Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX) Issues Earnings Results

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX - Get Free Report) issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday. The medical research company reported $2.62 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.57 by $0.05, Zacks reports. The firm had revenue of $2.76 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.73 billion. Quest Diagnostics had a net margin of 9.01% and a return on equity of 15.24%. Quest Diagnostics's revenue was up 15.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.35 EPS. Quest Diagnostics updated its FY 2025 guidance to 9.630-9.830 EPS.

Quest Diagnostics Stock Up 1.2%

NYSE DGX traded up $2.05 on Thursday, hitting $172.53. 1,275,097 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,193,311. Quest Diagnostics has a fifty-two week low of $140.71 and a fifty-two week high of $182.38. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $174.79 and a 200-day moving average price of $169.38. The company has a quick ratio of 1.31, a current ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. The company has a market cap of $19.26 billion, a PE ratio of 20.66, a PEG ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 0.49.

Quest Diagnostics Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 21st. Investors of record on Monday, July 7th were paid a $0.80 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, July 7th. This represents a $3.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.85%. Quest Diagnostics's dividend payout ratio is currently 40.46%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Quest Diagnostics from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, June 7th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their target price on Quest Diagnostics from $160.00 to $178.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday. Piper Sandler raised their price target on Quest Diagnostics from $180.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Monday, April 28th. UBS Group dropped their price objective on Quest Diagnostics from $176.00 to $175.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, July 18th. Finally, William Blair reissued an "outperform" rating on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a research note on Wednesday. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $185.69.

Insider Buying and Selling at Quest Diagnostics

In other news, SVP Mark E. Delaney sold 874 shares of Quest Diagnostics stock in a transaction on Monday, May 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $175.72, for a total transaction of $153,579.28. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 8,372 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,471,127.84. The trade was a 9.45% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 8.16% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Quest Diagnostics

An institutional investor recently bought a new position in Quest Diagnostics stock. Brighton Jones LLC acquired a new position in shares of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 2,144 shares of the medical research company's stock, valued at approximately $323,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.06% of the company's stock.

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.