Quest Diagnostics raises 2009 profit forecast

Recs

0

Medical lab operator Quest Diagnostics Inc. raised its profit forecast Tuesday, expecting greater income due to more profitable testing, as well as a one-time insurance recovery.

Quest said it expects to earn $3.65 to $3.75 per share this year, up from a prior goal of $3.50 to $3.70 per share. That estimate includes a benefit of 5 cents per share in the second quarter from an insurance recovery. Quest expects revenue to grow 3 percent, which implies a total of about $7.47 billion.

According to Thomson Reuters, analysts expected a profit of $3.59 per share and $7.46 billion

Also on Tuesday, Quest reported a larger-than-expected profit for the first quarter. While its overall testing volume decreased, the company said it performed greater amounts of profitable tests for illnesses including cancer.

In afternoon trading, Quest shares gained $2.22, or 4.4 percent, to $52.72.

Comments from our Foolish Readers

Help us keep this a respectfully Foolish area! This is a place for our readers to discuss, debate, and learn more about the Foolish investing topic you read about above. Help us keep it clean and safe. If you believe a comment is abusive or otherwise violates our Fool's Rules, please report it via the Report this Comment Report this Comment icon found on every comment.

Be the first one to comment on this article.

Compare Brokers

TD AMERITRADE
more info
ShareBuilder
more info
Power E*Trade

more info
Scottrade
more info
Fool Disclosure

DocumentId: 879768, ~/Articles/ArticleHandler.aspx, 11/10/2009 6:02:48 AM

Report This Comment

Use this area to report a comment that you believe is in violation of the community guidelines. Our team will review the entry and take any appropriate action.

Sending report...

The Must-Read Story on Fool.com
Health-Care Reform: A Tale of Two Chambers

Related Tickers

11/9/2009 4:03 PM
DGX $58.69 Up +0.85 +1.47%
Quest Diagnostics,… CAPS Rating: ****

Community: Investing Wiki

Term Of The Hour

Vacation pay: Vacation pay is a benefit typically provided by an employer to its employees.

Want to learn more or edit this definition?
Click here to read more!