Rafferty Asset Management LLC Boosts Stock Holdings in Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM)

Rafferty Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) by 11.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 13,659 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after buying an additional 1,448 shares during the period. Rafferty Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Humana were worth $3,465,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. increased its stake in Humana by 21.5% during the fourth quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 4,969 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $1,261,000 after acquiring an additional 879 shares during the last quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Humana by 16.6% during the 4th quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 1,819 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $461,000 after purchasing an additional 259 shares during the period. Clarius Group LLC increased its position in Humana by 7.0% during the 4th quarter. Clarius Group LLC now owns 905 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $230,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares in the last quarter. Liberty One Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Humana in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $822,000. Finally, Willner & Heller LLC raised its holdings in Humana by 28.2% in the fourth quarter. Willner & Heller LLC now owns 2,002 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $508,000 after buying an additional 440 shares during the period. 92.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Humana Stock Performance

Shares of HUM stock opened at $237.42 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $28.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.86, a PEG ratio of 2.05 and a beta of 0.49. Humana Inc. has a one year low of $212.45 and a one year high of $406.46. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $262.94 and its 200-day simple moving average is $269.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a quick ratio of 1.76 and a current ratio of 1.76.

Humana (NYSE:HUM) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The insurance provider reported $11.58 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $10.07 by $1.51. The company had revenue of $32.11 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $32 billion. Humana had a return on equity of 11.70% and a net margin of 1.02%. Humana’s quarterly revenue was up 8.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $7.23 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Humana Inc. will post 16.47 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Humana Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 25th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 27th will be issued a $0.885 dividend. This represents a $3.54 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.49%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 27th. Humana’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 25.04%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on HUM shares. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $283.00 price objective on shares of Humana in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Robert W. Baird upped their price target on shares of Humana from $270.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 15th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $290.00 price target on shares of Humana in a report on Thursday, May 1st. Barclays raised their price objective on Humana from $270.00 to $322.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, April 11th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on Humana from $257.00 to $256.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, February 18th. Seventeen research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Humana presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $286.81.

Humana Profile

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.