MADISON, N.J., July 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services, announced today that for the second quarter ended June 30, 2015, adjusted net income was $170 million compared to $157 million for 2014. Adjusted diluted EPS excluding amortization was $1.25 in the second quarter of 2015, compared to $1.19 in 2014. Amortization expense per diluted share was $0.08 in the second quarter of 2015 and $0.11 in 2014.

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For the second quarter of 2015, reported net income was $118 million, or $0.81 per diluted share, compared to $133 million, or $0.92 per diluted share, in 2014. Reported net income in the second quarter of 2015 was negatively impacted by charges of $52 million after tax, or $0.36 per diluted share, of which $41 million is associated with the company's recent debt refinancing. The remainder of the charges were related to restructuring and integration costs and ongoing efforts to drive operational excellence. In the second quarter of 2014, reported net income was reduced by charges of $24 million after tax, or $0.16 per diluted share, primarily related to restructuring and integration costs associated with acquisitions and ongoing efforts to drive operational excellence.

Second quarter 2015 revenue of $1.93 billion grew by 1.2% versus the prior year and grew 0.8% on an organic basis. Diagnostic information services revenue grew by 0.4%. Volume, measured by the number of requisitions, decreased by approximately 0.4%. Revenue per requisition grew by approximately 0.9%.

For the second quarter of 2015, adjusted operating income was $321 million, or 16.7% of revenues, compared to $296 million, or 15.5% of revenues, for 2014. Reported operating income was $301 million, or 15.6% of revenues, compared to $262 million, or 13.8% of revenues, in 2014. Adjusted cash provided by operations, reflecting cash charges for debt refinancing, was $324 million in the second quarter of 2015. Reported cash provided by operations in the second quarter of 2015 was $275 million and was negatively impacted by after tax cash charges of $49 million associated with the early retirement of debt in connection with the company's debt refinancing. In the second quarter of 2014, reported cash provided by operations was $280 million.

"In the second quarter we once again grew operating income faster than revenues, demonstrating results from our five-point strategy. We are not just driving growth, we are driving profitable growth," said Steve Rusckowski, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our strategies to restore growth and drive operational excellence are delivering both a better customer experience and earnings growth. An important element of restoring growth is to engage with healthcare systems around their lab strategy. Our recently announced acquisition of MemorialCare Health System's outreach business is another great example of this effort. Also, we have updated our outlook to reflect the clinical trials joint venture, and have maintained our full year EPS guidance."

First Half Performance

Revenues were $3.76 billion for the first six months of 2015, 3.2% better than the prior year. Adjusted net income was $311 million for the first six months of 2015 compared to $279 million in 2014. Adjusted diluted EPS excluding amortization was $2.30 for the first six months of 2015, compared to $2.12 in 2014. Reported net income for the first six months of 2015 was $179 million, or $1.23 per diluted share, compared to $237 million, or $1.63 per diluted share, in 2014. Reported net income in 2015 was negatively impacted by charges of $132 million after tax, or $0.90 per diluted share, principally associated with the debt refinancing.

Adjusted operating income for the first six months of 2015 was $590 million, or 15.7% of revenues, compared to $532 million, or 14.6% of revenues, for 2014. On a reported basis, operating income was $529 million, or 14.1% of revenues, compared to $470 million, or 12.9% of revenues, in 2014. Adjusted cash provided by operations for the first six months of 2015 was $454 million. Reported cash provided by operations for the six months of 2015 was $327 million and was negatively impacted by after tax cash charges of $127 million associated with the company's debt refinancing. In the first six months of 2014, reported cash provided by operations was $364 million.

Outlook for 2015

For 2015, the company estimates results, before special items, as follows:


    --  Full year 2015 revenue now expected to be between $7.49 billion and
        $7.57 billion.
        --  Revenue for 2014 on an equivalent basis excludes clinical trials
            revenue reported in the third and fourth quarter of 2014 of $41
            million and $46 million, respectively.
        --  Updated 2015 revenue guidance is an increase of 2% to 3% versus 2014
            on an equivalent revenue basis.
        --  Previous 2015 revenue guidance was an increase of 2% to 3% versus
            2014 reported revenue.
    --  Adjusted diluted EPS excluding amortization to be between $4.70 and
        $4.85, unchanged.
    --  Adjusted cash provided by operations to exceed $850 million, versus
        previous guidance that adjusted cash would approximate $850 million.
    --  Capital expenditures to approximate $300 million, unchanged.

Note on Non-GAAP Financial Measures

As used in this press release: (i) for the purpose of income measures the term "adjusted" refers to operating performance measures that exclude special items such as charges on retirement of debt and related refinancing charges, restructuring and integration charges, and other items; (ii) the term "adjusted diluted EPS excluding amortization expense" represents the company's results before the impact of special items and amortization expense; (iii) the term "adjusted cash provided by operations" represents cash provided by operations before the cash impact of charges on retirement of debt; and (iv) the term "equivalent revenue" represents 2014 reported revenues excluding clinical trials revenues reported in the third and fourth quarters of 2014. Adjusted measures are presented because management believes those measures are useful adjuncts to reported results under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Adjusted measures should not be considered as an alternative to the corresponding measures determined under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The attached tables include reconciliations of adjusted measures to measures reported under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

Conference Call Information

Quest Diagnostics will hold its quarterly conference call to discuss financial results beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time today. The conference call can also be accessed in listen-only mode by dialing 415-228-4961, passcode 3214469. The company suggests participants dial in approximately 10 minutes before the call. A replay of the call may be accessed online at www.QuestDiagnostics.com/investor or by phone at 800-677-4302 for domestic callers or 402-998-0977 for international callers. Telephone replays will be available from approximately 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time today until midnight Eastern Time on August 21, 2015.

Anyone listening to the call is encouraged to read the company's periodic reports, on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the discussion of risk factors and historical results of operations and financial condition in those reports.

About Quest Diagnostics

Quest Diagnostics empowers people to take action to improve health outcomes. Derived from the world's largest database of clinical lab results, our diagnostic insights reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors and improve health care management. Quest annually serves one in three adult Americans and half the physicians and hospitals in the United States, and our 45,000 employees understand that, in the right hands and with the right context, our diagnostic insights can inspire actions that transform lives. www.QuestDiagnostics.com.

The statements in this press release which are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date that they are made and which reflect management's current estimates, projections, expectations or beliefs and which involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes to be materially different. Risks and uncertainties that may affect the future results of the company include, but are not limited to, adverse results from pending or future government investigations, lawsuits or private actions, the competitive environment, changes in government regulations, changing relationships with customers, payers, suppliers or strategic partners and other factors discussed in the company's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and in any of the company's subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, including those discussed in the "Business," "Risk Factors," "Cautionary Factors that May Affect Future Results" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of those reports.

This earnings release, including the attached financial tables, is available online in the Newsroom section at www.QuestDiagnostics.com.

TABLES FOLLOW




                                                                     Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and Subsidiaries

                                                                          Consolidated Statements of Operations

                                                                For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2015 and 2014

                                                                          (in millions, except per share data)

                                                                                       (unaudited)


                                             Three Months Ended                          Six Months Ended

                                                  June 30,                                   June 30,
                                                  --------                                   --------

                                              2015                   2014                      2015                   2014
                                              ----                   ----                      ----                   ----

    Net revenues                                      $1,925                                          $1,902               $3,764  $3,648


    Operating costs and expenses:

    Cost of services                         1,182                              1,174                               2,345    2,275

    Selling, general and
     administrative                            429                                440                                 848      855

    Amortization of
     intangible assets                          20                                 25                                  41       47

    Other operating (income)
     expense, net                              (7)                                 1                                   1        1
                                               ---                                ---                                 ---      ---

    Total operating costs and
     expenses                                1,624                              1,640                               3,235    3,178
                                             -----                              -----                               -----    -----


    Operating income                           301                                262                                 529      470


    Other income (expense):

    Interest expense, net                     (37)                              (42)                               (82)    (81)

    Equity in earnings of
     equity method investees                     7                                  6                                  14       12

    Other (expense) income,
     net                                      (64)                                 3                               (142)       4

    Total non-operating
     expenses, net                            (94)                              (33)                              (210)    (65)
                                               ---                                ---                                ----      ---


    Income before income
     taxes                                     207                                229                                 319      405

    Income tax expense                          78                                 87                                 120      152
                                               ---                                ---                                 ---      ---

    Net income                                 129                                142                                 199      253

    Less: Net income
     attributable to
     noncontrolling interests                   11                                  9                                  20       16

    Net income attributable
     to Quest Diagnostics                               $118                                            $133                 $179    $237
                                                        ----                                            ----                 ----    ----



    Earnings per share attributable to Quest
     Diagnostics' common stockholders:

    Basic                                              $0.82                                           $0.92                $1.24   $1.64
                                                       -----                                           -----                -----   -----

    Diluted                                            $0.81                                           $0.92                $1.23   $1.63
                                                       -----                                           -----                -----   -----



    Weighted average common shares
     outstanding:

    Basic                                      144                                144                                 144      144

    Diluted                                    145                                145                                 145      145


                           Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and Subsidiaries

                                     Consolidated Balance Sheets

                                 June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014

                                 (in millions, except per share data)

                                             (unaudited)


                                            June 30,               December 31,
                                                  2015                      2014
                                                  ----                      ----

    Assets
    ------

    Current assets:

    Cash and cash
     equivalents                                            $150                            $192

    Accounts
     receivable,
     net                                           937                                932

    Inventories                                    109                                110

    Deferred
     income taxes                                  161                                169

    Prepaid
     expenses and
     other
     current
     assets                                        173                                200

    Total current
     assets                                      1,530                              1,603

    Property,
     plant and
     equipment,
     net                                           906                                933

    Goodwill                                     5,987                              6,032

    Intangible
     assets, net                                 1,022                              1,071

    Other assets                                   219                                218

    Non-current
     assets held
     for sale                                       56                                  -
                                                   ---                                ---

    Total assets                                          $9,720                          $9,857
                                                          ------                          ------


    Liabilities and
     Stockholders' Equity
    ---------------------

    Current liabilities:

    Accounts
     payable and
     accrued
     expenses                                             $1,074                          $1,191

    Current
     portion of
     long-term
     debt                                          168                                518

    Total current
     liabilities                                 1,242                              1,709

    Long-term
     debt                                        3,568                              3,224

    Other
     liabilities                                   566                                594

    Stockholders' equity:

    Quest Diagnostics
     stockholders' equity:

    Common stock,
     par value                            215 shares
     $0.01 per                            issued at
     share; 600                           June 30,
     shares                               2015 and
     authorized                           December 31,
     at both June                         2014,
     30, 2015 and                         respectively
     December 31,
     2014; 216
     shares and                                      2                                  2

    Additional
     paid-in
     capital                                     2,444                              2,418

    Retained
     earnings                                    5,793                              5,723

    Accumulated
     other
     comprehensive
     loss                                         (25)                              (27)

    Treasury
     stock, at
     cost; 72
     shares and
     71 shares at
     June 30,
     2015 and
     December 31,
     2014,
     respectively                              (3,900)                           (3,815)
                                                ------                             ------

    Total Quest
     Diagnostics
     stockholders'
     equity                                      4,314                              4,301

     Noncontrolling
     interests                                      30                                 29
                                                   ---                                ---

    Total
     stockholders'
     equity                                      4,344                              4,330

    Total
     liabilities
     and
     stockholders'
     equity                                               $9,720                          $9,857
                                                          ------                          ------


                              Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and Subsidiaries

                                   Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

                              For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2015 and 2014

                                               (in millions)

                                                (unaudited)


                                           Six Months Ended June 30,
                                           -------------------------

                                                2015                  2014
                                                ----                  ----

    Cash flows from operating
     activities:

    Net income                                           $199                          $253

    Adjustments to reconcile net
     income to net cash provided
     by operating activities:

    Depreciation and
     amortization                                153                               156

    Provision for
     doubtful
     accounts                                    158                               148

    Deferred income
     tax benefit                                 (5)                             (26)

    Stock-based
     compensation
     expense                                      27                                25

    Excess tax
     benefits from
     stock-based
     compensation
     arrangements                                (3)                                -

    Other, net                                   (5)                              (2)

    Changes in operating assets
     and liabilities:

    Accounts
     receivable                                (163)                            (191)

    Accounts payable
     and accrued
     expenses                                   (49)                             (39)

    Income taxes
     payable                                      17                                44

    Other assets and
     liabilities,
     net                                         (2)                              (4)

    Net cash
     provided by
     operating
     activities                                  327                               364
                                                 ---                               ---


    Cash flows from investing
     activities:

    Business
     acquisitions,
     net of cash
     acquired                                    (6)                            (723)

    Capital
     expenditures                              (117)                            (117)

    Increase in
     investments and
     other assets                                  -                              (1)

    Net cash used in
     investing
     activities                                (123)                            (841)
                                                ----                              ----


    Cash flows from financing
     activities:

    Proceeds from
     borrowings                                1,829                             1,738

    Repayments of
     debt                                    (1,821)                          (1,159)

    Purchases of
     treasury stock                            (149)                             (57)

    Exercise of
     stock options                                55                                30

    Excess tax
     benefits from
     stock-based
     compensation
     arrangements                                  3                                 -

    Dividends paid                             (103)                             (91)

    Distributions to
     noncontrolling
     interests                                  (19)                             (14)

    Other financing
     activities, net                            (41)                             (13)

    Net cash (used
     in) provided by
     financing
     activities                                (246)                              434
                                                ----                               ---


    Net change in
     cash and cash
     equivalents                                (42)                             (43)


    Cash and cash
     equivalents,
     beginning of
     period                                      192                               187


    Cash and cash
     equivalents,
     end of period                                       $150                          $144
                                                         ----                          ----


    Cash paid during the period
     for:

    Interest                                              $99                           $82

    Income taxes                                         $109                          $138


    Notes to Financial Tables


    1) The computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share is as follows:


                                                   Three Months Ended                        Six Months Ended

                                                        June 30,                                 June 30,
                                                        --------                                 --------

                                                   2015                2014                   2015            2014
                                                   ----                ----                   ----            ----

                                                         (in millions, except per share data)

    Amounts attributable to Quest
     Diagnostics' common stockholders:

    Net income attributable
     to Quest Diagnostics                                   $118                                      $133          $179   $237

    Less: earnings
     allocated to
     participating
     securities                                       1                             -                          1       1

    Earnings available to
     Quest Diagnostics'
     common stockholders -
     basic and diluted                                      $117                                      $133          $178   $236
                                                            ----                                      ----          ----   ----


    Weighted average common
     shares outstanding -
     basic                                          144                           144                         144     144

    Effect of dilutive securities:

    Stock options and
     performance share
     units                                            1                             1                           1       1

    Weighted average common
     shares outstanding -
     diluted                                        145                           145                         145     145
                                                    ---                           ---                         ---     ---


    Earnings per share attributable to
     Quest Diagnostics' common
     stockholders:

    Basic                                                  $0.82                                     $0.92         $1.24  $1.64
                                                           -----                                     -----         -----  -----

    Diluted                                                $0.81                                     $0.92         $1.23  $1.63
                                                           -----                                     -----         -----  -----


    2)             Adjusted amounts for operating
                   income and net income attributable
                   to Quest Diagnostics represent the
                   company's results before the
                   impact of special items, such as
                   the charges on retirement of debt
                   and related refinancing charges,
                   restructuring and integration
                   charges and other items.  Adjusted
                   diluted EPS excluding amortization
                   expense represents the company's
                   results before the impact of
                   special items and amortization
                   expense.  Adjusted cash provided
                   by operations represents cash
                   provided by operations before the
                   cash impact of charges on
                   retirement of debt.  Adjusted
                   measures are presented because
                   management believes those measures
                   are useful adjuncts to reported
                   results under accounting
                   principles generally accepted in
                   the United States when comparing
                   results of operations from period
                   to period.  Adjusted measures
                   should not be considered as an
                   alternative to the corresponding
                   measures determined under
                   accounting principles generally
                   accepted in the United States.
                   The following table reconciles
                   reported results to adjusted
                   results:


                             Three Months Ended                               Six Months Ended

                                  June 30,                                        June 30,
                                  --------                                        --------

                           2015                    2014                      2015                  2014
                           ----                    ----                      ----                  ----

                                      (dollars in millions, except per share data)

    Adjusted operating
     income:
    ------------------

    Operating income                $301                                             $262                  $529   $470

    Restructuring and
     integration charges
     (a)                     23                                  27                                 54        51

    Other (b)               (3)                                  7                                  7        11


    Adjusted operating
     income                         $321                                             $296                  $590   $532
                                    ----                                             ----                  ----   ----


    Adjusted operating
     income as a
     percentage of net
     revenues:
    ------------------

    Operating income as
     a percentage of net
     revenues             15.6%                              13.8%                             14.1%    12.9%

    Restructuring and
     integration charges
     (a)                    1.2                                 1.4                                1.4       1.4

    Other (b)             (0.1)                                0.3                                0.2       0.3


    Adjusted operating
     income as a
     percentage of net
     revenues             16.7%                              15.5%                             15.7%    14.6%
                           ----                                ----                               ----      ----


    Adjusted net income:
    --------------------

    Net income
     attributable to
     Quest Diagnostics              $118                                             $133                  $179   $237

    Charges on
     retirement of debt
     and related
     refinancing charges
     (c) (d)                 41                                   -                                94         -

    Restructuring and
     integration charges
     (d)                     14                                  19                                 33        34

    Other (d)               (3)                                  5                                  5         8


    Adjusted net income             $170                                             $157                  $311   $279
                                    ----                                             ----                  ----   ----


    Adjusted diluted EPS
     excluding
     amortization
     expense:
    --------------------

    Diluted earnings per
     common share                  $0.81                                            $0.92                 $1.23  $1.63

    Charges on
     retirement of debt
     and related
     refinancing charges
     (c) (d)               0.28                                   -                              0.64         -

    Restructuring and
     integration charges
     (a) (d)               0.10                                0.13                               0.22      0.24

    Other (b) (d)        (0.02)                               0.03                               0.04      0.05

    Amortization expense
     (e)                   0.08                                0.11                               0.17      0.20


    Adjusted diluted EPS
     excluding
     amortization
     expense                       $1.25                                            $1.19                 $2.30  $2.12
                                   -----                                            -----                 -----  -----


    Adjusted cash
     provided by
     operations:
    -------------

    Cash provided by
     operations                     $275                                             $280                  $327   $364

    Cash charges on
     retirement of debt
     (f)                     49                                   -                               127         -
                                                                                                          ---


    Adjusted cash
     provided by
     operations                     $324                                             $280                  $454   $364
                                    ----                                             ----                  ----   ----


    (a)                  Represents costs primarily
                         associated with workforce
                         reductions and professional
                         fees incurred in connection
                         with further restructuring and
                         integrating our business.  The
                         following table summarizes the
                         impact of restructuring and
                         integration charges on the
                         company's consolidated
                         statements of operations:


                         Three Months Ended                    Six Months Ended

                              June 30,                             June 30,
                              --------                             --------

                          2015              2014                 2015           2014
                          ----              ----                 ----           ----

                                         (dollars in millions)

    Cost of services              $11                                   $11          $31  $23

    Selling, general and
     administrative         12                          16                       23    28


                                  $23                                   $27          $54  $51
                                  ---                                   ---          ---  ---


    (b)                  For the three months ended June 30,
                         2015, primarily represents a gain
                         of $13 million associated with a
                         decrease in the fair value of the
                         contingent consideration accrual
                         associated with our Summit Health
                         acquisition, partially offset by
                         costs incurred related to legal
                         matters and non-cash asset
                         impairment charges.  For the six
                         month ended June 30, 2015,
                         primarily represents non-cash
                         asset impairment charges primarily
                         associated with our Celera
                         Products business and costs
                         incurred related to legal matters,
                         partially offset by a gain of $13
                         million associated with a decrease
                         in the fair value of the
                         contingent consideration accrual
                         associated with our Summit Health
                         acquisition.


                        For the three and six months ended
                         June 30, 2014, principally
                         represents costs incurred related
                         to the settlement of legal
                         matters.


    (c)                  Charges on retirement of debt and
                         related refinancing charges
                         represent: charges associated with
                         the March 2015 cash tender offer
                         (the "Tender Offer") in which the
                         company purchased $250 million
                         aggregate principal amount of its
                         6.95% Senior Notes due July 2037
                         and 5.75% Senior Notes due January
                         2040; and charges associated with
                         the April 2015 redemption (the
                         "Redemption") in which the company
                         redeemed all of its 5.45% Senior
                         Notes due November 2015, $150
                         million of its 3.2% Senior Notes
                         due April 2016 and all of its 6.4%
                         Senior Notes due July 2017.  The
                         following table summarizes the
                         impact of pre-tax charges on
                         retirement of debt and related
                         refinancing charges on the
                         company's consolidated statements
                         of operations:


                    Three Months Ended                   Six Months Ended

                         June 30,                            June 30,
                         --------                            --------

                     2015              2014                 2015              2014
                     ----              ----                 ----              ----

                                   (dollars in millions)

    Interest
     expense, net             $1                              $            -         $6    $   -

    Other (expense)
     income, net       65                           -                        144       -


                             $66                              $            -       $150    $   -
                             ---                            ---          ---       ----  --- ---


    (d)                  For the charges on retirement of
                         debt and related refinancing
                         charges, income tax benefits
                         were calculated such that the
                         combined federal and state rate
                         for the full year will be 40%.
                         For the restructuring and
                         integration charges and other
                         items, income tax impacts,
                         where recorded, were calculated
                         using combined federal and
                         state rates of 38.9% and 38.2%
                         for 2015 and 2014,
                         respectively.


    (e)                  Represents the impact of
                         amortization expense on diluted
                         earnings per common share, net
                         of the income tax benefit.  The
                         income tax benefit was
                         calculated using combined
                         federal and state rates of
                         38.9% and 38.2% for 2015 and
                         2014, respectively.


    (f)                  Represents $146 million of pre-
                         tax cash charges on retirement
                         of debt in connection with our
                         recent debt refinancing, net of
                         the estimated cash tax benefit.


            3)     Other operating (income)  expense,
                   net includes miscellaneous income
                   and expense items related to
                   operating activities.  For the
                   three months ended June 30, 2015,
                   other operating (income) expense,
                   net principally includes a gain of
                   $13 million associated with a
                   decrease in the fair value of the
                   contingent consideration accrual
                   associated with our Summit Health
                   acquisition, partially offset by a
                   non-cash asset impairment charge.
                   Other operating (income) expense,
                   net for the six months ended June
                   30, 2015, principally includes non-
                   cash asset impairment charges
                   primarily associated with our
                   Celera Products business,
                   substantially offset by a gain of
                   $13 million associated with a
                   decrease in the fair value of the
                   contingent consideration accrual
                   associated with our Summit Health
                   acquisition.


            4)     Other (expense) income, net
                   represents miscellaneous income and
                   expense items related to non-
                   operating activities, such as gains
                   and losses associated with
                   investments and other non-
                   operating assets.  For the three
                   and six months ended June 30, 2015,
                   other (expense) income, net
                   includes $65 million and $144
                   million, respectively, of pre-tax
                   charges on the retirement of debt
                   associated with the Tender Offer
                   and Redemption.


            5)     For the three months ended June 30,
                   2015, the company repurchased 0.6
                   million shares of its common stock
                   at an average price of $72.03 per
                   share for $39 million.  For the six
                   months ended June 30, 2015, the
                   company repurchased 2.1 million
                   shares of its common stock at an
                   average price of $71.62 per share
                   for $149 million.  At June 30,
                   2015, $547 million remained
                   available under the company's share
                   repurchase authorizations.


            6)     The outlook for adjusted diluted EPS
                   excluding amortization expense
                   represents management's estimates
                   for the full year 2015 before the
                   impact of special items and
                   amortization expense.  The outlook
                   for adjusted cash provided by
                   operations represents management's
                   estimate for the full year 2015
                   before the cash impact of charges
                   on retirement of debt.  These
                   measures are presented because
                   management believes they are useful
                   adjuncts to the corresponding
                   amounts determined under accounting
                   principles generally accepted in
                   the United States since they are
                   meaningful to evaluate the
                   company's ongoing operating
                   performance.  Adjusted diluted EPS
                   excluding amortization expense and
                   adjusted cash provided by
                   operations are not measures of
                   financial performance under
                   accounting principles generally
                   accepted in the United States and
                   should not be considered as
                   alternatives to the corresponding
                   amount determined under accounting
                   principles generally accepted in
                   the United States.


                  The following table reconciles our
                   2015 outlook for adjusted diluted
                   EPS excluding amortization expense
                   and adjusted cash provided by
                   operations to the corresponding
                   amounts determined under accounting
                   principles generally accepted in
                   the United States:


                                       Low          High
                                       ---          ----

    Adjusted diluted EPS excluding
     amortization expense:

    Diluted earnings per common share         $3.43             $3.58

    Charges on retirement of debt and
     related refinancing charges (a)     0.64              0.64

    Restructuring and integration
     charges (b)                         0.22              0.22

    Other (c)                            0.04              0.04

    Amortization expense, net of tax
     (d)                                 0.37              0.37
                                         ----              ----


    Adjusted diluted EPS excluding
     amortization expense                     $4.70             $4.85
                                              -----             -----


    Adjusted cash provided by
     operations:
    -------------------------

    Cash provided by operations                           $723

    Cash charges on retirement of debt
     (e)                                              127


    Adjusted cash provided by
     operations                                           $850
                                                          ----


    (a)                  Represents pre-tax charges of
                         $150 million, incurred through
                         June 30, 2015, associated with
                         the retirement of debt and
                         related refinancing charges in
                         connection with the Tender Offer
                         and Redemption.


    (b)                  Represents pre-tax charges of $54
                         million primarily associated with
                         workforce reductions and
                         professional fees incurred in
                         connection with further
                         restructuring and integrating our
                         business through June 30, 2015.


    (c)                  Represents pre-tax charges of $20
                         million associated with non-cash
                         impairment charges primarily
                         associated with our Celera
                         Products business and costs
                         incurred related to legal
                         matters, partially offset by a
                         gain of $13 million associated
                         with a decrease in the fair value
                         of the contingent consideration
                         accrual associated with our
                         Summit Health acquisition through
                         June 30, 2015.


    (d)                  Represents the full year impact of
                         amortization expense (including
                         amortization expense associated
                         with our equity in earnings of
                         equity method investees),
                         estimated at approximately $88
                         million or $54 million, net of an
                         estimated tax benefit, on diluted
                         earnings per common share.


    (e)                  Represents pre-tax cash charges
                         of $146 million on retirement of
                         debt in connection with our
                         recent debt refinancing, net of
                         the estimated cash tax benefit
                         through June 30, 2015.


    7)             The outlook for 2% to 3% revenue
                   growth represents management's
                   estimates for the full year 2015
                   versus reported full year 2014
                   revenues adjusted to exclude the
                   third and fourth quarter 2014
                   clinical trials revenue.
                   Effective July 1, 2015, the
                   company's clinical trials business
                   was contributed to the clinical
                   trials joint venture, consequently
                   our full year 2015 revenues will
                   not include these revenues in the
                   second half of 2015.  Revenues for
                   2014 have been adjusted to exclude
                   clinical trials revenues to
                   provide an equivalent basis for
                   our growth outlook.  The following
                   table reconciles our 2014 net
                   revenues determined under
                   accounting principles generally
                   accepted in the United States with
                   equivalent revenue for 2014:


                                          2014 Net

                                          Revenues
                                          --------

    2014 reported revenue                           $7,435

    Excluded revenue (a)                       (87)


    2014 equivalent revenue                         $7,348
                                                    ------


    2015 Revenue Outlook    Low             High
    --------------------    ---             ----

    2014 equivalent revenue        $7,348                  $7,348

    Growth outlook              2%                      3%

    2015 revenue outlook           $7,490                  $7,570


    (a)                  The 2014 excluded revenue is
                         comprised of $41 million and
                         $46 million of clinical trials
                         revenues reported in the third
                         and fourth quarters of 2014,
                         respectively.

Contacts:
Dan Haemmerle (investors)
973-520-2900

Dennis Moynihan (media)
973-520-2800

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SOURCE Quest Diagnostics Incorporated