Quest Diagnostics stock gains on strong second quarter figures and Medicare survey impact

Published on 09/17/2026 at 13:36 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Quest Diagnostics stock closed at USD 247.08 on September 16, 2026 after a strong second quarter with revenue up 10.2 percent year on year. The shares also reacted to a new survey on Medicare lab payment cuts published on September 16, 2026.

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Quest Diagnostics stock (ISIN US74834L1008) ended the last New York Stock Exchange session on September 16, 2026 at USD 247.08, reflecting a double-digit percent gain since the company’s latest second quarter earnings report, according to Yahoo Finance data reported by Yahoo Finance.

Strong second quarter lifts Quest Diagnostics stock

Quest Diagnostics Inc. reported second quarter 2026 revenues of USD 3.04 billion, up 10.2 percent year on year, which represented a clear beat versus analyst expectations, as highlighted in an overview by Yahoo Finance.

The same overview notes that Quest Diagnostics stock is up 16.4 percent since reporting these second quarter figures and recently traded around USD 244.31, underlining that the shares have outperformed several peers in the testing and diagnostics segment over this period, according to Yahoo Finance.

In addition, a separate article reports that Quest Diagnostics stock hit a new 52-week high of USD 248.65 in a recent session and has gained 42.4 percent since the start of the year, compared with a 1.5 percent move for the broader Zacks Medical sector, according to Yahoo Finance.

Medicare survey adds policy risk to the story

Beyond earnings, Quest Diagnostics also drew attention on September 16, 2026 with a national survey on Medicare laboratory payment cuts, which the company commissioned and published via a report titled Left Out, Left Behind: Who’s Harmed by Medicare Lab Payment Cuts, according to StockTitan.

The survey found that 88 percent of American voters are concerned about scheduled Medicare payment cuts for essential laboratory tests, with potential rate reductions of up to 15 percent beginning January 1, 2027 and further cuts of up to 15 percent planned for 2028 and 2029, per StockTitan.

On the trading side, the same report notes that Quest Diagnostics shares showed a pre-headline gain of 3.86 percent in connection with the survey announcement, moving alongside other diagnostic testing providers such as Labcorp, Natera, Mettler Toledo and Waters, according to StockTitan.

Apple Health partnership broadens digital reach

Operationally, Quest Diagnostics is also working to expand its reach in consumer-facing digital health. Later in 2026, United States users will be able to purchase a Quest lab panel covering more than 50 biomarkers through the Apple Health app on iPhone and iPad, based on a partnership announced on September 9, 2026, as reported by NJBIZ.

This digital collaboration with Apple positions Quest Diagnostics to capture more direct-to-consumer testing demand and could support continued revenue growth beyond the second quarter numbers, while also differentiating its service offering in an increasingly competitive diagnostics landscape, according to analysis in the report from NJBIZ.

Quest Diagnostics stock near recent high

Per price data on September 16, 2026, Quest Diagnostics stock closed at USD 247.08 on the New York Stock Exchange, with an after-hours quote at the same level later that day, according to the DGX overview on Yahoo Finance.