Key Highlights

  • Quest's $0.86 quarterly dividend has an October 6, 2026 ex-dividend date and is payable October 21 to shareholders of record.
  • Second-quarter revenues were $3.04 billion, up 10.2%, with organic revenue growth of 10.0%.
  • Reported diluted EPS was $2.84, up 15.0%, and adjusted diluted EPS was $3.12, up 19.1%.
  • Full-year 2026 guidance was raised to revenues of $11.95 billion to $12.05 billion and adjusted diluted EPS of $11.05 to $11.25.

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated's (NYSE:DGX) $0.86 quarterly dividend yields 1.47% and sits beside second-quarter reported diluted EPS of $2.84 and adjusted diluted EPS of $3.12. The Board declared it on August 12, 2026, the same $0.86 declared in February and May. The February 10 announcement raised the quarterly dividend from $0.80, which the company described as a 7.5% increase.

Dividend Program and Shareholder Returns

Quest's Board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.86 per share on August 12, 2026. It is payable October 21 to shareholders of record on October 6.

On May 19, the Board declared $0.86, payable July 22 to holders of record July 8. On February 10, the Board increased the quarterly dividend from $0.80, effective with the dividend payable April 20 to holders of record April 6, and authorized an additional $1 billion of repurchases. The company repurchased 0.5 million shares for $100 million in the first half, with $1.3 billion remaining under its authorization.

About the Company

Quest Diagnostics is based in Secaucus, New Jersey, and connects clinicians and consumers with laboratory insights. The company states it serves half the physicians and hospitals in the United States and one in three American adults each year, with nearly 60,000 employees.

Financial Performance Behind the Payout

Quest reported second-quarter net revenues of $3,043 million versus $2,761 million, up 10.2%. Diagnostic Information Services revenues were $2.978 billion, up 10.3%. Six-month net revenues were $5,938 million, up 9.7%.

Operating income was $459 million, or 15.1% of net revenues, versus $438 million, or 15.9%. Adjusted operating income, a non-GAAP measure, was $502 million, or 16.5%, versus $466 million, or 16.9%. Net income attributable to Quest was $320 million versus $282 million. Reported diluted EPS was $2.84 versus $2.47, and adjusted diluted EPS was $3.12 versus $2.62. Cash was $626 million at June 30.

Advanced Diagnostics and Consumer Announcements

On October 1, Quest announced a study published in The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics evaluating its Haystack MRD test in specimens from the DYNAMIC colorectal cancer trials. The test showed 100% specificity at both 3 and 5 years, with sensitivity of 100% and 83.3% for predicting recurrence, respectively.

On September 9, Quest announced that Apple Health app users will be able to purchase a Quest laboratory panel of more than 50 biomarkers through the app on iPhone and iPad later this year.

Outlook

Quest's 2026 guidance is revenues of $11.95 billion to $12.05 billion, versus a prior $11.78 billion to $11.90 billion, reported diluted EPS of $9.97 to $10.17 and adjusted diluted EPS of $11.05 to $11.25, versus $10.63 to $10.83. The revenue range represents growth of 8.3% to 9.2%, per the call. Organic revenue, adjusted operating margin and cash balances are the measures reported alongside it.