Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX) Given New $191.00 Price Target at Robert W. Baird

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX) had its price target upped by research analysts at Robert W. Baird from $190.00 to $191.00 in a research note issued on Thursday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an “outperform” rating on the medical research company’s stock. Robert W. Baird’s price objective points to a potential upside of 14.62% from the company’s previous close.

Other equities analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Citigroup lowered shares of Quest Diagnostics from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $185.00 target price for the company. in a research report on Tuesday, March 4th. UBS Group increased their target price on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $166.00 to $170.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $185.00 target price (up previously from $175.00) on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. Mizuho increased their target price on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $177.00 to $178.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Quest Diagnostics from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $178.38.

Quest Diagnostics Stock Performance

Shares of Quest Diagnostics stock traded down $1.38 during trading on Thursday, hitting $166.64. 107,790 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 869,467. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $164.63 and its 200 day moving average is $158.48. The stock has a market cap of $18.49 billion, a PE ratio of 21.67, a P/E/G ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 0.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a current ratio of 1.10. Quest Diagnostics has a 12 month low of $125.42 and a 12 month high of $178.87.

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The medical research company reported $2.23 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.19 by $0.04. Quest Diagnostics had a net margin of 8.80% and a return on equity of 15.07%. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Quest Diagnostics will post 9.7 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Quest Diagnostics

In other Quest Diagnostics news, EVP Catherine T. Doherty sold 5,370 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $174.13, for a total transaction of $935,078.10. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 68,068 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $11,852,680.84. This represents a 7.31 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Michael E. Prevoznik sold 528 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $172.61, for a total transaction of $91,138.08. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 39,031 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,737,140.91. This represents a 1.33 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 14,157 shares of company stock valued at $2,423,755. 0.79% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Quest Diagnostics

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC lifted its position in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 159.1% in the fourth quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 27,615 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $4,166,000 after purchasing an additional 16,958 shares in the last quarter. Siemens Fonds Invest GmbH lifted its position in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 625.8% in the fourth quarter. Siemens Fonds Invest GmbH now owns 27,640 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $4,170,000 after purchasing an additional 23,832 shares in the last quarter. Menard Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics in the fourth quarter worth approximately $109,000. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH purchased a new stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics in the fourth quarter worth approximately $33,698,000. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 17.0% in the fourth quarter. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. now owns 24,900 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $3,756,000 after purchasing an additional 3,627 shares in the last quarter. 88.06% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.