DnB Asset Management AS Decreases Position in Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:MOH)

DnB Asset Management AS decreased its position in Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:MOH) by 69.7% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 10,842 shares of the company’s stock after selling 24,937 shares during the quarter. DnB Asset Management AS’s holdings in Molina Healthcare were worth $3,156,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Public Sector Pension Investment Board increased its holdings in Molina Healthcare by 13.5% during the 3rd quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 2,527 shares of the company’s stock valued at $871,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. Tributary Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Molina Healthcare by 76.1% in the fourth quarter. Tributary Capital Management LLC now owns 4,190 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,219,000 after purchasing an additional 1,811 shares during the last quarter. Everence Capital Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Molina Healthcare during the 4th quarter worth approximately $544,000. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Molina Healthcare by 123.9% during the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 347 shares of the company’s stock worth $100,000 after purchasing an additional 192 shares in the last quarter. Finally, SYM FINANCIAL Corp acquired a new position in shares of Molina Healthcare during the 4th quarter worth approximately $249,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 98.50% of the company’s stock.

Molina Healthcare Trading Up 2.0 %

Shares of MOH opened at $329.44 on Tuesday. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $303.84 and its 200 day simple moving average is $308.59. Molina Healthcare, Inc. has a twelve month low of $262.32 and a twelve month high of $409.07. The company has a current ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 1.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The firm has a market capitalization of $18.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 0.56.

Molina Healthcare (NYSE:MOH) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The company reported $5.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.74 by ($0.69). Molina Healthcare had a return on equity of 28.13% and a net margin of 2.90%. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Molina Healthcare, Inc. will post 24.4 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Steven J. Orlando sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $301.33, for a total value of $301,330.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 17,375 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,235,608.75. This trade represents a 5.44 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 1.10% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the company. Stephens reiterated an “equal weight” rating and set a $345.00 target price on shares of Molina Healthcare in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Barclays decreased their price objective on Molina Healthcare from $372.00 to $339.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $350.00 target price (down from $378.00) on shares of Molina Healthcare in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. UBS Group lowered their price target on shares of Molina Healthcare from $374.00 to $325.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, Mizuho reduced their price objective on shares of Molina Healthcare from $382.00 to $376.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Molina Healthcare presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $348.75.

Molina Healthcare Profile

Molina Healthcare, Inc provides managed healthcare services to low-income families and individuals under the Medicaid and Medicare programs and through the state insurance marketplaces. It operates in four segments: Medicaid, Medicare, Marketplace, and Other. The company served in across 19 states. The company was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Long Beach, California.