Leerink Partnrs Has Pessimistic Outlook of DGX Q2 Earnings

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX) – Research analysts at Leerink Partnrs cut their Q2 2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Quest Diagnostics in a report released on Tuesday, April 22nd. Leerink Partnrs analyst M. Cherny now expects that the medical research company will post earnings of $2.56 per share for the quarter, down from their prior estimate of $2.58. Leerink Partnrs has a “Strong-Buy” rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Quest Diagnostics’ current full-year earnings is $9.70 per share. Leerink Partnrs also issued estimates for Quest Diagnostics’ Q4 2025 earnings at $2.41 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $9.72 EPS.

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, April 22nd. The medical research company reported $2.21 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.15 by $0.06. Quest Diagnostics had a net margin of 8.80% and a return on equity of 15.07%. The firm had revenue of $2.65 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.63 billion.

Several other equities analysts also recently weighed in on DGX. Piper Sandler reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $180.00 price target (up previously from $165.00) on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Robert W. Baird increased their price target on Quest Diagnostics from $191.00 to $194.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday. Barclays boosted their target price on Quest Diagnostics from $175.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday. Mizuho boosted their price target on Quest Diagnostics from $178.00 to $189.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Finally, Truist Financial increased their price objective on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $182.00 to $190.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $183.73.

Quest Diagnostics Trading Up 1.4 %

Shares of DGX opened at $175.92 on Thursday. Quest Diagnostics has a 1-year low of $134.05 and a 1-year high of $178.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 1.02. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $168.88 and a 200-day simple moving average of $160.81. The stock has a market cap of $19.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 0.78.

Institutional Trading of Quest Diagnostics

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in DGX. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC increased its holdings in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 57.8% during the first quarter. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC now owns 183 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares during the period. Golden State Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in Quest Diagnostics by 157.3% during the 1st quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 193 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 118 shares during the period. NBC Securities Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics during the 1st quarter worth about $35,000. Sierra Ocean LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics in the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Continuum Advisory LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 11,100.0% in the first quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC now owns 224 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 222 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 88.06% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at Quest Diagnostics

In related news, 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 value of $90,794.85. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 71,356 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $12,109,826.76. This trade represents a 0.74 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO J. E. Davis sold 39,191 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $168.46, for a total transaction of $6,602,115.86. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 127,623 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $21,499,370.58. This trade represents a 23.49 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 55,903 shares of company stock worth $9,460,221. 8.16% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Quest Diagnostics Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 21st. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 7th were issued a dividend of $0.80 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, April 7th. This is a positive change from Quest Diagnostics’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. This represents a $3.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.82%. Quest Diagnostics’s dividend payout ratio is 40.46%.

About Quest Diagnostics

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.