Quest Diagnostics’ $130 Calls Show Surging Volatility as EPS Forecast Rises
Options traders are pricing in heightened volatility for Quest Diagnostics’ March 20 $130 calls, ranking its implied volatility among the top equity options. Analysts raised Q1 EPS to $2.39 from $2.38; genomics services market is projected to climb from $7.94B in 2025 to $25.18B by 2035, NGS holds 38.4% share.
1. Implied Volatility Surge
Quest Diagnostics’ March 20 $130 call options saw implied volatility spike to among the highest levels across equity options today, indicating traders expect a substantial stock movement or event ahead. High IV often attracts premium-selling strategies that profit from volatility decay if shares remain range-bound.
2. Analyst EPS Revision
Over the past 60 days, five analysts increased and one decreased Q1 EPS forecasts, shifting the consensus estimate from $2.38 to $2.39. Quest Diagnostics holds a Zacks Rank #3 in the Medical – Outpatient and Home Healthcare industry, which itself ranks in the bottom 27%.
3. Genomics Services Market Outlook
The global genomics services market is projected to grow from $7.94 billion in 2025 to $25.18 billion by 2035 at an 11.8% CAGR, driven by rising genetic disorder prevalence and government-funded precision medicine initiatives. Next-generation sequencing commands a 38.42% share, the U.S. market is expected to hit $10.04 billion, and Asia Pacific leads with a 13.84% CAGR.