Q4 2024 EPS Estimates for Quest Diagnostics Incorporated Decreased by Analyst (NYSE:DGX)

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX) – Equities researchers at William Blair dropped their Q4 2024 EPS estimates for shares of Quest Diagnostics in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, April 23rd. William Blair analyst A. Brackmann now expects that the medical research company will post earnings of $2.18 per share for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $2.30. The consensus estimate for Quest Diagnostics’ current full-year earnings is $8.75 per share. William Blair also issued estimates for Quest Diagnostics’ Q1 2025 earnings at $2.30 EPS, Q2 2025 earnings at $2.47 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $2.44 EPS and Q4 2025 earnings at $2.35 EPS.

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 23rd. The medical research company reported $2.04 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.86 by $0.18. Quest Diagnostics had a return on equity of 15.52% and a net margin of 9.11%. The firm had revenue of $2.37 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.29 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.04 earnings per share. Quest Diagnostics’s revenue for the quarter was up 1.7% on a year-over-year basis.

Other research analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Leerink Partnrs reiterated a “market perform” rating on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a research note on Monday, February 26th. TheStreet downgraded Quest Diagnostics from a “b-” rating to a “c” rating in a research note on Monday, February 5th. Barclays boosted their price objective on Quest Diagnostics from $138.00 to $144.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday. UBS Group increased their target price on Quest Diagnostics from $139.00 to $146.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Mizuho boosted their price target on Quest Diagnostics from $150.00 to $155.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $146.17.

Quest Diagnostics Stock Down 1.5 %

DGX stock opened at $135.47 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 0.97, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $128.89 and a 200-day simple moving average of $131.11. The company has a market capitalization of $15.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.09, a PEG ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.91. Quest Diagnostics has a twelve month low of $119.59 and a twelve month high of $147.96.

Quest Diagnostics Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 22nd. Investors of record on Monday, April 8th were given a dividend of $0.75 per share. This represents a $3.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.21%. This is a positive change from Quest Diagnostics’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.71. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, April 5th. Quest Diagnostics’s payout ratio is presently 37.92%.

Insider Activity

In related news, SVP Michael E. Prevoznik sold 5,611 shares of Quest Diagnostics stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $125.88, for a total transaction of $706,312.68. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 38,478 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,843,610.64. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Quest Diagnostics news, EVP Catherine T. Doherty sold 5,557 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $126.57, for a total value of $703,349.49. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 69,599 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $8,809,145.43. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, SVP Michael E. Prevoznik sold 5,611 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $125.88, for a total transaction of $706,312.68. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 38,478 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,843,610.64. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 15,150 shares of company stock worth $1,913,202 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.79% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Quest Diagnostics

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Altshuler Shaham Ltd acquired a new position in Quest Diagnostics in the fourth quarter worth about $26,000. NBC Securities Inc. bought a new stake in Quest Diagnostics in the third quarter valued at $25,000. BKM Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Quest Diagnostics during the fourth quarter worth $29,000. VisionPoint Advisory Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 100.0% during the third quarter. VisionPoint Advisory Group LLC now owns 218 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 109 shares during the period. Finally, Spartan Planning & Wealth Management acquired a new stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics in the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. 88.06% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Quest Diagnostics Company Profile

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated provides diagnostic testing and services in the United States and internationally. The company develops and delivers diagnostic information services, such as routine, non-routine and advanced clinical testing, anatomic pathology testing, and other diagnostic information services.