Key Takeaways Quest Diagnostics will co-develop a blood test with MD Anderson to detect elevated cancer risk. DGX will refine and validate MD Anderson's MCaST model for its lab-developed cancer risk test. DGX shares rose 2.6% after the news, adding to a 31.3% gain over the past year.Quest Diagnostics Inc. (DGX) recently announced a collaboration with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MD Anderson). The partnership will focus on improving the assessment of elevated risk of cancer in individ ...

SECAUCUS, N.J., June 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), a leading provider of diagnostic information services, today announced a collaboration with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MD Anderson) designed to improve the assessment of elevated risk of cancer in individuals who would benefit from medically appropriate cancer screenings. Under terms of the agreement, Quest will develop and validate a laboratory-developed blood test based on circulating protein biomarkers as ...

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) FY Conference June 03, 2025 11:00 AM ET Speaker0 Thanks again for joining us at this year's William Blair Growth Stock Conference. This morning, we're very pleased to have the team from Quest Diagnostics joining us here. We have the CEO, Jim Davis from Investor Relations, Sean Bevek here in the front row. Format for today will be a thirty minute presentation in this room, then we'll go to the breakout afterwards, which is an ad in the Adler Room on the Second Floor. And then for comp ...

Core Viewpoint - Quest Diagnostics (DGX) has experienced a significant share price increase of 25.6% over the past year, outperforming both the industry and the S&P 500 [1] Company Overview - Quest Diagnostics, based in Secaucus, NJ, provides a wide range of diagnostic information services to patients, clinicians, and healthcare organizations, serving approximately half of U.S. hospitals [2] - The company’s growth strategy includes strategic acquisitions and continuous quality improvement [2] Growth Factors - The share price rally is attributed to strong momentum in advanced diagnostics, particularly in areas such as advanced cardiometabolic, autoimmune, brain health, oncology, and women's and reproductive health, all showing double-digit growth in Q1 2025 [3] - Demand for AD-detect blood tests for Alzheimer's disease risk is notably high, with advanced cardiometabolic and autoimmune testing expected to maintain strong growth throughout the year [3] Acquisitions and Strategic Initiatives - In 2024, Quest Diagnostics completed eight acquisitions, including LifeLabs and PathAI Diagnostics, enhancing its market presence and AI adoption for improved diagnostics [4] - The company’s Hospital channel is addressing market challenges faced by hospitals, and enhancements to the QuestHealth.com platform have led to increased first-time orders and the introduction of 10 new tests [5] Operational Improvements - The use of automation and AI is central to Quest Diagnostics' strategy for operational improvements, targeting 3% annual cost savings and productivity enhancements through the Invigorate program [6] - A collaboration with Google Cloud aims to streamline data management and utilize GenAI for personalized experiences [6] Financial Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate projects an 8.6% increase in earnings per share (EPS) for 2025 to $9.70, with revenues expected to grow by 9.2% to $10.78 billion [10]

Core Insights - The survey indicates that a significant portion of Americans are eager to take an active role in their healthcare, with 92% preparing for future health needs, yet many face barriers to accessing care and feel their doctors do not prioritize preventive discussions [1][9][11] Group 1: Health Awareness and Engagement - 40% of Americans know their streaming passwords by heart, while only 19% are aware of their cholesterol levels, highlighting a gap in health awareness [3] - Family medical history is often overlooked, with 56% of Gen Z knowing their streaming passwords compared to only 31% knowing their family medical history [4] - Social media influences health habits, with 24% of Americans seeking health advice from influencers and 33% taking medical action after seeing personal health stories online [5] Group 2: Health Priorities and Habits - 70% of Americans rate their health as good or excellent, but 30% describe it as fair or poor, citing stress, poor sleep, and lack of exercise as major contributors [6][9] - Sleep is prioritized by 71% of Americans, followed by hydration (65%) and exercise (62%), with over half also prioritizing vitamins, diet, and annual physicals [7] Group 3: Preventive Care and Future Planning - About 51% of Americans focus on regular checkups and screenings, while 49% rely on healthcare professionals for health risk identification [10] - 92% of Americans are actively preparing for their future health, with 60% trying to stay active and 57% maintaining a healthy diet [9] Group 4: Barriers to Healthcare Access - 37% of Americans report experiencing barriers to medical care, with younger generations facing more significant challenges [11] - 63% of Americans are unaware that they can purchase lab tests without a doctor's visit, indicating a need for increased awareness of alternative healthcare access [12] Group 5: Quest Diagnostics' Role - Quest Diagnostics offers consumer-initiated lab testing, allowing individuals to access tests without prior doctor visits, with physician oversight available for result discussions [13][14] - The company aims to empower individuals with affordable, high-quality healthcare, providing insights that can guide health management [16][17]

Company Overview - Quest Diagnostics is a leader in diagnostic information services, providing insights from laboratory testing to improve health outcomes [3] - The company serves one in three adult Americans and half of the physicians and hospitals in the United States, employing over 55,000 individuals [3] Upcoming Event - Jim Davis, Chairman, CEO, and President of Quest Diagnostics, will present the company's strategy, performance, and market trends at the William Blair 45th Annual Growth Stock Conference on June 3, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time [1] - The presentation will be available via live webcast on the company's investor relations page, with an archived version accessible within 24 hours after the event [2]

Group 1: Zacks Premium Overview - Zacks Premium offers various tools for investors to enhance their stock market strategies, including daily updates on Zacks Rank and Industry Rank, access to the Zacks 1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens [1] - The service aims to help investors become smarter and more confident in their investment decisions [1] Group 2: Zacks Style Scores - Zacks Style Scores are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on value, growth, and momentum characteristics, assisting investors in selecting stocks likely to outperform the market in the next 30 days [2] - Each stock receives a rating from A to F, with A indicating the highest potential for outperformance [3] Group 3: Value, Growth, and Momentum Scores - The Value Score focuses on identifying undervalued stocks using ratios like P/E, PEG, and Price/Sales [3] - The Growth Score emphasizes a company's financial strength and future outlook, analyzing projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow [4] - The Momentum Score identifies optimal times to invest based on price trends and earnings estimate changes [5] Group 4: VGM Score - The VGM Score combines Value, Growth, and Momentum Scores, providing a comprehensive indicator for stock selection [6] Group 5: Zacks Rank Performance - The Zacks Rank model, based on earnings estimate revisions, has shown strong performance, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks yielding an average annual return of +25.41% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [8] - There are over 800 top-rated stocks available, making it essential for investors to utilize Style Scores for effective selection [9] Group 6: Stock Analysis - Quest Diagnostics (DGX) - Quest Diagnostics Inc. provides diagnostic information services to various customers, including physicians and hospitals, and is a key provider of reference testing for about half of U.S. hospitals [12] - DGX holds a 3 (Hold) rating on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B and a Momentum Style Score of B, having increased by 7.7% in the past four weeks [13] - Recent earnings estimates for fiscal 2025 have been revised higher, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate now at $9.70 per share, and an average earnings surprise of 2% [13][14]

Core Viewpoint - Quest Diagnostics Inc. is focusing on advanced diagnostics and strategic acquisitions to enhance patient care and drive growth, while facing challenges from rising debt levels and competitive pressures [1][11]. Group 1: Financial Performance - In the past year, Quest Diagnostics' stock has increased by 26.4%, outperforming the industry growth of 2.9% and the S&P 500's rise of 7.7% [2]. - The company has a market capitalization of $19.76 billion and an earnings yield of 5.48%, which is higher than the industry's yield of 4.41% [2]. - Quest Diagnostics has consistently surpassed earnings estimates over the last four quarters, achieving an average surprise of 2.03% [2]. Group 2: Growth Drivers - Advanced diagnostics have shown strong potential, with double-digit growth in five key areas: advanced cardiometabolic, autoimmune, brain health, oncology, and women's and reproductive health [3]. - The brain health segment has benefited from increased demand for Alzheimer's disease risk assessment tests, with plans to expand the portfolio with new biomarkers [3]. - The company has introduced a self-collection option for HPV cervical cancer screening and has begun commercial orders for the Haystack MRD test, expecting revenue generation from these initiatives [4]. Group 3: Acquisition Strategy - In 2024, Quest Diagnostics completed eight acquisitions that align with its growth and profitability criteria, including the acquisition of LifeLabs and Allina Health [5][6]. - The company plans to moderate its acquisition pace in 2025, focusing on maximizing productivity from previous acquisitions [6]. Group 4: Operational Excellence - Quest Diagnostics is implementing automation and AI to enhance quality, service, and efficiency, targeting 3% annual cost savings through its Invigorate program [7]. - The company is automating various laboratory processes and has initiated Project Nova to modernize its IT infrastructure and reduce long-term costs [8][10]. Group 5: Challenges - As of the end of Q1 2025, Quest Diagnostics' long-term debt stood at $5.86 billion, with cash and cash equivalents at only $188 million, raising concerns about financial stability [11]. - The company faces intense competition from Labcorp and other commercial laboratories, with a focus on service quality and rapid turnaround times being critical for maintaining market position [12]. Group 6: Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Quest Diagnostics' 2025 earnings per share has decreased by 1 cent to $9.69, with revenue estimates at $10.77 billion, indicating a 9.1% growth from the previous year [13].

Core Insights - The report titled "The Cancer Paradox" reveals that oncologists are increasingly encountering advanced-stage cancers, attributing this trend primarily to screening barriers and other factors [3][4][5] - The report highlights the need for improved post-treatment monitoring tools, particularly the emerging ctDNA minimal residual disease (MRD) blood tests, which could enhance early detection of cancer recurrence [3][4][8] Group 1: Oncologists' Perspectives - 76% of oncologists report seeing more advanced-stage cancers, with 75% citing screening barriers as the main cause, followed by aging population (48%) and lifestyle factors (43%) [4][5] - 68% of oncologists believe missed or delayed follow-up care is a significant reason for missed cancer recurrence, while 50% point to imaging tests failing to detect recurrence early enough [5][13] - 94% of oncologists agree that ctDNA MRD testing could reduce delays in diagnosing cancer recurrence, although they face barriers to its widespread adoption [5][8] Group 2: Limitations of Current Monitoring Methods - Traditional methods for monitoring cancer recurrence, such as PET scans and MRIs, are viewed as expensive and invasive, with 50% of oncologists noting that imaging tests often fail to detect recurrence early [6][7] - Nearly all oncologists (96%) believe MRD testing can identify cancer recurrence earlier than current methods, with 89% emphasizing the importance of test sensitivity [7][8] Group 3: Adoption of ctDNA MRD Testing - 88% of oncologists support incorporating MRD testing into standard care for cancer-recurrence monitoring, but over half would be more inclined to recommend it with more clinical evidence, inclusion in clinical guidelines, and better insurance coverage [8][9] - A study published in NEJM found that the Haystack MRD test was a reliable alternative to tissue biopsies, identifying complete responses to immunotherapy faster than traditional imaging methods [9] Group 4: Oncologists' Challenges - 89% of oncologists believe early detection of cancer recurrence can improve outcomes, yet 79% report seeing patients whose recurrence was missed at earlier stages [13] - Anxiety and worry are cited as significant challenges for patients, with 87% of oncologists acknowledging this concern, compared to 53% who mention treatment side effects [13]

Group 1 - Quest Diagnostics is a leader in the diagnostics industry, excelling in scale, scope, and quality of service compared to its peers [1] - The company benefits from economies of scale due to its market leadership [1] Group 2 - The article emphasizes the importance of identifying high-quality and/or severely mispriced investment ideas [1]