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.
| Profile Item | DGX | ISRG |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Quest Diagnostics Incorporated | Intuitive Surgical 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 | 159.96 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | December 17, 1996 | June 16, 2000 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | DGX | ISRG |
|---|---|---|
| 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
Return Distribution
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.
| Metric | DGX | ISRG |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 24.06% | 35.53% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.54 | 1.41 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -28.62% | -49.88% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.00M | 2.43M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | DGX | ISRG |
|---|---|---|
| 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%
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%
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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | DGX | ISRG |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | DGX | ISRG |
|---|---|---|
| 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
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
- --
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | DGX | ISRG |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.70 | 3.33 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.80 | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.38 | -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%
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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | DGX | ISRG |
|---|---|---|
| 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
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
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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | DGX | ISRG |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 25.46 | 54.75 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.38 | 13.82 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 3.68 | 9.82 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 3.09% | 2.15% |