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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) Base Business Rebounds Amid Price Woe
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Quest Diagnostics, Inc. (DGX - Free Report) , as part of its two-point strategy, has been focusing on areas with high potential. However, the ongoing COVID-led economic crisis remains a major cause of concern for this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company.
In the past year, shares of Quest Diagnostics have outperformed its industry. The stock has gained 16.4% compared with 12.2% rise of the industry.
The company reported better-than-expected first-quarter 2021 revenues. Strong year-over-year improvement in adjusted earnings as well as revenues was encouraging. Contributions from acquisitions and Professional Lab Services relationships accelerated base business growth.
In the first quarter, base business continued to recover to near pre-pandemic levels. Compared to the first-quarter 2019 baseline, total base testing volumes increased 1.5% and benefited from M&A and new PLS partnerships that began in 2020. According to Quest Diagnostics, as the United States exits the pandemic, it is well positioned to grow while addressing the routine care issues that have been postponed over the past year.
This helped offset the reduction in demand for COVID-19 testing, which was in line with industry trends. However, despite decline in demand for COVID-19 testing, the company performed an average of 101,000 COVID-19 molecular tests per day. Overall, in the first quarter, approximately 9.1 million molecular tests and nearly 900,000 serology tests were performed, contributing nearly 21% to volume growth.
According to the company, it will continue to realize demand for coronavirus testing going forward on the fact that this will help control the spread of the virus in addition to reducing hospitalization and saving lives. Further, continued testing will be the key to help the economy to reopen as more Americans become vaccinated.
Meanwhile, the updated first-half 2021 outlook also looks impressive on raised revenue and operating cash flow expectations.
On the flip side,pressure on volume, owing to a difficult macro-economic situation and pricing, constitutes the primary risk for Quest Diagnostics. In the first quarter, the impact of severe winter negatively impacted volumes by approximately 2.5%.
Compared to the first-quarter 2019 baseline, total base testing volumes increased 1.5% and benefited from M&A and new PLS partnerships that began in 2020. However, excluding the net impact of weather in the first quarter as well as M&A and new PLS wins over the last year, base testing volumes declined approximately 7% in the first quarter versus the 2019 baseline, and were down 5% in March.
Modest unit price headwinds were in line with the company’s expectations.
We also expect that a low level of employment and slow growth of commercially-insured lives will continuously impact the company’s overall improvement until the economy rebounds.
National Vision has a projected long-term earnings growth rate of 23%.
Boston Scientific has a projected long-term earnings growth rate of 9%.
Envista Holdings has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 26%.
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Quest Diagnostics (DGX) Base Business Rebounds Amid Price Woe
Quest Diagnostics, Inc. (DGX - Free Report) , as part of its two-point strategy, has been focusing on areas with high potential. However, the ongoing COVID-led economic crisis remains a major cause of concern for this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company.
In the past year, shares of Quest Diagnostics have outperformed its industry. The stock has gained 16.4% compared with 12.2% rise of the industry.
The company reported better-than-expected first-quarter 2021 revenues. Strong year-over-year improvement in adjusted earnings as well as revenues was encouraging. Contributions from acquisitions and Professional Lab Services relationships accelerated base business growth.
In the first quarter, base business continued to recover to near pre-pandemic levels. Compared to the first-quarter 2019 baseline, total base testing volumes increased 1.5% and benefited from M&A and new PLS partnerships that began in 2020. According to Quest Diagnostics, as the United States exits the pandemic, it is well positioned to grow while addressing the routine care issues that have been postponed over the past year.
This helped offset the reduction in demand for COVID-19 testing, which was in line with industry trends. However, despite decline in demand for COVID-19 testing, the company performed an average of 101,000 COVID-19 molecular tests per day. Overall, in the first quarter, approximately 9.1 million molecular tests and nearly 900,000 serology tests were performed, contributing nearly 21% to volume growth.
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated Price
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated price | Quest Diagnostics Incorporated Quote
According to the company, it will continue to realize demand for coronavirus testing going forward on the fact that this will help control the spread of the virus in addition to reducing hospitalization and saving lives. Further, continued testing will be the key to help the economy to reopen as more Americans become vaccinated.
Meanwhile, the updated first-half 2021 outlook also looks impressive on raised revenue and operating cash flow expectations.
On the flip side,pressure on volume, owing to a difficult macro-economic situation and pricing, constitutes the primary risk for Quest Diagnostics. In the first quarter, the impact of severe winter negatively impacted volumes by approximately 2.5%.
Compared to the first-quarter 2019 baseline, total base testing volumes increased 1.5% and benefited from M&A and new PLS partnerships that began in 2020. However, excluding the net impact of weather in the first quarter as well as M&A and new PLS wins over the last year, base testing volumes declined approximately 7% in the first quarter versus the 2019 baseline, and were down 5% in March.
Modest unit price headwinds were in line with the company’s expectations.
We also expect that a low level of employment and slow growth of commercially-insured lives will continuously impact the company’s overall improvement until the economy rebounds.
Key Picks
A few better-ranked stocks from the broader medical space are National Vision Holdings, Inc. (EYE - Free Report) , Boston Scientific Corporation (BSX - Free Report) and Envista Holdings Corporation (NVST - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
National Vision has a projected long-term earnings growth rate of 23%.
Boston Scientific has a projected long-term earnings growth rate of 9%.
Envista Holdings has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 26%.
Bitcoin, Like the Internet Itself, Could Change Everything
Blockchain and cryptocurrency have sparked one of the most exciting discussion topics of a generation. Some call it the “Internet of Money” and predict it could change the way money works forever. If true, it could do to banks what Netflix did to Blockbuster and Amazon did to Sears. Experts agree we’re still in the early stages of this technology, and as it grows, it will create several investing opportunities.
Zacks has just revealed 3 companies that can help investors capitalize on the explosive profit potential of Bitcoin and the other cryptocurrencies with significantly less volatility than buying them directly.
See 3 crypto-related stocks now >>