Is Quest Diagnostics Stock a Buy?

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX) is a leading global diagnostics company and an attractive option for those who want a safer way to invest in the healthcare industry. With a market cap of around $14 billion, it isn't the largest healthcare company. But it has made a name for itself working with many big organizations over the years, currently serving about half of the hospitals and doctors in the U.S.

Over the past 12 months, the stock has risen 24%, slightly underperforming the S&P 500's returns of 26% during that time. But with Quest's share price up around 52-week highs, it may be an expensive stock to own today. Let's take a closer look to see whether it's still a good buy or if investors should wait for a dip in its share price.

In October, Quest released its third-quarter results, which beat expectations for both sales and profits. In addition, the company also raised its outlook for the remainder of the year. Quest is expecting its top line to come in at $7.72 billion for the full year. While that's higher than the midpoint of its previous range, it would be just 2.5% higher than 2018's tally of $7.53 billion in revenue.

Source Fool.com