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Best Diagnostic & Research Stocks to Buy Now (2026)
Top diagnostic & research stocks in 2026 ranked by overall Zen Rating. "A" Rated stocks have returned an average of +28.50% per year, and are the best diagnostic & research stocks to buy now. Learn More.

Industry: Diagnostics & Research
OverviewZen RatingPriceValueGrowthFinancialsMomentumSentimentForecastDividendsDue Diligence
B
Diagnostics & Research is Zen Rated B and is the 36th ranked industry out of 145 stock market industries
Learn how the Zen Ratings work
Ticker
Company
DD Score
Valuation Score
Financials Score
Forecast Score
Performance Score
Dividends Score
CDNA
CAREDX INC
51
14
86
22
80
–
SHC
SOTERA HEALTH CO
40
14
43
44
60
–
A
AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES INC
51
14
86
33
60
60
NEOG
NEOGEN CORP
16
14
29
0
20
–
DGX
QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INC
46
29
57
22
40
80

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Use Due Diligence Score to quickly analyze stock fundamentals, even if you don't have a finance background. We run time-tested due diligence checks inspired by legendary investors like Warren Buffett, and score each company based on how many they pass/fail.

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Diagnostic & Research Stocks FAQ

What are the best diagnostic & research stocks to buy right now in Sep 2026?

According to Zen Ratings, our proprietary rating system that evaluates 115 factors proven to drive growth in stocks and assigns each stock in our system an overall letter grade as well as 7 individual Component Grades for Value, Growth, Momentum, Sentiment, Safety, Financials, and proprietary AI algorithms, the 3 best diagnostic & research stocks to buy right now are:

1. Caredx (NASDAQ:CDNA)


Caredx (NASDAQ:CDNA) is the #1 top diagnostic & research stock out of 50 with a Zen Rating of A. Stocks with a rating of A have had an average return of +28.5% per year. Learn more.

The Component Grade breakdown for Caredx (NASDAQ:CDNA) is: Value: C, Growth: B, Momentum: B, Sentiment: B, Safety: C, Financials: A, and AI: C.

Caredx (NASDAQ:CDNA) has a Due Diligence Score of 51, which is 22 points higher than the diagnostic & research industry average of 29.

CDNA passed 17 out of 33 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Caredx has seen its stock return 261.81% over the past year, overperforming other diagnostic & research stocks by 239 percentage points.

Caredx has an average 1 year price target of $53.00, an upside of 5.77% from Caredx's current stock price of $50.11.

Caredx stock has a consensus Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 2 analysts covering Caredx, 50% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 0% have issued a Buy, 50% have issued a hold, while 0% have issued a Sell rating, and 0% have issued a Strong Sell.

2. Sotera Health Co (NASDAQ:SHC)


Sotera Health Co (NASDAQ:SHC) is the #2 top diagnostic & research stock out of 50 with a Zen Rating of A. Stocks with a rating of A have had an average return of +28.5% per year. Learn more.

The Component Grade breakdown for Sotera Health Co (NASDAQ:SHC) is: Value: B, Growth: C, Momentum: C, Sentiment: B, Safety: B, Financials: B, and AI: C.

Sotera Health Co (NASDAQ:SHC) has a Due Diligence Score of 40, which is 11 points higher than the diagnostic & research industry average of 29.

SHC passed 14 out of 33 due diligence checks and has average fundamentals. Sotera Health Co has seen its stock return 16.96% over the past year, underperforming other diagnostic & research stocks by -6 percentage points.

Sotera Health Co has an average 1 year price target of $22.00, an upside of 16.4% from Sotera Health Co's current stock price of $18.90.

Sotera Health Co stock has a consensus Strong Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 5 analysts covering Sotera Health Co, 80% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 0% have issued a Buy, 20% have issued a hold, while 0% have issued a Sell rating, and 0% have issued a Strong Sell.

3. Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A)


Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A) is the #3 top diagnostic & research stock out of 50 with a Zen Rating of B. Stocks with a rating of B have had an average return of +17.17% per year. Learn more.

The Component Grade breakdown for Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A) is: Value: B, Growth: C, Momentum: C, Sentiment: B, Safety: A, Financials: B, and AI: C.

Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A) has a Due Diligence Score of 51, which is 22 points higher than the diagnostic & research industry average of 29.

A passed 19 out of 38 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Agilent Technologies has seen its stock return 22.64% over the past year.

Agilent Technologies has an average 1 year price target of $171.44, an upside of 11.64% from Agilent Technologies's current stock price of $153.56.

Agilent Technologies stock has a consensus Strong Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 17 analysts covering Agilent Technologies, 64.71% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 23.53% have issued a Buy, 11.76% have issued a hold, while 0% have issued a Sell rating, and 0% have issued a Strong Sell.

What are the diagnostic & research stocks with highest dividends?

Out of 7 diagnostic & research stocks that have issued dividends in the past year, the 3 diagnostic & research stocks with the highest dividend yields are:

1. Qiagen Nv (NYSE:QGEN)


Qiagen Nv (NYSE:QGEN) has an annual dividend yield of 5.29%, which is 4 percentage points higher than the diagnostic & research industry average of 1.34%.

Qiagen Nv's dividend payout ratio of 243.6% indicates that its high dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

2. Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX)


Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX) has an annual dividend yield of 1.38%, which is the same as the diagnostic & research industry average of 1.34%. Quest Diagnostics's dividend payout is stable, having never dropped by more than 10% in the last 10 years. Quest Diagnostics's dividend has shown consistent growth over the last 10 years.

Quest Diagnostics's dividend payout ratio of 34.8% indicates that its dividend yield is sustainable for the long-term.

3. Labcorp Holdings (NYSE:LH)


Labcorp Holdings (NYSE:LH) has an annual dividend yield of 0.87%, which is the same as the diagnostic & research industry average of 1.34%. Labcorp Holdings's dividend payout is stable, having never dropped by more than 10% in the last 10 years. Labcorp Holdings's dividend has not shown consistent growth over the last 10 years.

Labcorp Holdings's dividend payout ratio of 23.7% indicates that its dividend yield is sustainable for the long-term.

Why are diagnostic & research stocks down?

Diagnostic & research stocks were down -0.54% in the last day, and down -1.12% over the last week. Volitionrx was the among the top losers in the diagnostics & research industry, dropping -3.34% yesterday.

VolitionRX shares are trading lower after the company filed a prospectus for an offering of 10 million shares.

What are the most undervalued diagnostic & research stocks?

Based on the Valuation rating, one of the 7 components of a stocks overall Zen Ratings grade, which evaluates factors including estimated earnings yield, earnings before interest and taxes/enterprise value, cash flow yield, free cash flow to price, and price-to-earnings growth (PEG ratio), the 3 most undervalued diagnostic & research stocks right now are:

1. Qiagen Nv (NYSE:QGEN)


Qiagen Nv (NYSE:QGEN) is the most undervalued diagnostic & research stock based on its Valuation Rating of A. Valuation is one of 7 Component Grades used to calculate the overall Zen Rating.

Qiagen Nv has a valuation score of 29, which is 16 points higher than the diagnostic & research industry average of 13. It passed 2 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Qiagen Nv's stock has dropped -7.74% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the diagnostic & research industry by -31 percentage points.

2. Icon (NASDAQ:ICLR)


Icon (NASDAQ:ICLR) is the second most undervalued diagnostic & research stock based on its Valuation Rating of B. Valuation is one of 7 Component Grades used to calculate the overall Zen Rating.

Icon has a valuation score of 43, which is 30 points higher than the diagnostic & research industry average of 13. It passed 3 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Icon's stock has dropped -7.23% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the diagnostic & research industry by -30 percentage points.

3. Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE:TMO)


Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE:TMO) is the third most undervalued diagnostic & research stock based on its Valuation Rating of B. Valuation is one of 7 Component Grades used to calculate the overall Zen Rating.

Thermo Fisher Scientific has a valuation score of 29, which is 16 points higher than the diagnostic & research industry average of 13. It passed 2 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Thermo Fisher Scientific's stock has gained 26.58% in the past year. It has overperformed other stocks in the diagnostic & research industry by 4 percentage points.

Are diagnostic & research stocks a good buy now?

53.66% of diagnostic & research stocks rated by analysts are a strong buy right now. On average, analysts expect diagnostic & research stocks to rise by 2.82% over the next year.

5.13% of diagnostic & research stocks have a Zen Rating of A (Strong Buy), 17.95% of diagnostic & research stocks are rated B (Buy), 66.67% are rated C (Hold), 10.26% are rated D (Sell), and 0% are rated F (Strong Sell).

What is the average p/e ratio of the diagnostics & research industry?

The average P/E ratio of the diagnostics & research industry is 14.49x.
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