DGX vs. SNN: Quest Diagnostics vs. Smith & Nephew Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

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

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) trades as ordinary local shares, while Smith & Nephew (SNN) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Smith & Nephew (SNN)
Profile Item	DGX	SNN
Name	Quest Diagnostics Incorporated	Smith & Nephew plc Sponsored ADR
Country/Region	United States	United Kingdom
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	13.04 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	December 17, 1996	November 16, 1999
Security Type	Common Stock	ADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

DGX

SNN

GSPC

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Smith & Nephew (SNN), 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 Smith & Nephew (SNN). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…

Calendar-year total returns for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Smith & Nephew (SNN). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Smith & Nephew (SNN)
Metric	DGX	SNN
Total Return (1Y)	45.88%	-4.20%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	27.45%	11.34%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	14.84%	-0.34%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

DGX

SNN

GSPC

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Smith & Nephew (SNN), 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 Smith & Nephew (SNN). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Smith & Nephew (SNN)
Metric	DGX	SNN
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	24.06%	27.31%
Beta (5Y)	0.54	0.49
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-28.62%	-38.80%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.00M	1.49M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

DGX and SNN 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 Smith & Nephew (SNN)
Metric	DGX	SNN
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.73	-0.31
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	3.16	-0.46

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 15.32% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 11.85% 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%

SNN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

11.85%

Max: 47.61%
Q3: 14.36%
SNN: 11.85%
Median: 5.45%
Q1: -10.67%
Min: -47.01%

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Smith & Nephew (SNN): 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 Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 10.08% 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%

SNN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

10.08%

Max: 29.35%
SNN: 10.08%
Q3: 9.33%
Median: 2.18%
Q1: -6.29%
Min: -28.46%

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Smith & Nephew (SNN): 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 Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 14.47% 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%

SNN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

14.47%

Max: 35.43%
SNN: 14.47%
Q3: 14.14%
Median: 6.81%
Q1: -0.28%
Min: -16.29%

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Smith & Nephew (SNN): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Smith & Nephew (SNN)
Metric	DGX	SNN
ROE (TTM)	15.32%	11.85%
ROA (TTM)	6.61%	5.16%
Net Margin (TTM)	9.54%	10.08%
Operating Margin (TTM)	15.63%	14.47%
Gross Margin (TTM)	33.18%	68.44%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 11.78% and Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 6.09% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Smith & Nephew (SNN): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 52.34% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 13.78% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for SNN.

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Smith & Nephew (SNN): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Smith & Nephew (SNN)
Metric	DGX	SNN
Revenue Growth (YoY)	11.78%	6.09%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	3.74%	5.73%
EPS Growth (YoY)	13.78%	52.34%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	3.16%	42.01%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 1.70 and Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 2.14 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

SNN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.14

Max: 7.59
Q3: 4.00
SNN: 2.14
Median: 1.98
Q1: 1.37
Min: 0.30

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Smith & Nephew (SNN): 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 Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 0.73 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

SNN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.73

Max: 1.88
Q3: 0.91
SNN: 0.73
Median: 0.58
Q1: 0.16
Min: 0.00

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Smith & Nephew (SNN): 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 Smith & Nephew (SNN)
Metric	DGX	SNN
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.70	2.14
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.80	0.73
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.38	2.19

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 1.33% and Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 1.24% 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%

SNN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.24%

SNN: 1.24%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Smith & Nephew (SNN): 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 Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 53.20% 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%

SNN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

53.20%

SNN: 53.20%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Smith & Nephew (SNN): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Smith & Nephew (SNN)
Metric	DGX	SNN
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.33%	1.24%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	25.10%	53.20%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 25.46 and Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 21.19 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

SNN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

21.19

Max: 80.41
Q3: 47.62
Median: 29.93
SNN: 21.19
Q1: 21.19
Min: 4.21

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Smith & Nephew (SNN): 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 Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 2.07 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

SNN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.07

Max: 8.80
Q3: 4.32
Median: 2.13
SNN: 2.07
Q1: 1.10
Min: 0.03

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Smith & Nephew (SNN): 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 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 12.80 prices above its benchmark range — SNN 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

SNN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

12.80

SNN: 12.80
Max: 11.68
Q3: 6.12
Median: 3.00
Q1: 1.73
Min: -1.31

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) vs. Smith & Nephew (SNN): 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 Smith & Nephew (SNN)
Metric	DGX	SNN
P/E Ratio (TTM)	25.46	21.19
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.38	2.07
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	3.68	12.80
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.09%	8.12%