Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX) Shares Sold by Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC

Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC cut its holdings in shares of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX) by 4.2% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,173 shares of the medical research company’s stock after selling 184 shares during the period. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC’s holdings in Quest Diagnostics were worth $630,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in DGX. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans increased its stake in Quest Diagnostics by 2.6% during the 2nd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 9,571 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $1,310,000 after purchasing an additional 244 shares in the last quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board increased its position in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 68.8% in the 2nd quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 4,315 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $591,000 after acquiring an additional 1,759 shares during the period. AXA S.A. increased its position in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 564.7% in the 2nd quarter. AXA S.A. now owns 14,603 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $1,999,000 after acquiring an additional 12,406 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Quest Diagnostics by 18.6% during the 2nd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 147,469 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $20,186,000 after acquiring an additional 23,150 shares during the period. Finally, MBB Public Markets I LLC purchased a new stake in Quest Diagnostics during the 2nd quarter valued at about $1,061,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 88.06% of the company’s stock.

Quest Diagnostics Price Performance

Shares of NYSE DGX opened at $159.94 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a current ratio of 1.25. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $155.66 and a 200 day moving average of $153.21. The firm has a market cap of $17.85 billion, a PE ratio of 21.50, a PEG ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 0.90. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated has a one year low of $123.04 and a one year high of $165.32.

Quest Diagnostics Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 29th. Investors of record on Tuesday, January 14th will be given a dividend of $0.75 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, January 14th. This represents a $3.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.88%. Quest Diagnostics’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 40.32%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages recently weighed in on DGX. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $154.00 to $168.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Bank of America increased their price objective on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $179.00 to $182.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, December 13th. Robert W. Baird upgraded shares of Quest Diagnostics from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating and boosted their target price for the company from $157.00 to $182.00 in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Leerink Partnrs raised Quest Diagnostics from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $185.00 price objective (up previously from $175.00) on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $172.15.

Insider Activity at Quest Diagnostics

In related news, CAO Michael J. Deppe sold 18,755 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $154.05, for a total value of $2,889,207.75. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 34,941 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,382,661.05. This trade represents a 34.93 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 0.79% of the stock is currently owned by corporate 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.