Molina Healthcare (NYSE:MOH) Shares Gap Down on Disappointing Earnings

Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:MOH)’s share price gapped down prior to trading on Thursday following a weaker than expected earnings announcement. The stock had previously closed at $317.01, but opened at $287.09. Molina Healthcare shares last traded at $294.10, with a volume of 164,413 shares changing hands.

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 net margin of 2.92% and a return on equity of 27.88%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

MOH has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $406.00 price target on shares of Molina Healthcare in a report on Thursday, October 24th. StockNews.com raised shares of Molina Healthcare from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Stephens reissued an “equal weight” rating and issued a $345.00 price target on shares of Molina Healthcare in a research note on Thursday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $350.00 price objective (down from $378.00) on shares of Molina Healthcare in a research report on Tuesday, December 17th. Finally, Barclays increased their target price on Molina Healthcare from $359.00 to $372.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, October 25th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Molina Healthcare has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $361.45.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Molina Healthcare

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of MOH. Waldron Private Wealth LLC raised its holdings in Molina Healthcare by 4.7% in the fourth quarter. Waldron Private Wealth LLC now owns 729 shares of the company’s stock worth $212,000 after buying an additional 33 shares during the last quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in Molina Healthcare by 3.4% in the 3rd quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC now owns 1,080 shares of the company’s stock worth $369,000 after acquiring an additional 36 shares during the last quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC lifted its position in Molina Healthcare by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC now owns 2,785 shares of the company’s stock valued at $960,000 after acquiring an additional 39 shares in the last quarter. Caprock Group LLC boosted its stake in Molina Healthcare by 3.3% during the 3rd quarter. Caprock Group LLC now owns 1,460 shares of the company’s stock valued at $503,000 after purchasing an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Hawaii increased its holdings in shares of Molina Healthcare by 4.6% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of Hawaii now owns 1,224 shares of the company’s stock worth $422,000 after purchasing an additional 54 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 98.50% of the company’s stock.

Molina Healthcare Stock Down 10.0 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 1.54 and a quick ratio of 1.55. The stock has a market cap of $16.32 billion, a PE ratio of 14.49, a PEG ratio of 0.96 and a beta of 0.54. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $298.78 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $318.38.

Molina Healthcare Company 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.