EARNINGS PER SHARE (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Abstract]

Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted

The computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share was as follows (in thousands, except per share data):

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2013		2012
Amounts attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ stockholders:
Income from continuing operations	$	115,491	$	156,123
Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes	20,288		2,995
Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders	$	135,779	$	159,118
Income from continuing operations	$	115,491	$	156,123
Less: Earnings allocated to participating securities	365		594
Earnings available to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders – basic and diluted	$	115,126	$	155,529
Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic	158,098		158,293
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options and performance share units	1,308		1,413
Weighted average common shares outstanding – diluted	159,406		159,706
Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders – basic:
Income from continuing operations	$	0.73	$	0.98
Income from discontinued operations	0.13		0.02
Net income	$	0.86	$	1.00
Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders – diluted:
Income from continuing operations	$	0.72	$	0.97
Income from discontinued operations	0.13		0.02
Net income	$	0.85	$	0.99

Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share

The following securities were not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share due to their antidilutive effect (shares in thousands):

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2013	2012
Stock options and performance share units	2,085	1,995