Zacks Research Issues Optimistic Forecast for DGX Earnings

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX) – Research analysts at Zacks Research raised their Q1 2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Quest Diagnostics in a report issued on Wednesday, February 19th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now expects that the medical research company will earn $2.19 per share for the quarter, up from their previous forecast of $2.17. The consensus estimate for Quest Diagnostics’ current full-year earnings is $9.70 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Quest Diagnostics’ Q3 2025 earnings at $2.49 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $2.47 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $2.60 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $11.32 EPS.

A number of other equities research analysts have also issued reports on DGX. Barclays increased their price target on Quest Diagnostics from $168.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Truist Financial increased their price target on Quest Diagnostics from $172.00 to $182.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Leerink Partnrs upgraded Quest Diagnostics from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Bank of America increased their price target on Quest Diagnostics from $179.00 to $182.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, December 13th. Finally, Robert W. Baird set a $189.00 price target on Quest Diagnostics in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $178.23.

Quest Diagnostics Trading Up 0.2 %

Shares of DGX stock opened at $172.44 on Friday. Quest Diagnostics has a 52-week low of $123.66 and a 52-week high of $172.91. 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 firm has a market capitalization of $19.25 billion, a PE ratio of 22.42, a PEG ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 0.91. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $157.56 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $155.93.

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The medical research company reported $2.23 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.19 by $0.04. Quest Diagnostics had a return on equity of 15.07% and a net margin of 8.80%.

Institutional Trading of Quest Diagnostics

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in DGX. Creative Planning lifted its stake in Quest Diagnostics by 1.6% in the third quarter. Creative Planning now owns 11,592 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $1,800,000 after purchasing an additional 185 shares during the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its stake in Quest Diagnostics by 6.8% in the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,392 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $216,000 after purchasing an additional 89 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James & Associates lifted its stake in Quest Diagnostics by 11.8% in the third quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 140,982 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $21,887,000 after purchasing an additional 14,899 shares during the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its stake in Quest Diagnostics by 48.5% in the third quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 8,979 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $1,394,000 after purchasing an additional 2,934 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 1.5% during the third quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 18,709 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $2,904,000 after acquiring an additional 268 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 88.06% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity at Quest Diagnostics

In related news, SVP Mark E. Delaney sold 403 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $164.30, for a total value of $66,212.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 4,624 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $759,723.20. This trade represents a 8.02 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Catherine T. Doherty sold 535 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $169.71, for a total transaction of $90,794.85. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 71,356 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $12,109,826.76. The trade was a 0.74 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 2,792 shares of company stock valued at $465,998. Insiders own 0.79% of the company’s stock.

Quest Diagnostics Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 21st. Investors of record on Monday, April 7th will be issued a $0.80 dividend. This is an increase from Quest Diagnostics’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, April 7th. This represents a $3.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.86%. Quest Diagnostics’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 39.01%.

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.