EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

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 is as follows (in millions, except per share data):

	2016		2015		2014
Amounts attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ stockholders:
Income from continuing operations	$	645	$	709	$	551
Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes	—		—		5
Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders	$	645	$	709	$	556
Income from continuing operations	$	645	$	709	$	551
Less: Earnings allocated to participating securities	3		3		2
Earnings available to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders – basic and diluted	$	642	$	706	$	549
Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic	140		144		145
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options and performance share units	2		1		—
Weighted average common shares outstanding – diluted	142		145		145
Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders – basic:
Income from continuing operations	$	4.58	$	4.92	$	3.80
Income from discontinued operations	—		—		0.03
Net income	$	4.58	$	4.92	$	3.83
Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders – diluted:
Income from continuing operations	$	4.51	$	4.87	$	3.78
Income from discontinued operations	—		—		0.03
Net income	$	4.51	$	4.87	$	3.81

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:

	2016	2015	2014
Stock options and performance share units	1	2	2