Now more than a month since completing North Carolina’s largest ever initial public stock offering, Quintiles (NYSE:Q) is starting to pick up analyst coverage, garnering mostly positive ratings for its stock.

This week at least a dozen analysts initiated coverage or adjusted their ratings for Quintiles stock. The Durham company, which provides an array of services to pharmaceutical companies, is the largest player among these so-called contract research organizations, or CROs. In 2012, Quintiles generated more than $4.8 billion in total revenue, a 12 percent year over year increase.

Quintiles is currently trading at around $43.10 per share. Several analysts expect that the company’s stock price could reach as high as $50 per share in the next year. Deutsche Bank reiterated its “buy” rating on Quintiles shares, according to a report from financial news website theflyonthewall.com.

“In an environment characterized by secular tailwinds and increased penetration of CRO outsourcing, we believe Q’s operational scale, breadth of service capabilities, and management team experience position it better than any other player in the CRO landscape,” Deutsche Bank wrote in its report. “Bottom line: we believe Q is a best in breed player in pharma services, and we think Q should be a core large-cap holding for HC services investors.

Quintiles went public on May 9, raising more than $947 million. Since the IPO, Quintiles has consistently traded above the $40 per share IPO price. Here’s how other analysts are rating Quintiles stock along with a 12 month price target, if they provided one:

  • Deutsche Bank: “buy,” 12 month target price of $51
  • Wells Fargo: “outperform,” $48 to $50 target
  • Robert Baird: “neutral,” $46 target
  • William Blair: “outperform”
  • Raymond James: “outperform,” $50 target
  • Piper Jaffray: “overweight,” $52 target
  • Jefferies: “hold,” $41
  • Sterne Agee: “neutral,” $35 target.
  • Morgan Stanley: “overweight,” $51 target
  • Goldman Sachs: “neutral,” $44 target
  • JP Morgan Chase: “overweight,” $43.53
  • Bank of America: “buy”
     

(Bloomberg News contributed to this report)