Qiagen (NYSE:QGEN) Receives Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from Analysts

Shares of Qiagen (NYSE:QGEN) have been given a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” by the nine brokerages that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $51.50.

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on QGEN. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $54.00 price target (up from $42.00) on shares of Qiagen in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. Hsbc Global Res upgraded Qiagen to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. HSBC lowered Qiagen from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $49.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Thursday, October 17th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an “equal weight” rating and set a $48.00 price objective (down previously from $50.00) on shares of Qiagen in a research report on Monday, January 6th.

Qiagen Stock Up 2.9 %

Shares of QGEN opened at $45.98 on Thursday. Qiagen has a 52 week low of $39.03 and a 52 week high of $47.44. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $44.03 and its 200 day simple moving average is $43.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a quick ratio of 1.89 and a current ratio of 2.17. The firm has a market cap of $10.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 117.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.52 and a beta of 0.37.

Institutional Trading of Qiagen

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of QGEN. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Qiagen by 170.1% in the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,518 shares of the company’s stock worth $68,000 after purchasing an additional 956 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its holdings in Qiagen by 36.0% during the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,604,034 shares of the company’s stock worth $73,096,000 after buying an additional 424,937 shares during the last quarter. Tidal Investments LLC bought a new position in shares of Qiagen in the third quarter valued at $490,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new position in shares of Qiagen in the third quarter valued at $53,000. Finally, Sanctuary Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Qiagen by 24.8% during the third quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC now owns 19,506 shares of the company’s stock valued at $834,000 after buying an additional 3,878 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 70.00% of the company’s stock.

About Qiagen

QIAGEN N.V. offers sample to insight solutions that transform biological materials into molecular insights worldwide. The company provides primary sample technology consumables, such as nucleic stabilization and purification kits for primary sample materials, manual and automated processing for genotyping, gene expression, and viral and bacterial analysis, as well as silica membranes and magnetic bead technologies; secondary sample technology consumables, including kits and components for purification of nucleic acids from secondary sample materials; and instruments for nucleic acid purification and accessories.