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DGX vs. FMS: Quest Diagnostics vs. Fresenius Medical Care Stock Comparison

How do Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Fresenius Medical Care (FMS) 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 Fresenius Medical Care (FMS) are both classified in the Health Care Services sub-industry within the broader Health Care Providers & Services industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) trades as ordinary local shares, while Fresenius Medical Care (FMS) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Fresenius Medical Care (FMS)
Profile ItemDGXFMS
NameQuest Diagnostics IncorporatedFresenius Medical Care AG - Depositary Receipt
Country/RegionUnited StatesGermany
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 Services
Market Capitalization28.21 billion USD12.15 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateDecember 17, 1996September 17, 1996
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

DGX
FMS
GSPC
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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Fresenius Medical Care (FMS), 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 Fresenius Medical Care (FMS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Fresenius Medical Care (FMS)
MetricDGXFMS
Total Return (1Y)45.88%-0.71%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)27.45%13.88%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)14.84%-4.69%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

DGX
FMS
GSPC
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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Fresenius Medical Care (FMS), 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 Fresenius Medical Care (FMS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Fresenius Medical Care (FMS)
MetricDGXFMS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)24.06%30.61%
Beta (5Y)0.540.77
Max Drawdown (5Y)-28.62%-62.33%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.00M954.21K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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DGX and FMS 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 Fresenius Medical Care (FMS)
MetricDGXFMS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.73-0.16
Sortino Ratio (1Y)3.16-0.21

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 15.32% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Fresenius Medical Care (FMS) at 7.84% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for DGX.

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%

FMS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

7.84%

Max
47.61%
Q3
14.36%
FMS
7.84%
Median
5.45%
Q1
-10.67%
Min
-47.01%
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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Fresenius Medical Care (FMS): 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 Fresenius Medical Care (FMS) at 4.22%, 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%

FMS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

4.22%

Max
29.35%
Q3
9.33%
FMS
4.22%
Median
2.18%
Q1
-6.29%
Min
-28.46%
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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Fresenius Medical Care (FMS): 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 Fresenius Medical Care (FMS) at 9.63%, 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%

FMS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

9.63%

Max
35.43%
Q3
14.14%
FMS
9.63%
Median
6.81%
Q1
-0.28%
Min
-16.29%
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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Fresenius Medical Care (FMS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Fresenius Medical Care (FMS)
MetricDGXFMS
ROE (TTM)15.32%7.84%
ROA (TTM)6.61%3.94%
Net Margin (TTM)9.54%4.22%
Operating Margin (TTM)15.63%9.63%
Gross Margin (TTM)33.18%26.46%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 11.78% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Fresenius Medical Care (FMS) at 1.51% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Fresenius Medical Care (FMS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Fresenius Medical Care (FMS) at 83.61% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 13.78% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for FMS.

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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Fresenius Medical Care (FMS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Fresenius Medical Care (FMS)
MetricDGXFMS
Revenue Growth (YoY)11.78%1.51%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.74%0.39%
EPS Growth (YoY)13.78%83.61%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)3.16%13.47%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 1.70 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Fresenius Medical Care (FMS) at 0.99 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for FMS.

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

FMS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.99

Max
7.59
Q3
4.00
Median
1.98
Q1
1.37
FMS
0.99
Min
0.30
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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Fresenius Medical Care (FMS): 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 Fresenius Medical Care (FMS) at 0.79 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

FMS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.79

Max
1.88
Q3
0.91
FMS
0.79
Median
0.58
Q1
0.16
Min
0.00
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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Fresenius Medical Care (FMS): 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 Fresenius Medical Care (FMS)
MetricDGXFMS
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.700.99
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.800.79
Net Debt / EBITDA2.383.63

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 1.33% and Fresenius Medical Care (FMS) at 6.30% 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%

FMS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

6.30%

FMS
6.30%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Fresenius Medical Care (FMS): 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 Fresenius Medical Care (FMS) at 50.14% 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%

FMS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

50.14%

FMS
50.14%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Fresenius Medical Care (FMS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Fresenius Medical Care (FMS)
MetricDGXFMS
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.33%6.30%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)25.10%50.14%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Fresenius Medical Care (FMS) at 13.53 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 25.46 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for FMS, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

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

FMS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

13.53

Max
80.41
Q3
47.62
Median
29.93
Q1
21.19
FMS
13.53
Min
4.21
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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Fresenius Medical Care (FMS): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Fresenius Medical Care (FMS) at 0.62 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 2.38 prices around its industry’s middle — FMS costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

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

FMS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.62

Max
8.80
Q3
4.32
Median
2.13
Q1
1.10
FMS
0.62
Min
0.03
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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Fresenius Medical Care (FMS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Fresenius Medical Care (FMS) at 0.85 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile against book while Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 3.68 is valued near its industry’s middle — FMS is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.

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

FMS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.85

Max
11.68
Q3
6.12
Median
3.00
Q1
1.73
FMS
0.85
Min
-1.31
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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Fresenius Medical Care (FMS): 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 Fresenius Medical Care (FMS)
MetricDGXFMS
P/E Ratio (TTM)25.4613.53
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.380.62
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.680.85
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.09%12.29%