Humana (NYSE:HUM) Trading 1.9% Higher

Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM)’s stock price traded up 1.9% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $324.38 and last traded at $323.46. 1,956,514 shares changed hands during 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

A number of analysts recently issued reports on the company. Stephens decreased their price objective on Humana from $550.00 to $430.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 26th. UBS Group reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $370.00 price objective (down from $530.00) on shares of Humana in a research note on Friday, January 26th. Truist Financial reiterated a “hold” rating and set a $550.00 price objective on shares of Humana in a research note on Friday, January 19th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $391.00 price objective on shares of Humana in a research note on Wednesday, April 10th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on Humana from $413.00 to $350.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 8th. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Humana presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $465.42.

Humana Price Performance

The business has a fifty day moving average price of $343.55 and a 200-day moving average price of $425.01. The company has a current ratio of 1.59, a quick ratio of 1.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63. The stock has a market capitalization of $39.61 billion, a PE ratio of 16.62, a PEG ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 0.45.

Humana (NYSE:HUM) last issued its earnings results 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 analysts’ expectations of $25.47 billion. Humana had a net margin of 2.34% and a return on equity of 19.44%. The company’s revenue was up 17.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.62 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that Humana Inc. will post 16.06 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Humana Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 26th. Investors of record on Friday, June 28th will be issued a dividend of $0.885 per share. This represents a $3.54 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.08%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 28th. Humana’s dividend payout ratio is presently 17.86%.

Insider Activity at Humana

In other Humana news, Director Jorge S. Mesquita purchased 545 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 20th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $367.09 per share, with a total value of $200,064.05. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 2,578 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $946,358.02. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.32% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Rakuten Securities Inc. bought a new position in Humana during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Point72 Europe London LLP bought a new position in Humana in the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Gradient Investments LLC raised its holdings in Humana by 200.0% in the 4th quarter. Gradient Investments LLC now owns 60 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares during the period. Cetera Trust Company N.A bought a new position in Humana in the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Finally, Sunbelt Securities Inc. bought a new position in Humana in the 1st quarter worth $28,000. Institutional investors own 92.38% of the company’s stock.

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.