Seek Returns

DGX vs. GH: Quest Diagnostics vs. Guardant Health Stock Comparison

How do Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Guardant Health (GH) 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 Guardant Health (GH) 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.

Company profile comparison for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Guardant Health (GH)
Profile ItemDGXGH
NameQuest Diagnostics IncorporatedGuardant Health, 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 Services
Market Capitalization28.21 billion USD20.41 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateDecember 17, 1996October 4, 2018
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

DGX
GH
GSPC
Loading price history…
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Guardant Health (GH), 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

Loading price history…
Trailing total returns for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Guardant Health (GH). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Guardant Health (GH). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Guardant Health (GH)
MetricDGXGH
Total Return (1Y)45.88%66.53%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)27.45%92.76%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)14.84%8.36%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

DGX
GH
GSPC
Loading price history…
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Guardant Health (GH), 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

Loading price history…
Distribution of monthly total returns for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Guardant Health (GH). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Guardant Health (GH) has an aggressive beta of 1.69, 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 Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Guardant Health (GH)
MetricDGXGH
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)24.06%53.23%
Beta (5Y)0.541.69
Max Drawdown (5Y)-28.62%-85.09%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.00M1.97M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
DGX and GH 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 Guardant Health (GH)
MetricDGXGH
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.731.17
Sortino Ratio (1Y)3.161.84

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Quest Diagnostics (DGX) earns 15.32% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Guardant Health (GH) has no ROE this period.

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%

GH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

--

Max
47.61%
Q3
14.36%
Median
5.45%
Q1
-10.67%
Min
-47.01%
GH
--
Loading chart…
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Guardant Health (GH): GH does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; DGX is benchmarked against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Guardant Health (GH) reports a negative net margin of -37.93%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Quest Diagnostics (DGX) reports 9.54%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

GH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

-37.93%

Max
29.35%
Q3
9.33%
Median
2.18%
Q1
-6.29%
Min
-28.46%
GH
-37.93%
Loading chart…
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Guardant Health (GH): A comparison of their net margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Guardant Health (GH) reports a negative operating margin of -37.06%, usually indicating that operating costs exceeded revenue at the operating-income line. Meanwhile Quest Diagnostics (DGX) reports 15.63%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

GH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

-37.06%

Max
35.43%
Q3
14.14%
Median
6.81%
Q1
-0.28%
Min
-16.29%
GH
-37.06%
Loading chart…
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Guardant Health (GH): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Guardant Health (GH)
MetricDGXGH
ROE (TTM)15.32%--
ROA (TTM)6.61%-19.92%
Net Margin (TTM)9.54%-37.93%
Operating Margin (TTM)15.63%-37.06%
Gross Margin (TTM)33.18%65.19%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Guardant Health (GH) at 32.88% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 11.78% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for GH.

Loading chart…
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Guardant Health (GH): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Quest Diagnostics (DGX) reports EPS growth of 13.78%, ranked against its industry; Guardant Health (GH) has no EPS growth figure this period.

Loading chart…
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Guardant Health (GH): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Guardant Health (GH)
MetricDGXGH
Revenue Growth (YoY)11.78%32.88%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.74%29.75%
EPS Growth (YoY)13.78%--
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)3.16%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 1.70 and Guardant Health (GH) at 3.60 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

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

GH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

3.60

Max
7.59
Q3
4.00
GH
3.60
Median
1.98
Q1
1.37
Min
0.30
Loading chart…
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Guardant Health (GH): A comparison of their current ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Quest Diagnostics (DGX) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80 against its industry range, while Guardant Health (GH) reports no figure this period.

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

GH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

--

Max
1.88
Q3
0.91
Median
0.58
Q1
0.16
Min
0.00
GH
--
Loading chart…
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Guardant Health (GH): GH does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; DGX is benchmarked against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Guardant Health (GH)
MetricDGXGH
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.703.60
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.80--
Net Debt / EBITDA2.38--

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Guardant Health (GH) 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.

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%

GH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.00%

GH
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Guardant Health (GH): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Guardant Health (GH) 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.

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%

GH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.00%

GH
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Guardant Health (GH): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Guardant Health (GH)
MetricDGXGH
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.33%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)25.10%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Quest Diagnostics (DGX) trades at 25.46 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Guardant Health (GH) has no P/E ratio this period.

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

GH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

--

Max
80.41
Q3
47.62
Median
29.93
Q1
21.19
Min
4.21
GH
--
Loading chart…
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Guardant Health (GH): GH does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; DGX is benchmarked against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 2.38 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Guardant Health (GH) at 15.96 clears its benchmark range — GH looks notably rich on sales.

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

GH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

15.96

GH
15.96
Max
8.80
Q3
4.32
Median
2.13
Q1
1.10
Min
0.03
Loading chart…
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Guardant Health (GH): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Guardant Health (GH) reports a negative P/B ratio of -73.67, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Quest Diagnostics (DGX) reports 3.68, ranking against industry peers normally.

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

GH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

-73.67

Max
11.68
Q3
6.12
Median
3.00
Q1
1.73
Min
-1.31
GH
-73.67
Loading chart…
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Guardant Health (GH): 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 Guardant Health (GH)
MetricDGXGH
P/E Ratio (TTM)25.46--
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.3815.96
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.68-73.67
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.09%-0.30%