Quest Diagnostics (DGX) has touched its pre-ex close within 30 trading days in 100% of the last 20 ex-dividend events, with a median time-to-touch of 1 trading day (limit-order recovery basis). The dividend is below the typical daily price swing (signal-to-noise 0.26), meaning ordinary day-to-day noise can easily exceed the dividend itself.
Versus its sector, DGX sits roughly in line with the Healthcare sector benchmark of 100%. The sector median time-to-touch is 1 trading day, matching the peer pace.
Historical base rates are not predictions; transaction costs, slippage, and ordinary-income tax on short holding periods can materially reduce realized profit. The next confirmed ex-dividend date is Jul 8, 2026, with an expected dividend of $0.86.
- Touch rate (30d)
- 100%in line with sector
- Median days-to-touch
- 1din line with sector
- Signal-to-noise
- 0.26+0.11 vs sector
Recovery engine
TL;DR over the most recent 20 events.
| Metric | Value | vs sector |
|---|---|---|
| 30-day touch rate | 100% | in line with sector |
| Median days-to-touch | 1d | in line with sector |
| Signal-to-noise (div / ATR) | 0.26 | +0.11 vs sector |
| Avg gap on ex-date | -0.50% | -0.17pp vs sector |
| Win rate at MOC exit | 40% | — |
| Median drawdown during hold | -2.87% | +1.54pp vs sector |
| Best / worst touch (days) | 1 / 12 | — |
Next ex-dividend
Confirmed by company declaration.
| Dividend | $0.86 |
| Per-event yield | 0.43% |
| Annualized yield | 1.70% |
| Previously paid | Apr 6, 2026 ($0.86) |
| Last record date | Apr 6, 2026 |
| Last payment date | Apr 20, 2026 |
DGX Dividend Capture History — Last 20 Ex-Dividend Events
Per-event gap on ex-date, the pre-ex close used as the touch target, trading days to first intraday high at or above that level, plus 5/30-day touch flags, drawdown and 5-day P&L for Quest Diagnostics (DGX). For a stricter close-at-bell exit timeline, use the simulator below (MOC mode). td = trading days from ex-date.
| Recovered 5d | Recovered 30d | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q2 | $0.86 | -0.58% | $198.02 | 1 | yes | yes | -4.19% | -2.15% | |
| Q1 | $0.80 | 0.52% | $175.94 | 1 | yes | yes | -0.27% | +5.41% | |
| Q4 | $0.80 | -0.56% | $180.96 | 3 | yes | yes | -1.97% | +2.16% | |
| Q3 | $0.80 | -0.54% | $176.92 | 12 | no | yes | -6.94% | -4.38% | |
| Q2 | $0.80 | -1.38% | $164.18 | 1 | yes | yes | -4.25% | +2.81% | |
| Q1 | $0.75 | -0.63% | $154.02 | 2 | yes | yes | -3.45% | -1.14% | |
| Q4 | $0.75 | -0.01% | $152.13 | 1 | yes | yes | -3.92% | -1.78% | |
| Q3 | $0.75 | -0.04% | $140.45 | 1 | yes | yes | -2.46% | +3.48% | |
| Q2 | $0.75 | -0.95% | $131.50 | 2 | yes | yes | -4.62% | -1.69% | |
| Q1 | $0.71 | -0.87% | $135.30 | 2 | yes | yes | -5.91% | -3.56% | |
| Q4 | $0.71 | -0.34% | $122.58 | 1 | yes | yes | -2.02% | -1.02% | |
| Q3 | $0.71 | -0.51% | $139.00 | 1 | yes | yes | -0.70% | +1.17% | |
| Q2 | $0.71 | -0.17% | $143.31 | 1 | yes | yes | -1.91% | -0.18% | |
| Q1 | $0.66 | -0.32% | $147.94 | 1 | yes | yes | -3.16% | -2.28% | |
| Q4 | $0.66 | 0.57% | $122.69 | 1 | yes | yes | -0.52% | +1.62% | |
| Q3 | $0.66 | -1.49% | $136.68 | 2 | yes | yes | -4.48% | -1.41% | |
| Q2 | $0.66 | -0.77% | $134.54 | 1 | yes | yes | -1.64% | +2.52% | |
| Q1 | $0.62 | -1.55% | $142.30 | 3 | yes | yes | -7.62% | -3.16% | |
| Q4 | $0.62 | -0.17% | $143.30 | 1 | yes | yes | -2.57% | -1.62% | |
| Q3 | $0.62 | -0.26% | $133.32 | 1 | yes | yes | -0.92% | +1.76% |
- -2.15%
- +5.41%
- +2.16%
- -4.38%
- +2.81%
- -1.14%
- -1.78%
- +3.48%
- -1.69%
- -3.56%
- -1.02%
- +1.17%
- -0.18%
- -2.28%
- +1.62%
- -1.41%
- +2.52%
- -3.16%
- -1.62%
- +1.76%
DGX Pre-Ex Touch Time Distribution
First trading session whose intraday high reached the pre-ex close within the 30-day measurement window. td = trading days from ex-date.
| Touch window | Distribution | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| ≤ 1 day | 13 | 65% | |
| 2–3 days | 6 | 30% | |
| 4–5 days | 0 | 0% | |
| 6–10 days | 0 | 0% | |
| 11–30 days | 1 | 5% | |
| 30+ | 0 | 0% |
DGX Dividend Capture Calculator — After-Tax Yield
Pre-filled with DGX's next expected dividend and recent close. Adjust tax rate, holding period and slippage to estimate after-tax capture yield.
U.S. ordinary-income rate (22-37%) applies on holds shorter than 61 days. Hold longer to qualify for the 0/15/20% qualified-dividend rate.
- Gross dividend
- $172.00
- After-tax dividend
- $111.80
- Slippage round-trip
- -$39.60
- Net if price returns to pre-ex
- +$72.20
- Required recovery to break even
- 0.00%
- Per-event after-tax yield
- +0.18%
- Annual if all succeed
- ~9.2%
DGX Dividend Capture Backtest Simulator
Replay every historical DGX ex-dividend with two exit strategies: a GTC limit-order at the pre-ex close, or hold for N days and exit at MOC. Pick the window and quarter filter that matches your plan.
Sell back at the pre-ex close on the first intraday touch within the window. If it never touches, exit at MOC after the window expires (stop-loss).
Figures are gross — before tax, commissions, and slippage. Percents are per-event return on capital at entry (pre-ex close).
Cumulative P&L (equity curve)
Vertical axis: cumulative sum of per-event % (same units as the headline cumulative). Hover dots for exact values.
Per-event P&L distribution
20 trades in this sample · bar height ∝ count in each bucket (gross % per event).
Scenario P&L by event · DGX (20)
Scenario P&L — updates with exit mode, window, and quarter. History adds gap, touch, drawdown, and a fixed P&L 5d % (MOC). Same per-row % as that column only for MOC + 5d on the same rows. Oldest → newest, gross pre-ex close basis.
| Ex-date | P&L |
|---|---|
| +0.47% | |
| +0.43% | |
| +0.44% | |
| +0.49% | |
| +0.48% | |
| +0.54% | |
| +0.45% | |
| +0.50% | |
| +0.51% | |
| +0.58% | |
| +0.52% | |
| +0.57% | |
| +0.53% | |
| +0.49% | |
| +0.49% | |
| +0.49% | |
| -4.38% | |
| +0.44% | |
| +0.45% | |
| +0.43% |
Results are illustrative only and are not financial advice. Capture simulations use historical prices and simplified costs and tax assumptions. Actual fills, borrow fees, and market rules vary. Consult a qualified advisor before trading.