Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. purchased a new position in Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX – Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 3,113 shares of the medical research company’s stock, valued at approximately $660,000.
Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. BlackRock Inc. bought a new stake in Quest Diagnostics during the second quarter valued at $1,965,923,000. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Quest Diagnostics in the 4th quarter valued at about $229,522,000. Boston Partners boosted its position in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 32.8% during the 3rd quarter. Boston Partners now owns 4,036,881 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $767,978,000 after purchasing an additional 997,033 shares in the last quarter. EdgePoint Investment Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 95.5% during the 4th quarter. EdgePoint Investment Group Inc. now owns 1,661,072 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $288,246,000 after purchasing an additional 811,320 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp acquired a new stake in Quest Diagnostics during the second quarter worth approximately $133,388,000. 88.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
Insider Transactions at Quest Diagnostics In related news, SVP Karthik Kuppusamy sold 8,147 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $200.00, for a total transaction of $1,629,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president owned 13,510 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,702,000. This represents a 37.62% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, SVP Michael E. Prevoznik sold 22,677 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, August 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $243.11, for a total value of $5,513,005.47. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 37,557 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $9,130,482.27. The trade was a 37.65% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders sold a total of 32,424 shares of company stock valued at $7,518,693 over the last ninety days. 0.88% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.
Quest Diagnostics Stock Down 0.7% Quest Diagnostics stock opened at $240.96 on Tuesday. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated has a 1-year low of $171.18 and a 1-year high of $247.19. The firm has a market capitalization of $26.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.24 and a beta of 0.56. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $224.91 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $207.46. The company has a current ratio of 1.59, a quick ratio of 1.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The medical research company reported $3.12 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.82 by $0.30. Quest Diagnostics had a net margin of 9.18% and a return on equity of 16.01%. The company had revenue of $3.04 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.97 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.62 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.2% on a year-over-year basis. Quest Diagnostics has set its FY 2026 guidance at 11.050-11.250 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Quest Diagnostics Incorporated will post 11.15 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Quest Diagnostics Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 21st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, October 6th will be issued a dividend of $0.86 per share. This represents a $3.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, October 6th. Quest Diagnostics’s payout ratio is currently 36.52%.
Analyst Ratings Changes Several brokerages have issued reports on DGX. Wall Street Zen raised Quest Diagnostics from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 28th. Mizuho lifted their price objective on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $235.00 to $260.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “buy” rating and set a $245.00 target price on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a research note on Thursday, July 23rd. Truist Financial raised their price target on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $225.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, July 24th. Finally, Argus set a $260.00 price target on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Quest Diagnostics currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $235.31.
Get Our Latest Analysis on DGX
Quest Diagnostics Profile (Free Report)
Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX) is a leading provider of diagnostic information services that supports clinical decision-making for patients, physicians and healthcare organizations. The company operates a network of clinical laboratories and patient service centers that perform a broad range of laboratory tests and diagnostic assays used in routine care, disease diagnosis, monitoring and screening.
Its services span core clinical laboratory testing, anatomic pathology, molecular and genomic diagnostics, infectious disease testing and toxicology.
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Stock to Watch: Quest Diagnostics (DGX - Free Report) Headquartered in Secaucus, NJ, Quest Diagnostics Incorporated provides diagnostic information services to a broad range of customers within its primary channels of physicians, hospitals, patients and consumers.The company provides services to integrated delivery networks throughout the United States through its Collaborative Lab Solutions (formerly, Professional Laboratory Services) offerings. These services help customers build and execute laboratory strategies, improve quality, reduce healthcare costs and focus on core competencies. The company is a key provider of reference testing for approximately half of U.S. hospitals.
DGX is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 21.76; value investors should take notice.
For fiscal 2026, 10 analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.44 to $11.15 per share. DGX boasts an average earnings surprise of +5.8%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, DGX should be on investors' short list.
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX – Get Free Report)’s share price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $246.00 and last traded at $243.9570, with a volume of 837684 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $244.39.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages have issued reports on DGX. Wall Street Zen raised Quest Diagnostics from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 28th. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Quest Diagnostics from a “buy (b+)” rating to a “buy (a-)” rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 12th. Truist Financial increased their price objective on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $225.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, July 24th. Mizuho raised their target price on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $235.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Finally, Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $236.00 to $255.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, July 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $235.31.
Read Our Latest Analysis on Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics Price Performance The company has a market cap of $26.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.90, a P/E/G ratio of 2.25 and a beta of 0.56. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $220.20 and its 200-day simple moving average is $205.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 1.59 and a quick ratio of 1.46. Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The medical research company reported $3.12 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.82 by $0.30. The business had revenue of $3.04 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.97 billion. Quest Diagnostics had a net margin of 9.18% and a return on equity of 16.01%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.62 earnings per share. Quest Diagnostics has set its FY 2026 guidance at 11.050-11.250 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Quest Diagnostics Incorporated will post 11.15 EPS for the current year.
Quest Diagnostics Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 21st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, October 6th will be paid a dividend of $0.86 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, October 6th. This represents a $3.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.4%. Quest Diagnostics’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 36.52%.
Insider Activity In related news, SVP Karthik Kuppusamy sold 8,147 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $200.00, for a total value of $1,629,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president owned 13,510 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,702,000. This represents a 37.62% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CEO J. E. Davis sold 10,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $194.14, for a total value of $1,941,400.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 132,423 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $25,708,601.22. This trade represents a 7.02% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders sold 19,747 shares of company stock worth $3,947,088 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.88% of the company’s stock.
Hedge Funds Weigh In On Quest Diagnostics Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Key Financial Inc grew its stake in Quest Diagnostics by 1,728.6% in the first quarter. Key Financial Inc now owns 128 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 121 shares in the last quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Quest Diagnostics during the second quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Quattro Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Quest Diagnostics during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Sittner & Nelson LLC bought a new position in Quest Diagnostics during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, DV Equities LLC bought a new position in Quest Diagnostics during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. 88.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
(Get Free Report)
Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX) is a leading provider of diagnostic information services that supports clinical decision-making for patients, physicians and healthcare organizations. The company operates a network of clinical laboratories and patient service centers that perform a broad range of laboratory tests and diagnostic assays used in routine care, disease diagnosis, monitoring and screening.
Its services span core clinical laboratory testing, anatomic pathology, molecular and genomic diagnostics, infectious disease testing and toxicology.
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Individuals in the U.S. can now add Humanity Biological Age's lab-informed insights to select health profile tests purchased through Quest's consumer-initiated testing platform
, /PRNewswire/ -- Humanity Health Inc. ("Humanity"), the longevity science company, and Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX) today announced that Humanity Biological Age, Humanity's scientifically validated model for measuring biological age from biomarker lab test results, is now available in the United States for the first time through questhealth.com, Quest's consumer-initiated testing platform.
Humanity co-founders Pete Ward and Michael Geer. Humanity Biological Age is now available in the U.S. for the first time through questhealth.com. Individuals now have the option to select the Humanity Biological Age add-on when purchasing select health profile tests from questhealth.com including Elite Health Profile, Men's and Women's Comprehensive Health Profiles, and Fitness Profile — Elite, with no additional blood draw needed. After completing a health profile sample collection at one of Quest's approximately 2,000 patient service centers across the U.S., customers can upload their lab results from Quest directly to Humanity's platform. The Humanity Biological Age add-on will cost $29 at questhealth.com.
The Humanity Biological Age report gives individuals a scientifically validated measure of biological age from their lab results, alongside their age difference, which shows how that estimate compares with their chronological age. For those who test more than once, it also shows how that difference is trending over time. The report identifies which of the body's systems are influencing the result, including cardiovascular, metabolic, liver, kidney, blood, immune and inflammatory, hormonal, and bone and mineral health. Each is expressed as the number of years it adds to or subtracts from the biological age result. The report also includes general information on lifestyle actions associated with biological age.
Biological age is a measure of how well a person's body is functioning, rather than simply how many years they have lived. Developed with Imperial College London, Humanity Biological Age turns the biomarkers measured in routine blood tests into a single, easy-to-understand, biological age number that individuals can act on and track over time.
Humanity Biological Age is built on research published in the peer-reviewed journal Communications Biology, a Nature Publishing Group journal. The model was trained on more than 306,000 UK Biobank participants followed for an average of 11.6 years, and validated on a separate cohort. In data captured by Humanity, 83% of individuals said their Humanity Biological Age result would prompt them to improve their lifestyle, and 80% said they intended to retest within six to 12 months to see whether their changes were reflected in their biological age.1
With this launch, Humanity Biological Age is available in five countries, with further markets to follow.
"Humanity is excited to bring Humanity Biological Age to people in the United States for the first time through questhealth.com," said Pete Ward, co-founder and CEO of Humanity. "Until now, a rigorously validated measure on biological age has been available to very few people. Our mission is to give a billion years of health back to the world by the end of the decade, and that means putting this insight in the hands of the many, starting with people who are already taking a blood test."
"Quest is focused on delivering solutions that enable people to own their health," said Richard Adams, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Consumer at Quest Diagnostics. "As interest in preventive health and wellness continues to grow, our work with Humanity to provide novel lab-informed insights via the Humanity Biological Age report, can inspire people to take a more proactive role in their health."
Humanity is providing the Biological Age report, so it is important for purchasers to understand Humanity's terms and conditions for their report. Quest is unable to provide a refund for tests and/or reports provided by third parties like Humanity. The Biological Age report is a general wellness offering.
1 Humanity customer survey with customers of an existing lab partner, 2026. Data on file.
About Humanity
Humanity is a longevity science company building accurate and accessible measures of human aging and overall health. Its blood-based biological age model, developed with Imperial College London and published in Communications Biology, a Nature Publishing Group journal, turns routine blood tests into a scientifically validated estimate of biological age. Humanity partners with leading laboratory groups worldwide to bring this insight to millions of people, and its mission is to give a billion years of health back to the world by the end of the decade. Learn more at humanity.health.
Media contacts
Humanity: Pete Ward, [email protected], +447956550544
Humanity Biological Age is a wellness and preventive health metric. It is not a diagnostic tool and does not constitute medical advice or replace clinical judgement. Results should be considered alongside a full clinical assessment.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), a leader in diagnostic information services, announced that Jim Davis, Chairman, CEO and President, will speak on the company's strategy, performance and the latest market developments and trends during the Baird 2026 Global Healthcare Conference in New York City on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at 10:50 a.m. Eastern Time.
The fireside chat and Q&A session will be webcast live during the conference on the company's investor relations page, which can be accessed at ir.QuestDiagnostics.com. In addition, the archived webcast will be available within 24 hours after the conclusion of the live event and will remain available until October 13, 2026.
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics works across healthcare to create a healthier world, one life at a time. We connect people, from clinicians to consumers, with laboratory insights that illuminate a path to better health. With a focus on delivering smarter, simpler testing, we help reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, empower healthy behaviors and improve healthcare management. Quest Diagnostics serves half the physicians and hospitals in the United States and one in three American adults each year, and our nearly 60,000 employees work together to deliver diagnostic insights that inspire actions to transform lives. www.QuestDiagnostics.com
Artia Global Partners LP purchased a new stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX – Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 65,122 shares of the medical research company’s stock, valued at approximately $13,803,000. Quest Diagnostics comprises approximately 2.5% of Artia Global Partners LP’s holdings, making the stock its 12th largest holding. Artia Global Partners LP owned 0.06% of Quest Diagnostics as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Key Financial Inc boosted its position in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 1,728.6% during the 1st quarter. Key Financial Inc now owns 128 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 121 shares in the last quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Quest Diagnostics during the 2nd quarter valued at $29,000. Quattro Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Quest Diagnostics during the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Sittner & Nelson LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics in the fourth quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, DV Equities LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics in the fourth quarter valued at $27,000. Institutional investors own 88.06% of the company’s stock.
Quest Diagnostics Price Performance NYSE:DGX opened at $244.78 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 1.59 and a quick ratio of 1.46. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $222.01 and a 200 day moving average price of $206.46. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated has a one year low of $171.18 and a one year high of $246.00. The stock has a market cap of $27.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.99, a PEG ratio of 2.25 and a beta of 0.56.
Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX – Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The medical research company reported $3.12 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.82 by $0.30. The business had revenue of $3.04 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.97 billion. Quest Diagnostics had a return on equity of 16.01% and a net margin of 9.18%.Quest Diagnostics’s revenue was up 10.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.62 earnings per share. Quest Diagnostics has set its FY 2026 guidance at 11.050-11.250 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Quest Diagnostics Incorporated will post 11.15 earnings per share for the current year. Quest Diagnostics Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 21st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, October 6th will be paid a $0.86 dividend. This represents a $3.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, October 6th. Quest Diagnostics’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 36.52%.
Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, SVP Mark E. Delaney sold 1,600 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $235.18, for a total transaction of $376,288.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 10,335 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,430,585.30. The trade was a 13.41% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, SVP Karthik Kuppusamy sold 8,147 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $200.00, for a total transaction of $1,629,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president owned 13,510 shares in the company, valued at $2,702,000. This represents a 37.62% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last three months, insiders sold 19,747 shares of company stock valued at $3,947,088. 0.88% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.
Analyst Ratings Changes Several brokerages recently issued reports on DGX. Mizuho increased their price objective on Quest Diagnostics from $235.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, July 24th. UBS Group lifted their target price on Quest Diagnostics from $220.00 to $232.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $230.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Quest Diagnostics from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 28th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $245.00 price target on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a research note on Thursday, July 23rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Quest Diagnostics has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $235.31.
Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics Company Profile (Free Report)
Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX) is a leading provider of diagnostic information services that supports clinical decision-making for patients, physicians and healthcare organizations. The company operates a network of clinical laboratories and patient service centers that perform a broad range of laboratory tests and diagnostic assays used in routine care, disease diagnosis, monitoring and screening.
Its services span core clinical laboratory testing, anatomic pathology, molecular and genomic diagnostics, infectious disease testing and toxicology.
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Bank OZK purchased a new position in Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX – Free Report) in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 15,322 shares of the medical research company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,247,000.
Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. BlackRock Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics in the second quarter valued at $1,965,923,000. Bank of America Corp DE bought a new stake in Quest Diagnostics in the second quarter worth about $410,151,000. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Quest Diagnostics in the 4th quarter valued at about $229,522,000. Boston Partners boosted its position in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 32.8% during the 3rd quarter. Boston Partners now owns 4,036,881 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $767,978,000 after purchasing an additional 997,033 shares in the last quarter. Finally, EdgePoint Investment Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 95.5% in the 4th quarter. EdgePoint Investment Group Inc. now owns 1,661,072 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $288,246,000 after purchasing an additional 811,320 shares during the last quarter. 88.06% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms recently commented on DGX. Argus set a $260.00 target price on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. Barclays upped their price target on Quest Diagnostics from $230.00 to $250.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. Truist Financial increased their price objective on Quest Diagnostics from $225.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, July 24th. UBS Group raised their price objective on Quest Diagnostics from $220.00 to $232.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on Quest Diagnostics from $220.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 28th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Quest Diagnostics presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $235.31.
Read Our Latest Research Report on DGX Insider Buying and Selling In related news, SVP Karthik Kuppusamy sold 8,147 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $200.00, for a total transaction of $1,629,400.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 13,510 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,702,000. The trade was a 37.62% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CEO J. E. Davis sold 10,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $194.14, for a total transaction of $1,941,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 132,423 shares in the company, valued at approximately $25,708,601.22. This represents a 7.02% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last three months, insiders sold 19,747 shares of company stock worth $3,947,088. 0.88% of the stock is owned by company insiders.
Quest Diagnostics Stock Performance Shares of Quest Diagnostics stock opened at $244.48 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $26.98 billion, a PE ratio of 25.95, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 0.56. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $223.00 and a 200-day simple moving average of $206.84. The company has a quick ratio of 1.46, a current ratio of 1.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated has a 12 month low of $171.18 and a 12 month high of $247.19.
Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 23rd. The medical research company reported $3.12 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.82 by $0.30. Quest Diagnostics had a return on equity of 16.01% and a net margin of 9.18%.The firm had revenue of $3.04 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.97 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.62 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.2% on a year-over-year basis. Quest Diagnostics has set its FY 2026 guidance at 11.050-11.250 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Quest Diagnostics Incorporated will post 11.15 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Quest Diagnostics Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 21st. Investors of record on Tuesday, October 6th will be issued a dividend of $0.86 per share. This represents a $3.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, October 6th. Quest Diagnostics’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 36.52%.
Quest Diagnostics Profile (Free Report)
Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX) is a leading provider of diagnostic information services that supports clinical decision-making for patients, physicians and healthcare organizations. The company operates a network of clinical laboratories and patient service centers that perform a broad range of laboratory tests and diagnostic assays used in routine care, disease diagnosis, monitoring and screening.
Its services span core clinical laboratory testing, anatomic pathology, molecular and genomic diagnostics, infectious disease testing and toxicology.
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, /PRNewswire/ -- Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), a leader in diagnostic information services, announced that Sam Samad, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, will speak on the company's strategy, performance and the latest market developments and trends during the Morgan Stanley 24th Annual Global Healthcare Conference in New York City on Monday, September 14, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
The fireside chat and Q&A session will be webcast live during the conference on the company's investor relations page, which can be accessed at ir.QuestDiagnostics.com. In addition, the archived webcast will be available within 24 hours after the conclusion of the live event and will remain available until October 12, 2026.
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics works across healthcare to create a healthier world, one life at a time. We connect people, from clinicians to consumers, with laboratory insights that illuminate a path to better health. With a focus on delivering smarter, simpler testing, we help reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, empower healthy behaviors and improve healthcare management. Quest Diagnostics serves half the physicians and hospitals in the United States and one in three American adults each year, and our nearly 60,000 employees work together to deliver diagnostic insights that inspire actions to transform lives. www.QuestDiagnostics.com
Test to join the company's expansive portfolio of Quest AD-Detect® blood tests for assessing symptomatic patients
Quest also launching a new multi-biomarker AD-Detect® lab-developed blood test with low 10% indeterminate rate, so more patients can receive an actionable insight
, /PRNewswire/ -- Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), a leader in diagnostic information services, today announced two new developments for its Quest AD-Detect® portfolio of blood-based biomarker tests for Alzheimer's disease, with the goal of broadening access to quality blood tests for evaluating symptomatic patients for Alzheimer's disease.
Adding the FDA-cleared Elecsys pTau217 test to the AD-Detect™ portfolio
Earlier today, Roche announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the Elecsys® Phospho-Tau (217P) Plasma (pTau217) blood test, making it the first and only FDA-cleared single-assay, single-biomarker blood biomarker test that supports both rule-in and rule-out assessment of amyloid pathology using the same validated clinical cutoffs across primary and specialty care settings. Quest provides a comprehensive menu of blood-based Alzheimer's biomarker tests under the AD-Detect™ brand name. Quest plans to introduce an AD-Detect-branded laboratory test service based on the FDA-cleared Elecsys® pTau217 assay to physicians and clinical trials collaborators nationwide in the fourth quarter of this year. Quest also plans to incorporate the Roche test in future AD-Detect panels in 2027.
"Blood-based biomarker testing has rapidly set a new standard of care for guiding treatment and diagnosis decisions for Alzheimer's disease," said Michael K. Racke, MD, a board-certified neurologist and senior medical director, neurology, Quest Diagnostics. "As one of the pioneers in this field, Quest is constantly looking to add new innovations, both our own and from our collaborators, to our extensive AD-Detect portfolio so that physicians and patients can make the most informed care decisions. As a long-time collaborator with Roche, we look forward to adding the Elecsys® pTau217 to our AD-Detect portfolio, which will give physicians across the U.S. ready access to this important biomarker test."
New AD-Detect multi-biomarker panel with 10% indeterminate rate
Separate from the FDA clearance of the Roche pTau217 test, Quest also announced today it will launch its newest AD-Detect test innovation, AD-Detect® ABeta 42/40, p-tau217, and ApoE Evaluation, lab-developed test for physicians and clinical trials collaborators nationwide at the end of this month. The test provides a score predicting the likelihood of Alzheimer's pathology based on results of pTau217 using a third party in vitro diagnostic as well as results of amyloid beta 42/40 and the APOE isoform (a genetic risk marker) using Quest's highly sensitive mass spectrometry method.
Research published in Neurology® Clinical Practice, a publication of the American Academy of Neurology, demonstrates that the new test aligns with guidelines from the Alzheimer Association, which state that blood-based tests that achieve sensitivity and specificity of approximately 90% in the intended use population in specialist settings may be used to confirm a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and aid clinical decisions without the need for additional testing. The same research also found that the new test achieved an indeterminate rate of 10%, compared to the 15%-20% rate recommended by the Global CEO Initiative on Alzheimer's Disease (CEOi) for a typical clinical population.
"Quest's extensive research demonstrates that blood-based biomarker testing that includes multiple biomarkers may be more sensitive and specific for Alzheimer's pathology and produces a lower rate of indeterminates compared to the same tests performed individually," said Amanda Backner, executive director and general manager, neurology, Quest Diagnostics.
With a physician's order, patients may conveniently provide a blood draw for testing for any AD-Detect test through Quest's patient service center network of approximately 2,000 locations in the U.S., as well as from Quest phlebotomists in physician offices and mobile phlebotomy services.
While positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) scan and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) testing are well established methods for aiding the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, may be costly, invasive and difficult to access outside specialty centers. In a study recently published in the Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease, Quest researchers determined that blood-based biomarker testing was a more efficient and cost-effective method of assessing Alzheimer's pathology in patients with cognitive decline than amyloid PET scans.
For more information on Quest AD-Detect, visit www.QuestForTheCure.com.
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics works across healthcare to create a healthier world, one life at a time. We connect people, from clinicians to consumers, with laboratory insights that illuminate a path to better health. With a focus on delivering smarter, simpler testing, we help reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, empower healthy behaviors and improve healthcare management. Quest Diagnostics serves half the physicians and hospitals in the United States and one in three American adults each year, and our nearly 60,000 employees work together to deliver diagnostic insights that inspire actions to transform lives. www.QuestDiagnostics.com
Key Takeaways Quest Diagnostics is seeing strong growth in physician, hospital and consumer channels.DGX's Advanced Diagnostics delivered double-digit growth in several clinical areas in the second quarter.Quest Diagnostics targets 3% annual cost savings as debt and reimbursement pressures weigh on results. Quest Diagnostics (DGX - Free Report) is well-poised to grow in the coming quarters owing to its solid growth momentum in the physician, hospital and consumer channels. Broader adoption of the company’s Advanced Diagnostics offerings, across five key clinical areas, also supports the growth outlook. Further, Quest Diagnostics continues to use automation and AI to improve the quality and productivity of its operations.Still, elevated debt and ongoing uncertainty around reimbursement and costs could weigh on results.
In the past year, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock has rallied 33.9% compared with the industry’s 19.4% growth and the S&P 500 Composite’s 21.5% rise.
The renowned provider of diagnostic information services has a market capitalization of $26.68 billion. The company’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average surprise of 5.77%.
Factors Favoring DGXGrowth Momentum in the Base Business: Quest Diagnostics continues to address the needs of physicians, hospitals and consumers through broader access, clinical innovation and offering more integrated solutions. In the second quarter of 2026, physician channel revenues increased in the high single-digit range, supported by new customer wins, higher business with existing customers and growth in regions where the company expanded health plan access and completed acquisitions. The Fresenius Medical Care collaboration is also broadening Quest Diagnostics’ capabilities in kidney care.
Hospital channel revenues grew at a double-digit rate, primarily from Co-Lab Solutions with Corewell Health. Reference-testing revenues increased from both the first quarter and the prior-year period. The consumer-testing platform, QuestHealth.com, continued to generate revenue growth, supported by demand for wellness panels and newer services such as thyroid testing. The platform is also attracting consumer, wearable and wellness partners through flexible technology integration.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Strong Potential of Advanced Diagnostics: Quest Diagnostics is expanding advanced diagnostics across cardiometabolic and endocrine, autoimmune, brain health, oncology and women’s and reproductive health. Several of these areas delivered double-digit revenue growth in the second quarter of 2026. Demand remained elevated for ApoB, Lp(a) and liver fibrosis tests, while the company continued to grow its analyzer solution for autoimmune disorders.
In brain health, the AD-Detect portfolio again produced double-digit growth. In oncology, New York State approved Haystack minimal residual disease, allowing commercial expansion across all 50 states. Quest Diagnostics also integrated selected cancer tests with Flatiron Health’s OncoEMR Molecular Profiling Integration platform. A pilot program with American Oncology Network is expected to support a broader rollout to Flatiron’s 4,700 clinicians and other providers later in 2026.
Strategic Imperative to Drive Operational Excellence: Quest Diagnostics’ Invigorate program now targets 3% annual cost savings and productivity improvements. The company is using automation and AI across laboratory and administrative processes to offset labor, benefit and reimbursement pressures while improving service quality. During the second quarter, Quest Diagnostics expanded AI-enabled cervical cancer screening and front-end specimen-processing automation to additional laboratories.
The company also launched IntelliDraw to guide specimen collection at physician offices and plans to introduce an AI-based supply tool at patient service centers. Project Nova remains a multi-year effort to transform order-to-cash processes, with higher spending expected in the second half of 2026 and the first implementation wave planned for fall 2027.
What Ails DGX?Elevated Debt Level: As of June 30, 2026, the company’s long-term debt was $5.63 billion and cash and cash equivalents totaled $626 million. The current portion of long-term debt declined to $10 million after the company repaid $500 million of notes due in June and issued $500 million of 5.00% notes due in 2036. Interest expense totaled $126 million in the first half. Elevated debt could constrain financial flexibility as the company continues investing in acquisitions, automation and Project Nova.
Unstable Reimbursement and Cost Backdrop: Quest Diagnostics remains exposed to changes in government reimbursement, health policy and payer bargaining power. Management continues to assume a 30-basis-point (bps) revenue impact in 2026 from the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act exchange subsidies. Exchange requisitions were down about 8%, although higher tests per requisition and payer mix kept related revenues roughly flat through the second quarter. Second-quarter cost of services increased 10.9% year over year, while adjusted operating margin declined 40 bps to 16.5%.
DGX Stock Estimate TrendThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for Quest Diagnostics’ 2026 earnings per share (EPS) is projected to increase 13.2% to $11.15.
The consensus mark for 2026 revenues is pegged at $12.01 billion, suggesting 8.9% growth from the year-ago reported number.
Key PicksSome better-ranked stocks in the broader medical space are Globus Medical (GMED - Free Report) , Veracyte (VCYT - Free Report) and Teleflex (TFX - Free Report) .
Globus Medical has an earnings yield of 5.8% compared to the industry’s negative 1.7% yield. Its earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 27.9%. GMED shares have rallied 37.1% against the industry’s 4.2% decline over the past year.
GMED sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Veracyte, sporting a Zacks Rank #1, has an earnings yield of 4.6% against the industry’s negative 1.7% yield. Shares of the company have risen 34.8% against the industry’s 4.2% decline. VCYT’s earnings outpaced estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 41.8%.
Teleflex, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 20.7% compared with the industry’s 12.8% growth. Its earnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed on one occasion, the average surprise being 3.2%. TFX shares have rallied 4.3% against the industry’s 4.3% decline over the past year.
Shares of Quest Diagnostics (DGX - Free Report) have been strong performers lately, with the stock up 5.9% over the past month. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $245.68 in the previous session. Quest Diagnostics has gained 39.1% since the start of the year compared to the 5.2% gain for the Zacks Medical sector and the 22.7% return for the Zacks Medical - Outpatient and Home Healthcare industry.
What's Driving the Outperformance?The stock has a great record of positive earnings surprises, as it hasn't missed our earnings consensus estimate in any of the last four quarters. In its last earnings report on July 23, 2026, Quest Diagnostics reported EPS of $3.12 versus consensus estimate of $2.81 while it beat the consensus revenue estimate by 2.15%.
For the current fiscal year, Quest Diagnostics is expected to post earnings of $11.15 per share on $12.01 in revenues. This represents a 13.2% change in EPS on a 8.87% change in revenues. For the next fiscal year, the company is expected to earn $11.97 per share on $12.56 in revenues. This represents a year-over-year change of 7.31% and 4.58%, respectively.
Valuation MetricsWhile Quest Diagnostics has moved to its 52-week high in the recent past, investors need to be asking, what is next for the company? A key aspect of this question is taking a look at valuation metrics in order to determine if the company has run ahead of itself.
On this front, we can look at the Zacks Style Scores, as these give investors a variety of ways to comb through stocks (beyond looking at the Zacks Rank of a security). The individual style scores for Value, Growth, Momentum and the combined VGM Score run from A through F. Investors should consider the style scores a valuable tool that can help you to pick the most appropriate Zacks Rank stocks based on their individual investment style.
Quest Diagnostics has a Value Score of B. The stock's Growth and Momentum Scores are B and D, respectively, giving the company a VGM Score of B.
In terms of its value breakdown, the stock currently trades at 21.6X current fiscal year EPS estimates, which is a premium to the peer industry average of 21.3X. On a trailing cash flow basis, the stock currently trades at 15.9X versus its peer group's average of 17.2X. Additionally, the stock has a PEG ratio of 2.22. This isn't enough to put the company in the top echelon of all stocks we cover from a value perspective.
Zacks RankWe also need to consider the stock's Zacks Rank, as this is even more important than the company's VGM Score. Fortunately, Quest Diagnostics currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) thanks to a solid earnings estimate revision trend.
Since we recommend that investors select stocks carrying Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B, it looks as if Quest Diagnostics passes the test. Thus, it seems as though Quest Diagnostics shares could still be poised for more gains ahead.
How Does DGX Stack Up to the Competition?Shares of DGX have been soaring, and the company still appears to be a decent choice, but what about the rest of the industry? One industry peer that looks good is Option Care Health, Inc. (OPCH - Free Report) . OPCH has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) and a Value Score of A, a Growth Score of A, and a Momentum Score of C.
Earnings were strong last quarter. Option Care Health, Inc. beat our consensus estimate by 7.14%, and for the current fiscal year, OPCH is expected to post earnings of $1.87 per share on revenue of $5.76 billion.
Shares of Option Care Health, Inc. have gained 11.4% over the past month, and currently trade at a forward P/E of 12.57X and a P/CF of 11.5X.
The Medical - Outpatient and Home Healthcare industry is in the top 16% of all the industries we have in our universe, so it looks like there are some nice tailwinds for DGX and OPCH, even beyond their own solid fundamental situation.
Shares of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX – Get Free Report) have earned an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the thirteen analysts that are covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $235.3077.
Several research firms have weighed in on DGX. Weiss Ratings raised Quest Diagnostics from a “buy (b+)” rating to a “buy (a-)” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 12th. Argus set a $260.00 price target on Quest Diagnostics in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. Truist Financial boosted their price objective on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $225.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $230.00 to $250.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 23rd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group restated a “buy” rating and set a $245.00 target price on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a report on Thursday, July 23rd.
Read Our Latest Report on DGX
Quest Diagnostics Price Performance DGX stock opened at $241.80 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $218.52 and a 200-day moving average of $204.87. The company has a market cap of $26.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.67, a PEG ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 0.56. The company has a current ratio of 1.59, a quick ratio of 1.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. Quest Diagnostics has a 12-month low of $171.18 and a 12-month high of $245.68. Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The medical research company reported $3.12 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.82 by $0.30. Quest Diagnostics had a return on equity of 16.01% and a net margin of 9.18%.The business had revenue of $3.04 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.97 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.62 EPS. The company’s revenue was up 10.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Quest Diagnostics has set its FY 2026 guidance at 11.050-11.250 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that Quest Diagnostics will post 11.15 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Quest Diagnostics Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 21st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, October 6th will be given a $0.86 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, October 6th. This represents a $3.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.4%. Quest Diagnostics’s dividend payout ratio is currently 36.52%.
Insider Transactions at Quest Diagnostics In related news, SVP Karthik Kuppusamy sold 8,147 shares of Quest Diagnostics stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $200.00, for a total transaction of $1,629,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 13,510 shares in the company, valued at $2,702,000. The trade was a 37.62% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, SVP Mark E. Delaney sold 1,600 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $235.18, for a total value of $376,288.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 10,335 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,430,585.30. The trade was a 13.41% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders sold a total of 19,747 shares of company stock valued at $3,947,088 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.88% of the company’s stock.
Institutional Trading of Quest Diagnostics Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Key Financial Inc lifted its holdings in Quest Diagnostics by 1,728.6% in the 1st quarter. Key Financial Inc now owns 128 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 121 shares in the last quarter. Quattro Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. DV Equities LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics during the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. Sittner & Nelson LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics during the fourth quarter worth about $29,000. Finally, Ancora Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Quest Diagnostics in the second quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.06% of the company’s stock.
Quest Diagnostics Company Profile (Get Free Report)
Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX) is a leading provider of diagnostic information services that supports clinical decision-making for patients, physicians and healthcare organizations. The company operates a network of clinical laboratories and patient service centers that perform a broad range of laboratory tests and diagnostic assays used in routine care, disease diagnosis, monitoring and screening.
Its services span core clinical laboratory testing, anatomic pathology, molecular and genomic diagnostics, infectious disease testing and toxicology.
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Investors might want to bet on Quest Diagnostics (DGX - Free Report) , as it has been recently upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This rating change essentially reflects an upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.
The sole determinant of the Zacks rating is a company's changing earnings picture. The Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years is tracked by the system.
Individual investors often find it hard to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts, since these are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time. In these situations, the Zacks rating system comes in handy because of the power of a changing earnings picture in determining near-term stock price movements.
Therefore, the Zacks rating upgrade for Quest Diagnostics basically reflects positivity about its earnings outlook that could translate into buying pressure and an increase in its stock price.
Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock PricesThe change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, and the near-term price movement of its stock are proven to be strongly correlated. That's partly because of the influence of institutional investors that use earnings and earnings estimates for calculating the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their transaction of large amounts of shares then leads to price movement for the stock.
Fundamentally speaking, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade for Quest Diagnostics imply an improvement in the company's underlying business. Investors should show their appreciation for this improving business trend by pushing the stock higher.
Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate RevisionsEmpirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, so it could be truly rewarding if such revisions are tracked for making an investment decision. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions.
The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Earnings Estimate Revisions for Quest DiagnosticsFor the fiscal year ending December 2026, this medical laboratory operator is expected to earn $11.15 per share, which is unchanged compared with the year-ago reported number.
Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for Quest Diagnostics. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 4.1%.
Bottom LineUnlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of "buy" and "sell" ratings for its entire universe of more than 4,000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a "Strong Buy" rating and the next 15% get a "Buy" rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term.
You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>>
The upgrade of Quest Diagnostics to a Zacks Rank #2 positions it in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.
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What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
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Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.
Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreWhat if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.
It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.
A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Quest Diagnostics (DGX - Free Report) Headquartered in Secaucus, New Jersey, Quest Diagnostics Incorporated provides diagnostic information services to a broad range of customers within its primary channels of physicians, hospitals, patients and consumers. The company provides services to integrated delivery networks throughout the United States through its Professional Lab Services offerings. These services help customers build and execute laboratory strategies, improve quality, reduce healthcare costs and focus on core competencies. The company is a key provider of reference testing for approximately half of U.S. hospitals.
DGX is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
Momentum investors should take note of this Medical stock. DGX has a Momentum Style Score of A, and shares are up 11.3% over the past four weeks.
10 analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.46 to $11.15 per share. DGX boasts an average earnings surprise of +5.8%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, DGX should be on investors' short list.
Momentum investing revolves around the idea of following a stock's recent trend in either direction. In "long context," investors will be essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." With this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving that way. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.
While many investors like to look for momentum in stocks, this can be very tough to define. There is a lot of debate surrounding which metrics are the best to focus on and which are poor quality indicators of future performance. The Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.
Below, we take a look at Quest Diagnostics (DGX - Free Report) , a company that currently holds a Momentum Style Score of B. We also talk about price change and earnings estimate revisions, two of the main aspects of the Momentum Style Score.
It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. Quest Diagnostics currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of "A or B" outperform the market over the following one-month period.
You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>
Set to Beat the Market? In order to see if DGX is a promising momentum pick, let's examine some Momentum Style elements to see if this medical laboratory operator holds up.
Looking at a stock's short-term price activity is a great way to gauge if it has momentum, since this can reflect both the current interest in a stock and if buyers or sellers have the upper hand at the moment. It's also helpful to compare a security to its industry; this can show investors the best companies in a particular area.
For DGX, shares are up 2.29% over the past week while the Zacks Medical - Outpatient and Home Healthcare industry is up 1.25% over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 12.72% compares favorably with the industry's 7.37% performance as well.
While any stock can see its price increase, it takes a real winner to consistently beat the market. That is why looking at longer term price metrics -- such as performance over the past three months or year -- can be useful as well. Shares of Quest Diagnostics have increased 21.78% over the past quarter, and have gained 32.28% in the last year. In comparison, the S&P 500 has only moved 5.06% and 21.84%, respectively.
Investors should also pay attention to DGX's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. DGX is currently averaging 1,085,921 shares for the last 20 days.
Earnings OutlookThe Zacks Momentum Style Score encompasses many things, including estimate revisions and a stock's price movement. Investors should note that earnings estimates are also significant to the Zacks Rank, and a nice path here can be promising. We have recently been noticing this with DGX.
Over the past two months, 10 earnings estimates moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. These revisions helped boost DGX's consensus estimate, increasing from $10.69 to $11.15 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 10 estimates have moved upwards while there have been no downward revisions in the same time period.
Bottom LineTaking into account all of these elements, it should come as no surprise that DGX is a #2 (Buy) stock with a Momentum Score of B. If you've been searching for a fresh pick that's set to rise in the near-term, make sure to keep Quest Diagnostics on your short list.
Resources Investor Relations Journalists Agencies Client Login Send a Release News Products Contact , /PRNewswire/ -- Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), a leader in diagnostic information services, today announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.86 per share, payable on October 21, 2026 to shareholders of record of Quest Diagnostics common stock on October 6, 2026.
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics works across healthcare to create a healthier world, one life at a time. We connect people, from clinicians to consumers, with laboratory insights that illuminate a path to better health. With a focus on delivering smarter, simpler testing, we help reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, empower healthy behaviors and improve healthcare management. Quest Diagnostics serves half the physicians and hospitals in the United States and one in three American adults each year, and our nearly 60,000 employees work together to deliver diagnostic insights that inspire actions to transform lives. www.QuestDiagnostics.com
Quest Diagnostics president and CEO Jim Davis discusses how his company is implementing AI to help its patients on 'The Claman Countdown.' #fox #media #breakingnews #us #usa #new #news #breaking #foxbusiness #theclamancountdown #ai #artificialintelligence #health #healthcare #technology #medical #patients #doctors #diagnostics #innovation #business #leadership #future #medicine #jimdavis #questdiagnostics
Key Takeaways Quest Diagnostics raised 2026 revenue and adjusted EPS guidance after a second-quarter beat. Organic requisition volume rose 13%, while revenue per requisition fell 2.8%, making volume the key driver.Lower-margin partnerships, Project Nova spending and fuel costs could slow margin expansion. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX - Free Report) raised its 2026 revenue and adjusted earnings guidance after second-quarter results topped expectations. The increase reflects faster testing demand across physician, hospital and consumer channels.
The outlook is improving, but the quality of the upside still matters. Investors must weigh durable organic volume growth against acquisition contributions, lower-margin partnerships and higher spending on operational projects.
Quest Lifts Revenue and Earnings GuidanceQuest now expects 2026 revenues of $11.95 billion to $12.05 billion, up from its prior range of $11.78 billion to $11.90 billion. The revised range implies growth of 8.3% to 9.2%.
Adjusted earnings are projected at $11.05-$11.25 per share, compared with the earlier $10.63-$10.83 range. The new midpoint stands above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $11.11 per share at the time of the report.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
DGX Volume Growth Powers the Second-Quarter BeatSecond-quarter Revenues rose 10.2% to $3.04 billion, exceeding the consensus mark by 2.1%.
Total requisition volume climbed 13.1%, while organic requisition volume advanced 13%. Revenue per requisition fell 2.8%, showing that volume, rather than pricing, carried the quarter. Labcorp Holdings Inc. (LH - Free Report) , another major laboratory-services provider, competes with Quest across diagnostics and health-system relationships, keeping service quality and access central to share gains.
Per, the Zacks Consensus Estimate, revenues are pegged at 11.99 billion for 2026.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Quest Partnerships Add Revenue and Mix PressureCorewell Health is expected to contribute about $250 million to 2026 revenues. The joint venture expands Quest’s hospital channel, while the acquired Fresenius Medical Care assets broaden its kidney-care testing capabilities.
Those additions improve scale but come with lower margins. DaVita Inc. (DVA - Free Report) , a comprehensive kidney-care provider, operates across the same broader kidney-health ecosystem that Quest is targeting through risk assessment, dialysis-related testing and post-transplant monitoring. Quest’s opportunity is meaningful, but integration discipline will determine how quickly revenue converts into profit.
In the past year, DGX shares have risen 35.2% compared with the industry’s 33.7% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
DGX Spending Could Delay Margin PayoffProject Nova spending is expected to increase in the second half of 2026, and management also anticipates about $10 million in fuel-cost pressure for the year. Integration expenses and lower-margin partnership revenue add another layer of near-term dilution.
Second-quarter adjusted operating margin declined 40 basis points to 16.5%. Management still expects full-year margin expansion, supported by volume growth, Invigorate savings and less dilution from Corewell and Fresenius later in the year. That outcome depends on cost execution keeping pace with demand.
Quest Signals Back the Improved Earnings ViewThe raised outlook strengthens the earnings case, but the mix of organic growth, acquired revenues and spending remains important. Sustained requisition gains and productivity savings would make the upgrade more durable, while integration or cost slippage could limit margin expansion.
Quest currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), which reflects favorable earnings estimate revision trends over the near term. The stock also has a Momentum Score of A and a VGM Score of A, while its Value Score and Growth Score are both B. The combination points to favorable momentum and balanced style characteristics, though the stock’s premium valuation and execution demands still warrant attention.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Key Takeaways DGX posted adjusted EPS of $3.12 as revenues rose 10.2% and requisition volume climbed 13.1%. Quest Diagnostics raised 2026 revenue guidance to $11.95B-$12.05B and adjusted EPS to $11.05-$11.25. DGX's elevated valuation, $5.63B debt and lower operating margin leave less room for execution missteps. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX - Free Report) has rallied as earnings momentum improved, estimates moved higher and demand broadened across its testing platform.
The buy case is not one-sided. The stock’s advance has lifted valuation closer to its five-year high, while leverage, cost pressure and reimbursement uncertainty leave less room for execution missteps.
DGX Delivers a Strong Second-Quarter BeatQuest Diagnostics reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $3.12 per share, up 19.1% year over year. The result surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 11%, extending a period of positive earnings momentum.
Revenues rose 10.2% year over year to $3.04 billion and beat the consensus mark by 2.1%. Growth was supported by a 13.1% increase in requisition volume, with Diagnostic Information Services benefiting from physician, hospital and consumer channels.
Physician channel revenues increased in the high single-digit range, helped by new customer wins, higher business with existing customers and expanded health plan access. Hospital revenues grew at a double-digit rate, while QuestHealth.com continued to see demand for wellness panels and newer services such as thyroid testing.
Quest Diagnostics Raises Its 2026 OutlookQuest Diagnostics now expects 2026 revenues of $11.95 billion to $12.05 billion, up from its prior range of $11.78 billion to $11.90 billion. The revised outlook implies revenue growth of 8.3-9.2%.
Adjusted earnings are projected at $11.05 to $11.25 per share, compared with the previous range of $10.63 to $10.83. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings has also moved higher, with the current-year earnings estimate up 4.1% over the past four weeks.
The higher outlook reflects stronger testing demand and better expected earnings conversion. It also supports the case that Quest’s base business, acquisitions and advanced diagnostics portfolio are contributing to near-term growth.
DGX Valuation Leaves Less Room for ErrorValuation is the main counterweight after the share-price run. DGX trades at 20.34X forward 12-month earnings, above its five-year median of 16.16X and at the high end of its five-year range of 11.34X to 20.65X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Shares recently traded at $235.22, compared with a $252 price target. That target still points to positive potential, but the upside is moderate after gains of 24.4% in the past three months and 39.4% over the past year.
The stock also trades slightly above the S&P 500 on a forward earnings basis. Investors are paying for improved visibility, but the valuation leaves less cushion if volumes slow, costs rise or margin recovery takes longer.
Quest Diagnostics Faces Debt and Margin RisksQuest Diagnostics ended the second quarter with $626 million in cash and cash equivalents, while long-term debt stood at $5.63 billion. Elevated debt could limit flexibility as the company invests in acquisitions, automation and Project Nova.
Margin trends also require monitoring. Adjusted operating margin declined 40 basis points to 16.5% in the second quarter, as higher service costs, Project Nova spending, supplemental deferred compensation and the lower-margin Corewell and Fresenius mix weighed on profitability.
Reimbursement remains another pressure point. Management continues to assume a 30-basis-point 2026 revenue impact tied to the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act exchange subsidies, with a larger second-half effect still possible.
Labcorp Holdings Inc. (LH - Free Report) remains a relevant peer because it operates in the same diagnostics and laboratory services market where price, access, turnaround time and service quality matter. DaVita Inc. (DVA - Free Report) adds context for kidney-care exposure, an area where Quest has broadened capabilities through the Fresenius Medical Care collaboration.
Based on short-term price targets offered by 16 analysts, the average price target for Quest Diagnostics comes to $242.75, representing an increase of 3.2% from the last closing price.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
DGX Scores Favor Near-Term SelectivityDGX still has a constructive near-term profile. The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), which reflects favorable earnings estimate revision trends over the one-to-three-month horizon.
The Style Scores add nuance. DGX has a Momentum Score of A and a VGM Score of A, while its Value Score and Growth Score are both B. That mix points to solid overall characteristics, with momentum currently standing out more than the valuation margin of safety.
For investors, the stock remains worth watching, but selectivity is warranted. Earnings momentum, higher guidance and positive estimate revisions support the near-term case, while valuation, leverage and margin pressure argue against chasing the stock without regard to entry point.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Key Takeaways DGX is using broad testing demand, advanced diagnostics and partnerships to support 2026 growth. Physician revenues rose high single digits, while hospital revenues grew in the second quarter. DGX targets annual cost savings as AI, automation and Project Nova address labor and reimbursement woes. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX - Free Report) is combining broad testing demand, wider payer access, advanced diagnostics and partnership-led expansion to support revenue growth in 2026.
For investors, the key question is whether these drivers can keep lifting revenues while automation, artificial intelligence and cost programs protect profitability against reimbursement, integration and spending pressures.
Quest Diagnostics Builds on Broad-Based DemandQuest Diagnostics’ base business continues to benefit from physicians, hospitals and consumers. In the second quarter of 2026, physician-channel revenues increased in the high-single-digit range, supported by new customer wins, higher business from existing customers, acquisitions and growth in regions with expanded health plan access.
Hospital-channel revenues grew at a double-digit rate, mainly from Co-Lab Solutions with Corewell Health. QuestHealth.com also generated revenue growth, helped by demand for wellness panels, newer thyroid testing services and technology integrations with consumer, wearable and wellness partners.
In the past year, DGX shares have gained 39.4% compared with the industry’s 33.5% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Labcorp Holdings Inc. (LH - Free Report) remains a relevant comparison point because it competes in laboratory services and broader diagnostics. Quest’s growth signals therefore matter not only for DGX holders but also for investors tracking how scale and access affect the testing market.
DGX Expands Advanced Diagnostics Across Key AreasAdvanced Diagnostics remains one of Quest’s clearer growth engines. The company is expanding across cardiometabolic and endocrine health, autoimmune disorders, brain health, oncology, and women’s and reproductive health, with several targeted areas delivering double-digit revenue growth in the second quarter of 2026.
Demand remained elevated for ApoB, Lp(a) and liver fibrosis tests. The AD-Detect brain-health portfolio again delivered double-digit growth, while New York State approval of Haystack MRD enabled commercial expansion across all 50 states.
Quest Diagnostics Uses Deals to Extend ReachQuest continues to use acquisitions and joint ventures to expand geographic reach, health plan access and specialized testing capabilities. The company targets 1%-2% annual revenue growth from acquisitions, with an emphasis on hospital outreach assets and independent laboratories.
The Corewell Health laboratory venture is a central example. Formed in January 2026, the Michigan joint venture is owned 51% by Quest and 49% by Corewell, is expected to contribute about $250 million to 2026 revenues and is scheduled to launch a new joint venture laboratory in early 2027.
DaVita Inc. (DVA - Free Report) is another healthcare-services peer tied to the broader kidney-care ecosystem. Quest’s acquired Fresenius Medical Care testing assets and kidney-care collaboration underscore how lab services can deepen ties with providers serving chronic disease populations.
DGX Targets Efficiency Through AI and AutomationQuest’s Invigorate program now targets 3% annual cost savings and productivity improvements. The effort is designed to offset labor, benefit and reimbursement pressures while improving service quality across laboratory and administrative workflows.
The company expanded AI-enabled cervical cancer screening and front-end specimen-processing automation to additional laboratories in the second quarter. It also launched IntelliDraw for specimen collection at physician offices and plans an AI-based supply tool at patient service centers, while Project Nova remains a multiyear order-to-cash transformation with the first implementation wave planned for fall 2027.
In the past 30 days, estimates for Quest Diagnostics’ 2026 earnings have moved north by 3.7%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Quest Diagnostics Signals Support a Balanced ViewThe bottom line is that Quest has several visible growth drivers, but the case is not one-sided. Broad demand, advanced diagnostics and partnerships support revenues, while elevated debt, reimbursement uncertainty, cost inflation and margin execution remain important risks.
DGX currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), supported by favorable estimate-revision trends. The stock also has a Momentum Score of A, Value Score of B, Growth Score of B and VGM Score of A, a combination that points to favorable short-term characteristics across price action, valuation and growth.
The Style Scores are designed to complement the Zacks Rank, not replace it. For DGX, the Rank and scores support a constructive near-term view, while the longer-term outlook remains more balanced because execution around Project Nova, partnership margins and reimbursement pressure still matters.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Largest nationally representative study finds 12% of patients positive for bacterial vaginosis are infected with at least one STI, such as chlamydia or gonorrhea
, /PRNewswire/ -- Women who test positive for bacterial vaginosis (BV) were over three times more likely to also test positive for one or more non-viral sexually transmitted infections (STIs) than women who test negative for BV, according to a new Health Trends® study from Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX) and Hologic, Inc.
In the largest national study of its kind, scientists at Quest and Hologic analyzed deidentified aggregated laboratory data from over 1.5 million women across the United States who received molecular testing from Quest between 2022 and 2024. Over one-third of women tested (38.7%) were positive for BV. Of these, 12% were co-infected with at least one STI. The findings were published in O&G Open, a peer-reviewed companion journal to Obstetrics & Gynecology, the official publication of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
"BV is one of the most common health problems in women, and yet research in this area of women's healthcare is sadly lacking. Our new analysis provides compelling evidence that women with BV are at significant risk for STIs based on a uniquely large dataset reflecting the nation's heterogenous population," said co-author Damian P. Alagia III, MD, a board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist and Senior Medical Director, Women's Health, Quest Diagnostics. "STIs can lead to serious reproductive and other health complications when left undetected and untreated. We hope our new data inspires much-needed additional research on this clinical area while also reinforcing for clinicians and policy makers the value of a comprehensive diagnostic approach that considers STI testing for patients with BV."
Growing evidence suggests that changes in the vaginal microbiome may contribute not only to vaginitis, a common condition associated with inflammation, discomfort and infection, but also to increased susceptibility to other STIs, including HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomonas.
Key findings:
Among the more than 1.5 million women tested, 38.7% were positive for BV and 28.5% were positive for vulvovaginal candidiasis. Approximately 10.8% were positive for both. 12.0% of BV-positive women had at least one STI, compared to only 3.8% of BV-negative women. After adjusting for other factors, BV-positive status was strongly associated with increased odds of having: Chlamydia trachomatis: 2.8 times higher odds. Neisseria gonorrhoeae: 3.8 times higher odds. Trichomonas vaginalis: 3.6 times higher odds. Mycoplasma genitalium: 1.9 times higher odds. The presence of vulvovaginal candidiasis alone was not found to be associated with an increased risk of having an STI co-infection. Nearly 30% of women in the U.S. are believed to experience BV at some point in their life. Guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that women with BV should be tested for STIs, which can present with similar symptoms, complicating diagnosis. Modern molecular diagnostics can allow for comprehensive assessment of vaginal infections from a single specimen, supporting timely detection and management of infections.
"This research confirms and expands on previous research on increased STI risk in women with BV, but with the advantage of a much larger data set from which to draw conclusions," said Elizabeth M. Marlowe, MS, PhD, Executive Director, Infectious Disease, Quest Diagnostics. "This large study underscores the value of comprehensive molecular testing when clinically indicated, enabling clinicians to detect coinfections from a single specimen, optimize patient management, and strengthen evidence-based care."
The study's strengths include its large, diverse and nationally representative sample size. The detailed analysis strengthens the evidence-based literature for reliable, impactful clinical guidelines to support the use of advanced molecular testing. The primary limitation to this retrospective study was that the data was provided by a single national laboratory, and that specific patient information like additional risk factors were not available.
In 2024, Quest introduced self-collection services for bacterial vaginitis and other common genital tract infections at its more than 2,000 patient service centers, for patients who prefer to self-collect a specimen, instead of collection by a healthcare provider.
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics works across healthcare to create a healthier world, one life at a time. We connect people, from clinicians to consumers, with laboratory insights that illuminate a path to better health. With a focus on delivering smarter, simpler testing, we help reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, empower healthy behaviors and improve healthcare management. Quest Diagnostics serves half the physicians and hospitals in the United States and one in three American adults each year, and our nearly 60,000 employees work together to deliver diagnostic insights that inspire actions to transform lives. www.QuestDiagnostics.com
Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.
The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.
Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time.
Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreWhat if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.
#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.
A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Quest Diagnostics (DGX - Free Report) Headquartered in Secaucus, New Jersey, Quest Diagnostics Inc. provides diagnostic information services to a broad range of customers within its primary customer channels of physicians, hospitals, patients, and consumers. The company provides services to Independent Delivery Networks (IDN) throughout the United States, through its Professional Lab Services (PLS) offerings, which allow them to build and execute their laboratory strategy, improve quality, reduce healthcare costs, and focus on core competencies. The company is a key provider of reference testing for approximately half of the hospitals in the United States.
DGX is a #2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 21.14; value investors should take notice.
Six analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.28 to $10.97 per share. DGX also boasts an average earnings surprise of +5.8%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, DGX should be on investors' short list.
Shares of Quest Diagnostics (DGX -0.02%) rose more than 8% last week after the medical testing leader boosted its full-year sales and profit forecast.
Image source: Getty Images.
Healthy Q2 results Quest's revenue jumped 10% year over year to $3 billion in the second quarter.
This growth was driven in part by the Quest's partnerships with Corewell Health, a non-profit healthcare system in Michigan, and Fresenius Medical Care, a leading provider of kidney dialysis and related services.
The healthcare giant also saw solid gains in its Questhealth.com direct-to-consumer business, as well as its wellness and wearables-related sales.
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At the same time, Quest's investments in automation technology and artificial intelligence (AI) are making its labs more efficient. That's helping to boost its profit margins.
All told, Quest's adjusted earnings leaped 19% to $3.12 per share.
Healthier living trends bode well for Quest's long-term growth These robust results prompted Quest to lift its full-year financial outlook. Management now projects revenue of roughly $12 billion and adjusted earnings per share of $11.05 to $11.25.
With a vast lab network that serves half the physicians and hospitals in the U.S., Quest plays a vital role in providing potentially life-saving health insights to millions of people every year.
With more people becoming more health-conscious, demand for Quest's medical testing services is set to climb in the years ahead.
Joe Tenebruso has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Quest Diagnostics. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Momentum investing is all about the idea of following a stock's recent trend, which can be in either direction. In the "long context," investors will essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." And for investors following this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving in that direction. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.
Even though momentum is a popular stock characteristic, it can be tough to define. Debate surrounding which are the best and worst metrics to focus on is lengthy, but the Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.
Below, we take a look at Quest Diagnostics (DGX - Free Report) , a company that currently holds a Momentum Style Score of B. We also talk about price change and earnings estimate revisions, two of the main aspects of the Momentum Style Score.
It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. Quest Diagnostics currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of "A or B" outperform the market over the following one-month period.
You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>
Set to Beat the Market?Let's discuss some of the components of the Momentum Style Score for DGX that show why this medical laboratory operator shows promise as a solid momentum pick.
A good momentum benchmark for a stock is to look at its short-term price activity, as this can reflect both current interest and if buyers or sellers currently have the upper hand. It is also useful to compare a security to its industry, as this can help investors pinpoint the top companies in a particular area.
For DGX, shares are up 1.56% over the past week while the Zacks Medical - Outpatient and Home Healthcare industry is up 1.41% over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 10.5% compares favorably with the industry's 7.08% performance as well.
While any stock can see its price increase, it takes a real winner to consistently beat the market. That is why looking at longer term price metrics -- such as performance over the past three months or year -- can be useful as well. Shares of Quest Diagnostics have increased 17.35% over the past quarter, and have gained 32.58% in the last year. On the other hand, the S&P 500 has only moved 4.48% and 17.65%, respectively.
Investors should also pay attention to DGX's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. DGX is currently averaging 1,013,849 shares for the last 20 days.
Earnings OutlookThe Zacks Momentum Style Score also takes into account trends in estimate revisions, in addition to price changes. Please note that estimate revision trends remain at the core of Zacks Rank as well. A nice path here can help show promise, and we have recently been seeing that with DGX.
Over the past two months, 1 earnings estimate moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. This revision helped boost DGX's consensus estimate, increasing from $10.70 to $10.72 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 1 estimate has moved upwards while there have been no downward revisions in the same time period.
Bottom LineGiven these factors, it shouldn't be surprising that DGX is a #2 (Buy) stock and boasts a Momentum Score of B. If you're looking for a fresh pick that's set to soar in the near-term, make sure to keep Quest Diagnostics on your short list.
A strong stock as of late has been Quest Diagnostics (DGX - Free Report) . Shares have been marching higher, with the stock up 10.5% over the past month. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $237.78 in the previous session. Quest Diagnostics has gained 31.3% since the start of the year compared to the -0.1% gain for the Zacks Medical sector and the 20.4% return for the Zacks Medical - Outpatient and Home Healthcare industry.
What's Driving the Outperformance?The stock has an impressive record of positive earnings surprises, as it hasn't missed our earnings consensus estimate in any of the last four quarters. In its last earnings report on July 23, 2026, Quest Diagnostics reported EPS of $3.12 versus consensus estimate of $2.81 while it beat the consensus revenue estimate by 2.15%.
For the current fiscal year, Quest Diagnostics is expected to post earnings of $10.72 per share on $11.83 in revenues. This represents a 8.83% change in EPS on a 7.25% change in revenues. For the next fiscal year, the company is expected to earn $11.56 per share on $12.39 in revenues. This represents a year-over-year change of 7.84% and 4.69%, respectively.
Valuation MetricsThough Quest Diagnostics has recently hit a 52-week high, what is next for Quest Diagnostics? A key aspect of this question is taking a look at valuation metrics in order to determine if the company has run ahead of itself.
On this front, we can look at the Zacks Style Scores, as these give investors a variety of ways to comb through stocks (beyond looking at the Zacks Rank of a security). These styles are represented by grades running from A to F in the categories of Value, Growth, and Momentum, while there is a combined VGM Score as well. Investors should consider the style scores a valuable tool that can help you to pick the most appropriate Zacks Rank stocks based on their individual investment style.
Quest Diagnostics has a Value Score of B. The stock's Growth and Momentum Scores are B and B, respectively, giving the company a VGM Score of B.
In terms of its value breakdown, the stock currently trades at 21.3X current fiscal year EPS estimates, which is a premium to the peer industry average of 20.9X. On a trailing cash flow basis, the stock currently trades at 15X versus its peer group's average of 14.8X. Additionally, the stock has a PEG ratio of 2.72. This isn't enough to put the company in the top echelon of all stocks we cover from a value perspective.
Zacks RankWe also need to consider the stock's Zacks Rank, as this is even more important than the company's VGM Score. Fortunately, Quest Diagnostics currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) thanks to favorable earnings estimate revisions from covering analysts.
Since we recommend that investors select stocks carrying Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B, it looks as if Quest Diagnostics fits the bill. Thus, it seems as though Quest Diagnostics shares could have a bit more room to run in the near term.
How Does DGX Stack Up to the Competition?Shares of DGX have been soaring, and the company still appears to be a decent choice, but what about the rest of the industry? One industry peer that looks good is Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc. (AVAH - Free Report) . AVAH has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) and a Value Score of A, a Growth Score of A, and a Momentum Score of B.
Earnings were strong last quarter. Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc. beat our consensus estimate by 38.46%, and for the current fiscal year, AVAH is expected to post earnings of $0.73 per share on revenue of $2.65 billion.
Shares of Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc. have gained 7.1% over the past month, and currently trade at a forward P/E of 12.44X and a P/CF of 13.17X.
The Medical - Outpatient and Home Healthcare industry is in the top 39% of all the industries we have in our universe, so it looks like there are some nice tailwinds for DGX and AVAH, even beyond their own solid fundamental situation.
It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.
The research service features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, all of which will help you become a smarter, more confident investor.
Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.
Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.
Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.
The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.
For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Quest Diagnostics (DGX - Free Report) Headquartered in Secaucus, New Jersey, Quest Diagnostics Inc. provides diagnostic information services to a broad range of customers within its primary customer channels of physicians, hospitals, patients, and consumers. The company provides services to Independent Delivery Networks (IDN) throughout the United States, through its Professional Lab Services (PLS) offerings, which allow them to build and execute their laboratory strategy, improve quality, reduce healthcare costs, and focus on core competencies. The company is a key provider of reference testing for approximately half of the hospitals in the United States.
DGX is a #2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
Momentum investors should take note of this Medical stock. DGX has a Momentum Style Score of B, and shares are up 10.5% over the past four weeks.
One analyst revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.02 to $10.72 per share. DGX also boasts an average earnings surprise of +5.8%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, DGX should be on investors' short list.
SummaryQuest Diagnostics earns a reiterated buy rating after Q2 earnings beat, upgraded FY guidance, and continued market momentum.DGX benefits from strong macro demand for specialized diagnostic testing, peer-leading ROE, and resilient top-line growth (+10.2% YoY).Upward earnings revisions, robust dividend growth, and investment-grade credit ratings support the bull case, though cost pressures and payor risk warrant monitoring.Valuation shows some opportunity, but total return forecast falls short of hurdle rate; sector-specific regulatory risks remain a challenge. krblokhin/iStock Editorial via Getty Images
A Major Diagnostics Brand the Bulls Have Been Chasing Lately While I've been writing a lot on this platform about healthcare REITs, since I'm a REIT enthusiast myself, every so often I also care about what
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Earnings And Revenue Top EstimatesAdjusted earnings rose to $3.12 per share, beating the analyst consensus estimate of $2.83. Revenue increased 10.2% year over year to $3.043 billion, ahead of the $2.973 billion consensus estimate. Consolidated organic revenue grew 10%.
Adjusted operating income climbed 7.8% to $502 million.
Quest Diagnostics’ second-quarter results showed growth across every major customer channel, with strong demand from physicians, hospitals and consumers driving a 10% increase in organic revenue.
Management also highlighted robust momentum in preventive healthcare, saying its consumer wellness business continued to expand as more people sought health screening and diagnostic tests, reinforcing the company’s long-term growth strategy.
Quest Diagnostics Sees Broad-Based Volume GrowthTotal requisition volume increased 13.1% from a year earlier, while organic volume rose 13%, driven by broad clinical demand from physicians, hospitals and consumers, as well as higher testing volumes from collaborations with Corewell Health and Fresenius Medical Care.
The Corewell Health and Fresenius relationships contributed about 9% of total volume during the quarter. Excluding those partnerships, requisition volume increased 4.1%.
Revenue per requisition declined 2.8% year over year, reflecting the business mix from the two partnerships. Excluding that impact, revenue per requisition increased 2.9%, primarily due to a higher number of tests per requisition. Unit price reimbursement was flat from a year earlier, in line with company expectations.
Quest Diagnostics Raises Full-Year Outlook“With strong growth and sustained demand for our diagnostic insights, we are again raising our full-year guidance,” Chairman, President and CEO Jim Davis said.
Quest Diagnostics raised its fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings guidance to $11.05 to $11.25 per share, up from its previous forecast of $10.63 to $10.83, and above the Wall Street consensus estimate of $10.76.
The company also increased its full-year revenue outlook to $11.95 billion to $12.05 billion, from a prior range of $11.78 billion to $11.90 billion. The updated forecast exceeds the analyst consensus estimate of $11.851 billion.
DGX Price Action: Quest Diagnostics shares were up 6.14% at $222.71 at the time of publication on Thursday. The stock is trading at a new 52-week high, according to Benzinga Pro data.
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Myriad Genetics Sees Stock Surge with Hereditary Cancer TestsQuest Diagnostics NYSE: DGX reported double-digit revenue growth and raised its full-year 2026 outlook after what executives described as strong demand across its physician, hospital and consumer channels, as well as increased volume from major collaborations with Corewell Health and Fresenius Medical Care.
On the company’s second-quarter earnings call, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President Jim Davis said Quest grew revenue by more than 10% in the quarter, driven by “broad clinical demand from physicians, hospitals, and consumers” and higher volume tied to the Corewell and Fresenius relationships. Chief Financial Officer Sam Samad said consolidated revenue was $3.04 billion, up 10.2% from the prior year, while consolidated organic revenue rose 10%.
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LifeMD Shares Come Back to Life on GLP-1 Business Growth Total volume, measured by requisitions, increased 13.1% compared with the second quarter of 2025, including 13% organic volume growth. Samad said the Corewell Health and Fresenius Medical Care relationships contributed 9% to volume in the quarter. Excluding those two relationships, volumes rose 4.1%.
Reported operating income was $459 million, or 15.1% of revenue, compared with $438 million, or 15.9% of revenue, a year earlier. Adjusted operating income was $502 million, or 16.5% of revenue, compared with $466 million, or 16.9% of revenue, last year. Samad said the increase in adjusted operating income reflected organic revenue growth, partially offset by wage increases.
Exact Sciences Serves Investors Exactly What They Wished For Reported diluted earnings per share were $2.84, compared with $2.47 a year earlier. Adjusted diluted EPS was $3.12, up from $2.62 in the prior-year period. Samad said the EPS improvement was driven by organic operating performance and the favorable resolution of various tax contingencies, which contributed $0.10 per share in the quarter. Excluding that one-time tax benefit, adjusted EPS grew 15.3%.
Company Raises 2026 Guidance Quest raised its full-year 2026 revenue and earnings outlook, citing first-half performance and ongoing demand. The company now expects:
Revenue of $11.95 billion to $12.05 billion, representing growth of 8.3% to 9.2%. Reported EPS of $9.97 to $10.17. Adjusted EPS of $11.05 to $11.25. Cash from operations of approximately $1.8 billion. Capital expenditures of approximately $550 million. Samad said the guidance excludes any contribution from prospective mergers and acquisitions. He also noted that Project Nova expenses are unchanged for the full year, but the company now expects increased spending in the second half compared with prior expectations. Higher fuel costs in the second half are also included in the outlook.
Despite those pressures, Samad said Quest still expects operating margin to expand versus the prior year. He said the company expects to lap the Corewell and Fresenius impacts in the fourth quarter, reducing their dilutive effect on total operating margins in the second half.
Physician, Hospital and Consumer Channels Drive Growth Davis said the physician channel delivered high single-digit revenue growth during the quarter, supported by demand for clinical innovations, new customer wins and expanded business with existing customers. He cited growth in geographies where Quest has expanded access through health plans and acquisitions, as well as enterprise accounts focused on prevention and wellness.
In hospitals, Davis said revenue grew at a double-digit rate, primarily from co-lab solutions with Corewell Health in Michigan. Reference testing revenue also increased versus both the first quarter and the prior year. During the question-and-answer portion of the call, Davis said the company’s core hospital reference business generated mid-single-digit revenue growth, with slightly higher volume growth. He said same-store sales in co-lab arrangements excluding Corewell also grew at a mid-single-digit rate.
Davis said Quest formed a new co-lab agreement during the quarter with a nonprofit regional health system in California. He added that the company has a “strong pipeline” of potential hospital collaborations, hospital outreach acquisitions and independent lab opportunities.
In consumer health, Davis said questhealth.com continued to generate “robust revenue growth,” with strong demand for existing wellness panels and new services including thyroid testing. He said the broader consumer business, which includes direct and indirect offerings, was previously sized at about $250 million and is currently growing toward the high end of the company’s 20% to 30% expectation for 2027.
Advanced Diagnostics and Automation Highlighted Davis said Quest posted double-digit revenue growth across several advanced diagnostic areas, including cardiometabolic testing such as ApoB and Lp(a), liver fibrosis testing and autoimmune testing through the company’s analyzer solution. In brain health, he said the company continued to drive “robust double-digit growth” across its AD-Detect blood tests, including amyloid beta and p-tau biomarkers.
In oncology, Davis highlighted New York State approval of the Haystack MRD test, which he said allows Quest to extend commercial efforts to all 50 states. He also said Quest became the largest reference lab to extend access to cancer tests such as Haystack MRD through Flatiron Health’s OncoEMR molecular profiling integration platform. A pilot with American Oncology Network has begun, with plans to roll out to Flatiron’s 4,700 clinicians and other providers nationwide later this year.
Davis also discussed operational initiatives, saying Quest remains on track to deliver 3% in annual cost savings and productivity improvements through its Invigorate program. He pointed to expanded use of automation and artificial intelligence, including Hologic’s Genius Digital Diagnostics System for Pap test slide review, front-end specimen processing automation, a web-based collection tool called IntelliDraw and an AI tool intended to reduce the time needed to track and order supplies at patient service centers.
Executives Address Reimbursement, Bad Debt and PAMA Asked about Affordable Care Act exchange-related impacts, Davis said Quest continues to assume a 30-basis-point revenue impact from the expiration of ACA exchange subsidies. He said enrollment declines have not translated into a major business impact, noting that requisition volume in that book is down about 8%, but tests per requisition are up 6%, leaving test volume down about 2% and revenue “relatively flat.”
Executives also said they are not seeing deterioration in bad debt trends. Samad said hospital collections remain in line with expectations and that patient concessions, which he said typically hover around 5% of revenue, have not worsened and were slightly improved versus the prior-year quarter.
On PAMA, Davis outlined three possible outcomes: new CMS rates following the current data collection process, passage of the RESULTS Act, or another delay. He said Quest supports the RESULTS Act, which he described as a better method for collecting market data through a third-party approach. Davis said the bill has more than 115 co-sponsors and broad support from patient and consumer organizations. If the RESULTS Act passes, he said rates would stay flat for 2027 and 2028, with new rates taking effect in 2029 and annual cuts capped at no more than 5%.
Davis closed the call by saying Quest entered the second half with growth momentum and continued demand for lab insights, while remaining focused on its strategy of connecting patients and providers to testing and actionable health information.
About Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX)Quest Diagnostics NYSE: DGX is a leading provider of diagnostic information services that supports clinical decision-making for patients, physicians and healthcare organizations. The company operates a network of clinical laboratories and patient service centers that perform a broad range of laboratory tests and diagnostic assays used in routine care, disease diagnosis, monitoring and screening.
Its services span core clinical laboratory testing, anatomic pathology, molecular and genomic diagnostics, infectious disease testing and toxicology.
This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
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Quest Diagnostics (DGX - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $3.12 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.81 per share. This compares to earnings of $2.62 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +11.03%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this medical laboratory operator would post earnings of $2.37 per share when it actually produced earnings of $2.5, delivering a surprise of +5.49%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times.
Quest Diagnostics, which belongs to the Zacks Medical - Outpatient and Home Healthcare industry, posted revenues of $3.04 billion for the quarter ended June 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.15%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $2.76 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates four times over the last four quarters.
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
Quest Diagnostics shares have added about 20.9% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 9.6%.
What's Next for Quest Diagnostics?While Quest Diagnostics has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Quest Diagnostics was favorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to outperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $2.80 on $3.02 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $10.72 on $11.84 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Medical - Outpatient and Home Healthcare is currently in the top 39% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
One other stock from the same industry, Addus HomeCare (ADUS - Free Report) , is yet to report results for the quarter ended June 2026. The results are expected to be released on August 3.
This provider of home-based personal care, nursing and rehabilitative therapy services is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.69 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +13.4%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
Addus HomeCare's revenues are expected to be $375.33 million, up 7.4% from the year-ago quarter.
Key Takeaways Quest Diagnostics posted Q2 adjusted EPS of $3.12 as revenues climbed 10.2% to $3.04 billion. DGX's testing demand drove growth, with requisition volume up 13.1% and organic volume rising 13.0%. DGX raised its 2026 revenue outlook to $11.95-$12.05 billion and adjusted EPS to $11.05-$11.25. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $3.12 per share, up 19.1% year over year. The figure beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 11%.
The adjusted results exclude certain one-time items, including amortization expenses, restructuring and integration charges, other expenses, and excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation. GAAP earnings were $2.84 per share, up 15% from the prior-year figure.
DGX’s Q2 RevenuesRevenues rose 10.2% year over year to $3.04 billion and surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.1%. Growth was driven by higher testing demand, with requisition volume increasing 13.1% and organic requisition volume rising 13.0%.
DGX's Diagnostic Services Revenues ClimbDiagnostic Information Services revenues increased 10.3% year over year to $2.98 billion in the second quarter. The business accounted for nearly all of the company’s consolidated revenues and benefited from growth across physician, hospital and consumer channels.
Revenue per requisition declined 2.8% year over year. The decrease partly offset the benefit of higher volumes, but the scale of requisition growth supported double-digit revenue expansion for the segment.
DGX’s shares have gained nearly 6.2% in pre-market trading following the earnings report.
DGX's Margin Performance The cost of services during the reported quarter was $2.02 billion, up 10.9% year over year. Gross profit was $1.03 billion, up 8.9% from $943 million in the year-ago quarter. The gross margin contracted 40 basis points to 33.7%.
Selling, general and administrative expenses totaled $529 million, increasing 8.8% year over year. The operating margin narrowed 80 basis points to 15.1% in the second quarter.
DGX Strengthens Cash Flow and LiquidityQuest Diagnostics ended the second quarter with $626 million in cash and cash equivalents, up from $393 million at the end of the first quarter. During the first half, the company repurchased 0.5 million shares for $100 million, with $1.3 billion remaining under its authorization.
For the first six months of 2026, cash provided by operating activities increased 1.9% year over year to $875 million. Capital expenditures rose 12.1% to $252 million, reflecting continued investment in the business.
Quest Diagnostics Raises 2026 OutlookThe company now expects 2026 revenues to be between $11.95 billion and $12.05 billion, up from its prior range of $11.78-$11.90 billion. The revised outlook implies growth of 8.3-9.2%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at $11.84 billion.
Adjusted diluted earnings are projected to be between $11.05 and $11.25 per share compared with the previous range of $10.63-$10.83. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the metric is pegged at $10.72.
Our View on DGX StockQuest Diagnostics ended the second quarter of 2026 with earnings and revenues surpassing their respective estimates. The company saw robust growth across questhealth.com, consumer partnerships and Advanced Diagnostics. During the quarter, it also advanced key collaborations, secured New York approval for Haystack MRD and expanded laboratory automation and specimen-collection tools. Driven by the robust second-quarter performance, Quest Diagnostics raised its full-year 2026 guidance.
That said, the contraction of both margins in the quarter is discouraging.
DGX’s Zacks Rank & Other Key PicksQuest Diagnostics currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Some other top-ranked stocks from the broader medical space are Intuitive Surgical (ISRG - Free Report) , Phibro Animal Health (PAHC - Free Report) and QuidelOrtho CP (QDEL - Free Report) .
Intuitive Surgical, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 at present, posted a second-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS of $2.80, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 12.9%. Revenues of $2.89 billion topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.1%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
ISRG’s earnings outpaced estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 16.5%.
Phibro Animal Health, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 at present, posted a third-quarter fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS of 76 cents, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5.9%. Revenues of $383.5 million outperformed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 6.3%. PAHC’s earnings outpaced estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 16.2%.
QuidelOrtho, currently carrying a Zacks Rank #2, reported a first-quarter 2026 adjusted loss of 4 cents per share, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 110.8%. Revenues of $619.8 million beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.3%. QDEL beat earnings estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed on one occasion.
Second quarter revenues of $3.04 billion, up 10.2% from 2025, with 10.0% organic revenue growth Second quarter reported diluted earnings per share ("EPS") of $2.84, up 15.0% from 2025; and adjusted diluted EPS of $3.12, up 19.1% from 2025 Full year 2026 revenues now expected to be between $11.95 billion and $12.05 billion Full year 2026 reported diluted EPS now expected to be between $9.97 and $10.17; and adjusted diluted EPS expected to be between $11.05 and $11.25 , /PRNewswire/ -- Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), a leading provider of diagnostic information services, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026.
"Our robust top- and bottom-line growth in the second quarter demonstrates focused execution of our strategy to connect people and providers to innovative testing and actionable insights that illuminate paths for better health," said Jim Davis, Chairman, CEO and President. "Revenues increased by over 10%, almost all from organic revenue growth across our physician, hospital and consumer channels, and adjusted diluted EPS grew over 19%. With strong growth and sustained demand for our diagnostic insights, we are again raising our full year guidance."
Recent Highlights:
Serving Customers and Delivering Innovations
Continued to advance our Co-Lab Solutions implementation and joint venture laboratory with Corewell Health in Michigan and developed new capabilities in kidney care through our collaboration with Fresenius Medical Care in the United States. Generated robust revenue growth through questhealth.com and our consumer, wearable and wellness partners. Grew revenues by double-digits in several areas of Advanced Diagnostics, including Quest AD-Detect® blood tests for Alzheimer's disease and advanced cardiometabolic and endocrine tests, including liver fibrosis testing. Granted New York State approval for our Haystack MRD® test and became the largest reference lab to utilize Flatiron Health's OncoEMR® Molecular Profiling Integration (MPI) platform for select cancer tests, including Haystack MRD, starting with a pilot with American Oncology Network (AON). Driving Operational Excellence
In the lab, extended automation solutions to improve quality and productivity in cervical cancer screening and front-end specimen processing to additional labs. Outside the lab, launched IntelliDraw™ to guide clinical staff of our physician customers through specimen collection, to enhance quality and the service experience.
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six Months Ended June 30,
2026
2025
Change
2026
2025
Change
(dollars in millions, except per share data)
Reported:
Net revenues
$ 3,043
$ 2,761
10.2 %
$ 5,938
$ 5,413
9.7 %
Diagnostic Information Services
revenues
$ 2,978
$ 2,699
10.3 %
$ 5,810
$ 5,288
9.9 %
Revenue per requisition
(2.8) %
(2.1) %
Requisition volume
13.1 %
12.0 %
Organic requisition volume
13.0 %
11.9 %
Operating income (a)
$ 459
$ 438
4.6 %
$ 858
$ 784
9.4 %
Operating income as a percentage of net
revenues (a)
15.1 %
15.9 %
(0.8) %
14.4 %
14.5 %
(0.1) %
Net income attributable to Quest
Diagnostics (a)
$ 320
$ 282
13.4 %
$ 572
$ 502
13.9 %
Diluted EPS (a)
$ 2.84
$ 2.47
15.0 %
$ 5.08
$ 4.41
15.2 %
Cash provided by operations
$ 597
$ 544
9.7 %
$ 875
$ 858
1.9 %
Capital expenditures
$ 138
$ 108
27.0 %
$ 252
$ 225
12.1 %
Adjusted (a):
Operating income
$ 502
$ 466
7.8 %
$ 949
$ 872
8.8 %
Operating income as a percentage of net
revenues
16.5 %
16.9 %
(0.4) %
16.0 %
16.1 %
(0.1) %
Net income attributable to Quest
Diagnostics
$ 350
$ 298
17.3 %
$ 631
$ 549
14.9 %
Diluted EPS
$ 3.12
$ 2.62
19.1 %
$ 5.62
$ 4.83
16.4 %
(a)
For further details impacting the year-over-year comparisons related to operating income, operating income as a percentage of net revenues, net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics, and diluted EPS, see note 2 of the financial tables attached below.
Updated Guidance for Full Year 2026
The company updates its full year 2026 guidance as follows:
Updated Guidance
Prior Guidance
Low
High
Low
High
Net revenues
$11.95 billion
$12.05 billion
$11.78 billion
$11.90 billion
Net revenues increase
8.3 %
9.2 %
6.8 %
7.8 %
Reported diluted EPS
$9.97
$10.17
$9.58
$9.78
Adjusted diluted EPS
$11.05
$11.25
$10.63
$10.83
Cash provided by operations
Approximately $1.80 billion
Approximately $1.75 billion
Capital expenditures
Approximately $550 million
Approximately $550 million
Based on the favorable resolution of various tax contingencies in the second quarter, the full year adjusted effective tax rate is expected to be consistent with 2025.
Note on Non-GAAP Financial Measures
As used in this press release the term "reported" refers to measures under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"). The term "adjusted" refers to non-GAAP operating performance measures that exclude special items such as restructuring and integration charges, amortization expense, excess tax benefits ("ETB") associated with stock-based compensation, gains and losses associated with changes in the carrying value of our strategic investments and other items.
Non-GAAP adjusted measures are presented because management believes those measures are useful adjuncts to GAAP results. Non-GAAP adjusted measures should not be considered as an alternative to the corresponding measures determined under GAAP. Management may use these non-GAAP measures to evaluate our performance period over period and relative to competitors, to analyze the underlying trends in our business, to establish operational budgets and forecasts and for incentive compensation purposes. We believe that these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors and analysts to evaluate our performance period over period and relative to competitors, as well as to analyze the underlying trends in our business and to assess our performance. The additional tables attached below include reconciliations of non-GAAP adjusted measures to GAAP measures.
Conference Call Information
Quest Diagnostics will hold its quarterly conference call to discuss financial results beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time today. The conference call can be accessed by dialing 888-455-0391 within the U.S. and Canada, or 773-756-0467 internationally, passcode: 7895081; or via live webcast on our website at www.QuestDiagnostics.com/investor. We suggest participants dial in approximately 10 minutes before the call.
A replay of the call may be accessed online at www.QuestDiagnostics.com/investor or, from approximately 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time on July 23, 2026 until midnight Eastern Time on August 6, 2026, by phone at 866-388-5361 for domestic callers or 203-369-0416 for international callers. Anyone listening to the call is encouraged to read our periodic reports, on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the discussion of risk factors and historical results of operations and financial condition in those reports.
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics works across healthcare to create a healthier world, one life at a time. We help connect people, from clinicians to consumers, with laboratory insights that illuminate a path to better health. With a focus on delivering smarter, simpler testing, our insights reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors and improve healthcare management. Quest Diagnostics serves half the physicians and hospitals in the United States and one in three adult Americans each year, and our nearly 60,000 employees work together to deliver diagnostic insights that inspire actions to transform lives. www.QuestDiagnostics.com.
Forward Looking Statements
The statements in this press release which are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date that they are made and which reflect management's current estimates, projections, expectations or beliefs and which involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes to be materially different. Risks and uncertainties that may affect the future results of the company include, but are not limited to, uncertain and volatile economic conditions, adverse results from pending or future government investigations, lawsuits or private actions, the competitive environment, the complexity of billing, reimbursement and revenue recognition for clinical laboratory testing, changes in government policies, including related to trade, and regulations, changing relationships with customers, payers, suppliers or strategic partners, acquisitions and other factors discussed in the company's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and in any of the company's subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, including those discussed in the "Business," "Risk Factors," "Cautionary Factors that May Affect Future Results" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of those reports.
This earnings release, including the attached financial tables, is available online in the Newsroom section at www.QuestDiagnostics.com.
ADDITIONAL TABLES FOLLOW
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2026 and 2025
(in millions, except per share data)
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended
June 30,
Six Months Ended
June 30,
2026
2025
2026
2025
Net revenues
$ 3,043
$ 2,761
$ 5,938
$ 5,413
Operating costs and expenses and other operating income:
Cost of services
2,016
1,818
3,969
3,607
Selling, general and administrative
529
486
1,033
962
Amortization of intangible assets
38
39
75
78
Other operating expense (income), net
1
(20)
3
(18)
Total operating costs and expenses, net
2,584
2,323
5,080
4,629
Operating income
459
438
858
784
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net
(63)
(67)
(126)
(134)
Other income, net
16
13
14
10
Total non-operating expense, net
(47)
(54)
(112)
(124)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of equity method
investees
412
384
746
660
Income tax expense
(88)
(97)
(162)
(156)
Equity in earnings of equity method investees, net of taxes
10
9
14
27
Net income
334
296
598
531
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
14
14
26
29
Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics
$ 320
$ 282
$ 572
$ 502
Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics' common
stockholders:
Basic
$ 2.88
$ 2.51
$ 5.15
$ 4.48
Diluted
$ 2.84
$ 2.47
$ 5.08
$ 4.41
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic
111
112
110
112
Diluted
112
113
112
113
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025
(in millions, except per share data)
(unaudited)
June 30,
2026
December 31,
2025
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 626
$ 420
Accounts receivable, net
1,666
1,408
Inventories
233
189
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
319
361
Total current assets
2,844
2,378
Property, plant and equipment, net
2,219
2,203
Operating lease right-of-use assets
678
657
Goodwill
9,112
8,945
Intangible assets, net
1,672
1,636
Investments in equity method investees
137
136
Other assets
277
270
Total assets
$ 16,939
$ 16,225
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
$ 1,598
$ 1,600
Current portion of long-term debt
10
504
Current portion of long-term operating lease liabilities
180
174
Total current liabilities
1,788
2,278
Long-term debt
5,632
5,167
Long-term operating lease liabilities
561
537
Other liabilities
1,059
957
Redeemable noncontrolling interest
80
80
Stockholders' equity:
Quest Diagnostics stockholders' equity:
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 600 shares authorized as of both June 30, 2026 and
December 31, 2025; 162 shares issued as of both June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025
2
2
Additional paid-in capital
2,374
2,381
Retained earnings
10,374
9,994
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(62)
(27)
Treasury stock, at cost; 52 shares as of both June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025
(5,172)
(5,180)
Total Quest Diagnostics stockholders' equity
7,516
7,170
Noncontrolling interests
303
36
Total stockholders' equity
7,819
7,206
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
$ 16,939
$ 16,225
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2026 and 2025
(in millions)
(unaudited)
Six Months Ended June 30,
2026
2025
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income
$ 598
$ 531
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
293
283
Provision for credit losses
3
2
Deferred income tax expense
46
8
Stock-based compensation expense
43
43
Other, net
14
26
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable
(259)
(115)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
130
(11)
Income taxes payable
4
9
Other assets and liabilities, net
3
82
Net cash provided by operating activities
875
858
Cash flows from investing activities:
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired
(38)
(17)
Capital expenditures
(252)
(225)
Other investing activities, net
4
3
Net cash used in investing activities
(286)
(239)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from borrowings
494
400
Repayments of debt
(501)
(1,001)
Purchases of treasury stock
(102)
—
Exercise of stock options
81
42
Employee payroll tax withholdings on stock issued under stock-based compensation plans
(38)
(42)
Dividends paid
(184)
(174)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest partners
(22)
(29)
Other financing activities, net
(109)
(50)
Net cash used in financing activities
(381)
(854)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
(2)
5
Net change in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
206
(230)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period
420
549
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period
$ 626
$ 319
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest
$ 129
$ 145
Income taxes
$ 104
$ 110
Notes to Financial Tables
1) The computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share is as follows:
Three Months Ended
June 30,
Six Months Ended
June 30,
2026
2025
2026
2025
(in millions, except per share data)
Amounts attributable to Quest Diagnostics' common stockholders:
Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics
$ 320
$ 282
$ 572
$ 502
Less: earnings allocated to participating securities
1
1
2
2
Earnings available to Quest Diagnostics' common stockholders - basic and
diluted
$ 319
$ 281
$ 570
$ 500
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic
111
112
110
112
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options and performance share units
1
1
2
1
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted
112
113
112
113
Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics' common
stockholders:
Basic
$ 2.88
$ 2.51
$ 5.15
$ 4.48
Diluted
$ 2.84
$ 2.47
$ 5.08
$ 4.41
2) The following tables reconcile reported GAAP results to non-GAAP adjusted results:
Three Months Ended June 30, 2026
(dollars in millions, except per share data)
Operating
income
Operating
income as a
percentage of
net revenues
Income tax
expense (e)
Equity in
earnings of
equity method
investees, net
of taxes
Net income
attributable to
Quest
Diagnostics
Diluted EPS
As reported
$ 459
15.1 %
$ (88)
$ 10
$ 320
$ 2.84
Restructuring and
integration charges (a)
4
0.2
(1)
—
3
0.04
Other charges (b)
1
—
1
—
2
0.02
Gains and losses on
investments (c)
—
—
—
(1)
(1)
(0.01)
Amortization expense
38
1.2
(10)
—
28
0.25
ETB
—
—
(2)
—
(2)
(0.02)
As adjusted
$ 502
16.5 %
$ (100)
$ 9
$ 350
$ 3.12
Six Months Ended June 30, 2026
(dollars in millions, except per share data)
Operating
income
Operating
income as a
percentage of
net revenues
Income tax
expense (e)
Equity in
earnings of
equity method
investees, net
of taxes
Net income
attributable to
Quest
Diagnostics
Diluted EPS
As reported
$ 858
14.4 %
$ (162)
$ 14
$ 572
$ 5.08
Restructuring and
integration charges (a)
11
0.2
(3)
—
8
0.08
Other charges (b)
5
0.1
—
—
5
0.05
Gains and losses on
investments (c)
—
—
(2)
6
4
0.04
Amortization expense
75
1.3
(19)
—
56
0.50
ETB
—
—
(14)
—
(14)
(0.13)
As adjusted
$ 949
16.0 %
$ (200)
$ 20
$ 631
$ 5.62
Three Months Ended June 30, 2025
(dollars in millions, except per share data)
Operating
income
Operating
income as a
percentage of
net revenues
Income tax
expense (e)
Equity in
earnings of
equity method
investees, net
of taxes
Net income
attributable to
Quest
Diagnostics
Diluted EPS
As reported
$ 438
15.9 %
$ (97)
$ 9
$ 282
$ 2.47
Restructuring and
integration charges (a)
7
0.3
(2)
—
5
0.04
Other charges (b)
28
1.0
(6)
—
22
0.19
Gains and losses on
investments (c)
—
—
1
(1)
(2)
(0.01)
Other gains (d)
(46)
(1.7)
12
—
(34)
(0.30)
Amortization expense
39
1.4
(11)
—
28
0.25
ETB
—
—
(3)
—
(3)
(0.02)
As adjusted
$ 466
16.9 %
$ (106)
$ 8
$ 298
$ 2.62
Six Months Ended June 30, 2025
(dollars in millions, except per share data)
Operating
income
Operating
income as a
percentage of
net revenues
Income tax
expense (e)
Equity in
earnings of
equity method
investees, net
of taxes
Net income
attributable to
Quest
Diagnostics
Diluted EPS
As reported
$ 784
14.5 %
$ (156)
$ 27
$ 502
$ 4.41
Restructuring and
integration charges (a)
26
0.5
(7)
—
19
0.17
Other charges (b)
30
0.6
(6)
—
24
0.21
Gains and losses on
investments (c)
—
—
1
(1)
(2)
(0.01)
Other gains (d)
(46)
(0.9)
14
(8)
(40)
(0.36)
Amortization expense
78
1.4
(20)
—
58
0.51
ETB
—
—
(12)
—
(12)
(0.10)
As adjusted
$ 872
16.1 %
$ (186)
$ 18
$ 549
$ 4.83
(a)
For each of the three and six months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025, the pre-tax impact represents costs primarily associated with workforce reductions and integration costs incurred in connection with further restructuring and integrating our business. The following table summarizes the pre-tax impact of restructuring and integration charges on our consolidated statements of operations:
Three Months Ended
June 30,
Six Months Ended
June 30,
2026
2025
2026
2025
(dollars in millions)
Cost of services
$ 1
$ 1
$ 2
$ 7
Selling, general and administrative
3
6
9
19
Operating income
$ 4
$ 7
$ 11
$ 26
(b)
The three and six months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025 include losses associated with the change in the fair value of the contingent consideration accrual associated with previous acquisitions, recorded in other operating expense (income), net. Additionally, for both the three and six months ended June 30, 2025, the pre-tax impact primarily represents a $24 million impairment charge on certain long-lived assets related to the exit of a business, recorded in other operating expense (income), net.
(c)
For all periods presented, the pre-tax impact represents gains and losses associated with changes in the carrying value of our strategic investments, principally recorded in equity in earnings of equity method investees, net of taxes, and other income, net.
(d)
The three and six months ended June 30, 2025 include a $46 million pre-tax gain, recorded in other operating expense (income), net, from a payroll tax credit under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act associated with the retention of employees. Additionally, the six months ended June 30, 2025 includes an $8 million gain, recorded in equity in earnings of equity method investees, net of taxes, representing a non-recurring gain related to a lease.
(e)
For restructuring and integration charges, other gains/charges, gains and losses on investments, and amortization expense, income tax impacts, where recorded, were primarily calculated using combined statutory income tax rates of 25.5% for both 2026 and 2025. No income tax impact was recorded on losses associated with the change in the fair value of the contingent consideration accrual associated with previous acquisitions.
3)
For both the three and six months ended June 30, 2026, we repurchased 0.5 million shares of our common stock for $100 million. As of June 30, 2026, $1.3 billion remained available under our share repurchase authorization.
4)
The outlook for adjusted diluted EPS represents management's estimates for the full year 2026 before the impact of special items. Further impacts to earnings related to special items may occur throughout 2026. Additionally, the amount of ETB is dependent upon employee stock option exercises and our stock price, which are difficult to predict. The following table reconciles our 2026 outlook for diluted EPS under GAAP to our outlook for adjusted diluted EPS:
Low
High
Diluted EPS
$ 9.97
$ 10.17
Restructuring and integration charges (a)
0.14
0.14
Amortization expense (b)
0.99
0.99
Other charges (c)
0.10
0.10
Gains and losses on investments (d)
0.04
0.04
ETB
(0.19)
(0.19)
Adjusted diluted EPS
$ 11.05
$ 11.25
(a)
Represents estimated pre-tax charges of $21 million primarily associated with workforce reductions and integration costs incurred in connection with further restructuring and integrating our business. Income tax benefits were primarily calculated using a combined statutory income tax rate of 25.5%.
(b)
Represents estimated pre-tax amortization expenses of $149 million. Income tax benefits were primarily calculated using a combined statutory income tax rate of 25.5%.
(c)
Principally represents estimated pre-tax net losses of $9 million associated with the increase in the fair value of the contingent consideration accrual associated with previous acquisitions. Such estimate is subject to the risks and uncertainties discussed in the "Forward Looking Statements" section above. No income tax benefits are recorded on the changes associated with the contingent consideration accrual.
(d)
Income tax impacts were calculated using a combined statutory income tax rate of 25.5%.
Quest Diagnostics Inc (DGX) released its 8-K filing on July 23, 2026, revealing robust financial results for the second quarter of 2026. The company reported qu
CompaniesJuly 23 (Reuters) - Quest Diagnostics (DGX.N), opens new tab on Thursday raised its full-year profit forecast, after demand for routine diagnostic testing helped the company beat second-quarter estimates.
Shares of the New Jersey-based company rose about 5% in premarket trading following the results.
Keep up with the latest medical breakthroughs and healthcare trends with the Reuters Health Rounds newsletter. Sign up here.
Here are the details:
Demand for the company's diagnostic testing services was strong across its physician, hospital and consumer channels, Quest said.
The results were "well above what was widely expected," Barclays analysts said.
Industry peer Labcorp (LH.N), opens new tab also raised its annual revenue and profit forecasts last quarter, after posting quarterly results above expectations as demand for diagnostic testing remained steady.
Quest Diagnostics reported second-quarter revenue of $3.04 billion, topping analysts' average estimate of $2.97 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG.
Adjusted profit was $3.12 per share, above expectations of $2.83 per share.
Revenue from diagnostic information services, Quest's largest segment, increased 10.3% to $2.98 billion from a year ago, helped by a 13.1% increase in requisition volumes, including 13.0% organic volume growth.
Quest also reported double-digit growth in advanced diagnostics businesses, including Alzheimer's disease blood tests, advanced cardiometabolic tests and liver fibrosis testing.
The company expects 2026 revenue of $11.95 billion to $12.05 billion, above its prior forecast of $11.78 billion to $11.90 billion and analysts' estimate of $11.85 billion.
Quest expects adjusted profit of $11.05 to $11.25 per share in 2026, compared with its previous forecast of $10.63 to $10.83 per share. Analysts expect $10.76 per share.
Reporting by Sahil Pandey in Bengaluru; Editing by Shreya Biswas
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Key Takeaways FAST combines steady dividend payments with digital sales growth and customer expansion. GD supports its dividend profile with a large backlog and recent defense contract awards.DGX is growing through advanced diagnostics, acquisitions, AI and consumer health services. The Top Dividend Yield Companies theme focuses on businesses that pay reliable dividends and have steady earnings. These companies are selected for strong cash flow, consistent profit growth, and a record of keeping dividends intact through different market conditions.
The theme looks for companies with at least 10 years of uninterrupted dividend payments and no dividend cuts. It also favors firms with positive free cash flow and payout ratios that appear reasonable, helping support long-term dividend sustainability. Rather than chasing the highest yields alone, the screen aims to identify income stocks with stronger financial backing.
The focus is on dividend quality, earnings stability, and lower exposure to sectors that can be hit hard during economic downturns. For investors seeking equity income, the theme offers a more defensive approach built around durable dividend payers.
Accordingly, we recommend five Top Dividend Yield Companies with a favorable Zacks Rank. These are: Fastenal Co. (FAST - Free Report) , General Dynamics Corp. (GD - Free Report) , UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH - Free Report) , Texas Roadhouse Inc. (TXRH - Free Report) and Quest Diagnostics Inc. (DGX - Free Report) .
Each of our picks currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The chart below shows the price performance of our five picks year to date.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
FastenalFastenal continues to outgrow a mixed industrial backdrop as key account wins, customer site expansion and deeper adoption of managed inventory and digital tools sustain above-market daily sales growth.
FAST’s shift toward higher-tech, higher-integration selling continues to reinforce its competitive positioning and retention. In the first quarter, digital footprint daily sales increased 13.6%, outpacing company growth, and represented 61.5% of total sales, up from 61.0% a year ago.
FAST remains on track to reach a digital mix target of about 66% in 2026, reflecting continued integration of customer procurement systems, higher eCommerce usage, and ongoing migration toward managed inventory formats.
Fastenal has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 12.5% and 14.7%, respectively, for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year’s earnings has improved 0.8% in the last seven days. It has a current dividend yield of 2.11%.
General Dynamics Corp.General Dynamics had an impressive backlog of $130.84 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2026. Apart from its well-established domestic market, GD enjoys a significant overseas opportunity with order potential from Poland, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, Romania, Denmark, Germany, Spain, Austria, Canada and Switzerland.
Significant awards won by GD in the last reported quarter included a $15.4 billion contract for continued design and support work on the Columbia-class submarines program. GD’s shares have outperformed the industry in the past year.
General Dynamics has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 4.8% and 7.4%, respectively, for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year’s earnings has improved 0.1% in the last seven days. It has a current dividend yield of 1.73%.
UnitedHealth Group Inc.UnitedHealth Group has shown steady revenue growth, driven by Optum and UnitedHealthcare. Optum remains a key growth driver through its pharmacy services, technology integration, and government solutions.
A strong market position and ongoing expansion initiatives, combined with rising healthcare demand, support sustained long-term growth. Commercial membership also grew for UNH, supporting margins despite headwinds from government programs.
Improvement in high-margin, fee-based commercial plans can help UNH offset the headwinds from eligibility redeterminations and subsidy reductions in government programs. The momentum underscores UNH’s ability to capture demand from employer-sponsored coverage and sustain profitability across its insurance portfolio.
UnitedHealth Group has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of -0.8% and 13.2%, respectively, for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year’s earnings has improved 1% in the last seven days. It has a current dividend yield of 2.18%.
Texas Roadhouse Inc.Texas Roadhouse is a full-service, casual dining restaurant chain, which offers assorted seasoned and aged steaks hand-cut daily on the premises and cooked to order over open gas-fired grills. TXRH operates restaurants under the Texas Roadhouse and Aspen Creek names.
TXRH offers its guests a selection of ribs, fish, seafood, chicken, pork chops, pulled pork and vegetable plates, an assortment of hamburgers, salads and sandwiches. TXRH also provides supervisory and administrative services for other licensed and franchised restaurants.
Texas Roadhouse has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 11.4% and 5.6%, respectively, for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year’s earnings has improved 0.2% in the last seven days. It has a current dividend yield of 1.52%.
Quest Diagnostics Inc.Quest Diagnostics continues to execute its strategy to deliver solutions that meet the evolving needs of customers for lab insights. DGX is seeing continued momentum in Advanced Diagnostics, including the strong uptake of the AD-Detect blood test.
DGX’s consumer channel is driving growth from an expanding questhealth.com platform as well as collaborations with top wellness and wearables companies. Acquisitions are a major growth driver, with a focus on accretive hospital outreach and independent lab purchases. DGX is also adopting AI, automation and other technologies to drive operational improvements.
Quest Diagnostics has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 7.3% and 8.8%, respectively, for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year’s earnings has improved 0.2% in the last 30 days. It has a current dividend yield of 1.63%.
Key Takeaways Quest Diagnostics is expected to post Q2 revenues of $2.98 billion, up 7.9% from the year-ago level. DGX may benefit from physician, hospital and consumer channel growth, including ESRD and Co-Lab expansion. Quest Diagnostics expects advanced diagnostics, Quest AI Companion and Invigorate synergies to aid results. Quest Diagnostics (DGX - Free Report) is set to release second-quarter 2026 results on July 23, before the market opens.
In the last reported quarter, the renowned diagnostics provider posted adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.50, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5.49%. The company beat on earnings in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 3.50%.
Q2 Estimates for DGXThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $2.98 billion, indicating an increase of 7.9% from the year-ago reported figure.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s EPS suggests a 7.3% rise to $2.81.
Estimate Revision Trend Ahead of DGX’s Q2 EarningsEstimates for Quest Diagnostics’ Q2 earnings have remained unchanged in the past 30 days.
Here’s a brief review of the company’s performance leading up to the announcement.
Factors Likely to Influence DGX’s Q2 ResultsAs in the previous quarter, second-quarter 2026 revenues are expected to have been supported by broad-based demand for its clinical innovations, expansion into new clinical areas, and partnerships with leading healthcare and consumer health organizations.
In the physician channel, a key driver has likely been geographic expansion from greater health plan access, expanding the reach of Quest Diagnostics’ lab services. Enterprise accounts might have contributed additional revenues from new customer wins and expanded business. The company's entry into end-stage renal disease (ESRD), a new clinical area, is expected to have boosted revenues in the to-be-reported quarter.
Growth in the hospital channel may have been driven by Co-Lab solutions, which leverages the company’s lab and process management expertise to optimize quality and drive cost efficiencies. Early in 2026, DGX began scaling its Co-Lab solutions across all 21 hospitals of Corewell Health, its largest implementation to date. This is expected to have had a positive impact on revenues.
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated Price and EPS SurpriseIn the consumer channel, as in recent quarters, the company is likely to have generated strong revenue growth from both questhealth.com and its portfolio of leading consumer health collaborations. This growth is expected to have been driven by notable demand for its new solutions such as the Elite health profile and autoimmune and hormone tests.
In the second quarter of 2026, the company is likely to have maintained momentum in Advanced Diagnostics, which includes non-routine and specialized tests across advanced cardiometabolic, autoimmune, brain health, oncology, and women's and reproductive health areas. Offerings such as the Quest AD-Detect blood test portfolio for Alzheimer's disease, the ANAlyzeR autoimmune solution and the new Flow Cytometry measurable residual disease (MRD) for Myeloma are expected to have supported growth.
The company is also leveraging artificial intelligence through the newly launched Quest AI Companion, which transforms complex biomarker data and reference ranges in test reports into clear, easy-to-understand language. Patients have engaged with Quest AI Companion approximately 350,000 times since its first-quarter launch, and we expect this momentum to have continued in the to-be-reported quarter. Additionally, operational efficiencies and cost synergies from the Invigorate initiative are likely to have supported Quest Diagnostics' operating performance.
What Our Model Unveils for DGXPer our proven model, a stock with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold), along with a positive Earnings ESP, has a higher chance of beating estimates, which is not the case here, as you can see below.
Earnings ESP: Quest Diagnostics has an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Zacks Rank: The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.
Top MedTech PicksHere are some medical stocks worth considering, as these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this time around:
Hinge Health Inc. (HNGE - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +4.24% and a Zacks Rank #1. The company is expected to release second-quarter 2026 results soon.
In the trailing four quarters, HINGE delivered an average surprise of 179.54%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter EPS implies a decrease 11.9% from the year-ago quarter’s figure.
Neurocrine Biosciences (NBIX - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +40.60% and a Zacks Rank #1 at present. The company is expected to release second-quarter 2026 results soon.
NBIX’s earnings surpassed estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed in one, the average surprise being 9.08%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s second-quarter EPS calls for an increase of 112.3% from the year-ago quarter’s figure.
West Pharmaceutical Services (WST - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.09% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present. The company is slated to release second-quarter 2026 results on July 23.
WST’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 19.37%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WST’s second-quarter EPS implies a rise of 13% from the year-ago reported figure.
Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.
The research service features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, all of which will help you become a smarter, more confident investor.
Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.
Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.
It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.
For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Quest Diagnostics (DGX - Free Report) Headquartered in Secaucus, New Jersey, Quest Diagnostics Inc. provides diagnostic information services to a broad range of customers within its primary customer channels of physicians, hospitals, patients, and consumers. The company provides services to Independent Delivery Networks (IDN) throughout the United States, through its Professional Lab Services (PLS) offerings, which allow them to build and execute their laboratory strategy, improve quality, reduce healthcare costs, and focus on core competencies. The company is a key provider of reference testing for approximately half of the hospitals in the United States.
DGX is a #2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 19.41; value investors should take notice.
Two analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.03 to $10.72 per share. DGX also boasts an average earnings surprise of +3.5%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, DGX should be on investors' short list.
American Oncology Network (AON) and other community oncology providers launching now as part of a pilot program that provides access to Haystack MRD
, /PRNewswire/ -- Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), a leading provider of diagnostic information services, today announced it is integrating its Haystack MRD® ctDNA test and Comprehensive Genomic Profiling services for solid tumor cancers within OncoEMR®, an electronic health record (EHR) from Flatiron Health, via a pilot program with American Oncology Network (AON) and other community oncology providers. Flatiron Health is a leading healthtech company dedicated to expanding the possibilities of point-of-care solutions in oncology.
Quest is the largest clinical reference lab to integrate oncology tests in OncoEMR using the opt-in OncoEMR Molecular Profiling Integration (MPI) ordering feature, which is designed to support the specialized test ordering requirements of comprehensive molecular tests. Once completed, the integration will enable 4,700 clinicians across the Flatiron network of 1,600 community-based cancer care locations in the United States to quickly access the Quest services.
"At Flatiron, we're focused on helping oncology teams get the answers they need to deliver the best possible care," said Quincy Weatherspoon, Chief Network Officer, US Point of Care, Flatiron Health. "By integrating Quest's advanced oncology services directly into existing workflows, we're making it easier for physicians to access critical testing insights without adding complexity to their day. This collaboration helps reduce administrative burden so clinicians can spend less time navigating processes and more time focused on caring for patients with cancer."
Molecular oncology testing often involves dozens or even hundreds of individual genetic biomarkers, which can complicate ordering workflows and producing long, complex results reports. The use of OncoEMR MPI will enable providers to set up accounts for Quest services faster, order tests with fewer steps, and receive easy-to-understand reports within their daily EHR workflows.
Select providers can now order and receive results from Quest using the OncoEMR MPI capability as part of a pilot program. Among the pilot customers is American Oncology Network (AON), a leader in community oncology with more than 350 providers practicing across 21 states. Nearly 200 AON sites now have access to OncoEMR MPI and can use it to order the Quest tests. Quest plans to launch the full OncoEMR MPI integration to providers nationwide in the second half of the year.
"At AON, our aim is to provide comprehensive support, ancillary services and practice management benefits to help community physicians to make cancer care better. Empowering them to use OncoEMR MPI via Quest Diagnostics is an important step in that mission," said Dr. Brian Mulherin, Medical Director at AON. "Under this arrangement, our rapidly growing network of physicians can quickly and easily order Quest's innovative cancer tests, such as Haystack MRD, to help guide patient care."
Providers in the pilot now have access to some of Quest's most innovative cancer tests, including Haystack MRD, a highly accurate circulating-tumor DNA (ctDNA) minimal residual disease (MRD) test for solid tumor cancers. In addition, the company's Comprehensive Genomic Profiling portfolio includes several panels that use advanced sequencing to identify up to 530 genes associated with therapy response, providing physicians with necessary insights to determine appropriate treatment for their patients.
"At Quest Diagnostics, we strive to provide comprehensive cancer services that empower providers to work with patients to make optimal care decisions," said Asia Chang, Vice President and General Manager, Oncology at Quest Diagnostics. "We know that positive outcomes in oncology start with excellent diagnostics, but they don't stop there. We're looking forward to providing oncologists at AON and other organizations a single-source ordering and results solution via OncoEMR MPI, as well as the world-class expertise they've come to expect from Quest."
Quest's integration of OncoEMR MPI reflects the company's strategy to make testing simpler and smarter, including through the use of specialized IT and EHR technologies. Last summer, the company began to offer its Haystack MRD test through the Epic Aura platform and now provides a range of specialized tests, from prenatal screening to Alzheimer's disease, through the platform.
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics works across healthcare to create a healthier world, one life at a time. We connect people, from clinicians to consumers, with laboratory insights that illuminate a path to better health. With a focus on delivering smarter, simpler testing, we help reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, empower healthy behaviors and improve healthcare management. Quest Diagnostics serves half the physicians and hospitals in the United States and one in three American adults each year, and our nearly 57,000 employees work together to deliver diagnostic insights that inspire actions to transform lives. www.QuestDiagnostics.com
About Flatiron Health
Flatiron Health transforms cancer care and research through a unified, global oncology engine powered by expert-validated AI and deep clinical and scientific expertise. Built from the experiences of millions of patients across the US, UK, Germany, and Japan, our real-world evidence informs the research, regulatory, commercial, and treatment decisions shaping oncology today. In the US, our point-of-care technology empowers clinicians to deliver smarter, more connected care while generating deeper insights that help advance cancer research. Flatiron Health is an independent affiliate of the Roche Group. Flatiron.com @FlatironHealth
About American Oncology Network
American Oncology Network (AON) is an alliance of physicians and seasoned healthcare leaders partnering to ensure the long-term success and viability of community oncology and other specialties. Founded in 2018, AON's rapidly expanding network represents more than 350 providers practicing across 21 states. AON pioneers innovative healthcare solutions through its physician-led model, fostering value-based care that improves patient outcomes while reducing costs and expanding access to quality care. AON equips its network physicians with the tools they need to thrive independently while providing comprehensive support, integrated revenue-diversifying ancillary services, and practice management expertise, enabling physicians to focus on what matters most – providing the highest standard of care for every patient. AON is committed to promoting health equity by addressing disparities in cancer care and ensuring that all patients have access to the care they need to achieve optimal health outcomes. With a focus on innovation and collaboration, AON is shaping the future of community oncology. For more information, please visit AONcology.com more information, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube.
It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.
The research service features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, all of which will help you become a smarter, more confident investor.
Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.
Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.
It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.
A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Quest Diagnostics (DGX - Free Report) Headquartered in Secaucus, New Jersey, Quest Diagnostics Inc. provides diagnostic information services to a broad range of customers within its primary customer channels of physicians, hospitals, patients, and consumers. The company provides services to Independent Delivery Networks (IDN) throughout the United States, through its Professional Lab Services (PLS) offerings, which allow them to build and execute their laboratory strategy, improve quality, reduce healthcare costs, and focus on core competencies. The company is a key provider of reference testing for approximately half of the hospitals in the United States.
DGX is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
Momentum investors should take note of this Medical stock. DGX has a Momentum Style Score of A, and shares are up 7.7% over the past four weeks.
Four analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.04 to $10.72 per share. DGX boasts an average earnings surprise of +3.5%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, DGX should be on investors' short list.
Have you been paying attention to shares of Quest Diagnostics (DGX - Free Report) ? Shares have been on the move with the stock up 11.5% over the past month. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $216.87 in the previous session. Quest Diagnostics has gained 24.5% since the start of the year compared to the 1.1% move for the Zacks Medical sector and the 17.8% return for the Zacks Medical - Outpatient and Home Healthcare industry.
What's Driving the Outperformance?The stock has an impressive record of positive earnings surprises, having beaten the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last four quarters. In its last earnings report on April 21, 2026, Quest Diagnostics reported EPS of $2.5 versus consensus estimate of $2.37 while it beat the consensus revenue estimate by 3.14%.
For the current fiscal year, Quest Diagnostics is expected to post earnings of $10.72 per share on $11.84 in revenues. This represents a 8.83% change in EPS on a 7.29% change in revenues. For the next fiscal year, the company is expected to earn $11.56 per share on $12.39 in revenues. This represents a year-over-year change of 7.84% and 4.64%, respectively.
Valuation MetricsWhile Quest Diagnostics has moved to its 52-week high over the past few weeks, investors need to be asking, what is next for the company? A key aspect of this question is taking a look at valuation metrics in order to determine if the company has run ahead of itself.
On this front, we can look at the Zacks Style Scores, as they provide investors with an additional way to sort through stocks (beyond looking at the Zacks Rank of a security). The individual style scores for Value, Growth, Momentum and the combined VGM Score run from A through F. Investors should consider the style scores a valuable tool that can help you to pick the most appropriate Zacks Rank stocks based on their individual investment style.
Quest Diagnostics has a Value Score of B. The stock's Growth and Momentum Scores are C and C, respectively, giving the company a VGM Score of B.
In terms of its value breakdown, the stock currently trades at 20.2X current fiscal year EPS estimates, which is a premium to the peer industry average of 20.1X. On a trailing cash flow basis, the stock currently trades at 14.2X versus its peer group's average of 15X. Additionally, the stock has a PEG ratio of 2.57. This isn't enough to put the company in the top echelon of all stocks we cover from a value perspective.
Zacks RankWe also need to consider the stock's Zacks Rank, as this supersedes any trend on the style score front. Fortunately, Quest Diagnostics currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) thanks to a solid earnings estimate revision trend.
Since we recommend that investors select stocks carrying Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B, it looks as if Quest Diagnostics meets the list of requirements. Thus, it seems as though Quest Diagnostics shares could have potential in the weeks and months to come.
How Does DGX Stack Up to the Competition?Shares of DGX have been soaring, and the company still appears to be a decent choice, but what about the rest of the industry? One industry peer that looks good is Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc. (AVAH - Free Report) . AVAH has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) and a Value Score of A, a Growth Score of A, and a Momentum Score of A.
Earnings were strong last quarter. Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc. beat our consensus estimate by 38.46%, and for the current fiscal year, AVAH is expected to post earnings of $0.70 per share on revenue of $2.65 billion.
Shares of Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc. have gained 30.7% over the past month, and currently trade at a forward P/E of 12.6X and a P/CF of 12.85X.
The Medical - Outpatient and Home Healthcare industry is in the top 18% of all the industries we have in our universe, so it looks like there are some nice tailwinds for DGX and AVAH, even beyond their own solid fundamental situation.
Key Takeaways DGX gained 3% after Haystack MRD won NYSDOH approval for residual or recurrent solid tumor cancers. Quest Diagnostics can now offer Haystack MRD testing in all 50 states after New York approval. DGX's Haystack MRD detected clinical complete response in 1.4 months versus over 6 months with imaging. Quest Diagnostics’ (DGX - Free Report) Haystack MRD test recently received approval from the New York State Department of Health's (“NYSDOH”) Clinical Laboratory Evaluation Program (“CLEP”) for use in identifying residual or recurring disease in patients with a range of solid tumor cancers.
This development is expected to boost the company’s oncology arm.
Likely Trend of DGX Stock Following the NewsAfter the announcement, DGX shares edged up 3%, closing at $203.11 yesterday.
The company continues to build its presence in blood-based MRD testing. In January 2026, new research presented at the ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium highlighted the strong clinical value of Quest Haystack MRD in monitoring colorectal cancer. DGX also launched the Flow Cytometry MRD blood test for myeloma. Henceforth, we expect the latest approval to maintain a positive market sentiment toward the stock in the upcoming days.
Quest Diagnostics boasts a market capitalization of $22.48 billion at present. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings suggests an 8.8% year-over-year increase and the same for revenues implies 7.2% growth. The company beat on earnings in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering average surprise of 3.5%.
About DGX’s Haystack MRDHaystack MRD is a tumor-informed, next-generation MRD test that detects ultralow levels of ctDNA to uncover residual or recurrent disease with exceptional sensitivity and specificity. Haystack MRD was designed to give oncologists the confidence to detect residual disease earlier, identify recurrence before it becomes clinically apparent, and help evaluate patient response to treatment.
The FDA granted Haystack MRD the Breakthrough Device Designation in 2025 for use in Stage II colorectal cancer. The test was developed under CLIA regulations and has been available for clinician ordering in 49 states and the District of Columbia since late 2024.
Importance of NYSDOH’s Approval of Haystack MRDNew York maintains a highly rigorous clinical laboratory oversight program, requiring formal technical review and approval of laboratory developed tests before they may be offered to patients in the state. With this approval, Haystack MRD is now authorized for patient testing in all 50 states of the United States. New York's approval is another proof point for Haystack MRD's quality and technical sophistication.
Clinical Evidence for Haystack MRDHaystack MRD's clinical utility has been demonstrated in rigorous investigational settings, including the landmark study of non-operative management of patients with locally advanced mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) solid tumors, which was published in The New England Journal of Medicine in May 2025. In that study, ctDNA testing, using Haystack MRD, was found to be a "reliable liquid biopsy surrogate" that identified clinical complete response at a median of 1.4 months compared to more than 6 months using imaging methods.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Industry Prospects Favor DGXPer a report by Grand View Research, the global MRD testing market size is projected to reach $4.50 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 10.1% from 2025 to 2030. The market for MRD is driven by rising cancer incidence and prevalence, technological advancements in diagnostic tools and integration with personalized medicines.
DGX Stock Price PerformanceOver the past year, DGX’s shares have gained 13.7% compared with the industry’s 8.9% growth.
DGX’s Zacks Rank and Other Key PicksQuest Diagnostics currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Some other top-ranked stocks in the broader medical space are Globus Medical (GMED - Free Report) , Integra LifeSciences (IART - Free Report) and Phibro Animal Health (PAHC - Free Report) .
Globus Medical has an earnings yield of 5.5%, well ahead of the industry’s negative 3% yield. Its earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 26.3%. The company’s shares have rallied 43.8% against the industry’s 4.8% decline over the past year.
GMED carries a Zacks Rank #2 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Integra LifeSciences, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 at present, has an earnings yield of 16% against the industry’s negative 3% yield. Shares of the company have gained 22.8% compared with the industry’s 4.8% growth. IART’s earnings topped estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 16.8%.
Phibro Animal Health, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 at present, has an earnings yield of 9.2% compared with the industry’s 2.8% yield. Shares of the company have climbed 43.1% against the industry’s 27.9% decline. PAHC’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 16.3%.
On June 24, 2026, Quest Diagnostics Inc (DGX) shares rose 3.0% today, currently trading at $203.11. This performance places the stock well within its 52-week ra
Key Takeaways DGX posted strong physician channel growth and expanded hospital and consumer testing initiatives.DGX saw double-digit AD-Detect blood test revenue growth and expanded oncology MRD offerings.DGX is advancing AI, automation and Project Nova while managing a sizable debt load. Quest Diagnostics (DGX - Free Report) is well-poised for growth in the coming quarters, supported by its continued focus on meeting the evolving needs of its core customers — physicians, hospitals and consumers. The company is seeing continued momentum in Advanced Diagnostics, including the strong uptake of the AD-Detect blood test. Efforts to drive operational improvements through the adoption of AI, automation and other technologies also sound very encouraging. Yet, Quest Diagnostics’ solvency level remains a concern. Macroeconomic pressures can weigh on its operations, too.
Over the past year, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock has rallied 7.7% compared with the industry’s 8.2% growth and the S&P 500 composite’s 23.2% rise.
The renowned provider of diagnostic information services has a market capitalization of $21.59 billion. Quest Diagnostics has an earnings yield of 5.50%. The company’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average surprise of 3.50%.
Tailwinds Supporting DGXGrowth Momentum in Base Business: Quest Diagnostics delivered high single-digit growth in physician channel revenues in first-quarter 2026, driven by strong demand for innovative testing solutions, expanded health plan access and enterprise account growth. The company also recorded growth in end-stage renal disease, a newer clinical area focused on lab testing for dialysis patients. Volume growth was driven by Fresenius Medical Care’s dialysis network and contributions from newly added independent dialysis clinics and other providers.
In the hospital channel, the company’s flexible solutions allow customers to free up capital while accessing diagnostic innovation and expertise. In early 2026, Quest Diagnostics began scaling its Co-Lab Solutions, including reference laboratory testing, professional laboratory management services, laboratory workforce and supply-chain management, and analytics across all 21 hospitals of Corewell Health.
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The consumer-testing platform, QuestHealth.com, continues to gain strong momentum. Quest Diagnostics is deepening partnerships with leading consumer health and wellness brands like WHOOP and OURA Health, integrating its extensive laboratory testing and technology directly into their mobile platforms.
Strong Potential of Advanced Diagnostics: Quest Diagnostics drives growth across its customer channels through fast-growing, advanced diagnostics spanning five clinical areas — advanced cardiometabolic, autoimmune, brain health, oncology, and women's and reproductive health. In brain health, revenues from the AD-Detect blood test for Alzheimer's disease continued to grow at a double-digit rate in the first quarter of 2026.
The cardiometabolic and endocrine portfolio growth was driven by robust demand for tests of Lp(a) and ApoB, as well as for kidney, liver and reproductive hormones.
In oncology, the company continues to build its presence in blood-based minimal residual disease (MRD) testing. In January 2026, new research presented at the ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium highlighted the strong clinical value of Quest Haystack MRD in monitoring colorectal cancer. The company also launched the Flow Cytometry MRD blood test for myeloma.
Operational Excellence, a Strategic Priority: Quest Diagnostics’ Invigorate program consistently targets 2% annual savings through structured plans to drive savings and improve productivity across the value chain. The company is deploying automation and AI technologies to improve quality, service, efficiency and the workforce experience. The new Quest AI Companion tool transforms complex biomarker data and reference ranges on test reports into clear, plain language. Quest Diagnostics is scaling the planning and design work for Project Nova, a multi-year initiative to transform its order-to-cash processes and systems and is on track to implement the first wave of solutions in the fall of 2027.
What Ails DGX?Escalating Debt Level: At the end of the first quarter of 2026, long-term debt totaled $5.16 billion, while the cash and cash equivalent balance was only $393 million. The current portion of the debt was $503 million. Debt-to-capital ratio was 42.5%, down sequentially 1.6%. A higher debt level induces higher interest payments, which come along with the risk of failure to pay the same. The times interest ratio, which indicates the company’s capacity to pay interest, was 6.3% in the quarter.
Unstable Macroeconomic Backdrop: As the U.S. healthcare system continues to evolve, Quest Diagnostics faces several inherent risks. Government payers, such as Medicare and Medicaid, have taken steps to reduce the utilization and reimbursement of healthcare services, including clinical testing services. The industry-wide trend of consolidation has resulted in larger insurance plans with significant bargaining power, making it difficult for Quest Diagnostics to negotiate fee arrangements and possibly limiting access to its newer innovative solutions. With the new U.S. administration in place, any changes in U.S. healthcare regulation could have a material adverse effect on the company’s business.
DGX Stock Estimate TrendThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for Quest Diagnostics’ 2026 earnings per share (EPS) has remained constant at $10.72 in the past 30 days.
The consensus estimate for the company’s 2026 revenues is pegged at $11.83 billion. This suggests 7.2% growth from the year-ago reported number.
Key PicksSome better-ranked stocks in the broader medical space are Globus Medical (GMED - Free Report) , Align Technology (ALGN - Free Report) and Integra LifeSciences (IART - Free Report) .
Globus Medical has an earnings yield of 5.9% compared to the industry’s negative 3.5% yield. Its earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 26.3%. GMED shares have rallied 35% against the industry’s 6.3% fall over the past year.
GMED sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Align Technology, sporting a Zacks Rank #1, has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 10.3% compared with the industry’s 5.5% growth. Shares of the company have dropped 6.8% against the industry’s 7.8% growth. ALGN’s earnings outpaced estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed on one occasion, the average surprise being 7.8%.
Integra LifeSciences, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), has an earnings yield of 13.6% against the industry’s negative 3.5% yield. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 16.7%. IART shares have rallied 48.3% against the industry’s 6.4% decline over the past year.
Achieving the rigorous laboratory standard broadens access for providers and patients in New York; applies to use of Haystack MRD for patients with solid tumor cancers
, /PRNewswire/ -- Quest Diagnostics® (NYSE: DGX), a leading provider of diagnostic information services, today announced that the New York State Department of Health's (NYSDOH) Clinical Laboratory Evaluation Program (CLEP) has approved the company's Haystack MRD® test, a circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) liquid biopsy test, for use in identifying residual or recurring disease in patients with a range of solid tumor cancers.
New York maintains a highly rigorous clinical laboratory oversight program, requiring formal technical review and approval of laboratory developed tests before they may be offered to patients in the state. With this approval, Haystack MRD is now authorized for patient testing in all 50 U.S. states. The test was developed under CLIA regulations and has been available for clinician ordering since late 2024 in 49 states and the District of Columbia.
"This approval represents the culmination of our many years of hard work and commitment to delivering a highly accurate test that can meaningfully improve patient care," said Dan Edelstein, Vice President and General Manager for Haystack Oncology, a Quest Diagnostics company. "Haystack MRD was designed to give oncologists the confidence to detect residual disease earlier, catch recurrence before it becomes clinically apparent, and help identify response to treatment. New York's approval is another proof point for Haystack MRD's quality and technical sophistication, and we look forward to extending access to this important innovation for clinicians and patients in the state."
In addition, Haystack MRD's clinical utility has been demonstrated in rigorous investigational settings, including the landmark study of non-operative management of patients with locally advanced mismatch repair–deficient (dMMR) solid tumors, which was led by Dr. Andrea Cercek and colleagues at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and published in The New England Journal of Medicine in May 2025. In that study, ctDNA testing, using Haystack MRD, was found to be a "reliable liquid biopsy surrogate" that identified clinical complete response at a median of 1.4 months, compared to more than 6 months using imaging methods.
"In our study of non-operative management for dMMR solid tumors, the use of MRD testing provided additional molecular information that complemented traditional assessments such as imaging and endoscopy," said Dr. Cercek, Medical Oncologist, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. "For patients who may avoid surgery, having multiple tools to evaluate treatment response and monitor for recurrence is important. These findings highlight the crucial role of MRD testing in informing patient management and underscore the need for continued study as these approaches are integrated into clinical practice."
About Haystack Oncology
Haystack Oncology represents the culmination of over 20 years of collaboration to advance technical and clinical development in liquid biopsy technologies by cancer genomics pioneers at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. The company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Quest Diagnostics, developed Haystack MRD, a tumor-informed, next-generation MRD test that detects ultralow levels of ctDNA to uncover residual or recurrent disease with exceptional sensitivity and specificity. Haystack Oncology works with biopharmaceutical companies to accelerate and inform clinical development programs and advance important therapeutics to global markets, from early phase clinical development to companion diagnostics. Haystack MRD was developed and validated in a CLIA-certified laboratory and is available for commercial use as a lab-developed test (LDT) by Quest Diagnostics. The FDA granted Haystack MRD Breakthrough Device Designation in 2025 for use in Stage II colorectal cancer. Haystack MRD is also available for clinical trials as an investigational device by Haystack Oncology in laboratories located in Baltimore, Maryland; Hamburg, Germany; and Helsinki, Finland. www.haystackmrd.com
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics works across healthcare to create a healthier world, one life at a time. We connect people, from clinicians to consumers, with laboratory insights that illuminate a path to better health. With a focus on delivering smarter, simpler testing, we help reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, empower healthy behaviors and improve healthcare management. Quest Diagnostics serves half the physicians and hospitals in the United States and one in three American adults each year, and our nearly 57,000 employees work together to deliver diagnostic insights that inspire actions to transform lives. www.QuestDiagnostics.com
, /PRNewswire/ -- Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), a leader in diagnostic information services, today unveiled its 2025 Corporate Responsibility Report.
Quest Diagnostics 2025 Corporate Responsibility Report Reach and Impact Statistics The theme of the report, At the Center of Healthcare, reflects Quest's connective role in healthcare as a provider of laboratory insights that empower more informed, proactive and personal care. The 2025 report details Quest's accomplishments over the last year and progress toward goals set in 2021 across the company's four strategic pillars of corporate responsibility: health access, employee and community engagement, governance and ethics, and environmental sustainability.
"Our care for the many communities we serve and live in shines through the actions we've taken to broaden healthcare access and improve our employee experience and environmental impact," said Jim Davis, Quest Diagnostics Chairman, CEO and President. "Over the past year, we made our services accessible and affordable for more patients and consumers, invested in our people, and strengthened our policies and systems in areas, such as medical quality and AI, that reflect Quest's deep focus on responsible business practice. These achievements demonstrate the passion and commitment of our nearly 57,000 employees and many collaborators across healthcare to working together to create a healthier world, one life at a time."
Report highlights:
Health access
Provided over one million discounted or donated testing requisitions to support lab testing access at a cost of more than $21 million to Quest. Through the Quest Diagnostics Foundation, invested in nonprofits and other organizations committed to improving access to healthcare, nutrition, and vital support services for underserved populations in Baltimore, Maryland, Paterson, New Jersey, and Chicago, Illinois. Employee and community engagement
Improved overall workforce retention by 2.1 percentage points compared to 2024 and achieved an Employee Engagement score 3 points above a healthcare industry benchmark. Welcomed over 2,500 employees to eleven employee business networks, surpassing 11,000 members. Governance and ethics
Added the new role of senior vice president and chief quality and regulatory affairs officer and strengthened global organizational quality and regulatory processes. Enhanced our AI and cybersecurity governance to promote responsible use of AI and bolster systems to address emerging security threats. Environmental sustainability
Achieved International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001:2015 certification for the environmental management systems at our laboratories in Lewisville, Texas and Marlborough, Massachusetts, reaching our goal to certify five labs by the end of 2025. Supported access to testing for individuals exposed to environmental health hazards, including firefighters affected by the 2025 Palisades fire in Los Angeles County and citizens in a Texas-designated cancer cluster. To read the full report, click on 2025 Corporate Responsibility Report.
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics works across healthcare to create a healthier world, one life at a time. We help connect people, from clinicians to consumers, with laboratory insights that illuminate a path to better health. With a focus on delivering smarter, simpler testing, our insights reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors, and improve healthcare management. Quest Diagnostics serves half the physicians and hospitals in the United States and one in three adult Americans each year, and our nearly 57,000 employees work together to deliver diagnostic insights that inspire actions to transform lives. www.QuestDiagnostics.com.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), a leader in diagnostic information services, announced today that it will report its second quarter 2026 financial results on Thursday, July 23, 2026, before the market opens. It will hold its quarterly conference call to discuss the results beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on that day.
The conference call can be accessed by dialing 888-455-0391 within the U.S. and Canada, or 773-756-0467 internationally, using the passcode: "7895081." The earnings release and live webcast will be posted on www.QuestDiagnostics.com/investor. The company suggests participants dial in approximately 10 minutes before the call.
A replay of the call may be accessed online at www.QuestDiagnostics.com/investor or by phone at 866-388-5361 for domestic callers or 203-369-0416 for international callers; no passcode is required. Telephone replays will be available from approximately 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time on July 23, 2026, until midnight Eastern Time on August 6, 2026.
Anyone listening to the call is encouraged to read the company's periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the discussion of risk factors and historical results of operations and financial condition in those reports.
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics works across healthcare to create a healthier world, one life at a time. We connect people, from clinicians to consumers, with laboratory insights that illuminate a path to better health. With a focus on delivering smarter, simpler testing, we help reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, empower healthy behaviors, and improve healthcare management. Quest Diagnostics serves half the physicians and hospitals in the United States and one in three American adults each year, and our nearly 57,000 employees work together to deliver diagnostic insights that inspire actions to transform lives. www.QuestDiagnostics.com
Published in Nature Communications, the new study finds that nearly 70% of a common bacterial strain that causes urinary tract infections, pneumonia and wound infections was non-susceptible to the three most used oral antibiotics
, /PRNewswire/ -- A common bacterial strain that lives naturally in people's guts can cause a dangerous or deadly infection for some, especially when it becomes multidrug-resistant and causes chronic urinary-tract infections (UTIs) in elderly women. But the extent of its effect on the broader population and its prevalence in the community was not well known – until now.
Klebsiella pneumoniae is a growing drug-resistance problem, according to a groundbreaking new study in the peer-reviewed Nature Communications by scientists from the Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI), part of Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH), and Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), one of the nation's leading providers of diagnostic information services.
More than 2,000 samples across 42 states were screened through the collaboration, as outlined in the paper entitled "Nationwide spread of multidrug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae across U.S. communities." A total of 267 multidrug resistant sequence types were identified, the data finds.
"For a long time, highly resistant superbugs were primarily considered a problem for hospitals, but this study reveals a dangerous shift. These bacteria are spreading, and causing common infections that are resistant to the recommended antibiotics used to treat them," said co-author Meghan W. Starolis, MS, Ph.D., senior science director, Infectious Disease, Quest Diagnostics. "This research provides critical updates for public health, and, more importantly, it provides the genetic blueprint needed to start developing vaccines or other treatments for vulnerable patients."
Klebsiella pneumoniae is an overlooked threat. It not only causes urinary tract infections, pneumonia and wound infections, but also kills about 600,000 individuals annually worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. In the United States, it's the most common cause of hospital-acquired pneumonia. Worldwide, it's the second-leading cause of UTIs – and has shown itself to be especially prevalent in women of advanced age.
"Our work shows that there is a rapidly-evolving, plasmid-driven epidemic of community-associated multidrug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae across the United States," said co-author Barry Kreiswirth, Ph.D., the veteran microbiologist at the CDI and professor of Medical Sciences at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, who spearheaded the years-long project. "We need to continue surveillance of what these bacteria are doing, so we can detect, and ideally control, the emergence of the next high-risk clone."
Of the roughly 2,000 samples in the study, more than two-thirds were from female patients, and about three-quarters were from people older than 60. All told, 100 percent of the bacteria investigated were classified as multidrug resistant, and 69.5 percent were non-susceptible to the three most common oral antibiotics (fluoroquinolones, Bactrim and nitrofurantoin), "underscoring the urgent need for new oral treatment options." For patients who have these strains, the only option may be injectable antibiotics, said Kreiswirth.
The main culprit in this resistance spread is a gene known as CTX-M-15, which is easily swapped between different bacteria on plasmids (stray strands of DNA outside chromosomes). The gene has spread to hundreds of strains, bringing with it not only antibiotic-resistance traits but also tolerance for stress and metal exposure which has potentially enhanced its survival outside of human hosts, according to the findings.
The multidrug-resistant strains were previously identified mostly as a healthcare-associated pathogen. Beginning around 2007, however, studies started to identify an "expanding and under-recognized reservoir" of the culprit Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) gene. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted a study finding a 53.3 percent increase in ESBL-producing bacteria between 2012 and 2017 – pointing toward community transmission.
The study by the CDI and Quest bridges that gap, the authors write. Geographical trends showed regional and statewide spread, and multi-state dissemination, "indicating widespread, underrecognized community reservoirs," according to the analysis.
Quest and CDI worked together to make this research possible. Using its nationwide network of microbiology labs, Quest Diagnostics provided CDI with deidentified culture isolates that were determined to be resistant to antibiotics for further sequencing by CDI, providing the researchers with a diverse sample set for analyzing.
"This is establishing a baseline," concluded Kreiswirth. "We need to keep looking at this to better understand the extent of the problem. But this is definite confirmation that there is a problem – and it needs to be addressed."
The study's strengths include its large scale and unique focus on everyday community infections rather than hospital cases; however, its limitation is the lack of detailed patient medical histories, making it difficult to know exactly where or how the patients originally contracted the infections.
"We are very proud to collaborate with the Center for Discovery and Innovation on this research," said Yuri Fesko, M.D., senior vice president and chief medical officer, Quest Diagnostics. "Relationships between commercial clinical labs and research organizations like CDI are so important to improving and informing public health."
Quest and Hackensack Meridian have a long-standing collaboration through which Quest provides reference laboratory testing and manages HMH's inpatient hospital labs. The study is the largest yet by researchers with the two NJ-based organizations.
ABOUT HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH
Hackensack Meridian Health brings together leading–edge care, research, and medical education to deliver the best outcomes, and care shaped around the unique needs of every patient we serve. By connecting prevention, specialty care, and life-saving discoveries, we improve every aspect of healthcare – from routine visits to the most advanced treatments, close to home and across the globe.
Home to New Jersey's first and only top 20 hospital in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report 2025-26, we ensure people can count on exceptional care today and benefit from the cures of tomorrow. Our not-for-profit network of 18 hospitals, 500+ care locations, and over 40,000 team members extend the horizon of health for all. And because medicine is never finished, we Keep Getting Better for every patient, family, and community who counts on us. Learn more at HackensackMeridianHealth.org and to donate visit GiveHMH.org.
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics works across healthcare to create a healthier world, one life at a time. We connect people, from clinicians to consumers, with laboratory insights that illuminate a path to better health. With a focus on delivering smarter, simpler testing, we help reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, empower healthy behaviors and improve healthcare management. Quest Diagnostics serves half the physicians and hospitals in the United States and one in three American adults each year, and our nearly 57,000 employees work together to deliver diagnostic insights that inspire actions to transform lives. www.QuestDiagnostics.com
