Is DGX or STE cheaper?

On trailing earnings, DGX is cheaper: DGX trades at a 22.79 P/E and STE at 26.56.

Which has grown faster, DGX or STE?

Over the past five years, STE grew revenue faster — DGX at a 1.76% CAGR versus STE at 13.82%.

Does DGX or STE pay a bigger dividend?

DGX yields 1.58% and STE yields 1.20% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.

Is DGX or STE more profitable?

STE runs the higher net margin — DGX at 9.08% versus STE at 13.18%.

Which has been the better investment, DGX or STE?

Over the past 10-year, STE delivered the higher annualized total return — DGX at 12.28% versus STE at 13.60%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX) vs STERIS plc (STE)

STE leads on 9 of 16 compared metrics, though DGX is the cheaper stock.

A side-by-side comparison of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and STERIS plc across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 26, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).

DGX

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated

Total return — DGX vs STE

growth of $100 · last 30y

DGX +5792.6%STE +908.6%DGX compounded faster

Log scale — wide-divergence pair

DGX STE

DGX vs STE: by the numbers

•DGX is the larger company ($22.83B vs $20.52B market cap).
•DGX trades at the lower earnings multiple (22.79 vs 26.56 P/E).
•STE converts more revenue to profit (13.18% vs 9.08% net margin).
•STE grew revenue faster over the past five years (13.82% vs 1.76% CAGR).
•DGX pays the higher dividend yield (1.58% vs 1.20%).

Which is better, DGX or STE?

Metric tally: DGX 7 · STE 9

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValueDGX(lower P/E)

GrowthSTE(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)

IncomeDGX(higher dividend yield)

Metrics side by side

Valuation

Metric	DGX	STE
P/E ratio	22.79●	26.56
Forward P/E	17.67●	20.65
P/S ratio	2.05●	3.49
P/B ratio	3.14	2.88●
PEG ratio	1.43	1.03●
EV / EBITDA	13.98	12.24●
FCF yield	5.74%●	4.69%

Profitability

Metric	DGX	STE
Gross margin	33.23%	44.25%●
Operating margin	14.31%	18.56%●
Net margin	9.08%	13.18%●
ROE	13.90%●	10.89%
ROIC	8.43%	8.47%

Dividends

Metric	DGX	STE
Dividend yield	1.58%●	1.20%
Payout ratio	36.75%	31.78%

Growth (annualized)

Metric	DGX	STE
Revenue CAGR (5Y)	1.76%	13.82%●
EPS CAGR (5Y)	-3.65%	11.22%●
FCF CAGR (5Y)	-8.51%	16.64%●
Total return CAGR (5Y)	11.90%●	1.32%

Frequently asked

Which is better, DGX or STE?: It depends on your goal. value: DGX (lower P/E); growth: STE (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: DGX (higher dividend yield). Across all compared metrics, STE leads 9 to 7.
Is DGX or STE cheaper?: On trailing earnings, DGX is cheaper: DGX trades at a 22.79 P/E and STE at 26.56.
Which has grown faster, DGX or STE?: Over the past five years, STE grew revenue faster — DGX at a 1.76% CAGR versus STE at 13.82%.
Does DGX or STE pay a bigger dividend?: DGX yields 1.58% and STE yields 1.20% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
Is DGX or STE more profitable?: STE runs the higher net margin — DGX at 9.08% versus STE at 13.18%.
Which has been the better investment, DGX or STE?: Over the past 10-year, STE delivered the higher annualized total return — DGX at 12.28% versus STE at 13.60%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Go deeper

Full DGX analysis Full STE analysis Interactive comparison tool

Dig into the metrics

Quest Diagnostics P/E ratio STERIS P/E ratio Quest Diagnostics dividend yield STERIS dividend yield Quest Diagnostics ROE STERIS ROE Quest Diagnostics operating margin STERIS operating margin Quest Diagnostics revenue growth STERIS revenue growth Quest Diagnostics free cash flow STERIS free cash flow

Quest Diagnostics & STERIS appear in these rankings

Highest FCF Yield Stocks Best 10-Year Total Return Stocks

Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified June 26, 2026.