Quest Diagnostics Incorporated · DGX · FY2026 Q2 · Calendar Q3 2026

Quest Diagnostics Beats on Volume and AI Automation, Raises Full-Year Guidance

Quest Diagnostics delivered a strong Q2 2026, beating consensus on both revenue and EPS with double-digit organic volume growth and higher tests per requisition. Management raised full-year guidance for the second consecutive quarter, reflecting momentum across physician, hospital, and consumer health channels. AI-driven automation and advanced diagnostic portfolios -- including Haystack MRD, cardiometabolic panels, and Genius digital pathology -- are increasingly contributing to both top-line growth and productivity gains.

Reported Before market openNYSEHealthcare $25.96B market cap
100quality score

Company context

Snapshot as of publication

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, founded in 1967 and headquartered in Secaucus, New Jersey, is a premier provider of diagnostic testing, information, and related services, serving clients both domestically and internationally. Its core business involves the development and provision of diverse diagnostic information services, such as routine, advanced clinical, and anatomic pathology testing. While primarily operating under the Quest Diagnostics brand, it also leverages specialized identities like AmeriPath, Dermpath Diagnostics, ExamOne, and Quanum to reach a broad spectrum of clients.…

Earnings scorecard

Reported versus consensus
Reported EPS $3.12 Consensus $3
EPS surprise +10.6% Reported versus consensus
Reported revenue $3.04B Consensus $2.97B
Revenue surprise +2.4% Reported versus consensus

Earnings History

Estimate Beat Miss Match
DGX REVENUE earnings history estimate and actual scatter chart 9 reported fiscal quarters and 4 future estimate-only quarters. Q4 '23 estimate $2B Q4 '23 actual $2B, beat Q1 '24 estimate $2B Q1 '24 actual $2B, beat Q2 '24 estimate $2B Q2 '24 actual $2B, beat Q3 '24 estimate $3B Q3 '24 actual $2B, miss Q2 '25 estimate $3B Q2 '25 actual $3B, beat Q3 '25 estimate $3B Q3 '25 actual $3B, beat Q4 '25 estimate $3B Q4 '25 actual $3B, beat Q1 '26 estimate $3B Q1 '26 actual $3B, beat Q2 '26 estimate $3B Q2 '26 actual $3B, beat Q3 '26 estimate $3B Q4 '26 estimate $3B Q1 '27 estimate $3B Q2 '27 estimate $3B
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Analyst Consensus ?

ConsensusHold33 ratings
Bullish1236.4%
Neutral1854.5%
Bearish39.1%

Analyst 52W Price Targets

$234.3Current
$125Low
$195.29Average
$260High

Latest persisted target per named analyst; persisted current price from FN2's market snapshot as of Jul 30, 2026. Not an FN2 forecast.

Firm-level rating actions

FMP grade actions identify the grading firm, not a named analyst.

FirmRatingPrior ratingActionDate
JP Morgan Neutral NeutralMaintainJul 28, 2026
UBS Neutral NeutralMaintainJul 24, 2026
Truist Securities Hold HoldMaintainJul 24, 2026
Mizuho Outperform OutperformMaintainJul 24, 2026
Barclays Overweight OverweightMaintainJul 24, 2026
Baird Neutral NeutralMaintainJul 24, 2026
Evercore ISI Group In Line In LineMaintainApr 8, 2026
Jefferies Buy BuyMaintainFeb 11, 2026
Show 25 more rating actions

Named analyst price targets

Upside is calculated against the persisted current price $234.3. FMP does not supply a rating on these named-analyst rows.

FirmAnalyst52W targetPrice when postedUpsideDate
Argus ResearchAnalyst unavailable$260$235.34 +11.0%Jul 29, 2026
UBSKevin Caliendo$232$231.3 -1.0%Jul 24, 2026
Robert W. BairdAnalyst unavailable$255$227.9 +8.8%Jul 24, 2026
BarclaysAnalyst unavailable$250$227.9 +6.7%Jul 23, 2026
JefferiesAnalyst unavailable$245$227.9 +4.6%Jul 23, 2026
Robert W. BairdAnalyst unavailable$236$207.44 +0.7%Jul 13, 2026
Evercore ISIAnalyst unavailable$225$205.18 -4.0%Apr 21, 2026
JefferiesAnalyst unavailable$225$205.18 -4.0%Apr 21, 2026
Evercore ISIAnalyst unavailable$210$198.81 -10.4%Apr 8, 2026
Mizuho SecuritiesAnalyst unavailable$235$209.32 +0.3%Feb 12, 2026
See 43 more

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Market reaction

prior-close to event-session close
Stock move +8.6% Event window
SPY move -1.2% Same window
Abnormal move +9.8% Stock minus SPY
Volume 4.1× Versus trailing sessions
Subsequent drift +3.0% Up to 20 sessions
DGXSPY benchmark

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Transcript intelligence

What changed

Compared to Q1 2026, adjusted EPS growth accelerated to 19% from 13%, and revenue growth remained above 10%. New York State approved the Haystack tumor-informed MRD test, making Quest one of only two labs with this clearance, and the test was integrated with Flatiron Health's Onco EMR platform. The Genius AI-driven digital diagnostic system for Pap smear analysis was deployed to additional lab sites. Management now expects operating margin improvement in H2 as Project Nova expense timing clarifies.

Guidance delta

Full-year 2026 revenue guidance raised from $11.78-$11.9B (prior quarter) to $11.95-$12.05B, a $170M increase at the midpoint. Adjusted EPS guidance raised from $9.58-$9.78 to $9.97-$10.17, a $0.39 increase at the midpoint. Capex guidance now explicitly stated at $550M. The company has raised guidance in both Q1 and Q2 of fiscal 2026.

Key takeaways

  • Q2 revenue grew 10.2% YoY with adjusted EPS up 19%, reflecting strong volume and higher tests per requisition.
  • Full-year 2026 guidance raised to $11.95-$12.05 billion revenue and $9.97-$10.17 EPS; capex forecast at $550 million.
  • Growth driven by physician, hospital (Corewell Health, Fresenius), and consumer health channels, plus advanced diagnostic offerings.
  • AI, automation, and the Invigorate cost-savings program target 3% annual savings and productivity gains.
  • Margin pressure from Nova expenses, Corewell/Fresenius mix, and fuel costs, but operating margin expected to improve in H2.

Management priorities

  • Roll out AI-driven tools like Genius and IntelliDraw to additional lab sites.
  • Commercially expand Haystack MRD through Flatiron Health and broader oncology networks.
  • Scale Corewell Co-Lab partnership into a joint venture in early 2027.
  • Introduce new consumer health panels including thyroid and wellness biomarkers.
  • Maintain capex around $550 million to support technology and automation initiatives.

Related earnings events

Healthcare

Sources

  1. Earnings call transcript and parsed analysis · 2026-07-23T17:03:49.960972+00:00
  2. FN2 earnings calendar · 2026-07-30T01:23:13.872335+00:00
  3. Polygon adjusted daily market bars · 2026-07-30T19:21:09.546521+00:00
  4. Financial Modeling Prep analyst price-target consensus and quote snapshot · 2026-07-30T19:21:09.543757+00:00

Methodology

Reported and consensus figures come from FN2's earnings event records. Market reaction and volume are calculated from daily adjusted bars around the event; abnormal move subtracts the SPY move over the same window.

Analyst target low, average, and high values are derived at request time from each named analyst's latest persisted FMP target. The current-price marker comes from FN2's persisted market snapshot. They are sell-side estimates, not an FN2 valuation or recommendation.

Transcript intelligence is a structured synthesis of the current and prior earnings-call analyses. Missing values stay missing and are never estimated.

By FN2 Research · Updated . For educational purposes only; not investment advice.