DGX vs. GEHC: Quest Diagnostics vs. GE HealthCare Stock Comparison
How do Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and GE HealthCare (GEHC) 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 GE HealthCare (GEHC) both fall under the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group, but DGX is classified in Health Care Providers & Services while GEHC is classified in Health Care Equipment & Supplies.
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) has more than two decades of public-market history since December 17, 1996, whereas GE HealthCare (GEHC) listed on December 15, 2022 and has a much shorter record to draw on.
| Profile Item | DGX | GEHC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Quest Diagnostics Incorporated | GE HealthCare Technologies Inc. |
| 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 Providers & Services | Health Care Equipment & Supplies |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Health Care Services | Health Care Equipment |
| Market Capitalization | 28.21 billion USD | 37.25 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | December 17, 1996 | December 15, 2022 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | DGX | GEHC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 45.88% | 14.21% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 27.45% | 7.01% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 14.84% | -- |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | DGX | GEHC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 24.06% | 35.93% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.54 | 0.69 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -28.62% | -37.35% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.00M | 3.56M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | DGX | GEHC |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.73 | 0.28 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 3.16 | 0.41 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 15.32% and GE HealthCare (GEHC) at 20.01% 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%
GEHC
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
20.01%
- Max
- 47.61%
- GEHC
- 20.01%
- Q3
- 14.36%
- Median
- 5.45%
- Q1
- -10.67%
- Min
- -47.01%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 9.54% and GE HealthCare (GEHC) at 9.95% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
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%
GEHC
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
9.95%
- Max
- 29.35%
- GEHC
- 9.95%
- Q3
- 9.33%
- Median
- 2.18%
- Q1
- -6.29%
- Min
- -28.46%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 15.63% and GE HealthCare (GEHC) at 15.33% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
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%
GEHC
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
15.33%
- Max
- 35.43%
- GEHC
- 15.33%
- Q3
- 14.14%
- Median
- 6.81%
- Q1
- -0.28%
- Min
- -16.29%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | DGX | GEHC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 15.32% | 20.01% |
| ROA (TTM) | 6.61% | 4.99% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 9.54% | 9.95% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 15.63% | 15.33% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 33.18% | 39.29% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 11.78% and GE HealthCare (GEHC) at 4.84% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 13.78% and GE HealthCare (GEHC) at 4.84% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | DGX | GEHC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 11.78% | 4.84% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.74% | 3.99% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 13.78% | 4.84% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.16% | -0.58% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 1.70 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while GE HealthCare (GEHC) at 1.30 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for GEHC.
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
GEHC
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
1.30
- Max
- 7.59
- Q3
- 4.00
- Median
- 1.98
- Q1
- 1.37
- GEHC
- 1.30
- Min
- 0.30
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 0.80 and GE HealthCare (GEHC) at 0.88 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
GEHC
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.88
- Max
- 1.88
- Q3
- 0.91
- GEHC
- 0.88
- Median
- 0.58
- Q1
- 0.16
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | DGX | GEHC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.70 | 1.30 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.80 | 0.88 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.38 | 2.11 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 1.33% and GE HealthCare (GEHC) at 0.17% 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%
GEHC
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.17%
- GEHC
- 0.17%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 25.10% and GE HealthCare (GEHC) at 2.96% 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%
GEHC
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
2.96%
- GEHC
- 2.96%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | DGX | GEHC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.33% | 0.17% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 25.10% | 2.96% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
GE HealthCare (GEHC) at 17.42 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 GEHC, 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
GEHC
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
17.42
- Max
- 80.41
- Q3
- 47.62
- Median
- 29.93
- Q1
- 21.19
- GEHC
- 17.42
- Min
- 4.21
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 2.38 and GE HealthCare (GEHC) at 1.72 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
GEHC
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
1.72
- Max
- 8.80
- Q3
- 4.32
- Median
- 2.13
- GEHC
- 1.72
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 3.68 and GE HealthCare (GEHC) at 3.21 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
GEHC
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
3.21
- Max
- 11.68
- Q3
- 6.12
- GEHC
- 3.21
- Median
- 3.00
- Q1
- 1.73
- Min
- -1.31
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | DGX | GEHC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 25.46 | 17.42 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.38 | 1.72 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 3.68 | 3.21 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 3.09% | 4.92% |