Quest Diagnostics stock reports growth as reimbursement risk rises
Published on 09/24/2026 at 10:50 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Quest Diagnostics stock stood at USD 233 in after-hours trading on September 23, 2026, down USD 1.76 or 0.75 percent from the prior close. The price was 6.37 percent below the 52-week high of USD 248.84, while market capitalization stood at USD 25.716 billion.
Second quarter delivers growth
Quest Diagnostics reported USD 3.043 billion in revenue for Q2 2026, up 10.2 percent from the year-earlier quarter. Reported EPS reached USD 2.84, compared with USD 2.47 in Q2 2025, according to Yahoo Finance.
Reported operating income was USD 459 million, equal to 15.1 percent of revenue, versus USD 438 million and 15.9 percent in the prior-year quarter. The combination shows the central tension in the results: revenue growth accelerated, while the reported operating margin narrowed by 0.8 percentage points.
Guidance moves higher
After the first half of fiscal 2026, Quest raised its full-year revenue outlook to USD 11.95 billion to USD 12.05 billion, representing growth of 8.3 percent to 9.2 percent. Reported full-year EPS guidance stands at USD 9.97 to USD 10.17, while adjusted EPS guidance is USD 11.05 to USD 11.25, Yahoo Finance reported.
The outlook gives the stock a measurable earnings foundation, but the margin comparison keeps execution in view. Wage inflation and other cost drivers reduced operating income as a share of revenue by 70 basis points in the quarter.
Reimbursement risk enters 2027
A separate policy issue has become relevant for the valuation. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services plans to cut laboratory reimbursement rates by up to 15 percent from January 1, 2027, according to The Motley Fool.
The policy risk follows a 5.1 percent intraday decline reported on September 22, 2026, although the September 23 after-hours quote showed a smaller 0.75 percent daily decline. Investors therefore face two competing numbers: 10.2 percent quarterly revenue growth and a potential reimbursement reduction of up to 15 percent.
Stock remains below yearly high
Quest Diagnostics stock was quoted at USD 233 on NYSE on September 23, 2026, in after-hours trading. The distance from the USD 248.84 52-week high leaves the market valuation below its recent peak while fiscal 2026 guidance points to revenue growth of up to 9.2 percent.
Quest Diagnostics key data
- Company: Quest Diagnostics Incorporated
- Ticker: DGX
- Trading venue: NYSE
- Price as of September 23, 2026: USD 233
- Market capitalization: USD 25.716 billion as of September 23, 2026
- 52-week range: USD 171.18-248.84
- Sector / Industry: Healthcare / Medical Diagnostics and Research
