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DGX vs. ENSG: Quest Diagnostics vs. Ensign Stock Comparison

How do Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Ensign (ENSG) 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

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Ensign (ENSG) both belong to the Health Care Providers & Services industry, though DGX is classified under Health Care Services while ENSG falls under Health Care Facilities.

Company profile comparison for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Ensign (ENSG)
Profile ItemDGXENSG
NameQuest Diagnostics IncorporatedThe Ensign Group, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupHealth Care Equipment & ServicesHealth Care Equipment & Services
GICS IndustryHealth Care Providers & ServicesHealth Care Providers & Services
GICS Sub-IndustryHealth Care ServicesHealth Care Facilities
Market Capitalization28.21 billion USD10.56 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateDecember 17, 1996November 9, 2007
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

DGX
ENSG
GSPC
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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Ensign (ENSG), 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 Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Ensign (ENSG). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Ensign (ENSG)
MetricDGXENSG
Total Return (1Y)45.88%1.36%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)27.45%21.65%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)14.84%17.48%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

DGX
ENSG
GSPC
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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Ensign (ENSG), 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 Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Ensign (ENSG). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Ensign (ENSG)
MetricDGXENSG
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)24.06%29.85%
Beta (5Y)0.540.65
Max Drawdown (5Y)-28.62%-31.81%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.00M353.46K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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DGX and ENSG 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 Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Ensign (ENSG)
MetricDGXENSG
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.73-0.10
Sortino Ratio (1Y)3.16-0.16

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 15.32% and Ensign (ENSG) at 17.05% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

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%

ENSG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

17.05%

Max
47.61%
ENSG
17.05%
Q3
14.36%
Median
5.45%
Q1
-10.67%
Min
-47.01%
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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Ensign (ENSG): A comparison of their ROE against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 9.54% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Ensign (ENSG) at 7.03%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

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%

ENSG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

7.03%

Max
29.35%
Q3
9.33%
ENSG
7.03%
Median
2.18%
Q1
-6.29%
Min
-28.46%
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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Ensign (ENSG): A comparison of their net margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 15.63% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Ensign (ENSG) at 9.23%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

ENSG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

9.23%

Max
35.43%
Q3
14.14%
ENSG
9.23%
Median
6.81%
Q1
-0.28%
Min
-16.29%
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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Ensign (ENSG): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Ensign (ENSG)
MetricDGXENSG
ROE (TTM)15.32%17.05%
ROA (TTM)6.61%5.59%
Net Margin (TTM)9.54%7.03%
Operating Margin (TTM)15.63%9.23%
Gross Margin (TTM)33.18%17.10%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 11.78% and Ensign (ENSG) at 18.72% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 13.78% and Ensign (ENSG) at 14.06% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Ensign (ENSG)
MetricDGXENSG
Revenue Growth (YoY)11.78%18.72%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.74%18.68%
EPS Growth (YoY)13.78%14.06%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)3.16%13.92%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 1.70 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Ensign (ENSG) at 1.20 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for ENSG.

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

ENSG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.20

Max
7.59
Q3
4.00
Median
1.98
Q1
1.37
ENSG
1.20
Min
0.30
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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Ensign (ENSG): A comparison of their current ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 0.80 and Ensign (ENSG) at 0.89 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

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

ENSG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.89

Max
1.88
Q3
0.91
ENSG
0.89
Median
0.58
Q1
0.16
Min
0.00
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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Ensign (ENSG): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Ensign (ENSG)
MetricDGXENSG
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.701.20
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.800.89
Net Debt / EBITDA2.383.05

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 1.33% and Ensign (ENSG) at 0.14% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.

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%

ENSG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.14%

ENSG
0.14%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Ensign (ENSG): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 25.10% and Ensign (ENSG) at 3.87% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.

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%

ENSG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

3.87%

ENSG
3.87%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Ensign (ENSG): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Ensign (ENSG)
MetricDGXENSG
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.33%0.14%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)25.10%3.87%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 25.46 and Ensign (ENSG) at 26.95 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

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

ENSG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

26.95

Max
80.41
Q3
47.62
Median
29.93
ENSG
26.95
Q1
21.19
Min
4.21
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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Ensign (ENSG): 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 Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 2.38 and Ensign (ENSG) at 1.86 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

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

ENSG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.86

Max
8.80
Q3
4.32
Median
2.13
ENSG
1.86
Q1
1.10
Min
0.03
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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Ensign (ENSG): 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 Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 3.68 and Ensign (ENSG) at 4.09 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

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

ENSG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

4.09

Max
11.68
Q3
6.12
ENSG
4.09
Median
3.00
Q1
1.73
Min
-1.31
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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Ensign (ENSG): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Ensign (ENSG)
MetricDGXENSG
P/E Ratio (TTM)25.4626.95
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.381.86
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.684.09
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.09%3.52%