Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX) Issues Earnings Results

Key Points

• Quest Diagnostics reported a quarterly earnings per share (EPS) of $2.60, exceeding analysts' expectations of $2.51.
• The company has set its FY 2025 EPS guidance at between $9.760 and $9.840.
• A quarterly dividend of $0.80 was paid to shareholders, representing an annualized yield of 1.7%.

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX - Get Free Report) posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday. The medical research company reported $2.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.51 by $0.09, Zacks reports. Quest Diagnostics had a return on equity of 15.24% and a net margin of 9.01%. Quest Diagnostics updated its FY 2025 guidance to 9.760-9.840 EPS.

Quest Diagnostics Stock Up 0.4%

DGX stock opened at $190.26 on Tuesday. Quest Diagnostics has a fifty-two week low of $146.91 and a fifty-two week high of $191.87. The business's 50-day moving average is $182.68 and its two-hundred day moving average is $176.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a current ratio of 1.09. The company has a market cap of $21.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.79, a P/E/G ratio of 2.51 and a beta of 0.56.

Quest Diagnostics Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, October 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 3rd were issued a $0.80 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, October 3rd. This represents a $3.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.7%. Quest Diagnostics's dividend payout ratio is currently 38.32%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on DGX shares. UBS Group increased their target price on Quest Diagnostics from $180.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday. Mizuho increased their target price on Quest Diagnostics from $190.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday. William Blair reissued an "outperform" rating on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a research note on Wednesday, July 23rd. Robert W. Baird reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $194.00 target price on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a research note on Monday, August 25th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their target price on Quest Diagnostics from $160.00 to $178.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 23rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have issued a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $189.06.

Insider Buying and Selling at Quest Diagnostics

In other Quest Diagnostics news, SVP Patrick Plewman sold 5,535 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $175.00, for a total value of $968,625.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 19,219 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,363,325. This represents a 22.36% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, SVP Michael E. Prevoznik sold 28,288 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $187.12, for a total value of $5,293,250.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 38,117 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,132,453.04. This represents a 42.60% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 53,186 shares of company stock valued at $9,647,471. 8.16% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in DGX. Brighton Jones LLC purchased a new position in shares of Quest Diagnostics during the 4th quarter valued at about $323,000. Cresset Asset Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 4.6% during the 2nd quarter. Cresset Asset Management LLC now owns 4,003 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $719,000 after buying an additional 176 shares in the last quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC purchased a new position in shares of Quest Diagnostics during the 2nd quarter valued at about $287,000. Bank of Nova Scotia lifted its position in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 7.2% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia now owns 14,339 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $2,576,000 after buying an additional 962 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 17.1% during the 2nd quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 18,599 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $3,341,000 after buying an additional 2,718 shares in the last quarter. 88.06% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other 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.

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