Aurdan Capital Management LLC Sells 660 Shares of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated $DGX

Aurdan Capital Management LLC decreased its holdings in shares of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX) by 8.7% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 6,937 shares of the medical research company’s stock after selling 660 shares during the period. Aurdan Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Quest Diagnostics were worth $1,246,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in DGX. Brighton Jones LLC bought a new stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics during the 4th quarter valued at about $323,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC boosted its position in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 1.3% during the 1st quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 9,116 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $1,543,000 after purchasing an additional 117 shares in the last quarter. Mather Group LLC. boosted its position in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 42.7% during the 1st quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 1,090 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $184,000 after purchasing an additional 326 shares in the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd boosted its position in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 2.8% during the 1st quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd now owns 12,930 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $2,188,000 after purchasing an additional 354 shares in the last quarter. Finally, DAVENPORT & Co LLC bought a new stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics during the 1st quarter valued at about $264,000. Institutional investors own 88.06% of the company’s stock.

Quest Diagnostics Stock Performance

Shares of Quest Diagnostics stock opened at $175.93 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $19.57 billion, a PE ratio of 20.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 0.56. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated has a 52 week low of $148.70 and a 52 week high of $197.55. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $182.51 and a 200-day moving average price of $177.40. The company has a quick ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71.

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 21st. The medical research company reported $2.60 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.51 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $2.82 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.73 billion. Quest Diagnostics had a return on equity of 15.47% and a net margin of 8.91%.The company’s quarterly revenue was up 13.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.30 earnings per share. Quest Diagnostics has set its FY 2025 guidance at 9.760-9.840 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Quest Diagnostics Incorporated will post 9.7 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Quest Diagnostics Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, October 20th. Investors of record on Friday, October 3rd were given a dividend of $0.80 per share. This represents a $3.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, October 3rd. Quest Diagnostics’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 37.56%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages recently commented on DGX. Piper Sandler upped their target price on Quest Diagnostics from $190.00 to $200.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, October 27th. Barclays upped their price target on Quest Diagnostics from $190.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. Robert W. Baird reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $194.00 price target on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a research note on Monday, August 25th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Leerink Partners upped their price target on Quest Diagnostics from $203.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 21st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have given a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $196.31.

Insider Activity at Quest Diagnostics

In related news, SVP Patrick Plewman sold 1,975 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $185.00, for a total transaction of $365,375.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 15,269 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,824,765. This trade represents a 11.45% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, SVP Michael E. Prevoznik sold 227 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $188.13, for a total value of $42,705.51. Following the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 38,117 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $7,170,951.21. The trade was a 0.59% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last three months, insiders sold 44,189 shares of company stock valued at $8,157,857. 8.16% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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.