Q4 2024 EPS Estimates for Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX) Decreased by Analyst

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX) – Equities researchers at William Blair reduced their Q4 2024 EPS estimates for Quest Diagnostics in a research report issued on Tuesday, April 23rd. William Blair analyst A. Brackmann now forecasts that the medical research company will earn $2.18 per share for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $2.30. The consensus estimate for Quest Diagnostics’ current full-year earnings is $8.75 per share. William Blair also issued estimates for Quest Diagnostics’ Q1 2025 earnings at $2.30 EPS, Q2 2025 earnings at $2.47 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $2.44 EPS and Q4 2025 earnings at $2.35 EPS.

Several other research firms have also weighed in on DGX. TheStreet lowered shares of Quest Diagnostics from a “b-” rating to a “c” rating in a research note on Monday, February 5th. Mizuho upped their price objective on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $150.00 to $155.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday. Leerink Partnrs reiterated a “market perform” rating on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a research note on Monday, February 26th. SVB Leerink began coverage on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a research note on Monday, February 26th. They issued a “market perform” rating and a $135.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Barclays started coverage on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd. They issued an “equal weight” rating and a $145.00 price objective on the stock. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $146.25.

Quest Diagnostics Stock Up 0.6 %

Shares of NYSE:DGX opened at $137.55 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $15.28 billion, a PE ratio of 18.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a current ratio of 0.97. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $128.69 and a 200 day simple moving average of $131.08. Quest Diagnostics has a 52 week low of $119.59 and a 52 week high of $148.62.

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 23rd. The medical research company reported $2.04 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.86 by $0.18. The business had revenue of $2.37 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.29 billion. Quest Diagnostics had a net margin of 9.11% and a return on equity of 15.52%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 1.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.04 EPS.

Institutional Trading of Quest Diagnostics

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. State of Alaska Department of Revenue lifted its holdings in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 4.6% during the 3rd quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 28,431 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $3,464,000 after acquiring an additional 1,250 shares during the period. Impact Partnership Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of Quest Diagnostics during the 3rd quarter worth about $40,000. KFG Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 6.3% during the 3rd quarter. KFG Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,692 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $206,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the period. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 1.9% during the 3rd quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 4,417 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $538,000 after acquiring an additional 84 shares during the period. Finally, Occidental Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 1.3% during the 3rd quarter. Occidental Asset Management LLC now owns 19,057 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $2,322,000 after acquiring an additional 247 shares during the period. 88.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity at Quest Diagnostics

In other Quest Diagnostics news, Director Vicky B. Gregg sold 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $126.64, for a total value of $316,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 16,329 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,067,904.56. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Quest Diagnostics news, SVP Michael E. Prevoznik sold 5,611 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $125.88, for a total value of $706,312.68. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 38,478 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,843,610.64. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Vicky B. Gregg sold 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $126.64, for a total transaction of $316,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 16,329 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,067,904.56. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 15,150 shares of company stock worth $1,913,202. 0.79% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Quest Diagnostics Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 22nd. Investors of record on Monday, April 8th were paid a $0.75 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, April 5th. This is a positive change from Quest Diagnostics’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.71. This represents a $3.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.18%. Quest Diagnostics’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 37.92%.

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.