Truist Financial Raises Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX) Price Target to $260.00

Key Points

• Truist Financial raised Quest Diagnostics’ price target to $260 from $250 while maintaining a “hold” rating, implying 5.41% upside from the prior close. Analysts overall rate the stock “Moderate Buy,” with a consensus target of $237.08.
• Quest Diagnostics exceeded quarterly expectations, reporting $3.12 EPS versus the $2.82 estimate and $3.04 billion in revenue. Revenue increased 10.2% year over year, and the company projects fiscal 2026 EPS of $11.05–$11.25.
• DGX opened at $246.65 and is near its 12-month high of $248.70. Insiders have sold 34,277 shares worth approximately $8.3 million over the past three months, while institutional investors own 88.06% of the stock.

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX - Get Free Report) had its price objective increased by research analysts at Truist Financial from $250.00 to $260.00 in a report released on Monday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a "hold" rating on the medical research company's stock. Truist Financial's price target would suggest a potential upside of 5.41% from the company's previous close.

A number of other analysts have also issued reports on the company. Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on Quest Diagnostics from $236.00 to $255.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Mizuho raised their target price on Quest Diagnostics from $235.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Barclays lifted their target price on Quest Diagnostics from $230.00 to $250.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $245.00 price target on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. Finally, Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Quest Diagnostics from a "buy (b+)" rating to a "buy (a-)" rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 12th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have given a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $237.08.

Quest Diagnostics Stock Up 0.1%

DGX opened at $246.65 on Monday. Quest Diagnostics has a 12 month low of $171.18 and a 12 month high of $248.70. The company has a market cap of $27.22 billion, a PE ratio of 26.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.25 and a beta of 0.55. The company has a current ratio of 1.59, a quick ratio of 1.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. The company has a 50 day moving average of $233.26 and a 200 day moving average of $210.64.

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The medical research company reported $3.12 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating 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 quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.62 EPS. Quest Diagnostics has set its FY 2026 guidance at 11.050-11.250 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Quest Diagnostics will post 11.15 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Quest Diagnostics 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 value of $376,288.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president owned 10,335 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,430,585.30. The trade was a 13.41% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 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 on Tuesday, September 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $242.72, for a total transaction of $2,427,200.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 122,423 shares in the company, valued at approximately $29,714,510.56. This trade represents a 7.55% 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. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 34,277 shares of company stock worth $8,316,493. Insiders own 0.88% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in DGX. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC raised its position in Quest Diagnostics by 25.0% during the second quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 33,797 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $7,163,000 after purchasing an additional 6,767 shares in the last quarter. Pinnacle Wealth Management Advisory Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Quest Diagnostics in the 2nd quarter worth about $226,000. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 5.2% in the 2nd quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 11,961 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $2,535,000 after purchasing an additional 589 shares in the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 4.6% during the 2nd quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 12,508 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $2,651,000 after purchasing an additional 550 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 4.2% during the 2nd quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 17,006 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $3,604,000 after purchasing an additional 678 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 88.06% of the company's stock.

About Quest Diagnostics

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated NYSE: DGX is a provider of diagnostic information services. The company performs laboratory testing used to help diagnose, monitor and manage diseases and other health conditions, serving physicians, hospitals, health plans, employers, government agencies and individual consumers.

Its services include routine blood and urine testing, advanced and esoteric diagnostics, molecular and genetic testing, anatomic pathology, cancer testing, drug screening and wellness-related assessments.

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