Quest Diagnostics' (DGX -0.21%) first-quarter results have been released. For the quarter, net revenues were just under $1.79 billion, a drop from the $1.91 billion in the same period the previous year. Attributable net profit also declined, to $136 million ($0.85 per diluted share) from Q1 2012's result of $159 million ($0.99).
The most recent quarter's numbers fell short of average analyst estimates, which were for $1.86 billion in top line and EPS of $1.03.
Quest Diagnostics also updated its forward guidance for fiscal 2013. The company now believes its revenues will roughly equal those of 2012, a slight downward adjustment to its previous growth anticipation of 0%-1% year over year. The firm maintained its EPS forecast of $4.35-$4.55 for the year.
