Quest Diagnostics is basically the backbone of American healthcare. You've probably had a blood draw at one of their sites, right? It's that familiar, slightly clinical waiting room experience we all know. But if you’re looking at the Quest Diagnostics stock price today, you aren't thinking about needles. You're thinking about the numbers.
Honestly, the ticker DGX is acting pretty interesting right now. As of the market close on January 16, 2026, the stock settled at $189.54. That’s a tiny dip of about 0.38% from the previous close, but it doesn't tell the whole story. The stock has been on a bit of a heater lately. Just a few weeks ago, it was hovering in the low $170s.
Why the sudden move?
Investors are starting to wake up to the fact that diagnostic testing isn't just a "post-pandemic" relic. It's a volume game. And Quest is winning that game.
Is the Quest Diagnostics stock price today a bargain or a trap?
Look, everyone wants a deal. But in healthcare, "cheap" can sometimes mean "troubled." With DGX, the valuation is kinda sitting in a sweet spot. The current P/E ratio is around 22.37. If you compare that to some of the high-flying tech-enabled health plays, it looks like a steal.
But there’s a nuance here most people miss.
The market is currently pricing in a lot of "wait and see." Quest is set to report its full-year 2025 earnings on February 10, 2026. Analysts are expecting an Earnings Per Share (EPS) of about $2.36 for the quarter. That would be a decent jump from the $2.23 they posted in the same period last year.
The LifeLabs factor and organic growth
Quest hasn't just been sitting on its hands. They’ve been buying. The acquisition of LifeLabs was a massive move to solidify their footprint. It's one of those "boring" business moves that actually prints money over time.
- Revenues are up: Last reported quarterly revenue was $2.82 billion.
- Direct-to-consumer is exploding: People are tired of waiting for doctor referrals. They're ordering their own tests. Quest saw a 30% to 40% jump in this channel recently.
- Physician channel strength: Demand from doctors is up about 17%.
It’s not all sunshine, though. There is this looming thing called PAMA (Protecting Access to Medicare Act). Basically, the government wants to pay less for labs. It’s a perpetual headache for the industry. Some analysts think this could be a $100 million drag on revenue. That’s not pocket change.
Why the Quest Diagnostics stock price today matters for income seekers
If you like dividends, Quest is a bit of a quiet hero. They just had an ex-dividend date on January 13, 2026. The upcoming payment on January 28 is $0.80 per share.
That’s $3.20 a year.
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They’ve raised this dividend for 15 years straight. That kind of consistency is rare. The current yield is roughly 1.69%. It’s not going to make you rich overnight, but it’s a paycheck that actually shows up.
The analyst tug-of-war
If you ask ten analysts where the Quest Diagnostics stock price today is going, you’ll get twelve different answers.
Jefferies is a bit of a bear, with price targets as low as $155. On the flip side, firms like Piper Sandler are looking way up toward $200. The "smart money" consensus seems to be a "Hold." Why? Because at nearly $190, a lot of the recent good news might already be "baked in."
But then you look at the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) models. Some models suggest the "intrinsic value" of this company is actually closer to $224. If that's true, the current price is a 20% discount.
What’s driving the 2026 healthcare market?
We are entering a weird era for healthcare.
AI is finally doing more than just writing bad poetry. In labs like Quest, AI is being used to flag life-threatening findings in pathology and radiology way faster than a human can. This isn't just cool tech; it's a margin booster. It makes the whole process more efficient.
Also, "Home is the new health hub" is the big mantra for 2026. Quest is leaning into this with mobile phlebotomy and at-home kit collections. They are meeting patients where they are—on their couches.
Technicals worth watching
The stock is currently trading above its 200-day moving average of $177.54. That’s a classic bullish signal. However, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) is creeping up toward 64.
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For the uninitiated: once that number hits 70, the stock is "overbought." It means a pullback might be around the corner. If you're a day trader, that’s a red flag. If you're a long-term holder, it's just noise.
Actionable insights for your portfolio
Don't just stare at the ticker. If you're looking at the Quest Diagnostics stock price today, here is how to actually play it:
- Watch the February 10 earnings call. This is the big catalyst. If they beat that $2.36 EPS target, $200 is back on the table.
- Check the PAMA updates. Any news about reimbursement delays or freezes will send the stock higher.
- Monitor the "Consumer-Initiated" segment. This is Quest's secret weapon. If they can keep growing this at 30%+, they become a tech-growth story, not just a legacy lab story.
Quest is a defensive play. It's the "boring" stock that holds your portfolio together when the tech sector decides to melt down. It has a massive moat—literally thousands of locations and contracts with every major insurer. You can't just build a competitor to Quest in a weekend.
Keep an eye on that $190 level. Breaking through it with volume would be a massive statement of strength for 2026.
If you are looking to manage your entry, wait for a potential dip back toward the 50-day moving average of $181. That’s historically been a solid support level where buyers step back in.