Quest Diagnostics (DGX Quick QuoteDGX - Free Report) reported $2.3 billion in revenue for the quarter ended September 2023, representing a year-over-year decline of 7.7%. EPS of $2.22 for the same period compares to $2.36 a year ago.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.26 billion, representing a surprise of +1.66%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +1.37%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $2.19.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.

Here is how Quest Diagnostics performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

• Diagnostic Information Services Revenues: $2.23 billion versus $2.18 billion estimated by four analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -7.9% change.
• Total net revenues- COVID-19 testing services: $26 million compared to the $20.60 million average estimate based on three analysts.
• Base Business Revenues: $2.27 billion versus $2.23 billion estimated by three analysts on average.

View all Key Company Metrics for Quest Diagnostics here>>>

Shares of Quest Diagnostics have returned -2.3% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -2.3% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.