Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX) Price Target Raised to $190.00

Key Points

• Quest Diagnostics had its price target increased from $185.00 to $190.00 by Evercore ISI, indicating a potential upside of 4.43% from the stock's previous close.
• Analysts show a mixed outlook on the stock, with one recommending a Strong Buy, eight a Buy, and ten a Hold rating, resulting in a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy."
• The company reported earnings of $2.62 per share, surpassing analysts' expectations, and achieved a 15.2% year-over-year revenue growth of $2.76 billion.

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX - Get Free Report) had its target price lifted by analysts at Evercore ISI from $185.00 to $190.00 in a research report issued on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has an "in-line" rating on the medical research company's stock. Evercore ISI's price objective suggests a potential upside of 4.43% from the stock's previous close.

Several other equities analysts also recently issued reports on DGX. Robert W. Baird reiterated a "neutral" rating and set a $194.00 price objective on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a research report on Monday, August 25th. Weiss Ratings reissued a "buy (b)" rating on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a research report on Saturday, September 27th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price target on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $160.00 to $178.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 23rd. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Quest Diagnostics from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Sunday, August 10th. Finally, Baird R W lowered Quest Diagnostics from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, August 25th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have issued a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Quest Diagnostics has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $186.63.

Quest Diagnostics Stock Performance

NYSE:DGX opened at $181.95 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $20.35 billion, a PE ratio of 21.79, a P/E/G ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 0.56. Quest Diagnostics has a 1-year low of $146.53 and a 1-year high of $191.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 1.09 and a quick ratio of 0.99. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $180.42 and a 200-day simple moving average of $175.22.

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, July 22nd. The medical research company reported $2.62 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.57 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $2.76 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.73 billion. Quest Diagnostics had a return on equity of 15.24% and a net margin of 9.01%.The company's revenue for the quarter was up 15.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.35 earnings per share. Quest Diagnostics has set its FY 2025 guidance at 9.630-9.830 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that Quest Diagnostics will post 9.7 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity

In related news, SVP Karthik Kuppusamy sold 2,210 shares of Quest Diagnostics stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $170.00, for a total value of $375,700.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 8,450 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,436,500. The trade was a 20.73% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Michael E. Prevoznik sold 227 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Friday, September 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $188.13, for a total value of $42,705.51. Following the sale, the senior vice president owned 38,117 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,170,951.21. The trade was a 0.59% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 53,186 shares of company stock valued at $9,647,471 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 8.16% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. BankPlus Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in Quest Diagnostics by 2.5% in the 1st quarter. BankPlus Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,410 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $408,000 after buying an additional 59 shares in the last quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. increased its position in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 5.9% during the first quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. now owns 1,059 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $179,000 after acquiring an additional 59 shares during the last quarter. Linden Thomas Advisory Services LLC lifted its stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 0.6% in the first quarter. Linden Thomas Advisory Services LLC now owns 11,513 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $1,948,000 after acquiring an additional 63 shares in the last quarter. Clarius Group LLC boosted its holdings in Quest Diagnostics by 4.8% in the first quarter. Clarius Group LLC now owns 1,421 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $240,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Azzad Asset Management Inc. ADV grew its stake in Quest Diagnostics by 1.7% during the 1st quarter. Azzad Asset Management Inc. ADV now owns 3,922 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $664,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 88.06% of the company's stock.

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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