On Thursday, July 22, Quest Diagnostics DGX will release its latest earnings report. Benzinga's outlook for Quest Diagnostics is included in the following report.
What Are Earnings, Net Income, And Earnings Per Share?
Earnings and especially earnings per share (EPS) are useful measures of a company's profitability. Total earnings, which is also referred to as net income, equals total revenue minus total expenses. EPS equals to net income divided by the number of shares outstanding.
Earnings And Revenue
Analysts covering Quest Diagnostics modeled for quarterly EPS of $2.86 on revenue of $2.38 billion. In the same quarter last year, Quest Diagnostics posted EPS of $1.42 on sales of $1.83 billion.
What Are Analyst Estimates And Earnings Surprises, And Why Do They Matter?
Wall Street analysts who study this company will publish analyst estimates of revenue and EPS. The averages of all analyst EPS and revenue estimates are called the "consensus estimates"; these consensus estimates can have a significant effect on a company's performance during an earnings release. When a company posts earnings or revenue above or below a consensus estimate, it has posted an "earnings surprise", which can really move a stock depending on the difference between actual and estimated values.
The Wall Street consensus estimate for earnings would represent a 101.41% increase for the company. Sales would be up 30.27% on a year-over-year basis. Here is how the company's reported EPS has compared to analyst estimates in the past:
| Quarter | Q1 2021 | Q4 2020 | Q3 2020 | Q2 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPS Estimate | 3.71 | 4.24 | 3.73 | 1.41 |
| EPS Actual | 3.76 | 4.48 | 4.31 | 1.42 |
| Revenue Estimate | 2.64 B | 2.93 B | 2.73 B | 1.52 B |
| Revenue Actual | 2.72 B | 3.00 B | 2.79 B | 1.83 B |
Want Real-Time Earnings Calendar Updates?
Benzinga consistently updates its earnings calendars to stay up-to-date with the latest company earnings reports. Check out the full earnings calendar list updated in real-time by following this link.
Stock Performance
Shares of Quest Diagnostics were trading at $136.27 as of July 20. Over the last 52-week period, shares are up 6.89%. Given that these returns are generally positive, long-term shareholders are probably content going into this earnings release.
Do not be surprised to see the stock move on comments made during its conference call. Quest Diagnostics is scheduled to hold the call at 08:30:00 ET and can be accessed here.
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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