Quest Diagnostics, Inc. (NYSE: DGX) has a price-to-earnings ratio that is above its average at 16.82x. The stock has a 36-month beta value of 0.89. Opinions on the stock are mixed, with 4 analysts rating it as a “buy,” 1 as “overweight,” 14 as “hold,” and 1 as “sell.”
The public float for DGX is 109.71M, and at present, short sellers hold a 2.32% of that float. On April 19, 2024, the average trading volume of DGX was 1.03M shares.
DGX) stock’s latest price update
Quest Diagnostics, Inc. (NYSE: DGX)’s stock price has plunge by -0.84relation to previous closing price of 126.98. Nevertheless, the company has seen a -3.16% plunge in its stock price over the last five trading sessions. Zacks Investment Research reported 2024-04-16 that Quest Diagnostics (DGX) doesn’t possess the right combination of the two key ingredients for a likely earnings beat in its upcoming report. Get prepared with the key expectations.
DGX’s Market Performance
Quest Diagnostics, Inc. (DGX) has seen a -3.16% fall in stock performance for the week, with a -2.44% decline in the past month and a -6.20% plunge in the past quarter. The volatility ratio for the week is 1.42%, and the volatility levels for the past 30 days are at 1.64% for DGX. The simple moving average for the past 20 days is -3.36% for DGX’s stock, with a -4.21% simple moving average for the past 200 days.
Analysts’ Opinion of DGX
Many brokerage firms have already submitted their reports for DGX stocks, with Leerink Partners repeating the rating for DGX by listing it as a “Market Perform.” The predicted price for DGX in the upcoming period, according to Leerink Partners is $135 based on the research report published on February 26, 2024 of the current year 2024.
Jefferies, on the other hand, stated in their research note that they expect to see DGX reach a price target of $155, previously predicting the price at $140. The rating they have provided for DGX stocks is “Buy” according to the report published on February 07th, 2024.
Barclays gave a rating of “Equal Weight” to DGX, setting the target price at $145 in the report published on January 03rd of the current year.
DGX Trading at -1.81% from the 50-Day Moving Average
After a stumble in the market that brought DGX to its low price for the period of the last 52 weeks, the company was unable to rebound, for now settling with -15.28% of loss for the given period.
Volatility was left at 1.64%, however, over the last 30 days, the volatility rate increased by 1.42%, as shares sank -1.42% for the moving average over the last 20 days. Over the last 50 days, in opposition, the stock is trading -0.28% lower at present.
During the last 5 trading sessions, DGX fell by -3.16%, which changed the moving average for the period of 200-days by -9.51% in comparison to the 20-day moving average, which settled at $130.20. In addition, Quest Diagnostics, Inc. saw -8.68% in overturn over a single year, with a tendency to cut further losses.
Insider Trading
Reports are indicating that there were more than several insider trading activities at DGX starting from PREVOZNIK MICHAEL E, who sale 5,611 shares at the price of $125.88 back on Feb 29 ’24. After this action, PREVOZNIK MICHAEL E now owns 38,478 shares of Quest Diagnostics, Inc., valued at $706,313 using the latest closing price.
Doherty Catherine T., the EVP, Regional Businesses of Quest Diagnostics, Inc., sale 1,187 shares at $125.88 during a trade that took place back on Feb 29 ’24, which means that Doherty Catherine T. is holding 68,412 shares at $149,420 based on the most recent closing price.
Stock Fundamentals for DGX
Current profitability levels for the company are sitting at:
- 0.14 for the present operating margin
- 0.33 for the gross margin
The net margin for Quest Diagnostics, Inc. stands at 0.09. The total capital return value is set at 0.11. Equity return is now at value 13.93, with 6.33 for asset returns.
Based on Quest Diagnostics, Inc. (DGX), the company’s capital structure generated 0.44 points at debt to capital in total, while cash flow to debt ratio is standing at 0.26. The debt to equity ratio resting at 0.77. The interest coverage ratio of the stock is 8.59.
Currently, EBITDA for the company is 1.79 billion with net debt to EBITDA at 2.67. When we switch over and look at the enterprise to sales, we see a ratio of 2.01. The receivables turnover for the company is 7.65for trailing twelve months and the total asset turnover is 0.66. The liquidity ratio also appears to be rather interesting for investors as it stands at 1.31.
Conclusion
To sum up, Quest Diagnostics, Inc. (DGX) has seen a bad performance recently. Analysts have differing views on the stock, with some seeing it as a “buy” and others as a “hold”. It’s important to note that the stock is currently trading at a significant distance from its 50-day moving average and its 52-week high.
