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DGX vs. ISRG: Quest Diagnostics vs. Intuitive Surgical Stock Comparison

How do Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) 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 Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) both fall under the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group, but DGX is classified in Health Care Providers & Services while ISRG is classified in Health Care Equipment & Supplies.

Company profile comparison for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG)
Profile ItemDGXISRG
NameQuest Diagnostics IncorporatedIntuitive Surgical Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupHealth Care Equipment & ServicesHealth Care Equipment & Services
GICS IndustryHealth Care Providers & ServicesHealth Care Equipment & Supplies
GICS Sub-IndustryHealth Care ServicesHealth Care Equipment
Market Capitalization28.21 billion USD159.96 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateDecember 17, 1996June 16, 2000
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

DGX
ISRG
GSPC
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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Intuitive Surgical (ISRG), 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 Intuitive Surgical (ISRG). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG)
MetricDGXISRG
Total Return (1Y)45.88%-17.61%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)27.45%19.20%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)14.84%4.85%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) has an aggressive beta of 1.41, 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 Intuitive Surgical (ISRG)
MetricDGXISRG
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)24.06%35.53%
Beta (5Y)0.541.41
Max Drawdown (5Y)-28.62%-49.88%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.00M2.43M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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DGX and ISRG 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 Intuitive Surgical (ISRG)
MetricDGXISRG
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.73-0.62
Sortino Ratio (1Y)3.16-0.83

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 15.32% and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) at 17.93% 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%

ISRG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

17.93%

Max
47.61%
ISRG
17.93%
Q3
14.36%
Median
5.45%
Q1
-10.67%
Min
-47.01%
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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Intuitive Surgical (ISRG): A comparison of their ROE against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 9.54% and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) at 25.54% 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%

ISRG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

25.54%

Max
29.35%
ISRG
25.54%
Q3
9.33%
Median
2.18%
Q1
-6.29%
Min
-28.46%
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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Intuitive Surgical (ISRG): A comparison of their net margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 15.63% and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) at 33.29% 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%

ISRG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

33.29%

Max
35.43%
ISRG
33.29%
Q3
14.14%
Median
6.81%
Q1
-0.28%
Min
-16.29%
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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Intuitive Surgical (ISRG): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG)
MetricDGXISRG
ROE (TTM)15.32%17.93%
ROA (TTM)6.61%11.86%
Net Margin (TTM)9.54%25.54%
Operating Margin (TTM)15.63%33.29%
Gross Margin (TTM)33.18%66.64%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) at 20.51% 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 ISRG.

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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Intuitive Surgical (ISRG): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 13.78% and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) at 22.59% 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. Intuitive Surgical (ISRG): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG)
MetricDGXISRG
Revenue Growth (YoY)11.78%20.51%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.74%17.39%
EPS Growth (YoY)13.78%22.59%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)3.16%29.19%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 1.70 and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) at 3.33 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

ISRG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

3.33

Max
7.59
Q3
4.00
ISRG
3.33
Median
1.98
Q1
1.37
Min
0.30
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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Intuitive Surgical (ISRG): 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 Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) 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

ISRG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

--

Max
1.88
Q3
0.91
Median
0.58
Q1
0.16
Min
0.00
ISRG
--
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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Intuitive Surgical (ISRG): ISRG 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 Intuitive Surgical (ISRG)
MetricDGXISRG
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.703.33
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.80--
Net Debt / EBITDA2.38-0.90

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) 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%

ISRG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) 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%

ISRG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG)
MetricDGXISRG
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.33%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)25.10%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 25.46 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) at 54.75 sits in the richer quartile — ISRG needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

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

ISRG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

54.75

Max
80.41
ISRG
54.75
Q3
47.62
Median
29.93
Q1
21.19
Min
4.21
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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Intuitive Surgical (ISRG): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 2.38 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) at 13.82 clears its benchmark range — ISRG 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

ISRG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

13.82

ISRG
13.82
Max
8.80
Q3
4.32
Median
2.13
Q1
1.10
Min
0.03
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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Intuitive Surgical (ISRG): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 3.68 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) at 9.82 carries an above-peer premium to book — ISRG is pricier on assets.

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

ISRG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

9.82

Max
11.68
ISRG
9.82
Q3
6.12
Median
3.00
Q1
1.73
Min
-1.31
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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Intuitive Surgical (ISRG): 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 Intuitive Surgical (ISRG)
MetricDGXISRG
P/E Ratio (TTM)25.4654.75
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.3813.82
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.689.82
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.09%2.15%