Quest Diagnostics [DGX] vs Waters [WAT] Detailed Stock Comparison

Quest Diagnostics Inc.

NYSE
Loading...

Waters Corporation

NYSE
Loading...

TLDR: Quick Comparison Summary

Based on 21 vital metrics comparison: Quest Diagnostics Inc. wins in 9 metrics, Waters Corporation wins in 9 metrics, with 0 ties. Both stocks appear equally matched on key metrics.

View Metrics Details

Vital Metrics Comparison

Metric Quest Diagnostics Inc. Waters Corporation Better
P/E Ratio (TTM) 22.68 28.90 Quest Diagnostics Inc.
Price-to-Book Ratio 3.15 7.24 Quest Diagnostics Inc.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 82.71 60.28 Waters Corporation
PEG Ratio 1.49 -9.39 Quest Diagnostics Inc.
EV/EBITDA 13.04 28.78 Quest Diagnostics Inc.
Profit Margin (TTM) 9.08% 20.30% Waters Corporation
Operating Margin (TTM) 13.71% 33.76% Waters Corporation
EBITDA Margin (TTM) 13.71% 33.76% Waters Corporation
Return on Equity 14.54% 29.28% Waters Corporation
Return on Assets (TTM) 6.39% 11.52% Waters Corporation
Free Cash Flow (TTM) $1.36B $539.81M Quest Diagnostics Inc.
Dividend Yield 1.68% N/A N/A
1-Year Return 12.44% 9.83% Quest Diagnostics Inc.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) 2.02 9.65 Quest Diagnostics Inc.
Enterprise Value $29.15B $31.49B Waters Corporation
EV/Revenue Ratio 2.59 9.95 Quest Diagnostics Inc.
Gross Profit Margin (TTM) N/A 61.08% N/A
Revenue per Share (TTM) $102 $53 Quest Diagnostics Inc.
Earnings per Share (Diluted) $9.04 $10.77 Waters Corporation
Beta (Stock Volatility) N/A 1.20 N/A
Short % of Float 3.77% 3.38% Waters Corporation

Quest Diagnostics Inc. vs Waters Corporation Stock Performance Analysis

Loading Price Chart...

DGX
WAT

Performance Comparison

Short-term Returns

Stock1D1W1M3M6MYTD
Quest Diagnostics Inc.0.26%0.15%0.87%-8.13%5.81%11.15%
Waters Corporation2.11%9.83%23.20%21.06%-6.70%-2.63%

Long-term Returns

Stock1Y3Y5Y10Y15Y20Y
Quest Diagnostics Inc.12.44%43.77%51.23%152.23%234.65%240.67%
Waters Corporation9.83%48.23%20.14%177.19%308.01%789.75%

Performance & Financial Health Analysis: Quest Diagnostics Inc. vs Waters Corporation

MetricDGXWAT
Market Information
Market Cap i$22.15B$30.55B
Market Cap CategoryLarge capLarge cap
10 Day Avg. Volume i1,160,107809,747
90 Day Avg. Volume i936,452944,136
Last Close$193.67$379.77
52 Week Range$164.65 - $213.50$275.05 - $414.15
% from 52W High-9.29%-8.30%
All-Time High$213.50 (Feb 27, 2026)$428.22 (Sep 06, 2021)
% from All-Time High-9.29%-11.31%
Growth Metrics
Quarterly Revenue Growth0.09%0.07%
Quarterly Earnings Growth0.15%-0.03%
Financial Health
Profit Margin (TTM) i0.09%0.20%
Operating Margin (TTM) i0.14%0.34%
Return on Equity (TTM) i0.15%0.29%
Debt to Equity (MRQ) i82.7160.28
Cash & Liquidity
Book Value per Share (MRQ)$65.18$43.01
Cash per Share (MRQ)$3.54$5.99
Operating Cash Flow (TTM) i$1.85B$652.56M
Levered Free Cash Flow (TTM) i$954.25M$427.16M
Dividends
Last 12-Month Dividend Yield i1.68%N/A
Last 12-Month Dividend i$3.20$0.00

Valuation & Enterprise Metrics Analysis: Quest Diagnostics Inc. vs Waters Corporation

MetricDGX (Apr 24, 2026)WAT (Apr 24, 2026)
Price Ratios
P/E Ratio (TTM) i22.6828.90
Forward P/E i17.8119.04
PEG Ratio i1.49-9.39
Price to Sales (TTM) i2.029.65
Price to Book (MRQ) i3.157.24
Market Capitalization
Market Capitalization i$22.15B$30.55B
Enterprise Value i$29.15B$31.49B
Enterprise Value Metrics
Enterprise to Revenue i2.599.95
Enterprise to EBITDA i13.0428.78
Risk & Other Metrics
Beta iN/A1.20
Book Value per Share (MRQ) i$65.18$43.01

Financial Statements Comparison: Quest Diagnostics Inc. vs Waters Corporation

Financial Metrics

Loading Financial Charts...

Revenue

Operating Margin

Profit Margin

Long Term Debt

Income Flow Analysis

Financial Statements Comparison

Income Statement

MetricDGX (2025)WAT (2025)
Revenue/Sales i11.04B3.17B
Cost of Goods Sold i7.37B1.29B
COGS % of Revenue i66.8%40.7%
Gross Profit i3.67B1.88B
Gross Margin i33.2%59.3%
Research & Development iN/A195.71M
Operating Income (EBIT) i1.56B802.59M
Operating Margin i14.1%25.4%
EBITDA i2.17B1.03B
EBITDA Margin i19.6%32.6%
Pre-Tax Income i1.32B754.88M
Pre-Tax Income % of Revenue i11.9%23.8%
Income Tax i314.00M112.25M
Income Tax % of Revenue i2.8%3.5%
Net Income (Profit) i1.05B642.63M
Profit Margin i9.5%20.3%

Balance Sheet & Liquidity Metrics

MetricDGX (2025)WAT (2025)
Cash & Equivalents i420.00M587.83M
Total Current Assets i2.38B2.15B
Total Current Assets % of Revenue i21.5%67.8%
Total Current Liabilities i2.28B1.24B
Total Current Liabilities % of Revenue i20.6%39.2%
Long-Term Debt i5.70B999.99M
Long-Term Debt % of Revenue i51.7%31.6%
Total Shareholders Equity i7.29B2.56B
Retained Earnings i9.99B10.43B
Retained Earnings % of Revenue i90.6%329.6%
Property, Plant & Equipment i657.00M824.49M

Cash Flow Statement Comparison

MetricDGX (2025)WAT (2025)
Operating Cash Flow i1.86B652.56M
Operating Cash Flow % of Revenue i16.8%20.6%
Capital Expenditures iN/A-112.75M
Free Cash Flow i1.36B539.81M
FCF Margin i12.3%17.1%
Debt Repayment i-1.01B-290.00M
Common Stock Repurchase i-450.00M-14.67M

Short Interest & Institutional Ownership Analysis

MetricDGXWAT
Shares Short i4.17M3.32M
Short Ratio i4.932.98
Short % of Float i3.77%3.38%
Shares Outstanding i111.00M59.55M
Float Shares i110.39M97.96M
% Held by Insiders i0.42%0.11%
% Held by Institutions i99.96%63.35%
% Held by Public i-0.38%36.54%

Dividend Analysis & Yield Comparison: Quest Diagnostics Inc. vs Waters Corporation

MetricDGXWAT
Last 12-Month Dividend i$3.20$0.00
Last 12-Month Dividend Yield i1.68%N/A
3-Year Avg Annual Dividend i$3.23$0.00
3-Year Avg Dividend Yield i0.50%N/A
3-Year Total Dividends i$9.70$0.00
Ex-Dividend DateJan 13, 2026N/A