Humana (NYSE:HUM) Trading 1.9% Higher

Shares of Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) traded up 1.9% during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $324.38 and last traded at $323.46. 1,956,514 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 3% from the average session volume of 2,015,295 shares. The stock had previously closed at $317.52.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have recently commented on the stock. Bank of America reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $342.00 price target (down from $470.00) on shares of Humana in a research report on Tuesday, April 2nd. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $391.00 price target on shares of Humana in a research note on Wednesday, April 10th. TD Cowen cut their target price on shares of Humana from $427.00 to $396.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, April 2nd. TheStreet downgraded shares of Humana from a “b” rating to a “c+” rating in a research note on Monday, January 8th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of Humana from $413.00 to $350.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 8th. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $465.42.

Humana Stock Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $39.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 0.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a quick ratio of 1.59 and a current ratio of 1.59. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $343.55 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $425.01.

Humana (NYSE:HUM) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 25th. The insurance provider reported ($0.11) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.76 by ($0.87). The company had revenue of $26.46 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $25.47 billion. Humana had a return on equity of 19.44% and a net margin of 2.34%. Humana’s revenue was up 17.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.62 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that Humana Inc. will post 16.06 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, July 26th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 28th will be issued a $0.885 dividend. This represents a $3.54 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.08%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 28th. Humana’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 17.86%.

Insider Activity

In other Humana news, Director Jorge S. Mesquita purchased 545 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 20th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $367.09 per share, with a total value of $200,064.05. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 2,578 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $946,358.02. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 0.32% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of HUM. Rakuten Securities Inc. bought a new stake in Humana in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Point72 Europe London LLP bought a new stake in shares of Humana during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Sunbelt Securities Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Humana during the 1st quarter worth about $28,000. Gradient Investments LLC raised its position in shares of Humana by 200.0% during the 4th quarter. Gradient Investments LLC now owns 60 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 40 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cetera Trust Company N.A bought a new stake in shares of Humana during the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. 92.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Humana

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.