Members Capital Advisors Inc. Cuts Stake in Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX)

Members Capital Advisors Inc. reduced its stake in Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX - Free Report) by 88.8% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,140 shares of the medical research company's stock after selling 9,008 shares during the period. Quest Diagnostics makes up 0.5% of Members Capital Advisors Inc.'s portfolio, making the stock its 24th biggest position. Members Capital Advisors Inc.'s holdings in Quest Diagnostics were worth $157,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of DGX. State of Alaska Department of Revenue grew its stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 4.6% in the third quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 28,431 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $3,464,000 after acquiring an additional 1,250 shares during the last quarter. Ziegler Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 17.2% in the third quarter. Ziegler Capital Management LLC now owns 15,067 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $1,836,000 after acquiring an additional 2,211 shares during the last quarter. Impact Partnership Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of Quest Diagnostics during the third quarter valued at $40,000. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 4.7% during the third quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 32,912 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $4,032,000 after purchasing an additional 1,480 shares in the last quarter. Finally, KFG Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 6.3% during the third quarter. KFG Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,692 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $206,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. 88.06% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on DGX shares. TheStreet downgraded Quest Diagnostics from a "b-" rating to a "c" rating in a report on Monday, February 5th. UBS Group increased their target price on Quest Diagnostics from $139.00 to $146.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday. Citigroup increased their target price on Quest Diagnostics from $135.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday. Jefferies Financial Group raised Quest Diagnostics from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their target price for the company from $140.00 to $155.00 in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. Finally, Mizuho increased their target price on Quest Diagnostics from $150.00 to $155.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Quest Diagnostics has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $146.25.

Quest Diagnostics Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:DGX traded up $0.85 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $137.55. 1,566,421 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,064,314. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70, a current ratio of 1.31 and a quick ratio of 1.20. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated has a 52-week low of $119.59 and a 52-week high of $148.62. The business's 50-day simple moving average is $128.69 and its 200 day simple moving average is $131.08. The company has a market cap of $15.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.36, a PEG ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 0.91.

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, April 23rd. The medical research company reported $2.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.86 by $0.18. Quest Diagnostics had a return on equity of 15.79% and a net margin of 9.23%. The firm had revenue of $2.37 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.29 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.04 earnings per share. The firm's revenue was up 1.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts predict that Quest Diagnostics Incorporated will post 8.75 EPS for the current year.

Quest Diagnostics Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 22nd. Investors of record on Monday, April 8th were given a dividend of $0.75 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, April 5th. This represents a $3.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.18%. This is a boost from Quest Diagnostics's previous quarterly dividend of $0.71. Quest Diagnostics's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 37.92%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Quest Diagnostics news, SVP Michael E. Prevoznik sold 5,611 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $125.88, for a total transaction of $706,312.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 38,478 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,843,610.64. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other Quest Diagnostics news, EVP Catherine T. Doherty sold 821 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $126.14, for a total transaction of $103,560.94. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 70,800 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,930,712. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, SVP Michael E. Prevoznik sold 5,611 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $125.88, for a total value of $706,312.68. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 38,478 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,843,610.64. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 15,150 shares of company stock worth $1,913,202. 0.79% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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.

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