Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) Receives Consensus Recommendation of “Hold” from Brokerages

Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) has earned an average rating of “Hold” from the twenty-three analysts that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Eighteen analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and five have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price target among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $285.68.

Several analysts recently weighed in on HUM shares. Piper Sandler upped their price target on Humana from $270.00 to $288.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 15th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated a “neutral” rating and set a $290.00 price target on shares of Humana in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. StockNews.com cut shares of Humana from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of Humana from $257.00 to $256.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, February 18th. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on shares of Humana from $301.00 to $285.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Timothy S. Huval sold 3,703 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $256.26, for a total value of $948,930.78. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 8,181 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,096,463.06. This trade represents a 31.16 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.37% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Humana

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of HUM. FPC Investment Advisory Inc. bought a new position in shares of Humana during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Centricity Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Humana in the fourth quarter worth $30,000. LFA Lugano Financial Advisors SA raised its position in shares of Humana by 56.3% during the 4th quarter. LFA Lugano Financial Advisors SA now owns 125 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the period. OFI Invest Asset Management purchased a new position in shares of Humana during the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. Finally, Transce3nd LLC bought a new position in Humana in the 4th quarter worth $38,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.38% of the company’s stock.

Humana Stock Performance

Shares of Humana stock opened at $266.62 on Friday. Humana has a 12 month low of $213.31 and a 12 month high of $406.46. The firm has a market capitalization of $32.18 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.80, a P/E/G ratio of 2.05 and a beta of 0.57. The company has a current ratio of 1.76, a quick ratio of 1.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $271.39 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $278.13.

Humana (NYSE:HUM) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The insurance provider reported ($2.16) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of ($2.26) by $0.10. Humana had a net margin of 1.02% and a return on equity of 11.70%. On average, equities analysts forecast that Humana will post 16.47 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Humana Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 25th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 28th will be given a $0.885 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 28th. This represents a $3.54 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.33%. Humana’s payout ratio is presently 35.58%.

Humana Company Profile

Humana Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides medical and specialty insurance products in the United States. It operates through two segments, Insurance and CenterWell. The company offers medical and supplemental benefit plans to individuals. It has a contract with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to administer the Limited Income Newly Eligible Transition prescription drug plan program; and contracts with various states to provide Medicaid, dual eligible, and long-term support services benefits.