Quest Diagnostics Q3 Profit Climbs, Tightens FY EPS View

(RTTNews) - Quest Diagnostics Inc. (DGX) Thursday said its third-quarter net income increased to $342 million or $2.35 per share from $129 million or $0.88 per share in the previous year.

Adjusted earnings per share advanced to $1.28 from $1.20 in 2014. On average, twenty analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected earnings of $1.26 per share for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.

Net revenues slid to $1.88 billion from $1.90 billion in the prior year. Analysts expected revenues of $1.89 billion.

Looking ahead, the company said it is on track to meet its expectations for 2015 and narrowed its earnings per share guidance to $4.75 to $4.80, compared to previous guidance of $4.70 to $4.85.

Revenue is now expected to approximate $7.49 billion, compared to previous guidance of between $7.49 billion and $7.57 billion.

Analysts look for full-year earnings of $4.76 per share on revenues of $7.53 billion.