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Quest Diagnostics Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 23 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 6 raised, 1 lowered, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue growth was almost all organic: Net revenues of $3,043 million rose 10.2%, with organic growth of 10.0%. Diagnostic Information Services revenues rose 10.3% to $2,978 million. Source
  • Reported and adjusted EPS both rose: Reported diluted EPS was $2.84, up 15.0%, and adjusted diluted EPS was $3.12, up 19.1%. Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics was $320 million, up 13.4%. Source
  • Full-year guidance was raised: Management raised full-year 2026 guidance for net revenues, reported and adjusted diluted EPS, and cash provided by operations, and kept capital expenditures unchanged. Source
  • Advanced Diagnostics grew by double digits: Several Advanced Diagnostics areas grew revenue by double digits, including Quest AD-Detect blood tests for Alzheimer's disease and advanced cardiometabolic and endocrine tests. Source
  • Revenue per requisition declined: Revenue per requisition fell 2.8% from the prior-year quarter. The documents do not describe the cause of the change. Source
  • Adjusted margin declined: Adjusted operating margin was 16.5% against 16.9%, and reported operating margin was 15.1% against 15.9%. Six-month adjusted margin was 16.0% against 16.1%. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose in quarter: Cash provided by operations was $597 million, up 9.7%. Six-month cash provided by operations was $875 million, up 1.9%. Source

“Our robust top- and bottom-line growth in the second quarter demonstrates focused execution of our strategy to connect people and providers to innovative testing and actionable insights that illuminate paths for better health”

Jim Davis, Chairman, CEO and President

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net revenues SourceFull year 2026$11.95 billion to $12.05 billionRaised from $11.78 billion to $11.90 billion
Net revenue increase SourceFull year 20268.3% to 9.2%Raised from 6.8% to 7.8%
Reported diluted EPS SourceFull year 2026$9.97 to $10.17Raised from $9.58 to $9.78
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceFull year 2026$11.05 to $11.25Raised from $10.63 to $10.83
Cash provided by operations SourceFull year 2026approximately $1.80 billionRaised from approximately $1.75 billion
Capital expenditures SourceFull year 2026approximately $550 millionKept
Adjusted effective tax rate SourceFull year 2026consistent with 2025
Restructuring and integration charges, pre-tax SourceFull year 2026$21 millionRaised from $16 million
Amortization expense, pre-tax SourceFull year 2026$149 millionKept
Contingent consideration fair-value loss, pre-tax SourceFull year 2026$9 millionLowered from $10 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year guidance was raised for net revenues, reported diluted EPS, and adjusted diluted EPS, and for cash provided by operations. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year capital expenditures guidance was kept unchanged, and amortization expense estimate was kept unchanged. Source
  • New: New York State approval was granted for the Haystack MRD test in the second quarter. Source
  • New: A pilot with American Oncology Network was started, using Flatiron Health's oncology platform for select cancer tests. Source
  • New: IntelliDraw was launched to guide clinical staff at physician customers through specimen collection. Source
  • New: New kidney care capabilities were developed through the collaboration with Fresenius Medical Care. Source

Second quarter and six-month results

  • Revenue growth was almost all organic: Net revenues of $3,043 million rose 10.2%, with organic growth of 10.0%. Diagnostic Information Services revenues rose 10.3% to $2,978 million. Source
  • Reported and adjusted EPS both rose: Reported diluted EPS was $2.84, up 15.0%, and adjusted diluted EPS was $3.12, up 19.1%. Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics was $320 million, up 13.4%. Source
  • Six-month growth was similar: Six-month net revenues were $5,938 million, up 9.7%. Six-month reported diluted EPS was $5.08, up 15.2%, and adjusted diluted EPS was $5.62, up 16.4%. Source
  • Operating income grew less than revenue: Operating income was $459 million, up 4.6%. Adjusted operating income was $502 million, up 7.8%. Six-month operating income was $858 million, up 9.4%. Source
  • Full-year guidance was raised: Management raised full-year 2026 guidance for net revenues, reported and adjusted diluted EPS, and cash provided by operations, and kept capital expenditures unchanged. Source

Products, customers and channels

  • Advanced Diagnostics grew by double digits: Several Advanced Diagnostics areas grew revenue by double digits, including Quest AD-Detect blood tests for Alzheimer's disease and advanced cardiometabolic and endocrine tests. Source
  • Consumer channel revenue grew: Revenue grew through questhealth.com and with consumer, wearable and wellness partners. Source
  • Haystack MRD cleared in New York: New York State approved the Haystack MRD test. Quest also became the largest reference lab to use Flatiron Health's OncoEMR platform for select cancer tests, starting with an American Oncology Network pilot. Source
  • Kidney care capabilities built with Fresenius: Quest developed new kidney care capabilities through its collaboration with Fresenius Medical Care in the United States. Source

“With strong growth and sustained demand for our diagnostic insights, we are again raising our full year guidance.”

Jim Davis, Chairman, CEO and President

Test volume and pricing

  • Revenue per requisition declined: Revenue per requisition fell 2.8% from the prior-year quarter. The documents do not describe the cause of the change. Source
  • Requisition volume grew double digits: Requisition volume rose 13.1% in the quarter, and organic requisition volume rose 13.0%. Source
  • Demand cited behind the guidance change: Management cited sustained demand for its diagnostic insights when discussing the raised full-year guidance. Source

Costs, margins and tax

  • Adjusted margin declined: Adjusted operating margin was 16.5% against 16.9%, and reported operating margin was 15.1% against 15.9%. Six-month adjusted margin was 16.0% against 16.1%. Source
  • Prior-year payroll tax gain: The second quarter of 2025 included a $46 million payroll tax credit gain, which the company excludes from adjusted results. The 2026 quarter shows no comparable item. Source
  • Favorable tax contingency resolution: Income tax expense was $88 million against $97 million. The full-year adjusted effective tax rate is expected to be consistent with 2025. Source
  • Restructuring charges declined: Restructuring and integration charges were $4 million in the second quarter, down from $7 million, mainly for workforce reductions and integration. Source

Cash, capital and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow rose in quarter: Cash provided by operations was $597 million, up 9.7%. Six-month cash provided by operations was $875 million, up 1.9%. Source
  • Capital spending rose: Capital expenditures were $138 million in the quarter, up 27.0%. Six-month capital expenditures were $252 million, up 12.1%. Source
  • Repurchases of $100 million: The company repurchased 0.5 million shares for $100 million in the quarter and six months. $1.3 billion remained under the authorization at June 30, 2026. Source
  • Dividends and partner distributions: Dividends paid were $184 million in the six months, against $174 million a year earlier. Distributions to noncontrolling interest partners were $22 million, against $29 million. Source
  • Noncontrolling interests increased: Noncontrolling interests were $303 million at June 30, 2026, up from $36 million at December 31, 2025. The documents do not describe the reason for the change. Source
  • Cash balance and debt mix: Cash and equivalents were $626 million, up from $420 million at year-end. Current debt was $10 million against $504 million, and long-term debt was $5,632 million against $5,167 million. Source

Operations, automation and workforce

  • Automation extended to more labs: Automation for cervical cancer screening and front-end specimen processing was extended to additional labs, aimed at quality and productivity. Source
  • IntelliDraw launched for collection: IntelliDraw guides clinical staff at physician customers through specimen collection, with the stated aim of enhancing quality and the service experience. Source
  • Workforce described at nearly 60,000: The company description gives headcount as nearly 60,000 employees, up from nearly 57,000 in the first-quarter release. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Requisition volume growth, three months (test volume) Source13.1%

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: The excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation depends on option exercises and the stock price, which management describes as hard to predict. Source
  • Financial: Management noted that further special items affecting earnings may arise during 2026, beyond the estimates given. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it continued to advance the Co-Lab Solutions implementation and the joint venture laboratory with Corewell Health in Michigan. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.