Piper Sandler Initiates Coverage on Humana (NYSE:HUM)

Piper Sandler began coverage on shares of Humana (NYSE:HUM) in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday, Marketbeat.com reports. The firm issued an overweight rating and a $392.00 target price on the insurance provider’s stock.

A number of other brokerages also recently commented on HUM. Raymond James assumed coverage on Humana in a research report on Friday, March 22nd. They set a market perform rating for the company. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price objective on Humana from $411.00 to $381.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 22nd. Barclays cut their price objective on Humana from $356.00 to $310.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 2nd. TD Cowen cut their price objective on Humana from $427.00 to $396.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 2nd. Finally, Oppenheimer cut their price objective on Humana from $415.00 to $370.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 25th. Fourteen analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Humana presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $409.55.

Humana Stock Performance

HUM opened at $373.65 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $45.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 0.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 1.67 and a quick ratio of 1.67. Humana has a 1-year low of $298.61 and a 1-year high of $530.54. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $343.78 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $351.23.

Humana (NYSE:HUM) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, April 24th. The insurance provider reported $7.23 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.12 by $1.11. The firm had revenue of $29.61 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $28.52 billion. Humana had a return on equity of 17.76% and a net margin of 1.82%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $9.38 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that Humana will post 16.27 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Humana Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 26th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 28th will be paid a $0.885 dividend. This represents a $3.54 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.95%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 28th. Humana’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 22.04%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Humana

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Rakuten Securities Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Humana in the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Gradient Investments LLC increased its position in Humana by 200.0% during the fourth quarter. Gradient Investments LLC now owns 60 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Trust Company N.A acquired a new position in Humana during the fourth quarter worth $28,000. Private Wealth Management Group LLC acquired a new position in Humana during the fourth quarter worth $32,000. Finally, Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC increased its position in Humana by 274.1% during the fourth quarter. Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC now owns 101 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $46,000 after buying an additional 74 shares during the last quarter. 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.