Quest Diagnostics (DGX) stock
Health Care · Health Care Services
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) is a Health Care Services company in the Health Care sector, headquartered in Secaucus, New Jersey. As of October 23, 2026, DGX closed at $241.89, a market capitalization of $26.70 billion, the 348th largest company in the S&P 500. Over the last twelve months it generated $11.84 billion in revenue (+10% year over year) and $1.35 billion in free cash flow. The stock trades at 24.1x trailing earnings and 20.2x forward earnings.
- 1-year total return: +34.2% (dividends reinvested)
- 5-year return: +12.7% a year
- 52-week range: $171.18 – $248.84
- Gross margin 33.2%, operating margin 15.6%
- Dividend yield: 1.42%, 14 straight years of increases
- FI Handbook report card: C+ across 10 metrics
- 44th largest of 60 Health Care stocks in the S&P 500
DGX price chart
1Y price change: +32.0% (price only; total returns below include dividends)
| Total return | 1M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | MAX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DGX | +4.2% | +41.7% | +34.2% | +28.2% | +12.7% | +13.4% | +16.6% |
Dividends reinvested. 3Y and longer are annualized; MAX is annualized since 1996.
DGX key statistics
- Market cap
- $26.7B
- #348 in S&P 500
- P/E (TTM)
- 24.1x
- Forward P/E
- 20.2x
- EPS (TTM)
- $10.04
- Revenue (TTM)
- $11.8B
- +10%
- Free cash flow
- $1.3B
- Gross margin
- 33.2%
- Operating margin
- 15.6%
- Return on equity
- 15.3%
- Dividend yield
- 1.42%
- 52-week range
- $171.18 – $248.84
- Beta
- 0.54
- Price / sales
- 2.3x
- EV / EBITDA
- 13.9x
- Debt / equity
- 0.80x
- Employees
- 60,000
DGX report card
C+Ten fundamentals graded A to F against fixed thresholds. Not a buy or sell rating.
- Revenue growth10.0%B
- Gross margin33.2%C
- Operating margin15.6%C
- FCF margin11.4%C
- Return on equity15.3%B
- Net debt / EBITDA2.4xD
- Forward P/E20.2xC
- PEG ratio1.5xC
- Shareholder yield3.1%B
- Share count change / yr-3.6%A
Quest Diagnostics financials
Revenue went from $7.2B in fiscal 2016 to $11.0B in fiscal 2025, growing 4.8% a year.
| Fiscal year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $7.2B | $7.4B | $7.5B | $7.7B | $9.4B | $10.8B | $9.9B | $9.3B | $9.9B | $11.0B |
| Gross profit | $2.9B | $2.7B | $2.6B | $2.7B | $3.6B | $4.2B | $3.4B | $3.1B | $3.2B | $3.7B |
| Operating income | $1.3B | $1.2B | $1.1B | $1.2B | $2.0B | $2.4B | $1.4B | $1.3B | $1.3B | $1.6B |
| Net income | $645.0M | $772.0M | $736.0M | $858.0M | $1.4B | $2.0B | $946.0M | $854.0M | $871.0M | $992.0M |
| EPS (diluted) | $4.51 | $5.50 | $5.29 | $6.28 | $10.47 | $15.55 | $7.97 | $7.49 | $7.69 | $8.75 |
| Free cash flow | $823.0M | $923.0M | $817.0M | $843.0M | $1.6B | $1.8B | $1.3B | $864.0M | $909.0M | $1.4B |
| Buybacks | $590.0M | $465.0M | $322.0M | $353.0M | $325.0M | $2.2B | $1.4B | $275.0M | $151.0M | $450.0M |
| Dividends paid | $223.0M | $247.0M | $266.0M | $286.0M | $297.0M | $309.0M | $305.0M | $314.0M | $331.0M | $353.0M |
| Diluted shares | 142.0M | 140.0M | 139.0M | 136.0M | 136.0M | 128.0M | 118.0M | 113.0M | 113.0M | 113.0M |
Source: SEC filings (10-K XBRL). EPS and share counts are split-adjusted.
What's priced into DGX?
A reverse DCF asks what growth the current price requires. With an enterprise value of $32.3B and $1.3B of trailing free cash flow, Quest Diagnostics needs to grow free cash flow about 15.1% a year for ten years (fading to 3.0% terminal growth) to earn a 10% annual return. For context, free cash flow grew -3.1% a year over the last five years.
P/E ratio history
Current 27.6x vs. median 18.1x (10th–90th percentile 12.1x–24.2x).
A model, not a forecast or advice. Small changes in assumptions move the answer a lot.
DGX dividend
- Dividend yield
- 1.42%
- Annual dividend
- $3.44
- Years of increases
- 14
- 5-yr dividend growth
- 7.3%
- per year
- Payout ratio
- 26%
- Payments per year
- 4
Regular dividends per share by calendar year; special dividends excluded. Current year omitted until complete.
DGX earnings
Next report: February 9, 2027. Quest Diagnostics has beaten EPS estimates 8 quarters in a row.
| Report date | EPS estimate | EPS actual | Surprise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 22, 2026 | $2.87 | $3.00 | +4.4% |
| Jul 23, 2026 | $2.82 | $3.12 | +10.5% |
| Apr 21, 2026 | $2.37 | $2.50 | +5.6% |
| Feb 10, 2026 | $2.36 | $2.42 | +2.6% |
| Oct 21, 2025 | $2.50 | $2.60 | +3.9% |
| Jul 22, 2025 | $2.57 | $2.62 | +1.9% |
| Apr 22, 2025 | $2.15 | $2.21 | +2.8% |
| Jan 30, 2025 | $2.18 | $2.23 | +2.1% |
Stocks like DGX
| Name | Today | 1Y | Mkt cap | P/E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 CVS CVS Health | -1.07% | +19% | $119.5B | 24.6x | Compare |
 CI Cigna | -2.83% | +3% | $81.1B | 12.7x | Compare |
 LH Labcorp | -0.30% | +17% | $26.7B | 27.2x | Compare |
 DVA DaVita | -1.32% | +43% | $11.7B | 15.5x | Compare |
 LLY Eli Lilly and | -2.54% | +56% | $1.1T | 42.7x | Compare |
 JNJ Johnson & Johnson | -1.42% | +40% | $635.1B | 40.0x | Compare |
 ABBV AbbVie | +0.16% | +29% | $504.8B | 80.7x | Compare |
 UNH UnitedHealth | -1.62% | +19% | $375.3B | 26.9x | Compare |
DGX news
- Quest Diagnostics (DGX) Stock Price Stalls After Strong Q3 Earnings · Oct 24, 2026
- Quest Diagnostics (DGX) Backs At Home Cervical Cancer Screening · Oct 23, 2026
- Quest Diagnostics (DGX) Stock Could Be Undervalued Despite Raised Full Year Guidance · Oct 23, 2026
- Lab testing giant Quest Diagnostics confirms patients’ personal and health data was compromised during breach · Oct 23, 2026
- Was Quest's 'Good Enough' Third Quarter Actually Good Enough? · Oct 22, 2026
DGX stock FAQ
What is DGX's market cap?
Quest Diagnostics's market capitalization is $26.70 billion as of October 23, 2026, ranking 348th in the S&P 500.
What is DGX's P/E ratio?
DGX trades at a trailing price-to-earnings ratio of 24.1x and a forward P/E of 20.2x. Its median P/E over the period we track is 18.1x.
Does DGX pay a dividend?
Yes. Quest Diagnostics pays $3.44 per share a year, a 1.42% yield. It has raised its dividend 14 years in a row. Dividends grew 7.3% a year over the last five years.
How much has DGX stock returned?
Including reinvested dividends, DGX returned +34.2% over one year, +12.7% a year over five years, +13.4% a year over ten years through October 23, 2026.
Is DGX stock overvalued?
At today's price, a reverse discounted cash flow model (10% discount rate, 3% terminal growth) implies Quest Diagnostics must grow free cash flow about 15% a year for the next decade. Its free cash flow fell 3% a year over the last five years. Whether that is achievable decides if the stock is cheap or expensive. This is a model, not advice.
When does DGX report earnings?
Quest Diagnostics is expected to report earnings on February 9, 2027. It has beaten EPS estimates 8 quarters in a row.
How many employees does Quest Diagnostics have?
Quest Diagnostics has about 60,000 full-time employees, or $197,350 of revenue per employee.
Sources: SEC EDGAR filings, Yahoo Finance market data (delayed), FI Handbook calculations. Last close October 23, 2026. Methodology