Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX) Releases FY 2026 Earnings Guidance

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX) issued an update on its FY 2026 earnings guidance on Friday morning. The company provided earnings per share guidance of 11.250-11.350 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 11.190. The company issued revenue guidance of $12.1 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $12.0 billion.

Quest Diagnostics Stock Performance

Shares of DGX opened at $241.49 on Friday. Quest Diagnostics has a 1 year low of $171.18 and a 1 year high of $248.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70, a current ratio of 1.70 and a quick ratio of 1.46. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $237.67 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $216.82. The firm has a market cap of $26.65 billion, a PE ratio of 24.05, a PEG ratio of 2.19 and a beta of 0.54.

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 22nd. The medical research company reported $3.00 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.87 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $3.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.05 billion. Quest Diagnostics had a return on equity of 16.21% and a net margin of 9.53%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 10.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.60 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Quest Diagnostics will post 11.23 EPS for the current year.

Quest Diagnostics Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, October 21st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, October 6th were given a $0.86 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, October 6th. This represents a $3.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.4%. Quest Diagnostics’s payout ratio is 36.52%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. UBS Group reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $250.00 price target on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a research report on Monday. Argus set a $260.00 price objective on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. Truist Financial upped their target price on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, September 21st. Wall Street Zen raised Quest Diagnostics from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 28th. Finally, Mizuho increased their target price on Quest Diagnostics from $235.00 to $260.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, July 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have issued a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Quest Diagnostics has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $244.27.

Insider Activity

In other news, SVP Mark Delaney sold 1,600 shares of Quest Diagnostics stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $235.18, for a total value of $376,288.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 10,335 shares in the company, valued at approximately $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 Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, SVP Michael Prevoznik sold 22,677 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated 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 approximately $9,130,482.27. This trade represents a 37.65% 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 have sold 34,277 shares of company stock valued at $8,316,493. 0.88% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Quest Diagnostics News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Quest Diagnostics this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Third-quarter results beat estimates: Quest reported adjusted EPS of $3.00 versus the $2.87 consensus and revenue of $3.10 billion versus expectations of $3.05 billion. Revenue increased 10% year over year, while adjusted EPS rose 15.4%, reflecting stronger testing demand and margin improvement. Quest Diagnostics Reports Third Quarter 2026 Financial Results
• Positive Sentiment: Full-year guidance was raised: Quest now expects 2026 revenue of $12.065 billion to $12.105 billion and adjusted EPS of $11.25 to $11.35, above consensus estimates of approximately $12.0 billion and $11.19, respectively. Organic requisition volume rose 14.4% in the quarter, and consumer-health revenue is expected to grow more than 30% for the year. Quest Diagnostics Earnings Takeaways
• Positive Sentiment: Valuation and momentum remain supportive: Coverage characterized DGX as potentially undervalued following the guidance increase, while Zacks highlighted the company’s long-term momentum profile. Quest Diagnostics Could Be Undervalued
• Neutral Sentiment: Deutsche Bank raised its price target to $245 from $232 but maintained a Hold rating, indicating improved expectations without a clear bullish endorsement. Deutsche Bank Adjusts Quest Diagnostics Price Target
• Negative Sentiment: Patient-data breach creates a major overhang: Quest disclosed unauthorized access to its Quanum Lab Services Manager, a system used to order tests and access results. The company confirmed that personal and health information was compromised, potentially exposing it to regulatory scrutiny, litigation, remediation costs, and reputational damage. Quest Diagnostics Patient Data Breach

Quest Diagnostics Company Profile

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX) is a provider of diagnostic information services. The company performs laboratory testing that helps physicians, hospitals and other healthcare providers diagnose, treat and monitor diseases and health conditions. Its services include routine blood and other specimen testing, pathology, molecular and genetic testing, and specialized diagnostic services.

Quest Diagnostics serves a broad range of customers, including hospitals, physician practices, health plans, employers, government agencies and individual consumers.