ALGN vs. DGX: Align vs. Quest Diagnostics Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Align (ALGN) and Quest Diagnostics (DGX) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Align (ALGN) and Quest Diagnostics (DGX) both fall under the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group, but ALGN is classified in Health Care Equipment & Supplies while DGX is classified in Health Care Providers & Services.

Company profile comparison for Align (ALGN) and Quest Diagnostics (DGX)
Profile Item	ALGN	DGX
Name	Align Technology Inc.	Quest Diagnostics Incorporated
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Health Care	Health Care
GICS Industry Group	Health Care Equipment & Services	Health Care Equipment & Services
GICS Industry	Health Care Equipment & Supplies	Health Care Providers & Services
GICS Sub-Industry	Health Care Supplies	Health Care Services
Market Capitalization	11.70 billion USD	28.21 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	NYSE
Listing Date	January 30, 2001	December 17, 1996
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ALGN

DGX

GSPC

Align (ALGN) vs. Quest Diagnostics (DGX), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Align (ALGN) and Quest Diagnostics (DGX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Align (ALGN) and Quest Diagnostics (DGX). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Align (ALGN) and Quest Diagnostics (DGX)
Metric	ALGN	DGX
Total Return (1Y)	27.43%	45.88%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	-2.84%	27.45%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-24.73%	14.84%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ALGN

DGX

GSPC

Align (ALGN) vs. Quest Diagnostics (DGX), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Align (ALGN) and Quest Diagnostics (DGX). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Align (ALGN) has an aggressive beta of 1.67, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Quest Diagnostics (DGX) is defensive at 0.54 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk profile metrics for Align (ALGN) and Quest Diagnostics (DGX)
Metric	ALGN	DGX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	40.49%	24.06%
Beta (5Y)	1.67	0.54
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-82.44%	-28.62%
Avg. Volume (3M)	942.14K	1.00M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

ALGN and DGX are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Align (ALGN) and Quest Diagnostics (DGX)
Metric	ALGN	DGX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.57	1.73
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.89	3.16

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 15.32% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Align (ALGN) at 11.91% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for DGX.

ALGN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

11.91%

Max: 47.61%
Q3: 14.36%
ALGN: 11.91%
Median: 5.45%
Q1: -10.67%
Min: -47.01%

DGX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

15.32%

Max: 47.61%
DGX: 15.32%
Q3: 14.36%
Median: 5.45%
Q1: -10.67%
Min: -47.01%

Align (ALGN) vs. Quest Diagnostics (DGX): A comparison of their ROE against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Align (ALGN) at 11.83% and Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 9.54% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

ALGN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

11.83%

Max: 29.35%
ALGN: 11.83%
Q3: 9.33%
Median: 2.18%
Q1: -6.29%
Min: -28.46%

DGX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

9.54%

Max: 29.35%
DGX: 9.54%
Q3: 9.33%
Median: 2.18%
Q1: -6.29%
Min: -28.46%

Align (ALGN) vs. Quest Diagnostics (DGX): A comparison of their net margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Align (ALGN) at 20.13% and Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 15.63% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

ALGN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

20.13%

Max: 35.43%
ALGN: 20.13%
Q3: 14.14%
Median: 6.81%
Q1: -0.28%
Min: -16.29%

DGX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

15.63%

Max: 35.43%
DGX: 15.63%
Q3: 14.14%
Median: 6.81%
Q1: -0.28%
Min: -16.29%

Align (ALGN) vs. Quest Diagnostics (DGX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Align (ALGN) and Quest Diagnostics (DGX)
Metric	ALGN	DGX
ROE (TTM)	11.91%	15.32%
ROA (TTM)	8.01%	6.61%
Net Margin (TTM)	11.83%	9.54%
Operating Margin (TTM)	20.13%	15.63%
Gross Margin (TTM)	71.53%	33.18%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 11.78% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Align (ALGN) at 0.90% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

Align (ALGN) vs. Quest Diagnostics (DGX): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Align (ALGN) at 0.53% and Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 13.78% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Align (ALGN) vs. Quest Diagnostics (DGX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Align (ALGN) and Quest Diagnostics (DGX)
Metric	ALGN	DGX
Revenue Growth (YoY)	0.90%	11.78%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	2.61%	3.74%
EPS Growth (YoY)	0.53%	13.78%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	7.02%	3.16%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Align (ALGN) at 1.43 and Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 1.70 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

ALGN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.43

Max: 7.59
Q3: 4.00
Median: 1.98
ALGN: 1.43
Q1: 1.37
Min: 0.30

DGX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.70

Max: 7.59
Q3: 4.00
Median: 1.98
DGX: 1.70
Q1: 1.37
Min: 0.30

Align (ALGN) vs. Quest Diagnostics (DGX): A comparison of their current ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Align (ALGN) at 0.03 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 0.80 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

ALGN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.03

Max: 1.88
Q3: 0.91
Median: 0.58
Q1: 0.16
ALGN: 0.03
Min: 0.00

DGX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.80

Max: 1.88
Q3: 0.91
DGX: 0.80
Median: 0.58
Q1: 0.16
Min: 0.00

Align (ALGN) vs. Quest Diagnostics (DGX): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Align (ALGN) and Quest Diagnostics (DGX)
Metric	ALGN	DGX
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.43	1.70
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.03	0.80
Net Debt / EBITDA	-1.04	2.38

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Align (ALGN) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Quest Diagnostics (DGX) reports a yield of 1.33%, ranking against industry peers normally.

ALGN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.00%

ALGN: 0.00%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

DGX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.33%

DGX: 1.33%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Align (ALGN) vs. Quest Diagnostics (DGX): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Align (ALGN) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Quest Diagnostics (DGX) reports a payout of 25.10%, ranking against industry peers normally.

ALGN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.00%

ALGN: 0.00%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

DGX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

25.10%

DGX: 25.10%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Align (ALGN) vs. Quest Diagnostics (DGX): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Align (ALGN) and Quest Diagnostics (DGX)
Metric	ALGN	DGX
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	1.33%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	0.00%	25.10%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Align (ALGN) at 24.20 and Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 25.46 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

ALGN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

24.20

Max: 80.41
Q3: 47.62
Median: 29.93
ALGN: 24.20
Q1: 21.19
Min: 4.21

DGX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

25.46

Max: 80.41
Q3: 47.62
Median: 29.93
DGX: 25.46
Q1: 21.19
Min: 4.21

Align (ALGN) vs. Quest Diagnostics (DGX): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Align (ALGN) at 2.81 and Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 2.38 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

ALGN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.81

Max: 8.80
Q3: 4.32
ALGN: 2.81
Median: 2.13
Q1: 1.10
Min: 0.03

DGX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.38

Max: 8.80
Q3: 4.32
DGX: 2.38
Median: 2.13
Q1: 1.10
Min: 0.03

Align (ALGN) vs. Quest Diagnostics (DGX): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Align (ALGN) at 2.73 and Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 3.68 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

ALGN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.73

Max: 11.68
Q3: 6.12
Median: 3.00
ALGN: 2.73
Q1: 1.73
Min: -1.31

DGX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

3.68

Max: 11.68
Q3: 6.12
DGX: 3.68
Median: 3.00
Q1: 1.73
Min: -1.31

Align (ALGN) vs. Quest Diagnostics (DGX): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Align (ALGN) and Quest Diagnostics (DGX)
Metric	ALGN	DGX
P/E Ratio (TTM)	24.20	25.46
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.81	2.38
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	2.73	3.68
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	4.90%	3.09%