National Pension Service Sells 147,726 Shares of IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV)

National Pension Service reduced its stake in IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV) by 34.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 287,341 shares of the medical research company’s stock after selling 147,726 shares during the period. National Pension Service owned 0.16% of IQVIA worth $56,465,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new stake in IQVIA in the third quarter valued at $27,000. Avior Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in IQVIA by 117.6% in the third quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 161 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 87 shares in the last quarter. Synergy Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in IQVIA in the fourth quarter valued at $33,000. Assetmark Inc. increased its stake in IQVIA by 612.5% in the third quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 228 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $54,000 after purchasing an additional 196 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new stake in IQVIA in the third quarter valued at $57,000. 89.62% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

IQVIA Stock Down 2.4 %

IQV opened at $186.40 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.12. The stock has a market cap of $32.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.85, a PEG ratio of 1.99 and a beta of 1.48. IQVIA Holdings Inc. has a twelve month low of $184.66 and a twelve month high of $261.73. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $199.30 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $215.26.

IQVIA (NYSE:IQV) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The medical research company reported $2.90 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.11 by ($0.21). IQVIA had a net margin of 8.91% and a return on equity of 28.81%. As a group, equities analysts expect that IQVIA Holdings Inc. will post 10.84 earnings per share for the current year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on IQV shares. UBS Group decreased their price target on shares of IQVIA from $260.00 to $255.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $270.00 price objective on shares of IQVIA in a report on Monday, February 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price objective on shares of IQVIA from $280.00 to $250.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 1st. BTIG Research cut shares of IQVIA from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price objective on shares of IQVIA from $273.00 to $261.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 7th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, sixteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, IQVIA currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $251.22.

Insider Buying and Selling at IQVIA

In related news, Director John G. Danhakl bought 1,275 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 3rd. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $200.58 per share, for a total transaction of $255,739.50. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 1,275 shares in the company, valued at $255,739.50. The trade was a ∞ increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Corporate insiders own 1.60% of the company’s stock.

About IQVIA

IQVIA Holdings Inc engages in the provision of advanced analytics, technology solutions, and clinical research services to the life sciences industry in the Americas, Europe, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific. It operates through three segments: Technology & Analytics Solutions, Research & Development Solutions, and Contract Sales & Medical Solutions.