DGX
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated
Medical - Diagnostics & Research
Market Cap$20.93B
5Y Perf.+59.9%
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Stock Comparison
DGX vs LH
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
LH
Labcorp Holdings Inc.
Medical - Diagnostics & Research
Market Cap$21.14B
5Y Perf.+70.6%
DGX vs LH — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | DGX | LH |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Medical - Diagnostics & Research | Medical - Diagnostics & Research |
| Market Cap | $20.93B | $21.14B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $11.28B | $14.14B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $1.02B | $942M |
| Gross Margin | 33.2% | 27.8% |
| Operating Margin | 14.3% | 11.0% |
| Forward P/E | 17.6x | 14.4x |
| Total Debt | $6.92B | $7.20B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $420M | $532M |
DGX vs LH — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
DGX
LH
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quest Diagnostics I… (DGX) | 100 | 159.9 | +59.9% |
| Labcorp Holdings In… (LH) | 100 | 170.6 | +70.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: DGX vs LH
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: DGX leads in 6 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Labcorp Holdings Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
DGX
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated
The Income Pick
DGX carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 15 yrs, beta 0.07, yield 1.7%
- Rev growth 11.8%, EPS growth 13.8%, 3Y rev CAGR 3.7%
- 181.9% 10Y total return vs LH's 150.9%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
LH
Labcorp Holdings Inc.
The Value Play
LH is the clearest fit if your priority is value.
- Lower P/E (14.4x vs 17.6x)
Best for: value
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | DGX | 11.8% revenue growth vs LH's 7.2% |
| Value | LH | Lower P/E (14.4x vs 17.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | DGX | 9.1% margin vs LH's 6.7% |
| Stability / Safety | DGX | Beta 0.07 vs LH's 0.52 |
| Dividends | DGX | 1.7% yield, 15-year raise streak, vs LH's 1.1% |
| Momentum (1Y) | DGX | +9.2% vs LH's +6.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | DGX | 6.3% ROA vs LH's 5.1%, ROIC 8.8% vs 7.8% |
DGX vs LH — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
DGX vs LH — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLDGXLAGGINGLH
LHLabcorp Holdings Inc.
0leads
DGXQuest Diagnostics Inc…
5leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs LHMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
DGX5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
Tied
—
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
DGX7/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
DGX6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
DGX2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
DGX2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
DGX leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LH and DGX operate at a comparable scale, with $14.1B and $11.3B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 9.1% (DGX) to 6.7% (LH). On growth, DGX holds the edge at +9.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | DGXQuest Diagnostics… | LHLabcorp Holdings … |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $11.3B | $14.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.9B | $2.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.0B | $942M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.3B | $1.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +33.2% | +27.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +14.3% | +11.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +9.1% | +6.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +11.8% | +9.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +9.2% | +5.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +15.5% | +32.9% |
DGX leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — DGX and LH each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 21.6x trailing earnings, DGX trades at a 12% valuation discount to LH's 24.6x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, DGX's 12.6x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than LH's 12.7x.
| Metric | DGXQuest Diagnostics… | LHLabcorp Holdings … |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $20.9B | $21.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $27.4B | $27.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 21.61x | 24.56x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 17.61x | 14.39x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 12.62x | 12.66x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.90x | 1.52x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.93x | 2.49x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 15.40x | 17.53x |
Evenly matched — DGX and LH each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
DGX leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
DGX delivers a 13.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $14 in annual profit, vs $11 for LH. LH carries lower financial leverage with a 0.83x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to DGX's 0.95x.
| Metric | DGXQuest Diagnostics… | LHLabcorp Holdings … |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +13.8% | +10.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.3% | +5.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +8.8% | +7.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +11.5% | +9.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.95x | 0.83x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $6.5B | $6.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $420M | $532M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $6.9B | $7.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 6.26x | 6.22x |
DGX leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
DGX leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in DGX five years ago would be worth $14,707 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,216 for LH. Over the past 12 months, DGX leads with a +9.2% total return vs LH's +6.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors DGX at 13.8% vs LH's 11.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | DGXQuest Diagnostics… | LHLabcorp Holdings … |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +9.8% | +2.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +9.2% | +6.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +47.2% | +38.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +47.1% | +12.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +181.9% | +150.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +13.8% | +11.6% |
DGX leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
DGX leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
DGX is the less volatile stock with a 0.07 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than LH's 0.52 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | DGXQuest Diagnostics… | LHLabcorp Holdings … |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.07x | 0.52x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $213.50 | $293.72 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $164.65 | $239.67 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +88.6% | +87.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 42.4 | 40.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 843K | 579K |
DGX leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
DGX leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates DGX as "Hold" and LH as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 21.2% upside for LH (target: $311) vs 16.6% for DGX (target: $221). For income investors, DGX offers the higher dividend yield at 1.65% vs LH's 1.12%.
| Metric | DGXQuest Diagnostics… | LHLabcorp Holdings … |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $220.57 | $311.33 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 34 | 35 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.7% | +1.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 15 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $3.12 | $2.87 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.1% | +2.1% |
DGX leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
DGX leads in 5 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Profitability & Efficiency. 1 category is tied.
Best OverallQuest Diagnostics Incorpora… (DGX)Leads 5 of 6 categories
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DGX vs LH: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is DGX or LH a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX) is the stronger pick with 11.
8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 7. 2% for Labcorp Holdings Inc. (LH). Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX) offers the better valuation at 21. 6x trailing P/E (17. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Labcorp Holdings Inc. (LH) a "Buy" — based on 35 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — DGX or LH?
On trailing P/E, Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX) is the cheapest at 21.
6x versus Labcorp Holdings Inc. at 24. 6x. On forward P/E, Labcorp Holdings Inc. is actually cheaper at 14. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — DGX or LH?
Over the past 5 years, Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX) delivered a total return of +47.
1%, compared to +12. 2% for Labcorp Holdings Inc. (LH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: DGX returned +181. 9% versus LH's +150. 9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — DGX or LH?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
07β versus Labcorp Holdings Inc. 's 0. 52β — meaning LH is approximately 609% more volatile than DGX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Labcorp Holdings Inc. (LH) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 83% versus 95% for Quest Diagnostics Incorporated — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — DGX or LH?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX) is pulling ahead at 11.
8% versus 7. 2% for Labcorp Holdings Inc. (LH). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Labcorp Holdings Inc. grew EPS 18. 3% year-over-year, compared to 13. 8% for Quest Diagnostics Incorporated. Over a 3-year CAGR, LH leads at 5. 6% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — DGX or LH?
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX) is the more profitable company, earning 9.
0% net margin versus 6. 3% for Labcorp Holdings Inc. — meaning it keeps 9. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DGX leads at 14. 5% versus 10. 9% for LH. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DGX leads at 31. 9%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is DGX or LH more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Labcorp Holdings Inc.
(LH) trades at 14. 4x forward P/E versus 17. 6x for Quest Diagnostics Incorporated — 3. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LH: 21. 2% to $311. 33.
08Which pays a better dividend — DGX or LH?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX) offers the highest yield at 1. 7%, versus 1. 1% for Labcorp Holdings Inc. (LH).
09Is DGX or LH better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
07), 1. 7% yield, +181. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (DGX: +181. 9%, LH: +150. 9%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between DGX and LH?
Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(DGX: 9.2% · LH: 5.8%)Net Margin>
%
(DGX: 9.1% · LH: 6.7%)P/E Ratio<
x
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