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Quest DiagnosticsDGX -0.39%80 5-Year Yield-on-Cost % is 2.72 as of Jul. 21, 2026, which is 13% below its 10-year median of 3.13. GuruFocus rates DGX with a GF Score™ of 80/100 and a GF Value™ of $188.42 (Fairly Valued). The stock has 8 warning signs investors should review. Among 64 Medical Diagnostics & Research companies, Quest Diagnostics ranks better than 53.12% on this metric.
Quest Diagnostics's yield on cost for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 was 2.72.
The historical rank and industry rank for Quest Diagnostics's 5-Year Yield-on-Cost % or its related term are showing as below:
DGX'
s 5-Year Yield-on-Cost % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 2.16 Med: 3.13 Max: 4.98
Current: 2.72
During the past 13 years, Quest Diagnostics's highest Yield on Cost was 4.98. The lowest was 2.16. And the median was 3.13.
DGX's 5-Year Yield-on-Cost % is ranked better than 53.12% of 64
companies
in the Medical Diagnostics & Research industry
Industry Median: 2.51
vs DGX: 2.72
Of course the risk here is that the company may not raise its dividends as it did before. The key is to select the companies that can consistently raise its dividends. Usually companies with long history of raising dividends tend to do so.
Quest Diagnostics 5-Year Yield-on-Cost % Related Terms
DGX vs LH, MTD, GH: 5-Year Yield-on-Cost % Comparison
For the Diagnostics & Research subindustry, Quest Diagnostics's 5-Year Yield-on-Cost %, along with its competitors' market caps and 5-Year Yield-on-Cost % data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
Quest Diagnostics 5-Year Yield-on-Cost % vs Medical Diagnostics & Research Industry
For the Medical Diagnostics & Research industry and Healthcare sector, Quest Diagnostics's 5-Year Yield-on-Cost % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Quest Diagnostics's 5-Year Yield-on-Cost % falls into.
Dividend Yield % and dividend growth of a stock is an important factor for income investors. But if company A raises its dividend constantly faster than company B, company A's future dividend yield might be much higher than Company B's even if their yields are the same now and their stock prices do not change.
Yield on Cost assumes that you buy and the stock today, and hold it for 5 years. If the company raises it dividends at the same rate as it did over the past 5 years, the dividends investors receive annually in 5 years relative to the stock price today.
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) has a 5-Year Yield-on-Cost % of 2.72 as of Jul. 21, 2026. 5-Year Yield on Cost measures the expected yield based on a company's current yield and 5-year dividend growth. View historical data on Quest Diagnostics and its competitors. This is 13% below median its historical median of 3.13. Over the past decade, Quest Diagnostics' 5-Year Yield-on-Cost % has ranged from 2.16 to 4.98. According to the industry distribution chart, Quest Diagnostics ranks #30 out of 64 companies in the Medical Diagnostics & Research industry, placing it in the top 46.9%.
Is Quest Diagnostics' 5-Year Yield-on-Cost % too high?
Quest Diagnostics' current 5-Year Yield-on-Cost % of 2.72 is 13% below median its 10-year median of 3.13. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 2.16 to a high of 4.98. The Medical Diagnostics & Research industry median 5-Year Yield-on-Cost % is 2.51. Quest Diagnostics' value of 2.72 is 8.4% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Quest Diagnostics ranks #30 out of 64 companies in the Medical Diagnostics & Research industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, Quest Diagnostics has a GF Score™ of 80/100 and is considered Fairly Valued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Quest Diagnostics' 5-Year Yield-on-Cost % compare to LH and MTD?
According to the Medical Diagnostics & Research industry distribution chart, Quest Diagnostics ranks #30 out of 64 companies for 5-Year Yield-on-Cost %. This puts Quest Diagnostics in the upper half of its industry. The industry median 5-Year Yield-on-Cost % is 2.51. Quest Diagnostics' value of 2.72 is 8.4% above this benchmark. Historically, Quest Diagnostics' own 5-Year Yield-on-Cost % has ranged from 2.16 to 4.98 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 3.13 vs. the industry median of 2.51, Quest Diagnostics has consistently been above the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good 5-Year Yield-on-Cost % for a Medical Diagnostics & Research company?
The median 5-Year Yield-on-Cost % among Medical Diagnostics & Research companies is 2.51, based on 64 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a 5-Year Yield-on-Cost % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, 5-Year Yield-on-Cost % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Quest Diagnostics's current 5-Year Yield-on-Cost % of 2.72 is 8.4% above the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high 5-Year Yield-on-Cost % mean?
A high 5-Year Yield-on-Cost % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. 5-Year Yield on Cost measures the expected yield based on a company's current yield and 5-year dividend growth. View historical data on Quest Diagnostics and its competitors. For the Medical Diagnostics & Research industry, the median 5-Year Yield-on-Cost % is 2.51 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Quest Diagnostics's current 5-Year Yield-on-Cost % is 2.72, which is 13% below median its own 10-year median of 3.13. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Quest Diagnostics stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Quest Diagnostics (DGX) is currently considered Fairly Valued. The stock's GF Value™ is $188.42, compared to a current price of $206.84 — trading 9.8% above its estimated fair value. The current 5-Year Yield-on-Cost % is 2.72, which is 13% below median its 10-year median of 3.13 and 8.4% above the Medical Diagnostics & Research industry median of 2.51. Quest Diagnostics' overall GF Score™ is 80/100 with 8 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is 5-Year Yield-on-Cost % calculated?
5-Year Yield-on-Cost % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Quest Diagnostics (DGX), the current 5-Year Yield-on-Cost % is 2.72 as of Jul. 21, 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is Quest Diagnostics (DGX) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Quest Diagnostics stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $206.84 is trading 9.8% above its estimated GF Value™ of $188.42.
GuruFocus considers Quest Diagnostics to be Fairly Valued.
Key valuation signals for DGX:
5-Year Yield-on-Cost %: 2.72 (13% below median its 10-year median of 3.13)
GF Value™: $188.42 vs. price of $206.84 (9.8% above fair value)
Industry Position: 8.4% above the Medical Diagnostics & Research median (#30 of 64)
No single metric tells the full story. See the DGX stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Quest Diagnostics is a leading independent provider of diagnostic testing, information, and services in the US. The company generates over 97% of its revenue through clinical testing, anatomic pathology, esoteric testing, and substance abuse testing with specimens collected at its national network of roughly 2,400 patient service centers, as well as multiple doctors offices and hospitals. The firm also runs a much smaller diagnostic solutions segment that provides clinical trials testing, risk-assessment services, and information technology solutions.
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