Is DGX or WAT cheaper?

On trailing earnings, DGX is cheaper: DGX trades at a 22.79 P/E and WAT at 47.89.

Which has grown faster, DGX or WAT?

Over the past five years, WAT grew revenue faster — DGX at a 1.76% CAGR versus WAT at 8.48%.

Does DGX or WAT pay a bigger dividend?

DGX pays a dividend (1.58% yield) while WAT does not currently pay one.

Is DGX or WAT more profitable?

WAT runs the higher net margin — DGX at 9.08% versus WAT at 11.91%.

Which has been the better investment, DGX or WAT?

Over the past 10-year, DGX delivered the higher annualized total return — DGX at 12.28% versus WAT at 10.77%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX) vs Waters Corporation (WAT)

DGX leads on 9 of 16 compared metrics.

A side-by-side comparison of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and Waters Corporation 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 WAT

growth of $100 · last 30y

DGX +5792.6%WAT +4967.4%DGX compounded faster

DGX WAT

DGX vs WAT: by the numbers

•WAT is the larger company ($24.57B vs $22.83B market cap).
•DGX trades at the lower earnings multiple (22.79 vs 47.89 P/E).
•WAT converts more revenue to profit (11.91% vs 9.08% net margin).
•WAT grew revenue faster over the past five years (8.48% vs 1.76% CAGR).
•DGX pays a dividend (1.58% yield) while WAT does not currently pay one.

Which is better, DGX or WAT?

Metric tally: DGX 9 · WAT 7

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValueDGX(lower P/E)

GrowthWAT(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)

QualityWAT(higher ROIC)

Metrics side by side

Valuation

Metric	DGX	WAT
P/E ratio	22.79●	47.89
Forward P/E	17.67●	22.95
P/S ratio	2.05●	8.21
P/B ratio	3.14	2.02●
PEG ratio	1.43●	75.61
EV / EBITDA	13.98●	39.01
FCF yield	5.74%●	0.85%

Profitability

Metric	DGX	WAT
Gross margin	33.23%	55.02%●
Operating margin	14.31%	17.08%●
Net margin	9.08%	11.91%●
ROE	13.90%●	2.94%
ROIC	8.43%	17.57%●

Dividends

Metric	DGX	WAT
Dividend yield	1.58%	—
Payout ratio	36.75%	—

Growth (annualized)

Metric	DGX	WAT
Revenue CAGR (5Y)	1.76%	8.48%●
EPS CAGR (5Y)	-3.65%	5.16%●
FCF CAGR (5Y)	-8.51%●	-17.63%
Total return CAGR (5Y)	11.90%●	2.22%

Frequently asked

Which is better, DGX or WAT?: It depends on your goal. value: DGX (lower P/E); growth: WAT (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); quality: WAT (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, DGX leads 9 to 7.
Is DGX or WAT cheaper?: On trailing earnings, DGX is cheaper: DGX trades at a 22.79 P/E and WAT at 47.89.
Which has grown faster, DGX or WAT?: Over the past five years, WAT grew revenue faster — DGX at a 1.76% CAGR versus WAT at 8.48%.
Does DGX or WAT pay a bigger dividend?: DGX pays a dividend (1.58% yield) while WAT does not currently pay one.
Is DGX or WAT more profitable?: WAT runs the higher net margin — DGX at 9.08% versus WAT at 11.91%.
Which has been the better investment, DGX or WAT?: Over the past 10-year, DGX delivered the higher annualized total return — DGX at 12.28% versus WAT at 10.77%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Go deeper

Full DGX analysis Full WAT analysis Interactive comparison tool

Dig into the metrics

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

Quest Diagnostics & Waters appear in these rankings

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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.