CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 350	$ 359
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $286 and $265 as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	960	926
Inventories	100	82
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	134	164
Total current assets	1,544	1,531
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,097	1,029
Goodwill	6,164	6,000
Intangible assets, net	1,029	949
Investment in equity method investees	459	443
Other assets	146	148
Total assets	10,439	10,100
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	1,047	975
Current portion of long-term debt	5	6
Total current liabilities	1,052	981
Long-term debt	3,759	3,728
Other liabilities	722	654
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	78	77
Quest Diagnostics stockholders’ equity:
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 600 shares authorized as of both September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016; 216 shares issued as of both September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016	2	2
Additional paid-in capital	2,585	2,545
Retained earnings	6,946	6,613
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(48)	(72)
Treasury stock, at cost; 80 shares and 79 shares as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	(4,691)	(4,460)
Total Quest Diagnostics stockholders' equity	4,794	4,628
Noncontrolling interests	34	32
Total stockholders' equity	4,828	4,660
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 10,439	$ 10,100

Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and due within one year (or the operating cycle, if longer), including liabilities incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received, taxes, interest, rent and utilities, accrued salaries and bonuses, payroll taxes and fringe benefits.

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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount due from customers or clients, within one year of the balance sheet date (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer), for goods or services (including trade receivables) that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, reduced to the estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection.