Quest Diagnostics Inc vs LABCORP HOLDINGS INC., two Medical Diagnostics stocks. A side-by-side on valuation, growth, margins, returns, and what each price is betting.
Where DGX and LH diverge most: on implied growth (priced in), DGX reads -0.1% and LH reads +6.9%; on altman z (solvency), DGX reads 7.70 and LH reads 3.06. The rest of the comparable metrics sit closer together. On valuation, today's DGX price has a different growth bar priced in than LH (-0.1% implied for DGX vs +6.9% for LH); the higher figure is the steeper assumption to clear, not a better or worse stock. What DGX's price implies is a bet that sits within the historical range (whole-company basis). What LH's price implies is a bet that sits within the historical range (whole-company basis). The bull and bear cases for each are in their full reports below.
| Metric | DGX | LH |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $233.18 | $308.95 |
| Market cap | $26.1B | $25.6B |
| Sector | Medical Diagnostics | Medical Diagnostics |
| Stage | Mature | Mature |
| Implied growth (priced in) | -0.1% | +6.9% |
| P/E | 24.8 | 27.4 |
| P/B | 3.34 | 2.93 |
| P/S | 2.26 | 1.81 |
| EV/EBITDA | 14.1 | 19.2 |
| Revenue growth | +9.9% | +7.4% |
| Gross margin | — | 28.7% |
| Operating margin | 15.1% | 10.8% |
| Net margin | 9.2% | 6.7% |
| Return on equity | 13.6% | 10.8% |
| Return on assets | 6.3% | 4.9% |
| Return on invested capital | 9.6% | 7.5% |
| FCF yield | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Dividend yield | 0.8% | 0.9% |
| Debt / equity | 0.72 | 0.73 |
| Current ratio | 1.59 | 1.73 |
| Altman Z (solvency) | 7.70 | 3.06 |
| Piotroski F (quality) | 7 / 9 | 4 / 9 |
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The stronger value is highlighted per metric where one is strictly better on that single number; it is not an overall verdict on either company. For informational and research purposes only. Not investment advice. Not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security. boothcheck is not a registered investment adviser. Past performance does not guarantee future results.