Quest Diagnostics Inc vs Southwest Airlines Co — how do they compare? Quest Diagnostics Inc trades at $231.8 (market cap $25.48B), while Southwest Airlines Co trades at $41.26 (market cap $20.23B). The key difference: Quest Diagnostics Inc is the larger of the two by market cap, and Southwest Airlines Co pays the higher dividend (1.74%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Quest Diagnostics Inc for 56 Days and Southwest Airlines Co for 65 Days on average.
| DGX | LUV | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $25.48B | $20.23B |
Volume | 941,866 | 14,560,422 |
Sector | Health | Industrials |
52-Week High | $247.45 | $54.80 |
52-Week Low | $173.49 | $29.67 |
Typical Hold Time | 56 Days | 65 Days |
Enterprise Value | $31.23B | $23.33B |
Dividend Yield | 1.49% | 1.74% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) trades at $227.00, down 0.64% with a bearish technical signal. The company shows strong fundamentals with three consecutive quarterly earnings beats and revenue growth from $9.9B in 2024 to $11.0B in 2025. Recent developments include positive clinical study results and a new Apple Health integration, though Medicare reimbursement cuts pose headwinds. The stock trades near support at $226 with oversold RSI readings suggesting potential for near-term bounce.
DGX presents a mixed outlook with solid execution offset by regulatory risks. The 10% upside to consensus price target of $250 offers opportunity, but Medicare payment reductions and rising debt levels require monitoring. Recent earnings momentum and strategic partnerships support growth, making DGX suitable for investors comfortable with healthcare sector volatility.
Southwest Airlines (LUV) trades at $41.72, down 1.72% today, with mixed technical signals showing bearish moving averages but neutral oscillators. The company demonstrates improving fundamentals with Q2 2026 EPS beating expectations at $0.94 versus $0.51 expected, while revenue growth continues from $28.06B in 2025 to projected $30.1B in 2026. Recent corporate developments include upcoming Q3 2026 earnings release on October 21 and successful commercial transformation initiatives driving revenue growth.
LUV presents a compelling value opportunity with attractive valuation metrics (P/S 0.72, EV/EBITDA 8.4) and analyst consensus target of $49.61 offering 19% upside. However, investors face risks from volatile fuel costs, competitive pressures in the airline industry, and inconsistent earnings performance as seen in the Q1 2026 miss. The stock's transformation into a merchandised airline with new revenue streams provides growth catalysts but requires monitoring of execution risks.
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 →Southwest Airlines is the largest domestic carrier in the United States, as measured by the number of originating passengers boarded. Southwest operates over 700 aircraft in an all-Boeing 737 fleet. Despite expanding into longer routes and business travel, the airline still specializes in short-haul leisure flights, using a point-to-point network. Southwest operates a low-cost carrier business model.
Read more on LUV →