CNC vs DGX Stock Comparison
Compare CNC and DGX across AIQ Score, fundamentals, valuation, momentum, risk, analyst expectations and current market evidence.
What is the main difference between CNC and DGX?
DGX leads the current stock comparison as Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, with the clearest separation coming from quality and the broader AIQ evidence mix.
AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison
Centene Corp. vs Quest Diagnostics Incorporated
DGX leads
DGX leads by 3 AIQ points, primarily on Quality, but the lead has narrowed from 11 points over 30 sessions.
Fragile: 1 of 6 evidence groups support DGX, its lead is narrowing, and its current signal state is conflicted.
Centene Corp.
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated
The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors DGX over CNC, 49 versus 46 as of Sep 11, 2026. DGX's advantage is driven primarily by stronger quality, while CNC holds the stronger momentum profile. DGX also shows the stronger technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average. 1 of 6 covered evidence groups favor DGX today, and the comparison is rated Fragile on stability: the AIQ gap is narrow at 3 points. DGX lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 11 to 3 points over 30 sessions.
Compare Centene Corp. and Quest Diagnostics Incorporated across the Algovestiq AIQ Score, valuation, quality, momentum, risk, technicals and analyst expectations.
Performance over time
Price-return comparison using available daily close history.
Total return comparison
Growth of $10,000
Based on available close-price history. Distribution reinvestment is not added unless already reflected in the source series.
Compare CNC and DGX against another ticker
Open a multi-ticker workspace without changing this focused pair page.
AIQ Factor Divergence
Where the two separate, on the four dimensions behind the AIQ Score. Bars read outward from a shared zero: further from the centre is a wider gap.
- Quality27 vs 47DGX +20
- Momentum52 vs 40CNC +12
- Risk Resilience57 vs 60Even
- Value53 vs 53Even
1 of 6 evidence groups favor DGX. DGX’s edge is concentrated in quality; CNC keeps a meaningful momentum edge.
What changed since the last close
Latest scored session 2026-09-10, compared against the prior scored session 2026-09-09.
Largest factor move: Momentum +6
New signals
- ATR Expansion - Breakout Mode — neutral, volatility, short horizon (3.61%)
- 52-Week High Proximity — bullish, risk, long horizon (1.7%)
Largest factor move: Momentum -5
No new signals fired.
DGX's lead narrowed by 3 AIQ points in the latest snapshot.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — CNC and DGX both carry a full feed there.
The central trade-off
DGX (Quest Diagnostics Incorporated): the stronger current systematic profile, led by quality.
CNC (Centene Corp.): the counter-case, on momentum, technicals — but at materially higher volatility, 30.4% against 16.9%.
Which one fits your objective
The same two names rank differently depending on what you are optimizing for. All six reads are shown at once — none of them is hidden behind a toggle.
Balanced
DGXDGX on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value most heavily.
Growth
DGXDGX on combined revenue and EPS growth.
Value
EvenThe two are level on Value.
Momentum
CNCCNC on the Momentum factor, by 12 points.
Lower downside
DGXDGX carries the lower 1-month annualized volatility.
Analyst upside
EvenAnalyst targets are level or not covered for both names.
AIQ vs Wall Street
Where the systematic read and the analyst consensus line up — and where they do not.
| Measure | CNC | DGX | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implied upside to target | +0.2% | +1.1% | Level |
| Target dispersion | +61.6% | +21% | Lower is tighter analyst agreement |
| Consensus | Hold | Buy | Context, not a primary driver |
| Analysts covering | 17 | 6 | Higher coverage generally improves confidence |
Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
AIQ Agreement Matrix
1 of 6 covered evidence groups favor DGX. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.
| Evidence group | Favors | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ Score | Even | 46 vs 49 |
| Fundamentals | DGX | revenue growth -11.2% vs 5.1%; EPS growth -29.4% vs 26.9%; TTM ROE -24% vs 14.5%; gross margin 16.1% vs 33.1%; operating margin -2.8% vs 14.1% |
| Valuation | Even | Value 53 vs 53 |
| Technicals | CNC | Price vs 50-day 1.4% vs 2.7%; vs 200-day 28.8% vs 14.5% |
| Risk Resilience | Even | Risk Resilience 57 vs 60 |
| Analyst expectations | Even | Target upside 0.2% vs 1.1% |
✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of CNC and DGX and are excluded from the count.
AIQ Decision Stability
The conclusion is sensitive to small changes. Treat the lead as provisional and watch the flip conditions below.
- The AIQ gap is narrow at 3 points. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- Only 1 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The leader's advantage has been narrowing. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The leader is throwing conflicting signals. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
Stability combines the score gap, how broadly the evidence agrees, how steady the lead has been across daily snapshots, the current signal state on both names, and analyst dispersion on DGX.
How the comparison changed
119 daily snapshots · May 4 – Sep 10DGX lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 11 to 3 points over 30 sessions.
- Today
- DGX +3
- 46 vs 49
- 7 sessions ago
- DGX +3
- 51 vs 54
- 30 sessions ago
- DGX +11
- 45 vs 56
- 90 sessions ago
- DGX +10
- 48 vs 58
The lead has not changed hands in this window.
AIQ Signal Divergence
Only the signals that bear on the head-to-head. A conflicted name is carrying bullish and bearish rules at the same time — the technical evidence is not pointing one way.
3 bullish / 1 bearish / 2 neutral, conflicted
- Golden Cross Active — bullish, trend, long horizon (29.07%)
- Bollinger Band Squeeze — neutral, volatility, short horizon
- EMA Ribbon Expansion Bullish — bullish, trend, medium horizon
3 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted
- Golden Cross Active — bullish, trend, long horizon (13.42%)
- EMA Ribbon Expansion Bullish — bullish, trend, medium horizon
- Uptrend Structure Active — bullish, trend, long horizon
DGX leads the comparison while carrying a conflicted signal state, which is one reason the stability rating is not higher.
Price vs model alignment
Whether the latest session's price move confirms what the model did over the same session, or contradicts it.
Price and the AIQ Score both moved up over the latest session (price +1.56%, AIQ +2 points).
Price is up while the AIQ Score moved down 1 points over the same session — price and model disagree (price +1.68%, AIQ -1 points).
What would flip this result
A state, not a forecast. These are the specific, observable changes that would reverse the verdict — not a price prediction.
- 1CNC closes the Quality gap — currently 20 points behind, the largest single contributor to DGX's edge.
- 2CNC's Bollinger Band Squeeze turns directional — it is neutral today and would confirm a change in trend.
- 3DGX's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 3 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once.
- 4The narrowing continues — the lead has already given back 8 points over 30 sessions, and a further 3-point move would eliminate DGX's advantage entirely.
The full evidence
Every number behind the verdict. The leader is called above each group so you are not left to solve it from the table.
Fundamentals
DGX leads on balance| Metric | CNC | DGX |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -11.2% | 5.1% |
| EPS growth (YoY) | -29.4% | 26.9% |
| Gross margin | 16.1% | 33.1% |
| Operating margin | -2.8% | 14.1% |
| Return on equity (TTM) | -24% | 14.5% |
| Debt to equity | 0.71 | 0.85 |
Performance
CNC leads 5 of 6 windows| Metric | CNC | DGX |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week (5 sessions) | -2.9% | -4% |
| 1 month (20 sessions) | -2.5% | -2.8% |
| 3 months (63 sessions) | 0.1% | 13.4% |
| 6 months (126 sessions) | 73.6% | 15.2% |
| Year to date | 58.9% | 33.2% |
| 1 year (252 sessions) | 126.8% | 26.6% |
Technicals
CNC has the stronger structure| Metric | CNC | DGX |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 54.9 | 31.7 |
| ADX (14) | 13.2 | 28 |
| Price vs 50-day | 1.4% | 2.7% |
| Price vs 200-day | 28.8% | 14.5% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 30.4% | 16.9% |
Risk
Split| Metric | CNC | DGX |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | 0.38 | -0.13 |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.7 | 0.94 |
| Sortino ratio | 2.42 | 1.81 |
| Max drawdown | -32.7% | -11.9% |
| Current drawdown | -4.8% | -5.7% |
| Annualized volatility | 48.6% | 23.8% |
| Value at risk (95%) | -3.7% | -2% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better, CNC or DGX?
On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, DGX is the stronger of the two as of Sep 11, 2026, scoring 49 against CNC's 46. The edge comes from quality. CNC is not without a case — it holds the better momentum profile, which matters more if that is the objective you are optimizing for. This is a systematic score, not a recommendation: it ranks the two on the same evidence, it does not know your holding period or tax position.
Is CNC or DGX the better buy right now?
DGX carries the stronger systematic profile as of Sep 11, 2026, and the comparison is rated Fragile — 1 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. A Fragile rating means the conclusion is sensitive: the AIQ gap is narrow at 3 points. Treat the lead as provisional.
Why does the AIQ Score favor DGX over CNC?
The composite weights Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience. DGX leads Quality by 20 points; CNC leads Momentum by 12 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.
Which has more analyst upside, CNC or DGX?
Analyst price targets imply +0.2% upside for CNC and +1.1% for DGX. The model and the Street agree here, which is a broader base of evidence than either alone. Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions, and dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Which is better value, CNC or DGX?
Neither name separates on the peer-relative Value factor. The two are level on Value. The Value factor reads valuation relative to sector peers and to the company's own fundamental quality, so it is not the same as simply having the lower multiple.
Which has stronger growth, CNC or DGX?
DGX on combined revenue and EPS growth. Growth here is measured on reported revenue and earnings, not on forward estimates — it describes what the businesses have delivered, not what the Street expects next.
Which has stronger momentum, CNC or DGX?
CNC on the Momentum factor, by 12 points. Momentum is one of the four weighted factors in the AIQ composite. It has documented persistence over three- to twelve-month horizons, which makes it a timing input rather than a reason to hold something indefinitely.
Which is riskier, CNC or DGX?
DGX is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. DGX carries the lower 1-month annualized volatility. Risk Resilience is a weighted factor in the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.
Is CNC more profitable than DGX?
DGX leads on the comparable margin measures — gross margin 16.1% vs 33.1%; operating margin -2.8% vs 14.1%; ttm roe -24% vs 14.5%.
Is DGX's lead over CNC getting stronger or weaker?
DGX lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 11 to 3 points over 30 sessions. This is measured from 119 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-05-04 and 2026-09-10. The lead has not changed hands in that window.
What would change the CNC vs DGX verdict?
The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: CNC closes the Quality gap — currently 20 points behind, the largest single contributor to DGX's edge; CNC's Bollinger Band Squeeze turns directional — it is neutral today and would confirm a change in trend; DGX's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 3 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once; the narrowing continues — the lead has already given back 8 points over 30 sessions, and a further 3-point move would eliminate DGX's advantage entirely.
What do the current signals say about CNC and DGX?
CNC: 3 bullish / 1 bearish / 2 neutral, conflicted. DGX: 3 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted. A conflicted state means bullish and bearish rules are active on the same name at once — the technical evidence is not pointing one way, and a decision taken on it carries more timing risk. The most decision-relevant rule on CNC is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon). On DGX it is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon).
Compare CNC and DGX with others
Continue your research
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How this comparison is scored
The Algovestiq AIQ Score composites four factors — Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk, each carrying a fixed weight. Sentiment is reported separately as SentimentPulse and is not folded into the composite. Scores refresh every trading day, and this page regenerates from the latest snapshot rather than being written once.
The verdict names a leader, states how broadly six independent evidence groups agree, and rates how durable that conclusion is given the score gap, its recent trajectory and the current signal state on both names.
How to use side-by-side comparison →This comparison is informational and educational, not investment advice. AIQ scores update daily; re-check after earnings, guidance or macro data that materially changes either name’s factor profile.