DGX vs BIO vs TMO vs DHR vs A

For growth investors, Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX) is the stronger pick with 11.

8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 0. 7% for Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (BIO). Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (BIO) offers the better valuation at 9. 2x trailing P/E (27. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (BIO) a "Buy" — based on 14 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.

On trailing P/E, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.

(BIO) is the cheapest at 9. 2x versus Danaher Corporation at 34. 9x. On forward P/E, Quest Diagnostics Incorporated is actually cheaper at 17. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Agilent Technologies, Inc. wins at 1. 32x versus Danaher Corporation's 33. 47x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX) delivered a total return of +47.

7%, compared to -57. 7% for Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (BIO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: TMO returned +222. 6% versus BIO's +79. 3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

05β versus Agilent Technologies, Inc. 's 1. 21β — meaning A is approximately 2442% more volatile than DGX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (BIO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 21% versus 95% for Quest Diagnostics Incorporated — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX) is pulling ahead at 11.

8% versus 0. 7% for Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (BIO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. grew EPS 142. 6% year-over-year, compared to -4. 7% for Danaher Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, DGX leads at 3. 7% 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.

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.

(BIO) is the more profitable company, earning 29. 4% net margin versus 9. 0% for Quest Diagnostics Incorporated — meaning it keeps 29. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: A leads at 21. 3% versus 10. 5% for BIO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DHR leads at 60. 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Agilent Technologies, Inc. (A) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 32x versus Danaher Corporation's 33. 47x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX) trades at 17. 4x forward P/E versus 27. 4x for Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. — 10. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DHR: 40. 6% to $247. 00.

In this comparison, DGX (1.

6% yield), A (0. 8% yield), DHR (0. 7% yield), TMO (0. 4% yield) pay a dividend. BIO does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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.

05), 1. 6% yield, +176. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (DGX: +176. 8%, TMO: +222. 6%), 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.

Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: DGX is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; BIO is a small-cap deep-value stock; TMO is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; DHR is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; A is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. DGX, DHR, A pay a dividend while BIO, TMO do not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.