Latest news with #Aptima
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
HOLX vs. DGX: Which Women's Health-Focused Stock Is the Better Pick?
With women's health increasingly becoming a global priority, investors are actively targeting companies operating in this space to boost their portfolios. Research and Markets projects the women's health diagnostics market to expand at a compound annual rate of 9.25% through 2030, driven by technological advancements, increasing healthcare expenditures, and initiatives for early detection of women-specific conditions like reproductive health issues, breast cancer, osteoporosis and more. Two U.S. healthcare innovators, Hologic HOLX and Quest Diagnostics DGX, have established a strong foothold in this space, each with its own areas of specialization. Hologic, with a market cap of $12.10 billion, develops products and services across the women's healthcare continuum, such as advanced diagnostics products, medical imaging systems and surgical products. In comparison, Quest Diagnostics, with a market cap of $19.12 billion, provides a comprehensive portfolio of diagnostic tests for all stages of a woman's life — from routine screenings like cervical cancer and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) to pregnancy and fertility testing. Between these two, which one stands out as the smarter pick now? Let's dive deep into their fundamentals, growth drivers and challenges to find out. The Marlborough, MA-based company benefits from its strategy of building multiple durable growth drivers across all its global franchises. Key offerings include Aptima and Panther Fusion assays for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), vaginitis and respiratory infections. The BV/CV/TV assay shows strong double-digit growth, supported by rising awareness and reimbursement in the U.S. vaginitis market. Molecular growth is further backed by the Biotheranostics business, driven by the rising adoption of the Breast Cancer Index test. However, weaker HIV testing in Africa due to federal funding cuts affected the fiscal 2025 second-quarter performance and is likely to persist. Hologic is seeing strong adoption of the Genius Digital Diagnostics System — the first FDA-cleared digital cytology system for cervical cancer screening, combining novel artificial intelligence (AI) with advanced imaging. However, Q2 International cytology and perinatal sales were impacted by South Korea's physician strike and reduced hospital spending in China. On the MedTech side, the company's mammography products continue to command leading market shares. In the second quarter, recurring service revenues (more than 45% of total Breast Health revenues) rose 12% year over year. The addition of Endomagnetics enhanced its Interventional Breast portfolio, with Hologic now selling its products directly through its U.S. salesforce to tap into wireless localization market opportunities. However, as anticipated, softer capital equipment sales caused the segment's revenues to decline 7.4%. Internationally, the Surgical business continues to be a standout. The company demonstrates sound financial health, with the flexibility to execute both tuck-in M&A and share repurchases. Still, macroeconomic challenges, including the ongoing trade war in China, have affected its 2025 outlook. Tariffs are expected to impact manufacturing costs by $20 million to $25 million per quarter, with two-thirds of it tied to imports from Costa Rica. Based in Secaucus, NJ, Quest Diagnostics is experiencing strong growth in Women's and Reproductive Health, one of its five key clinical areas where it offers Advanced Diagnostics. The growth is largely driven by prenatal and hereditary genetic testing over the past several quarters. In March 2025, the company launched a new solution that allows patients to self-collect a specimen for human papillomavirus (HPV) cervical cancer screening in a physician's office or other healthcare setting. The test uses Roche's RHHBY HPV self-collection solution and builds on Quest Diagnostics' STI-related self-collection option, introduced in October last year. Other clinical areas — advanced cardiometabolic, autoimmune, brain health and oncology — also posted double-digit growth in the first quarter of 2025, contributing to the 12% year-over-year revenue increase. Recent introductions include a laboratory-developed test to confirm Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology in symptomatic patients and the Haystack MRD — its first circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) minimal residual disease (MRD) test for assessing early risk of cancer recurrence. The company continues expanding the Advanced Diagnostics portfolio to enable growth across its core channels: Physicians, Hospitals and Consumers. In 2024, Quest Diagnostics completed eight acquisitions, including LifeLabs in Canada, and formed new health plan relationships. These favorably impacted both Q1 Diagnostic Information Services sales and adjusted operating income, translating to 8.3% growth in adjusted earnings per share (EPS). The company also became the first independent lab in the Optum Health preferred network. In February, Quest Diagnostics extended its chronic kidney disease test portfolio to include dialysis-related laboratory and water testing capabilities via a new agreement with Fresenius Medical Care FMS. Operationally, Quest Diagnostics is increasing the use of automation, robotics and AI across the business to drive productivity gains and improve user experience. The company teamed up with Google Cloud to streamline data management using generative AI. Despite broader economic pressures, Quest Diagnostics reaffirmed its 2025 revenue and adjusted EPS guidance. Yet, its escalating debt levels are a concern, ending the first quarter with $5.86 billion in long-term debt and just $188 million in cash and cash equivalents. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Hologic's fiscal 2025 sales and EPS implies a year-over-year improvement of 1.2% and 3.2%, respectively. The bottom-line estimates have shown mixed movements in the last 30 days. (See the Zacks Earnings Calendar to stay ahead of market-making news.) Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DGX's 2025 sales and EPS suggests a year-over-year improvement of 9.2% and 8.6%, respectively. Analysts seem more bullish on Quest Diagnostics, given the upward EPS estimate revisions in the last 30 days. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research In the past six months, Hologic's shares have plunged significantly, down 31.6%, while the benchmark S&P 500 slipped just 3.2%. In contrast, Quest Diagnostics held its ground with a 4.9% gain. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Hologic is trading at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 2.87X, higher than Quest Diagnostics' 1.75X P/S over the last five years. However, both HOLX and DGX appear discounted when compared to their respective industry averages of 4.04X and 2.71X. Each of them has a Value score of B. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research As a pure-play in women's health, Hologic continues to benefit from its diversified revenue model and growth drivers. International prospects are encouraging, while expanding into new areas through M&A activities instills optimism. While near-term headwinds from both internal and external pressures remain, the company's financial strength and a P/S below the industry suggest potential for long-term stability. For now, holding onto HOLX stock seems like a prudent choice. Meanwhile, Quest Diagnostics, as a clinical laboratory services company, sees strong growth opportunities in the women's and reproductive health space. Steady growth from Advanced Diagnostics and contributions from recent acquisitions are highly promising. Further, the stock's recent favorable performance, attractive valuation and upward analyst estimate revisions make it an equally compelling case to stay invested. HOLX and DGX each carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Roche Holding AG (RHHBY) : Free Stock Analysis Report Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX) : Free Stock Analysis Report Hologic, Inc. (HOLX) : Free Stock Analysis Report Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA (FMS) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Wearable Heat-Safety ‘Shield' Launches for U.S. Workers
From Battlefield to Breakroom: VigiLife Launches 'Shield' to Protect US Workers from Rising Heat Aptima, Inc. Dayton, OH, May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As extreme heat continues to break records and endanger frontline workers, VigiLife today announced the national release of Shield — a next-generation heat-safety wearable built from battlefield technology and proven in some of the world's toughest environments. Engineered with support from partners including NextFlex, the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory; and Aptima, Inc., a Department of Defense contractor specializing in optimizing human performance — Shield brings real-time environmental sensing and advanced physiological tracking into the industrial workplace, delivering life-saving alerts before heat stress becomes dangerous. Aptima Ventures, which co-founded VigiLife and co-led its seed investment round, has been instrumental in Shield's development. From early R&D to lab testing and field validation, Aptima, Inc. has helped secure federal funding and provided engineering expertise. Shield has recently been tested by Aptima in Naval shipyards and in the U.S. Army's grueling Best Sapper Competition at Fort Leonard Wood. Shield is currently undergoing MIL-STD testing and is on track for intrinsically safe certification, enabling deployment in high-risk environments such as refineries, industrial sites, and explosive or flammable zones. From Special Ops to vulnerable supply chains in developing nations, the technology behind Shield has been tested and deployed with Texas construction crews, sugarcane workers, wildland firefighters, hazmat teams on Boeing and NASA's Commercial Crew ('Starliner') program, warfighters, and miners across the globe. One standout success story: Rogers-O'Brien Construction, a Texas-based firm that voluntarily adopted the tech amid record heat, reported zero heat-related illnesses and over $200,000 in cost savings after implementing the platform across its sites. 'Our team comes from a world where actionable data can be the difference between life and death,' said Zachary Kiehl, CEO & Co-Founder of VigiLife and former human performance lead at Aptima. 'Now we're using that same precision to protect workers in everyday jobs — from farms and factories to flight lines and construction sites.' "The innovation behind the Shield sensor represents a significant leap forward in wearable technology. By integrating advanced physiological tracking and real-time environmental sensing, Shield not only enhances worker safety but sets a new standard for occupational health,' said Michael J. Garrity, CEO of Aptima, Inc. 'This technology has demonstrated the potential to save lives and improve productivity across high-risk industries, and Aptima is proud to be part of the team at the forefront of this groundbreaking development." Shield is also backed by global heat-stress research leaders like La Isla Network, whose work across Latin America and South Asia has underscored the deadly toll of chronic heat exposure in global supply chains. Together, VigiLife and La Isla are advancing science-based, scalable solutions to ensure every worker is protected in a warming world. The launch comes at a pivotal moment. OSHA is preparing a federal heat standard, and economists project heat-related productivity losses could exceed $200 billion annually in the U.S. by 2030. Notably, Shield is designed, developed, and manufactured in the USA — offering a domestically produced solution amid growing concerns over global supply chains and tariffs. 'Heat is no longer just a weather issue — it's a workforce emergency,' added Kiehl. 'We've built a system that works in 110°F heat, on the tarmac, and in the trenches — all while respecting privacy and boosting health, safety, and productivity.' Kiehl emphasized that this 'Be well. Work well.' philosophy, enabled by technology and real-world testing, represents a win for workers, employers, insurers, and regulators alike — a shared solution at the intersection of well-being, performance, and policy. Shield is now available for pre-order through VigiLife's early access program, serving employers in construction, agriculture, energy, aviation, logistics, and other heat-exposed industries. The company is also actively partnering with insurers, researchers, and policymakers to make heat safety measurable, manageable, and scalable. Media Contact:Zachary 606-4354 Company overview: Born in Dayton, OH out of validated research in partnership with the USAF Air Force Research Laboratory, Aptima, Inc., and Lockheed Martin, VigiLife is working to become the global standard for protecting workers from health & safety risks while serving as the intelligence layer enterprises rely on to ensure safety, productivity, and sustainability. By harnessing real-time physiological data, environmental sensing, and predictive analytics, VigiLife transforms risk management from reactive to proactive—empowering businesses to prevent harm before it happens and streamline operations across several 'connected worker' use cases (e.g., occupational heat stress). VigiLife's technology has not only saved lives but also driven operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and responsible labor practices with leading private and public sector organizations. In a world of rising environmental challenges, VigiLife's mission is to protect and enrich the lives of those at risk by ensuring that vigilance over life is the foundation of every industry it serves. Attachment Aptima, Inc. CONTACT: Maya Plesset Aptima, Inc. 8583863332 maya@
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Aptima Awarded DARPA Contract to Bring Powerful Media Forensic Technologies to Market
Aptima to work with DARPA to commercialize defenses against synthetic and manipulated media Woburn, MA, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aptima, Inc., a leader in optimizing human performance through innovative technologies, announced today it has been awarded a contract by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Commercial Strategy Office to lead a new commercialization effort focused on one of today's most urgent challenges: making reliable media forensic capabilities available to users to help mitigate online threats perpetuated via synthetic and manipulated media. With AI-generated images, audio, and video becoming more convincing and pervasive, society is struggling to keep pace. The emerging tools and standards required to help people understand the authenticity or origins of what they're reading, watching, and listening have yet to be adopted at internet scale — leaving individuals, institutions, and industries without a reliable foundation to determine if content is authentic. 'As falsified media technologies improve, they move faster than traditional forensic tools, leaving industries without reliable ways to spot and fight advanced media manipulations, like deepfakes,' said Shawn Weil, Chief Growth Officer at Aptima. 'DARPA is leading the way to fill this gap by going beyond improving detection capabilities, developing better ways to determine why and how content has been synthesized or manipulated – ultimately enabling trust and security in digital media across different sectors.' Through this effort, Aptima will leverage its role as the test and evaluation lead for DARPA's Semantic Forensics (SemaFor) program to explore commercial pathways that can help bridge the gap between cutting-edge analytics and commercially available products. 'This is a crucial step toward creating a more trustworthy digital ecosystem,' added Weil. 'We're thrilled to be working with DARPA to chart a path forward—one that connects innovation with real-world need.' About Aptima, Inc. Aptima, Inc. is a leader in optimizing human performance through innovative technologies that blend behavioral science, artificial intelligence, and advanced analytics. For 30 years, Aptima has delivered groundbreaking solutions in training, readiness, and human-machine teaming for industries including defense, healthcare, and education. Its intelligent systems enhance decision making, training, and operational efficiency by harnessing data-driven insights and adaptive tools. For more information, visit CONTACT: Media Contact: Joel Greenberg DCPR Joel@ 202-363-1065 | 202-669-3639 cellError in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
