Seek Returns

DGX vs. MDT: Quest Diagnostics vs. Medtronic Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Medtronic (MDT)
Profile ItemDGXMDT
NameQuest Diagnostics IncorporatedMedtronic plc
Country/RegionUnited StatesIreland
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 USD130.22 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateDecember 17, 1996May 2, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

DGX
MDT
GSPC
Loading price history…
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Medtronic (MDT), 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 Medtronic (MDT). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Medtronic (MDT)
MetricDGXMDT
Total Return (1Y)45.88%15.72%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)27.45%17.58%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)14.84%-0.18%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

DGX
MDT
GSPC
Loading price history…
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Medtronic (MDT), 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 Medtronic (MDT). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Medtronic (MDT)
MetricDGXMDT
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)24.06%25.84%
Beta (5Y)0.540.53
Max Drawdown (5Y)-28.62%-39.67%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.00M16.48M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
DGX and MDT 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 Medtronic (MDT)
MetricDGXMDT
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.730.44
Sortino Ratio (1Y)3.160.71

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 15.32% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Medtronic (MDT) at 10.65% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for DGX.

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%

MDT

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

10.65%

Max
47.61%
Q3
14.36%
MDT
10.65%
Median
5.45%
Q1
-10.67%
Min
-47.01%
Loading chart…
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Medtronic (MDT): 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 Medtronic (MDT) at 13.93% 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%

MDT

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

13.93%

Max
29.35%
MDT
13.93%
Q3
9.33%
Median
2.18%
Q1
-6.29%
Min
-28.46%
Loading chart…
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Medtronic (MDT): 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 Medtronic (MDT) at 19.33% 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%

MDT

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

19.33%

Max
35.43%
MDT
19.33%
Q3
14.14%
Median
6.81%
Q1
-0.28%
Min
-16.29%
Loading chart…
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Medtronic (MDT): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Medtronic (MDT)
MetricDGXMDT
ROE (TTM)15.32%10.65%
ROA (TTM)6.61%5.12%
Net Margin (TTM)9.54%13.93%
Operating Margin (TTM)15.63%19.33%
Gross Margin (TTM)33.18%65.27%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 11.78% and Medtronic (MDT) at 8.43% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 13.78% and Medtronic (MDT) at 3.32% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Medtronic (MDT)
MetricDGXMDT
Revenue Growth (YoY)11.78%8.43%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.74%5.21%
EPS Growth (YoY)13.78%3.32%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)3.16%9.77%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 1.70 and Medtronic (MDT) at 2.07 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

MDT

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.07

Max
7.59
Q3
4.00
MDT
2.07
Median
1.98
Q1
1.37
Min
0.30
Loading chart…
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Medtronic (MDT): A comparison of their current ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 0.80 and Medtronic (MDT) at 0.55 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

MDT

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.55

Max
1.88
Q3
0.91
Median
0.58
MDT
0.55
Q1
0.16
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Medtronic (MDT): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Medtronic (MDT)
MetricDGXMDT
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.702.07
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.800.55
Net Debt / EBITDA2.381.86

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 1.33% and Medtronic (MDT) at 2.72% 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%

MDT

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.72%

MDT
2.72%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Medtronic (MDT): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 25.10% and Medtronic (MDT) at 70.02% 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%

MDT

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

70.02%

MDT
70.02%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Medtronic (MDT): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Medtronic (MDT)
MetricDGXMDT
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.33%2.72%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)25.10%70.02%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 25.46 and Medtronic (MDT) at 25.01 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

MDT

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

25.01

Max
80.41
Q3
47.62
Median
29.93
MDT
25.01
Q1
21.19
Min
4.21
Loading chart…
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Medtronic (MDT): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 2.38 and Medtronic (MDT) at 3.47 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

MDT

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

3.47

Max
8.80
Q3
4.32
MDT
3.47
Median
2.13
Q1
1.10
Min
0.03
Loading chart…
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Medtronic (MDT): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 3.68 and Medtronic (MDT) at 2.59 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

MDT

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.59

Max
11.68
Q3
6.12
Median
3.00
MDT
2.59
Q1
1.73
Min
-1.31
Loading chart…
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Medtronic (MDT): 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 Medtronic (MDT)
MetricDGXMDT
P/E Ratio (TTM)25.4625.01
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.383.47
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.682.59
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.09%4.16%