DGX
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated Healthcare - Diagnostics & Research Investor Relations →
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX) closed at $233.01 as of 2026-07-31, trading 52.4% above its 200-week moving average of $152.88. The stock moved further from the line this week, up from 49.6% last week. With a 14-week RSI of 71, DGX is in overbought territory.
Trading volume is running at 1.4x of its 14-week average, which is in the normal range. The balance between buying and selling volume (1.27 ratio) is neutral — neither side is clearly dominating.
Over the past 1497 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 $25.7 billion, DGX is a large-cap stock. The company generates a free cash flow yield of 3.5%. Return on equity stands at 14.6%. The stock trades at 3.4x book value.
Over the past 28.8 years, a hypothetical investment of $100 in DGX would have grown to $8094, compared to $1282 for the S&P 500. That represents an annualized return of 16.5% vs 9.3% for the index — confirming DGX as a market-beating investment and the kind of quality company where buying during 200-week moving average touches has historically been rewarded.
Free cash flow has been growing at a 1.1% compound annual rate, with 4 consecutive years of positive cash generation.
Business Health
Annual financials — how the underlying business has performed over the past several years.
Cash Flow Free cash flow & net income ($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 +20.0% 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 +107.4% vs +39.4% 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.
Bean Score Experimental
The Bean Score measures how far a stock's free cash flow yield has deviated from its own quarterly baseline, normalized by the stock's historical behavior. Between earnings dates, FCF is constant — so the score is purely a function of stock price. The levels below show at what prices DGX would reach each dislocation threshold.
Dislocation Price Levels
Prices where DGX's Bean Score would hit each σ threshold. Valid until next earnings report (date TBD — last report: 2026-03-31).
| Level | σ | Price | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deep Value | +2σ | $179.64 | Unusually cheap — potential buy zone |
| Value | +1σ | $193.83 | Cheap vs. own history |
| Fair Value | +0σ | $210.45 | Historical mean behavior |
| Expensive | -1σ | $230.18 | Expensive vs. own history |
| Deep Expensive | -2σ | $254.00 | Unusually expensive — potential trim zone |
Quarterly FCF & Yield Trailing twelve-month free cash flow and yield at each quarter end
Signal Accuracy Collecting Data
The Bean Score system is accumulating weekly data to validate signal accuracy. After 13+ weeks of history, this section will display win rates and average returns for each σ threshold crossing — answering the question: "When this score says cheap or expensive, does the price subsequently move in the expected direction?"
Theoretical framework — not backtested or forward-tested. The Bean Score uses trailing twelve-month free cash flow yield as a dislocation identifier. It measures whether the market has pushed a stock's yield unusually far from its own baseline behavior. These levels are reference points for identifying potential swing trade opportunities, not buy/sell signals. FCF values update quarterly with earnings; between reports, all movement is price-driven.
Dislocation Scores Experimental
Each score measures deviation from DGX's own historical baseline — the same idea as the Bean Score, applied to different fundamentals. Positive means cheaper or more dislocated than this stock's norm. Scores marked σ are normalized by the stock's own variability; pp values are simple deltas from its recent baseline.
Theoretical framework — not backtested. These scores describe how unusual today's readings are for this specific company. They are starting points for research, not buy or sell signals. Annual-statement scores (buyback, accruals, FCF vs history) rest on only ~4 yearly data points and are deltas, not sigmas.
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% | +7994.0% |
| Aug 1998 | Nov 1998 | 11 | 15.6% | +54.7% | +7499.0% |
| Dec 1998 | Dec 1998 | 2 | 1.4% | +69.8% | +7499.0% |
| Feb 2003 | Feb 2003 | 1 | 1.6% | +72.8% | +1276.2% |
| Jan 2008 | Jul 2008 | 25 | 11.0% | -4.2% | +553.0% |
| Sep 2008 | Feb 2009 | 18 | 21.6% | +4.6% | +533.7% |
| Feb 2009 | May 2009 | 14 | 13.3% | +13.2% | +520.5% |
| Sep 2009 | Sep 2009 | 1 | 0.8% | -4.7% | +520.1% |
| May 2010 | Jun 2010 | 1 | 0.7% | +13.9% | +510.5% |
| Jun 2010 | Dec 2010 | 25 | 13.0% | +18.0% | +520.0% |
| Aug 2011 | Oct 2011 | 12 | 10.2% | +18.2% | +515.3% |
| Dec 2013 | Mar 2014 | 14 | 7.0% | +19.6% | +456.0% |
| Dec 2018 | Jan 2019 | 7 | 5.0% | +25.8% | +218.5% |
| Mar 2019 | Mar 2019 | 1 | 2.4% | +35.6% | +220.7% |
| Apr 2019 | Apr 2019 | 1 | 0.9% | +13.8% | +213.7% |
| Mar 2020 | Apr 2020 | 4 | 22.4% | +70.2% | +252.1% |
| Sep 2023 | Oct 2023 | 5 | 3.6% | +26.7% | +100.1% |
| Jan 2024 | Mar 2024 | 8 | 3.7% | +33.2% | +95.5% |
| Apr 2024 | Apr 2024 | 2 | 0.6% | +30.2% | +89.1% |
| Average | 9 | — | +27.4% | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is DGX below its 200-week moving average?
No. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX) is currently 52.4% above its 200-week moving average of $152.88. It would need to fall to $152.88 to cross below the line.
What is DGX's 200-week moving average price?
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated's 200-week moving average is $152.88 as of 2026-07-31. 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 2026-07-31: The stock is above its 200-week moving average, so it doesn't currently meet our primary signal. The 14-week RSI is 71 (overbought). Free cash flow yield is 3.5%. Return on equity is 14.6%. Price-to-book is 3.4x. 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 28.8 years, $100 invested in DGX would have grown to $8094, compared to $1282 for the S&P 500. That's 16.5% annualized vs 9.3% 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 147.00%.
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 2026-07-31