Quest Diagnostics Inc vs Hormel Foods Corp — how do they compare? Quest Diagnostics Inc trades at $237.51 (market cap $26.21B), while Hormel Foods Corp trades at $24.3 (market cap $13.37B). The key difference: Quest Diagnostics Inc is the larger of the two by market cap, and Hormel Foods Corp pays the higher dividend (4.81%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| DGX | HRL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $26.21B | $13.37B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $238.50 | $29.25 |
52-Week Low | $173.49 | $19.74 |
Enterprise Value | $31.97B | $15.37B |
Dividend Yield | 1.45% | 4.81% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
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.
Hormel Foods (HRL) trades at $24.41, down 1.21% on the day, with a bearish technical outlook despite recent earnings beats. The stock shows mixed fundamentals with a P/E of 28.6x and modest 3.8% net margin, while revenue has been stable around $12B annually. Recent corporate developments include the appointment of John Ghingo as CEO and the sale of its Brazilian CERATTI business, signaling strategic refocusing.
HRL offers defensive appeal with consistent dividends and a 4.6% yield, but faces margin pressure and modest growth prospects. Analyst consensus is Hold with a $26.33 price target, suggesting limited upside. Key risks include consumer spending sensitivity and execution challenges under new leadership.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →Hormel Foods is a protein-focused branded food company. Its brands include its namesake Hormel, Spam, Jennie-O, Dinty Moore, Applegate, Wholly Guacamole, and Skippy. The vast majority of the company's revenue is U.S.-based: 64% U.S. retail, 28% U.S. food service, and 8% international. By product type, in fiscal 2021, 23% of revenue was shelf-stable foods, 18% was poultry (branded and commodity), 55% was other perishable food, and 3% was other, primarily nutritional products. The company holds the number-one market position in shelf-stable meat, shelf-stable ready meals, pepperoni, natural/organic deli meat, and guacamole and the number-two position in turkey, bacon, chilled ready meals, and peanut butter.
Read more on HRL →