AES Corp vs Quest Diagnostics Inc — how do they compare? AES Corp trades at $14.7 (market cap $10.49B), while Quest Diagnostics Inc trades at $237.51 (market cap $26.24B). The key difference: Quest Diagnostics Inc is far larger — about 2.5× AES Corp's market cap, and AES Corp pays the higher dividend (4.79%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AES | DGX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $10.49B | $26.24B |
Sector | Utilities | Health |
52-Week High | $17.28 | $238.50 |
52-Week Low | $12.51 | $173.49 |
Enterprise Value | $40.75B | $32.00B |
Dividend Yield | 4.79% | 1.45% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AES trades at $14.725, down 0.03% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages but neutral oscillators. The company shows strong profitability with a 14.34% net income margin and a low P/E of 5.51. Recent news highlights a pending $33.4 billion acquisition by a consortium led by Global Infrastructure Partners and EQT, approved by stockholders in June 2026, alongside a quarterly dividend of $0.17595 per share.
The stock offers a high dividend yield and appears undervalued based on earnings, but faces risks from the acquisition's regulatory scrutiny and a recent earnings miss. Upside is capped near the $15 buyout price if the deal closes, while downside exists if approvals fail. Analyst sentiment is mixed with no sell ratings but a majority on hold.
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) trades at $237.99, up 0.15% on the day, near its 52-week high. The stock shows strong momentum with consecutive earnings beats in 2026, including Q2 EPS of $3.12 versus $2.82 expected. Revenue growth accelerated to $11.04 billion in 2025, with net income margin at 9.19%. Technical indicators signal a bullish trend, while analyst consensus is a $249.50 price target. Recent news highlights AI integration and raised 2026 outlook amid robust testing demand.
The outlook for DGX is positive, driven by earnings momentum, strategic partnerships, and healthcare demand. Investment opportunity lies in sustained growth and dividend yield, but risks include margin pressure from lower-margin deals and high debt levels. Valuation at a P/E of 25.21 requires continued execution to justify upside.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
AES is a global power company operating across 14 countries and 4 continents. Its current generation portfolio as of year-end 2021 consists of over 31 gigawatts of generation, with the generation mix composed of renewables (43%), gas (32%), coal (23%), and oil (2%). The company has 3.5 gigawatts of generation under construction. AES has majority ownership and operates six electric utilities distributing power to 2.6 million customers.
Read more on AES →Quest Diagnostics is a leading independent provider of diagnostic testing, information, and services in the U.S. The company generates over 95% of its revenue through clinical testing, anatomic pathology, esoteric testing, and substance abuse testing with specimens collected at its national network of roughly 2,300 patient service centers, as well as multiple doctors offices and hospitals. The firm also runs a much smaller diagnostic solutions segment that provides clinical trials testing, risk assessment services, and information technology solutions.
Read more on DGX →