Ascendis Pharma A/S vs Quest Diagnostics Inc — how do they compare? Ascendis Pharma A/S trades at $255.5 (market cap $16.67B), while Quest Diagnostics Inc trades at $237.82 (market cap $26.21B). The key difference: Quest Diagnostics Inc is the larger of the two by market cap, and Quest Diagnostics Inc pays a 1.45% dividend while Ascendis Pharma A/S pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ASND | DGX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $16.67B | $26.21B |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $277.18 | $238.50 |
52-Week Low | $189.74 | $173.49 |
Enterprise Value | $17.04B | $31.97B |
Dividend Yield | — | 1.45% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Ascendis Pharma (ASND) trades at $255.17, down slightly by 0.18% on the day, while maintaining strong analyst support with 92% buy ratings and a $309.75 consensus price target. The company shows impressive revenue growth from $51M in 2022 to $720M in 2025, with profitability improving as net loss narrows to -$228M. Recent technical indicators show a bullish trend with the stock trading near resistance at $255-257, while fundamental metrics reveal high valuation ratios (P/E 29.05, P/S 15.68) offset by exceptional gross margins of 89.04%.
ASND presents a compelling growth story with multiple product launches in rare endocrine diseases driving revenue expansion, though investors face risks from negative shareholder equity and high debt levels. The company's transition to positive operating cash flow ($54M in 2025) and inclusion in Russell indexes signal maturation, but execution risks remain as the stock trades at premium valuations requiring continued strong performance to justify current levels.
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) trades at $237.24, down 0.16% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings, beating estimates with EPS of $3.12 and raising its full-year outlook, driven by robust testing demand. Revenue grew to $11.04B in 2025, with net income of $992M, though margins face pressure from lower-margin deals and rising costs.
The outlook is positive due to raised guidance and AI integration enhancing efficiency, but risks include debt levels and margin compression. Analysts maintain a cautious buy stance with a $249.50 price target, indicating modest upside potential from current levels amid competitive and cost challenges.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Ascendis Pharma A/S is a biopharmaceutical company. It develops prodrug therapies with profiles to address large markets with significant unmet medical needs with its Transcon technology. The firm's product pipeline includes Transcon growth hormone, Transconpeptides, Transcon PTH, Transcon CNP, and others. It operates mainly in North America, Germany, China, and Denmark and derives the majority of its revenue from China.
Read more on ASND →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 →