As the Q1 earnings season comes to a close, it’s time to take stock of this quarter’s best and worst performers in the testing & diagnostics services industry, including Guardant Health (NASDAQ: GH) and its peers.
The testing and diagnostics services industry plays a crucial role in disease detection, monitoring, and prevention, serving hospitals, clinics, and individual consumers. This sector benefits from stable demand, driven by an aging population, increased prevalence of chronic diseases, and growing awareness of preventive healthcare. Recurring revenue streams come from routine screenings, lab tests, and diagnostic imaging, with reimbursement from Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, and out-of-pocket payments. However, the industry faces challenges such as pricing pressures, regulatory compliance, and the need for continuous investment in new testing technologies. Looking ahead, industry tailwinds include the expansion of personalized medicine, increased adoption of at-home and rapid diagnostic tests, and advancements in AI-driven diagnostics that enhance accuracy and efficiency. However, headwinds such as reimbursement uncertainties, competition from decentralized testing solutions, and regulatory scrutiny over test validity and cost-effectiveness may impact profitability. Adapting to evolving healthcare models and integrating automation will be key for sustaining growth and maintaining operational efficiency.
The 5 testing & diagnostics services stocks we track reported a strong Q1. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 3.2%.
Luckily, testing & diagnostics services stocks have performed well with share prices up 11.2% on average since the latest earnings results.
Best Q1: Guardant Health (NASDAQ: GH)
Pioneering the field of "liquid biopsy" with technology that can identify cancer-specific genetic mutations from a simple blood draw, Guardant Health (NASDAQ: GH) develops blood tests that detect and monitor cancer by analyzing tumor DNA in the bloodstream, helping doctors make treatment decisions without invasive biopsies.
Guardant Health reported revenues of $301.7 million, up 48.3% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 8.4%. Overall, it was an exceptional quarter for the company with a solid beat of analysts’ revenue estimates and full-year revenue guidance exceeding analysts’ expectations.
Guardant Health pulled off the biggest analyst estimate beat and fastest revenue growth, but had the weakest full-year guidance update of the whole group. Unsurprisingly, the stock is up 42.6% since reporting and currently trades at $131.53.
NeoGenomics (NASDAQ: NEO)
Operating a network of CAP-accredited and CLIA-certified laboratories across the United States and United Kingdom, NeoGenomics (NASDAQ: NEO) provides specialized cancer diagnostic testing services, including genetic analysis, molecular testing, and pathology consultation for oncologists and healthcare providers.
NeoGenomics reported revenues of $186.7 million, up 11.1% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 1.2%. The business had a strong quarter with EPS in line with analysts’ estimates and a narrow beat of analysts’ revenue estimates.
The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 14.7% since reporting. It currently trades at $10.35.
Is now the time to buy NeoGenomics? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Weakest Q1: RadNet (NASDAQ: RDNT)
With over 350 imaging facilities across seven states and a growing artificial intelligence division, RadNet (NASDAQ: RDNT) operates a network of outpatient diagnostic imaging centers across the United States, offering services like MRI, CT scans, PET scans, mammography, and X-rays.
RadNet reported revenues of $575.6 million, up 22.1% year on year, exceeding analysts’ expectations by 3%. Still, it was a slower quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.
As expected, the stock is down 3.6% since the results and currently trades at $56.12.
Read our full analysis of RadNet’s results here.
Labcorp (NYSE: LH)
With over 600 million tests performed annually and involvement in 90% of FDA-approved drugs in 2023, Labcorp (NYSE: LH) provides laboratory testing services and drug development solutions to doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and patients worldwide.
Labcorp reported revenues of $3.54 billion, up 5.8% year on year. This print beat analysts’ expectations by 0.9%. More broadly, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also produced a narrow beat of analysts’ full-year EPS guidance estimates but organic revenue in line with analysts’ estimates.
Labcorp pulled off the highest full-year guidance raise but had the weakest performance against analyst estimates and slowest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is up 2.2% since reporting and currently trades at $262.88.
Read our full, actionable report on Labcorp here, it’s free.
Quest (NYSE: DGX)
Processing approximately one-third of the adult U.S. population's lab tests annually, Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX) provides laboratory testing and diagnostic information services to patients, physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare providers across the United States.
Quest reported revenues of $2.90 billion, up 9.2% year on year. This number surpassed analysts’ expectations by 2.7%. Overall, it was a strong quarter as it also put up a solid beat of analysts’ revenue and EPS estimates.
The stock is flat since reporting and currently trades at $196.24.
Read our full, actionable report on Quest here, it’s free.
Market Update
Late in 2025 into early 2026, there was hand-wringing around artificial intelligence. For software companies, the fear was that AI would erode pricing power and compress margins as new tools made it easier to replicate what once required expensive enterprise platforms. Crypto investors had their own version of the same anxiety: if AI agents could trade, allocate capital, and manage wallets autonomously, what exactly was the long-term value of today’s crypto infrastructure?
These concerns triggered a noticeable rotation away from these sectors and into safer havens. But markets rarely dwell on one narrative for long. Spring 2026 came, and the focus shifted abruptly from technological disruption to geopolitical risk. The US’ conflict with Iran became the dominant driver of market psychology, and when geopolitics takes center stage, the script changes quickly. Investors stop debating growth rates and start worrying about oil supply, inflation, and global stability.
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