Quest Diagnostics Inc vs Ulta Beauty Inc — how do they compare? Quest Diagnostics Inc trades at $237.41 (market cap $26.21B), while Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $534.7 (market cap $23.27B). The key difference: Quest Diagnostics Inc and Ulta Beauty Inc are close in size by market cap, and Quest Diagnostics Inc pays a 1.45% dividend while Ulta Beauty Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| DGX | ULTA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $26.21B | $23.27B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $238.50 | $706.82 |
52-Week Low | $173.49 | $450.75 |
Enterprise Value | $31.97B | $25.35B |
Dividend Yield | 1.45% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
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.
Ulta Beauty (ULTA) trades at $537.69, down 2.0% today, with a bullish technical outlook from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $618.29. Recent earnings show mixed quarterly beats, with Q1 2026 EPS of $7.74 exceeding expectations, while revenue growth remains steady at $11.3B for 2025. The company maintains strong profitability with a net margin of 9.36% and ROE of 47.45%, supported by an omnichannel strategy highlighted in recent news.
The stock presents a buy opportunity with Wall Street optimism (56.53% buy ratings) and solid fundamentals, but risks include margin compression from rising costs and competitive pressures. Near-term catalysts include the Q2 2026 earnings report, with expected EPS of $6.17, and the transition from the Target partnership, viewed as a growth opportunity by analysts.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →With more than 1,300 stores and a partnership with Target, Ulta Beauty is the largest specialized beauty retailer in the U.S. The firm offers makeup (43% of 2021 sales), fragrances, skin care, and hair care products (20% of 2021 sales), and bath and body items. Ulta offers private-label products and merchandise from more than 500 vendors. It also offers salon services, including hair, makeup, skin, and brow services, in all stores. Most Ulta stores are approximately 10,000 square feet and are in suburban strip centers. Ulta was founded in 1990 and is based in Bolingbrook, Illinois.
Read more on ULTA →