Compare StocksDGX vs JNJ

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX) vs Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)

DGX
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated
$192.67
VS
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
$227.19

Rewards

DGX
    JNJ
    • Johnson & Johnson has maintained ROIC above 10% for 4 consecutive years, suggesting solid business economics.
    • Gross margin of 68.0% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
    • Johnson & Johnson scores 90/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with revenue predictability as the strongest competitive dimension.

    Risks

    DGX
    • Each dollar of retained earnings has produced only $0.30 of earning power — shareholders may have been better served by dividends.
    • FCF yield of 6.4% suggests reasonable valuation assuming continued moderate growth.
    • Insiders have sold $10.7M worth of stock in the past 3 months — significant insider liquidation.
    JNJ
    • Trailing P/E of 26.3x is 32% above the historical average of 20.0x — the stock trades at a premium to its own history.
    • PEG ratio of 2.95 indicates the stock is expensive relative to its expected growth — the market may be pricing in more growth than analysts project.
    • 7 insider sales totaling $58.4M with no purchases in the past 3 months — insiders are reducing their exposure.

    Key Valuation Metrics

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    DGX
    JNJ
    Valuation
    $1.36B
    Free Cash Flow
    $19.31B
    6.37%
    FCF Yield
    3.53%
    21.27
    Trailing P/E
    26.33
    16.53
    Forward P/E
    17.87
    Quality & Moat
    8.94%
    ROIC
    15.32%
    12.81%
    ROE
    33.02%
    33.28%
    Gross Margin
    68.04%
    1.37
    PEG Ratio
    2.95
    Balance Sheet Safety
    0.83
    Debt / Equity
    0.68
    N/A
    Interest Coverage
    N/A
    2.70
    Net Debt / EBITDA
    0.96
    1.79%
    Dividend Yield
    2.36%
    DGX: 4Ties: 1JNJ: 7
    DGXJNJ

    Historical Fundamentals

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    DGX

    Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

    JNJ

    Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

    Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

    $1 Retained Earnings Test

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    DGX
    $1.03
    created per $1 retained over 3 years
    Value Creator
    Σ Retained
    $1.72B
    Δ Market Cap
    +$1.77B
    Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
    > $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
    JNJ
    $0.91
    created per $1 retained over 3 years
    Mediocre Allocator
    Σ Retained
    $40.05B
    Δ Market Cap
    +$36.63B
    Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
    > $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

    Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
    > $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

    Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis

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    DGX
    33.1% Overvalued
    Price is 33.1% above estimated fair value
    Current Price: $192.67
    Fair Value: $144.72
    Strongly undervalued
    Undervalued
    Fairly valued
    Overvalued
    Strongly overvalued
    JNJ
    11.4% Margin of Safety
    Price is 11.4% below estimated fair value
    Current Price: $227.19
    Fair Value: $256.33
    Strongly undervalued
    Undervalued
    Fairly valued
    Overvalued
    Strongly overvalued

    Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth

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    DGX

    What growth rate is the market pricing in at $193?

    +12.1%
    Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
    Standard FCF implies +7.8%

    The market implies +12.1% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.

    Standard FCF implies a demanding +7.8%, reflecting heavy growth investment.

    JNJ

    What growth rate is the market pricing in at $227?

    +8.8%
    Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
    Standard FCF implies +13.2%

    The market implies +8.8% Owner Earnings growth, below historical trends — potential opportunity.

    Standard FCF implies a more demanding +13.2%, reflecting heavy growth investment expected to generate future returns.

    Economic Moat Score

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    DGX
    56/100
    Narrow Moat
    70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

    Narrow moat with margin stability as the key competitive advantage. Improving roic consistency would strengthen the moat.

    Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.
    JNJ
    90/100
    Wide Moat
    70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

    Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. Revenue Predictability is the standout factor.

    Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 5 years of fundamental data.

    Forensic Accounting

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    DGX
    -2.66
    Unlikely Manipulator
    Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

    M-Score Trend

    Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
    JNJ
    -2.31
    Unlikely Manipulator
    Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

    M-Score Trend

    Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

    Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

    Ownership Breakdown

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    DGX
    Insiders 0.4%Institutions 99.5%Retail & Other 0.1%
    No. of Institutional Holders1,444
    High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
    JNJ
    Insiders 0.1%Institutions 76.2%Retail & Other 23.7%
    No. of Institutional Holders5,579
    High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

    High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

    Insider Buying Activity

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    DGX
    4
    Buys (3M)
    14
    Buys (12M)
    Total value (12M): $79,709
    PLEWMAN PATRICK
    Officer
    $9,540
    @ $194.69 · 2026-04-20
    LASSITER WRIGHT III
    Director
    $1,168
    @ $194.67 · 2026-04-20
    KUPPUSAMY KARTHIK
    Officer
    $7,593
    @ $194.69 · 2026-04-20
    DELANEY MARK E
    Officer
    $7,204
    @ $194.70 · 2026-04-20
    GREGG VICKY B
    Director
    $12,295
    @ $183.51 · 2026-01-28
    LASSITER WRIGHT III
    Director
    $1,285
    @ $183.57 · 2026-01-28
    KUPPUSAMY KARTHIK
    Officer
    $2,936
    @ $183.50 · 2026-01-28
    DELANEY MARK E
    Officer
    $2,753
    @ $183.53 · 2026-01-28
    CARTER ROBERT B
    Director
    $1,101
    @ $183.50 · 2026-01-28
    GREGG VICKY B
    Director
    $13,232
    @ $167.49 · 2025-07-21
    SAMAD SAMER ABDUL
    Chief Financial Officer
    $12,060
    @ $167.50 · 2025-07-21
    LASSITER WRIGHT III
    Director
    $1,173
    @ $167.57 · 2025-07-21
    KUPPUSAMY KARTHIK
    Officer
    $4,522
    @ $167.48 · 2025-07-21
    DELANEY MARK E
    Officer
    $2,847
    @ $167.47 · 2025-07-21
    PLEWMAN PATRICK
    Officer
    $13,318
    @ $164.42 · 2025-04-21
    SAMAD SAMER ABDUL
    Chief Financial Officer
    $12,167
    @ $164.42 · 2025-04-21
    KUPPUSAMY KARTHIK
    Officer
    $4,439
    @ $164.41 · 2025-04-21
    DELANEY MARK E
    Officer
    $4,111
    @ $164.44 · 2025-04-21
    PLEWMAN PATRICK
    Officer
    $9,008
    @ $158.04 · 2025-01-29
    GREGG VICKY B
    Director
    $11,379
    @ $158.04 · 2025-01-29
    SAMAD SAMER ABDUL
    Chief Financial Officer
    $5,531
    @ $158.03 · 2025-01-29
    KUPPUSAMY KARTHIK
    Officer
    $1,896
    @ $158.00 · 2025-01-29
    DELANEY MARK E
    Officer
    $632.00
    @ $158.00 · 2025-01-29
    GREGG VICKY B
    Director
    $11,352
    @ $149.37 · 2024-10-21
    SAMAD SAMER ABDUL
    Chief Financial Officer
    $5,527
    @ $149.38 · 2024-10-21
    KUPPUSAMY KARTHIK
    Officer
    $3,137
    @ $149.38 · 2024-10-21
    DELANEY MARK E
    Officer
    $598.00
    @ $149.50 · 2024-10-21
    PLEWMAN PATRICK
    Officer
    $8,962
    @ $149.37 · 2024-10-21
    GREGG VICKY B
    Director
    $11,317
    @ $146.97 · 2024-07-22
    SAMAD SAMER ABDUL
    Chief Financial Officer
    $3,086
    @ $146.95 · 2024-07-22
    KUPPUSAMY KARTHIK
    Officer
    $4,556
    @ $146.97 · 2024-07-22
    DELANEY MARK E
    Officer
    $882.00
    @ $147.00 · 2024-07-22
    PLEWMAN PATRICK
    Officer
    $8,818
    @ $146.97 · 2024-07-22
    Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
    JNJ
    0
    Buys (3M)
    1
    Buys (12M)
    Total value (12M): $257,688
    MORIKIS JOHN G
    Director
    $257,688
    @ $206.15 · 2025-11-26
    WEINBERGER MARK A
    Director
    $147,220
    @ $147.22 · 2024-12-12
    Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises

    Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.

    Insider Selling Activity

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    DGX
    12
    Sells (3M)
    24
    Sells (12M)
    Total value (12M): $33.21M
    DOHERTY CATHERINE T
    Officer
    $1.15M
    @ $206.21 · 2026-03-05
    PLEWMAN PATRICK
    Officer
    $588,730
    @ $206.21 · 2026-03-05
    PREVOZNIK MICHAEL E
    General Counsel
    $799,682
    @ $206.21 · 2026-03-05
    KUPPUSAMY KARTHIK
    Officer
    $538,372
    @ $204.86 · 2026-03-04
    DOHERTY CATHERINE T
    Officer
    $131,285
    @ $207.73 · 2026-03-03
    PLEWMAN PATRICK
    Officer
    $85,169
    @ $207.73 · 2026-03-03
    PREVOZNIK MICHAEL E
    General Counsel
    $109,266
    @ $207.73 · 2026-03-03
    DOHERTY CATHERINE T
    Officer
    $293,521
    @ $204.83 · 2026-02-19
    PLEWMAN PATRICK
    Officer
    $196,227
    @ $204.83 · 2026-02-19
    PREVOZNIK MICHAEL E
    General Counsel
    $227,566
    @ $204.83 · 2026-02-19
    DOHERTY CATHERINE T
    Officer
    $5.39M
    @ $206.15 · 2026-02-13
    PLEWMAN PATRICK
    Officer
    $1.16M
    @ $204.00 · 2026-02-10
    GREGG VICKY B
    Director
    $239,700
    @ $191.76 · 2025-11-25
    DAVIS J E CAUSEY
    Chief Executive Officer
    $10.59M
    @ $192.22 · 2025-11-25
    DELANEY MARK E
    Officer
    $1.49M
    @ $187.35 · 2025-11-18
    PFEIFFER GARY M
    Director
    $270,317
    @ $182.40 · 2025-10-22
    PREVOZNIK MICHAEL E
    General Counsel
    $42,706
    @ $188.13 · 2025-09-26
    PREVOZNIK MICHAEL E
    General Counsel
    $5.33M
    @ $187.12 · 2025-09-24
    PLEWMAN PATRICK
    Officer
    $365,375
    @ $185.00 · 2025-08-21
    PLEWMAN PATRICK
    Officer
    $829,356
    @ $183.00 · 2025-08-19
    PLEWMAN PATRICK
    Officer
    $355,500
    @ $180.00 · 2025-08-15
    PLEWMAN PATRICK
    Officer
    $968,625
    @ $175.00 · 2025-08-06
    KUPPUSAMY KARTHIK
    Officer
    $1.76M
    @ $167.95 · 2025-07-31
    DELANEY MARK E
    Officer
    $306,800
    @ $175.51 · 2025-05-13
    KUPPUSAMY KARTHIK
    Officer
    $434,350
    @ $170.00 · 2025-04-02
    DAVIS JAMES E
    Chief Executive Officer
    $6.60M
    @ $168.46 · 2025-04-02
    PREVOZNIK MICHAEL E
    General Counsel
    $789,310
    @ $170.00 · 2025-03-17
    DOHERTY CATHERINE T
    Officer
    $935,078
    @ $174.13 · 2025-03-05
    DOHERTY CATHERINE T
    Officer
    $125,866
    @ $175.79 · 2025-03-04
    PREVOZNIK MICHAEL E
    General Counsel
    $104,068
    @ $175.79 · 2025-03-04
    DOHERTY CATHERINE T
    Officer
    $142,231
    @ $172.61 · 2025-02-27
    PREVOZNIK MICHAEL E
    General Counsel
    $91,138
    @ $172.61 · 2025-02-27
    DOHERTY CATHERINE T
    Officer
    $244,515
    @ $170.51 · 2025-02-20
    PREVOZNIK MICHAEL E
    General Counsel
    $103,278
    @ $170.99 · 2025-02-20
    PLEWMAN PATRICK
    Officer
    $54,307
    @ $169.71 · 2025-02-19
    GREGG VICKY B
    Director
    $205,710
    @ $164.57 · 2025-02-05
    DELANEY MARK E
    Officer
    $66,214
    @ $164.30 · 2025-02-05
    PREVOZNIK MICHAEL E
    General Counsel
    $5.73M
    @ $163.07 · 2024-11-29
    DOHERTY CATHERINE T
    Officer
    $5.40M
    @ $162.99 · 2024-11-27
    DEPPE MICHAEL J
    Officer
    $2.89M
    @ $154.05 · 2024-11-06
    KUPPUSAMY KARTHIK
    Officer
    $278,525
    @ $156.92 · 2024-10-28
    PREVOZNIK MICHAEL E
    General Counsel
    $5.04M
    @ $154.97 · 2024-08-29
    KUPPUSAMY KARTHIK
    Officer
    $304,990
    @ $153.26 · 2024-08-28
    DELANEY MARK E
    Officer
    $60,094
    @ $143.08 · 2024-07-24
    Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
    JNJ
    7
    Sells (3M)
    12
    Sells (12M)
    Total value (12M): $101.23M
    DECKER ROBERT J
    Officer
    $1.01M
    @ $247.87 · 2026-02-27
    SCHMID TIMOTHY
    Officer
    $324,763
    @ $245.66 · 2026-02-20
    SCHMID TIMOTHY
    Officer
    $5.53M
    @ $244.33 · 2026-02-18
    SWANSON JAMES D
    Chief Technology Officer
    $15.11M
    @ $243.39 · 2026-02-17
    BROADHURST VANESSA
    Officer
    $1.51M
    @ $243.39 · 2026-02-17
    REED JOHN C
    Officer
    $13.11M
    @ $243.00 · 2026-02-17
    WOLK JOSEPH J
    Chief Financial Officer
    $21.77M
    @ $242.80 · 2026-02-17
    REED JOHN C
    Officer
    $4.19M
    @ $192.71 · 2025-10-17
    TAUBERT JENNIFER L
    Officer
    $10.04M
    @ $177.81 · 2025-09-04
    DUATO JOAQUIN BOIX
    Chief Executive Officer
    $22.55M
    @ $179.21 · 2025-08-22
    WOLK JOSEPH J
    Chief Financial Officer
    $2.98M
    @ $176.91 · 2025-08-15
    REED JOHN C
    Officer
    $3.13M
    @ $163.55 · 2025-07-17
    DECKER ROBERT J
    Officer
    $1.16M
    @ $165.88 · 2025-02-25
    SCHMID TIMOTHY
    Officer
    $62,928
    @ $156.15 · 2025-02-18
    WOLK JOSEPH J
    Chief Financial Officer
    $2.00M
    @ $153.89 · 2025-02-07
    DECKER ROBERT J
    Officer
    $930,113
    @ $165.06 · 2024-08-30
    Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives

    Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.

    🎭 Mr. Market's Mood

    Learn more →
    DGX
    FearGreed
    😐Neutral(55/100)

    "Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"

    Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
    JNJ
    FearGreed
    😐Neutral(57/100)

    "Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"

    Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

    Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

    ⚖️ Buffett Signal

    Learn more →
    DGX
    Awaiting DCF Data

    The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

    DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (55)
    JNJ
    Awaiting DCF Data

    The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

    DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (57)
    View DGX Full AnalysisView JNJ Full Analysis
    DGX vs JNJ: Which Is the Better Buy? | SafetyMargin.io