DGX vs. IDXX: Quest Diagnostics vs. IDEXX Laboratories Stock Comparison
How do Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and IDEXX Laboratories (IDXX) 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 IDEXX Laboratories (IDXX) both fall under the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group, but DGX is classified in Health Care Providers & Services while IDXX is classified in Health Care Equipment & Supplies.
| Profile Item | DGX | IDXX |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Quest Diagnostics Incorporated | IDEXX Laboratories, 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 | 53.26 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | December 17, 1996 | June 21, 1991 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | DGX | IDXX |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 45.88% | -1.84% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 27.45% | 18.42% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 14.84% | 2.02% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
IDEXX Laboratories (IDXX) has an aggressive beta of 1.44, 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.
| Metric | DGX | IDXX |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 24.06% | 37.02% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.54 | 1.44 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -28.62% | -50.91% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.00M | 564.80K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | DGX | IDXX |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.73 | -0.17 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 3.16 | -0.28 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both companies show strong equity returns, but IDEXX Laboratories (IDXX) at 68.93% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 15.32% also sits in the top quartile.
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%
IDXX
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
68.93%
- IDXX
- 68.93%
- Max
- 47.61%
- 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 IDEXX Laboratories (IDXX) at 25.36% 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%
IDXX
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
25.36%
- Max
- 29.35%
- IDXX
- 25.36%
- Q3
- 9.33%
- Median
- 2.18%
- Q1
- -6.29%
- Min
- -28.46%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 15.63% and IDEXX Laboratories (IDXX) at 33.14% 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%
IDXX
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
33.14%
- Max
- 35.43%
- IDXX
- 33.14%
- Q3
- 14.14%
- Median
- 6.81%
- Q1
- -0.28%
- Min
- -16.29%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | DGX | IDXX |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 15.32% | 68.93% |
| ROA (TTM) | 6.61% | 26.70% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 9.54% | 25.36% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 15.63% | 33.14% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 33.18% | 62.72% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 11.78% and IDEXX Laboratories (IDXX) at 10.42% 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 IDEXX Laboratories (IDXX) at 22.59% 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 | IDXX |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 11.78% | 10.42% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.74% | 8.52% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 13.78% | 22.59% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.16% | 17.66% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 1.70 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while IDEXX Laboratories (IDXX) at 1.19 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for IDXX.
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
IDXX
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
1.19
- Max
- 7.59
- Q3
- 4.00
- Median
- 1.98
- Q1
- 1.37
- IDXX
- 1.19
- Min
- 0.30
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 0.80 and IDEXX Laboratories (IDXX) at 0.52 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
IDXX
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.52
- Max
- 1.88
- Q3
- 0.91
- Median
- 0.58
- IDXX
- 0.52
- Q1
- 0.16
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | DGX | IDXX |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.70 | 1.19 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.80 | 0.52 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.38 | 0.46 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
IDEXX Laboratories (IDXX) 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%
IDXX
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.00%
- IDXX
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
IDEXX Laboratories (IDXX) 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%
IDXX
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.00%
- IDXX
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | DGX | IDXX |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.33% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 25.10% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 25.46 and IDEXX Laboratories (IDXX) at 45.56 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
IDXX
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
45.56
- Max
- 80.41
- Q3
- 47.62
- IDXX
- 45.56
- Median
- 29.93
- Q1
- 21.19
- Min
- 4.21
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 2.38 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while IDEXX Laboratories (IDXX) at 11.42 clears its benchmark range — IDXX 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
IDXX
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
11.42
- IDXX
- 11.42
- Max
- 8.80
- Q3
- 4.32
- Median
- 2.13
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 3.68 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while IDEXX Laboratories (IDXX) at 28.50 prices above its benchmark range — IDXX looks rich relative to book.
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
IDXX
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
28.50
- IDXX
- 28.50
- Max
- 11.68
- Q3
- 6.12
- Median
- 3.00
- Q1
- 1.73
- Min
- -1.31
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | DGX | IDXX |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 25.46 | 45.56 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.38 | 11.42 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 3.68 | 28.50 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 3.09% | 2.00% |