July 15, 2025 a 11:32 am
DGX: Dividend Analysis - Quest Diagnostics Incorporated
Quest Diagnostics has positioned itself as a robust player in the diagnostics sector. Its dividend payments have been consistently stable over the last 22 years with a moderate growth profile. This shows a commitment to returning value to shareholders while maintaining financial health.
Overview
📊 Quest Diagnostics operates in the medical diagnostics sector known for stable demand. The company's current dividend yield is 2.21%, with a dividend per share of $2.98. Notably, it has a 22-year history without any recent cuts or suspensions.| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Sector | Medical Diagnostics |
| Dividend yield | 2.21% |
| Current dividend per share | 2.98 USD |
| Dividend history | 22 years |
| Last cut or suspension | None |
Dividend History
🗣️ The dividend history of Quest Diagnostics underscores a stable dividend growth trajectory with regular annual increments. This history is crucial for long-term income-focused investors as it demonstrates commitment to shareholder returns.
| Year | Dividend per Share (USD) |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 2.35 |
| 2024 | 2.96 |
| 2023 | 2.79 |
| 2022 | 2.60 |
| 2021 | 2.42 |
Dividend Growth
📈 Understanding dividend growth rates over different time frames helps assess future income potential. The 3-year growth rate of 6.94% and 5-year growth rate of 6.90% indicate consistent long-term growth.| Time | Growth |
|---|---|
| 3 years | 6.94% |
| 5 years | 6.90% |
The average dividend growth is 6.90% over 5 years. This shows moderate but steady dividend growth.
Payout Ratio
📉 Analyzing payout ratios gives insights into dividend sustainability. A healthy EPS-based payout ratio of 36.90% and a free cash flow-based payout ratio at 31.52% indicate that Quest Diagnostics manages its payment capabilities well.| Key figure | Ratio |
|---|---|
| EPS-based | 36.90% |
| Free cash flow-based | 31.52% |
The EPS-based payout ratio of 36.90% suggests that the dividends are well covered by earnings, while the FCF-based ratio further confirms the company's efficient cash flow management.
Cashflow & Capital Efficiency
✅ Cashflow stability and efficient capital use are crucial for sustaining dividends. The table below showcases significant cash flow indicators across recent years.| Metric | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Cash Flow Yield | 7.24% | 5.59% | 5.42% |
| Earnings Yield | 5.21% | 5.53% | 5.20% |
| CAPEX to Operating Cash Flow | 23.52% | 32.08% | 31.86% |
| Stock-based Compensation to Revenue | 0.78% | 0.83% | 0.89% |
| Free Cash Flow / Operating Cash Flow Ratio | 76.48% | 67.92% | 68.14% |
Quest Diagnostics shows a stable cash flow profile and efficient capital efficiency ratios, which supports ongoing dividend payouts and potential growth investments.
Balance Sheet & Leverage Analysis
⚠️ Analyzing financial leverage and liquidity ratios helps assess financial risk and stability.| Metric | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debt-to-Equity | 0.78 | 0.87 | 1.05 |
| Debt-to-Assets | 0.36 | 0.39 | 0.44 |
| Debt-to-Capital | 0.44 | 0.47 | 0.51 |
| Net Debt to EBITDA | 2.37 | 2.78 | 3.45 |
| Current Ratio | 1.22 | 1.31 | 1.10 |
| Quick Ratio | 1.10 | 1.20 | 1.02 |
| Financial Leverage | 2.18 | 2.22 | 2.38 |
The company's leverage ratios suggest a prudent approach to debt management, with effective liquidity coverage, enhancing their ability to withstand market fluctuations.
Fundamental Strength & Profitability
📊 Key performance metrics such as return on equity and profit margins provide insights into efficiencies and profitability.| Metric | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity | 16.05% | 13.54% | 12.85% |
| Return on Assets | 7.37% | 6.09% | 5.39% |
| Net Profit Margin | 9.57% | 9.23% | 8.82% |
| EBIT Margin | 13.99% | 13.98% | 14.19% |
| EBITDA Margin | 18.42% | 18.72% | 19.19% |
| Gross Profit Margin | 34.74% | 32.00% | 32.86% |
These figures highlight that Quest Diagnostics maintains solid profitability and operates cost-efficiently within its sector, proving its resilience in volatile markets.
Price Development
📉 Understanding Quest Diagnostics' price trends over time further aids in assessing growth potential.
Dividend Scoring System
✅ This analysis assesses Quest's dividend profile based on key metrics to provide a comprehensive score.| Criteria | Score (1-5) | |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield | 3.5 | |
| Dividend stability | 5 | |
| Dividend growth | 4 | |
| Payout ratio | 4 | |
| Financial stability | 4.5 | |
| Dividend continuity | 5 | |
| Cashflow Coverage | 4 | |
| Balance Sheet Quality | 4.5 |
Overall Score: 34.5 out of 40