EXAS vs DGX vs LH vs ILMN

For growth investors, Exact Sciences Corporation (EXAS) is the stronger pick with 17.

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 8% for Illumina, Inc. (ILMN). Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX) offers the better valuation at 21. 8x trailing P/E (17. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Exact Sciences Corporation (EXAS) a "Buy" — based on 41 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, Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX) is the cheapest at 21.

8x versus Illumina, Inc. at 25. 5x. On forward P/E, Labcorp Holdings Inc. is actually cheaper at 14. 5x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

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

7%, compared to -62. 8% for Illumina, Inc. (ILMN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: EXAS returned +1669% versus ILMN's +0. 7%. 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.

07β versus Illumina, Inc. 's 1. 23β — meaning ILMN is approximately 1582% 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 105% for Exact Sciences Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Exact Sciences Corporation (EXAS) is pulling ahead at 17.

7% versus -0. 8% for Illumina, Inc. (ILMN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Illumina, Inc. grew EPS 170. 9% year-over-year, compared to 13. 8% for Quest Diagnostics Incorporated. Over a 3-year CAGR, EXAS leads at 15. 9% 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.

Illumina, Inc.

(ILMN) is the more profitable company, earning 19. 6% net margin versus -6. 4% for Exact Sciences Corporation — meaning it keeps 19. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ILMN leads at 19. 9% versus -6. 4% for EXAS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — EXAS leads at 69. 7%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, Labcorp Holdings Inc.

(LH) trades at 14. 5x forward P/E versus 582. 8x for Exact Sciences Corporation — 568. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LH: 20. 7% to $311. 33.

In this comparison, DGX (1.

6% yield), LH (1. 1% yield) pay a dividend. EXAS, ILMN do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Exact Sciences Corporation (EXAS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

12), +1669% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (EXAS: +1669%, ILMN: +0. 7%), 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: EXAS is a mid-cap high-growth stock; DGX is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; LH is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; ILMN is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. DGX, LH pay a dividend while EXAS, ILMN 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.