Quest Diagnostics Incorporated: Testing Growth Keeps Me Bullish Despite Medicare Headwinds

Summary Quest Diagnostics Incorporated’s recurring testing demand provides a foundation for growth through hospital partnerships, dialysis services, and advanced diagnostics. Their dialysis testing and advanced diagnostics add growth opportunities, although their value ultimately depends on execution and reimbursement. So far, DGX’s cash flows seem to be benefiting from the acquisition strategy, but if this falters, it may lead to write-downs of its sizable goodwill on the balance sheet. Yet, on balance, I lean toward a speculative 'Buy' because of DGX’s compelling valuation despite the near-term Medicare uncertainties. MoMo Productions/DigitalVision via Getty Images Quest Diagnostics Incorporated ( DGX ) runs a network of laboratories that help patients and healthcare providers get information to detect diseases and guide treatment. The company relies on steady demand for routine tests and This article was written by Myriam Alvarez 3.62K Followers Follow My name is Myriam Hernandez Alvarez. I received the Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering degree from the Escuela Politecnica Nacional, Quito, Ecuador, the M.Sc. degree in computer science from Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA, a graduate degree in Business Management from Universidad Andina Simon Bolivar, Quito, Ecuador, and the Ph.D. degree in computer applications from the University of Alicante, Spain.Disclosure: I collaborate professionally with Edgar Torres H, who is also an author on Seeking Alpha. Our analyses are conducted independently, and we adhere to Seeking Alpha's Shared Association Guidelines. Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.