03. The stock has a market cap of $15.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.26, a PEG ratio of 2.77 and a beta of 0.91. The company has a quick ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 1.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated has a 1-year low of $119.59 and a 1-year high of $148.62.

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The medical research company reported $2.15 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.11 by $0.04. Quest Diagnostics had a return on equity of 15.79% and a net margin of 9.23%. The company had revenue of $2.29 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.25 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.98 earnings per share. The firm's quarterly revenue was down 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that Quest Diagnostics Incorporated will post 8.75 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Quest Diagnostics Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 22nd. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 8th were given a dividend of $0.75 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, April 5th. This is a boost from Quest Diagnostics's previous quarterly dividend of $0.71. This represents a $3.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.19%. Quest Diagnostics's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 37.92%.

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.