FY2026 EPS Estimate for Quest Diagnostics Reduced by Analyst

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX) – Research analysts at Zacks Research dropped their FY2026 earnings estimates for shares of Quest Diagnostics in a research report issued on Wednesday, May 21st. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now anticipates that the medical research company will post earnings of $10.45 per share for the year, down from their prior estimate of $10.48. The consensus estimate for Quest Diagnostics’ current full-year earnings is $9.70 per share.

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, April 22nd. The medical research company reported $2.21 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.15 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $2.65 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.63 billion. Quest Diagnostics had a net margin of 8.80% and a return on equity of 15.07%.

Several other analysts also recently commented on the stock. Redburn Partners set a $195.00 price objective on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Robert W. Baird increased their target price on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $191.00 to $194.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 23rd. UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $166.00 to $170.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Redburn Atlantic initiated coverage on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. They set a “buy” rating and a $195.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Evercore ISI increased their price objective on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $175.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $185.73.

Quest Diagnostics Trading Up 1.0%

Shares of DGX stock opened at $171.34 on Friday. Quest Diagnostics has a fifty-two week low of $135.47 and a fifty-two week high of $179.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a current ratio of 1.10. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $170.37 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $164.19. The company has a market cap of $19.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.28, a PEG ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 0.52.

Institutional Trading of Quest Diagnostics

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. BankPlus Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics during the 4th quarter valued at $355,000. Van ECK Associates Corp grew its position in Quest Diagnostics by 980.3% during the fourth quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 24,198 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $3,650,000 after buying an additional 21,958 shares during the period. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new position in Quest Diagnostics during the fourth quarter valued at about $54,000. SVB Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in Quest Diagnostics during the fourth quarter worth about $10,345,000. Finally, AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc raised its position in Quest Diagnostics by 12.0% in the fourth quarter. AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc now owns 144,773 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $21,852,000 after acquiring an additional 15,475 shares during the period. 88.06% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity at Quest Diagnostics

In related news, SVP Michael E. Prevoznik sold 528 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $172.61, for a total transaction of $91,138.08. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 39,031 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,737,140.91. The trade was a 1.33% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, SVP Mark E. Delaney sold 874 shares of Quest Diagnostics stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $175.72, for a total transaction of $153,579.28. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 8,372 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,471,127.84. This represents a 9.45% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 53,985 shares of company stock valued at $9,147,802. 8.16% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Quest Diagnostics Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 21st. Investors of record on Monday, July 7th will be issued a dividend of $0.80 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, July 7th. This represents a $3.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.87%. Quest Diagnostics’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 40.46%.

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.