Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX – Free Report) had its price target increased by Truist Financial from $220.00 to $225.00 in a report published on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a hold rating on the medical research company’s stock.
Other research analysts have also issued reports about the company. Evercore set a $225.00 target price on Quest Diagnostics in a research report on Tuesday. Mizuho raised their target price on Quest Diagnostics from $210.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $225.00 target price on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a research report on Tuesday. Wall Street Zen lowered Quest Diagnostics from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Sunday, March 15th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b-)” rating on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $214.54.
Read Our Latest Analysis on Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics Stock Down 0.6%
Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX – Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, April 21st. The medical research company reported $2.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.37 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $2.90 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.83 billion. Quest Diagnostics had a return on equity of 15.60% and a net margin of 9.07%.Quest Diagnostics’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.94 EPS. Quest Diagnostics has set its FY 2026 guidance at 10.630-10.830 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Quest Diagnostics will post 10.67 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Quest Diagnostics Increases Dividend
The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 20th. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 6th were issued a dividend of $0.86 per share. This represents a $3.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.7%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, April 6th. This is an increase from Quest Diagnostics’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.80. Quest Diagnostics’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 39.31%.
Quest Diagnostics announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share buyback program on Tuesday, February 10th that allows the company to buyback $1.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the medical research company to purchase up to 4.7% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are generally an indication that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.
Insider Transactions at Quest Diagnostics
In other news, SVP Michael E. Prevoznik sold 3,878 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $206.21, for a total value of $799,682.38. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 37,557 shares in the company, valued at $7,744,628.97. This trade represents a 9.36% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Catherine T. Doherty sold 5,558 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $206.21, for a total value of $1,146,115.18. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 67,122 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $13,841,227.62. This represents a 7.65% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 24,083 shares of company stock valued at $4,945,262. 8.16% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.
Hedge Funds Weigh In On Quest Diagnostics
A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Paradiem LLC bought a new stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics in the 4th quarter worth approximately $13,652,000. Lebenthal Global Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 117.5% in the 3rd quarter. Lebenthal Global Advisors LLC now owns 5,034 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $959,000 after purchasing an additional 2,720 shares during the period. Rakuten Investment Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $4,713,000. Pacer Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 2,531.6% in the 3rd quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 450,898 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $85,932,000 after purchasing an additional 433,764 shares during the period. Finally, TKG Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Quest Diagnostics by 125.1% during the 3rd quarter. TKG Advisors LLC now owns 14,596 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $2,782,000 after acquiring an additional 8,112 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.06% of the company’s stock.
Key Headlines Impacting Quest Diagnostics
Here are the key news stories impacting Quest Diagnostics this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Q1 results beat and guidance raised: DGX reported adjusted EPS of $2.50 and revenue of $2.90B (?+9.2% YoY) and raised FY2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $10.63–$10.83, supporting the bullish case for steady routine testing demand. Quest Diagnostics Reports First Quarter 2026 Financial Results
- Positive Sentiment: Analyst price?target lifts and favorable notes: Multiple firms bumped targets (Barclays to $230/overweight; Baird to $229; UBS to $220; Truist to $225), reflecting confidence that beat + raised outlook justify higher valuations. These Analysts Boost Their Forecasts On Quest Diagnostics After Better-Than-Expected Earnings
- Positive Sentiment: Operational drivers: Management cited strong organic volume, partnerships, consumer testing momentum and AI initiatives as contributors to revenue growth and the improved outlook. Quest Diagnostics Gains Steam With Partnerships, Lifts Outlook
- Neutral Sentiment: Analyst/strategy writeups: Coverage pieces (Zacks, Yahoo/Seeking Alpha) frame DGX as a momentum/value story post?earnings — useful context but not new company guidance. Here’s Why Quest Diagnostics (DGX) is a Strong Momentum Stock
- Neutral Sentiment: Earnings call materials and transcript are available for detail on margins, volumes and segment commentary if you want to validate management’s assumptions. Quest Diagnostics Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
- Negative Sentiment: Insider and institutional trimming: Reports show significant insider sales and large institutional position reductions by some managers in recent quarters — these can cap near?term upside and fuel profit?taking. Quest Diagnostics rises after Q1 earnings beat and higher 2026 outlook
- Negative Sentiment: Market reaction/technical pressure: The stock surged on the beat and guidance lift; the current pullback with above?average volume looks like intraday profit?taking and rotation despite fundamentally positive news.
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX) is a leading provider of diagnostic information services that supports clinical decision-making for patients, physicians and healthcare organizations. The company operates a network of clinical laboratories and patient service centers that perform a broad range of laboratory tests and diagnostic assays used in routine care, disease diagnosis, monitoring and screening.
Its services span core clinical laboratory testing, anatomic pathology, molecular and genomic diagnostics, infectious disease testing and toxicology.
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