DGX
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated Healthcare - Diagnostics & Research Investor Relations →
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX) closed at $190.71 as of 2026-02-02, trading 32.1% above its 200-week moving average of $144.34. The stock moved further from the line this week, up from 29.9% last week. The 14-week RSI sits at 62, indicating neutral momentum.
Over the past 1472 weeks of data, DGX has crossed below its 200-week moving average 19 times. On average, these episodes lasted 9 weeks. Historically, investors who bought DGX at the start of these episodes saw an average one-year return of +27.4%.
With a market cap of $21.3 billion, DGX is a large-cap stock. The company generates a free cash flow yield of 4.7%. Return on equity stands at 14.4%. The stock trades at 2.9x book value.
The company has been aggressively buying back shares, reducing its share count by 7.0% over the past three years.
Over the past 28.3 years, a hypothetical investment of $100 in DGX would have grown to $6569, compared to $1178 for the S&P 500. That represents an annualized return of 15.9% vs 9.1% for the index — confirming DGX as a market-beating investment and the kind of quality company where buying during 200-week moving average touches has historically been rewarded.
Free cash flow has been declining at a -20.8% compound annual rate. A deteriorating cash flow trend warrants extra scrutiny — the stock may be cheap for a reason.
Growth of $100: DGX vs S&P 500
Monthly data normalized to $100 at start. Vertical dashed lines mark 200-week MA touches.
What Happens After DGX Crosses Below the Line?
Across 19 historical episodes, buying DGX when it crossed below its 200-week moving average produced an average return of +26.9% after 12 months (median +25.0%), compared to +20.1% for the S&P 500 over the same periods. 84% of those episodes were profitable after one year. After 24 months, the average return was +110.8% vs +39.2% for the index.
Each line shows $100 invested at the moment DGX crossed below its 200-week MA. Bold blue = stock average. Gray dashed = S&P 500 average over same periods.
Historical Touches
DGX has crossed below its 200-week MA 19 times with an average 1-year return of +27.4% after recovery.
| Crossed Below | Recovered | Weeks | Max Depth | 1-Year Return | Return Since Touch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 1997 | Apr 1998 | 20 | 9.4% | +9.6% | +6469.2% |
| Aug 1998 | Nov 1998 | 11 | 15.6% | +54.7% | +6067.4% |
| Dec 1998 | Dec 1998 | 2 | 1.4% | +69.8% | +6067.4% |
| Feb 2003 | Feb 2003 | 1 | 1.6% | +72.8% | +1016.9% |
| Jan 2008 | Jul 2008 | 25 | 11.0% | -4.2% | +430.0% |
| Sep 2008 | Feb 2009 | 18 | 21.6% | +4.6% | +415.4% |
| Feb 2009 | May 2009 | 14 | 13.3% | +13.2% | +403.6% |
| Sep 2009 | Sep 2009 | 1 | 0.7% | -4.7% | +403.3% |
| May 2010 | Jun 2010 | 1 | 0.7% | +13.9% | +395.5% |
| Jun 2010 | Dec 2010 | 25 | 13.0% | +18.0% | +403.2% |
| Aug 2011 | Oct 2011 | 12 | 10.2% | +18.2% | +399.3% |
| Dec 2013 | Mar 2014 | 14 | 6.9% | +19.6% | +351.3% |
| Dec 2018 | Jan 2019 | 7 | 5.0% | +25.8% | +158.5% |
| Mar 2019 | Mar 2019 | 1 | 2.4% | +35.6% | +160.3% |
| Apr 2019 | Apr 2019 | 1 | 0.9% | +13.8% | +154.6% |
| Mar 2020 | Apr 2020 | 4 | 22.4% | +70.2% | +185.8% |
| Sep 2023 | Oct 2023 | 5 | 3.6% | +26.7% | +62.4% |
| Jan 2024 | Mar 2024 | 8 | 3.7% | +33.2% | +58.7% |
| Apr 2024 | Apr 2024 | 2 | 0.5% | +29.5% | +53.4% |
| Average | 9 | — | +27.4% | — |
Not financial advice. This is an educational tool. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Do your own research before making investment decisions.
Data as of Friday close, 2026-02-02