Calamos Advisors LLC Sells 849 Shares of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX)

Calamos Advisors LLC decreased its position in shares of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX) by 1.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 65,031 shares of the medical research company’s stock after selling 849 shares during the period. Calamos Advisors LLC’s holdings in Quest Diagnostics were worth $8,966,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in DGX. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 7.1% during the 4th quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 10,070 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $1,388,000 after purchasing an additional 664 shares in the last quarter. Tyche Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics during the 4th quarter worth $222,000. Everence Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 371.6% during the 4th quarter. Everence Capital Management Inc. now owns 14,950 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $2,061,000 after purchasing an additional 11,780 shares in the last quarter. Strs Ohio grew its holdings in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 7.6% during the 4th quarter. Strs Ohio now owns 16,270 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $2,243,000 after purchasing an additional 1,150 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lecap Asset Management Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics during the 4th quarter worth $985,000. Institutional investors own 88.06% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently issued reports on DGX. Jefferies Financial Group raised Quest Diagnostics from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and increased their target price for the stock from $140.00 to $155.00 in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. TheStreet lowered Quest Diagnostics from a “b-” rating to a “c” rating in a research note on Monday, February 5th. Barclays initiated coverage on Quest Diagnostics in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd. They issued an “equal weight” rating and a $145.00 price objective on the stock. SVB Leerink initiated coverage on Quest Diagnostics in a research note on Monday, February 26th. They issued a “market perform” rating and a $135.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Leerink Partnrs reaffirmed a “market perform” rating on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a research note on Monday, February 26th. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $144.18.

Quest Diagnostics Stock Performance

Shares of DGX stock opened at $128.44 on Friday. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $128.32 and its 200-day moving average price is $130.77. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated has a 12 month low of $119.59 and a 12 month high of $148.62. The firm has a market capitalization of $14.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.15, a PEG ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.91. The company has a current ratio of 1.31, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70.

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The medical research company reported $2.15 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.11 by $0.04. Quest Diagnostics had a return on equity of 15.79% and a net margin of 9.23%. The firm had revenue of $2.29 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.25 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.98 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down 1.9% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that Quest Diagnostics Incorporated will post 8.75 EPS for the current year.

Quest Diagnostics Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 22nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 8th will be given a dividend of $0.75 per share. This represents a $3.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.34%. This is an increase from Quest Diagnostics’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.71. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 5th. Quest Diagnostics’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 37.92%.

Insider Transactions at Quest Diagnostics

In other news, Director Vicky B. Gregg sold 2,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $126.64, for a total transaction of $316,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 16,329 shares in the company, valued at $2,067,904.56. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, Director Vicky B. Gregg sold 2,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $126.64, for a total transaction of $316,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 16,329 shares in the company, valued at $2,067,904.56. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Michael E. Prevoznik sold 661 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $126.14, for a total value of $83,378.54. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 40,206 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,071,584.84. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 15,150 shares of company stock worth $1,913,202 over the last ninety days. 0.79% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Quest Diagnostics Company Profile

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.