DGX
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated Healthcare - Diagnostics & Research Investor Relations →
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX) closed at $195.26 as of 2026-03-20, trading 33.2% above its 200-week moving average of $146.61. The stock is currently moving closer to the line, down from 36.5% last week. The 14-week RSI sits at 58, indicating neutral momentum.
Trading volume is running at 1.3x of its 14-week average, which is in the normal range. The balance between buying and selling volume (1.24 ratio) is neutral — neither side is clearly dominating.
Over the past 1478 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 $21.7 billion, DGX is a large-cap stock. The company generates a free cash flow yield of 4.7%. Return on equity stands at 14.8%. The stock trades at 3.0x book value.
Over the past 28.4 years, a hypothetical investment of $100 in DGX would have grown to $6726, compared to $1110 for the S&P 500. That represents an annualized return of 16.0% vs 8.8% for the index — confirming DGX as a market-beating investment and the kind of quality company where buying during 200-week moving average touches has historically been rewarded.
Free cash flow has been growing at a 1.1% compound annual rate, with 4 consecutive years of positive cash generation.
Business Health
Annual financials — how the underlying business has performed over the past several years.
Cash Flow Free cash flow & net income ($M)
Revenue Annual revenue ($M) — business growth proxy
Total Debt Balance sheet debt ($M)
ROIC Return on invested capital (%)
FCF Yield Free cash flow / market cap (%) — Yartseva signal
Gross Margin Pricing power & competitive moat (%)
Shares Outstanding Buybacks vs dilution (millions)
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% | +6625.9% |
| Aug 1998 | Nov 1998 | 11 | 15.6% | +54.7% | +6214.6% |
| Dec 1998 | Dec 1998 | 2 | 1.4% | +69.8% | +6214.6% |
| Feb 2003 | Feb 2003 | 1 | 1.6% | +72.8% | +1043.6% |
| Jan 2008 | Jul 2008 | 25 | 11.0% | -4.2% | +442.6% |
| Sep 2008 | Feb 2009 | 18 | 21.6% | +4.6% | +427.6% |
| Feb 2009 | May 2009 | 14 | 13.3% | +13.2% | +415.6% |
| Sep 2009 | Sep 2009 | 1 | 0.7% | -4.7% | +415.3% |
| May 2010 | Jun 2010 | 1 | 0.7% | +13.9% | +407.3% |
| Jun 2010 | Dec 2010 | 25 | 13.0% | +18.0% | +415.2% |
| Aug 2011 | Oct 2011 | 12 | 10.2% | +18.2% | +411.3% |
| Dec 2013 | Mar 2014 | 14 | 6.9% | +19.6% | +362.0% |
| Dec 2018 | Jan 2019 | 7 | 5.0% | +25.8% | +164.7% |
| Mar 2019 | Mar 2019 | 1 | 2.4% | +35.6% | +166.5% |
| Apr 2019 | Apr 2019 | 1 | 0.9% | +13.8% | +160.7% |
| Mar 2020 | Apr 2020 | 4 | 22.4% | +70.2% | +192.6% |
| Sep 2023 | Oct 2023 | 5 | 3.6% | +26.7% | +66.3% |
| Jan 2024 | Mar 2024 | 8 | 3.7% | +33.2% | +62.5% |
| Apr 2024 | Apr 2024 | 2 | 0.5% | +29.5% | +57.1% |
| Average | 9 | — | +27.4% | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is DGX below its 200-week moving average?
No. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX) is currently 33.2% above its 200-week moving average of $146.61. It would need to fall to $146.61 to cross below the line.
What is DGX's 200-week moving average price?
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated's 200-week moving average is $146.61 as of 2026-03-20. This is the average weekly closing price over roughly the last 4 years, and it acts as a long-term trend line. When a stock drops below this level, it can signal that the price has fallen far enough from the long-term trend to attract value-oriented investors.
What happens when DGX drops below its 200-week moving average?
DGX has crossed below its 200-week moving average 19 times in our data. On average, buying at that moment produced a one-year return of +27.4%. These dips have historically been decent entry points. These episodes lasted 9 weeks on average.
Is DGX a good value right now?
Here's what our data says about DGX as of 2026-03-20: The stock is above its 200-week moving average, so it doesn't currently meet our primary signal. The 14-week RSI is 58. Free cash flow yield is 4.7%. Return on equity is 14.8%. Price-to-book is 3.0x. This is not a buy or sell recommendation — always do your own research.
How does DGX compare to the S&P 500?
Over the past 28.4 years, $100 invested in DGX would have grown to $6726, compared to $1110 for the S&P 500. That's 16.0% annualized vs 8.8% for the index. DGX has outperformed the broader market over this period.
Does DGX pay a dividend?
Yes. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated currently pays a dividend yield of 176.00%.
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 week of 2026-03-20