|
BOSTON,
MA - January 10, 2006 - KLD Indexes announced today that it added
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated to KLD's Domini 400 SocialSM
Index (DS 400 Index). KLD Indexes is a division of KLD Research
& Analytics, Inc., an independent investment research firm providing
investment management tools used by professionals to serve clients
requiring investment strategies based on corporate social and environmental
performance.
Quest
Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX) was added after the close of trading December
30, 2005. Quest Diagnostics provides routine testing services for
cholesterol, HIV, pregnancy, alcohol and drugs. In addition the
company provides gene-based testing and non-gene-based esoteric
testing for areas such as endocrinology and metabolism. Quest manufactures
and markets diagnostic test kits and systems primarily for esoteric
testing under the Nichols Institute Diagnostics brand name. The
company also conducts clinical trials testing for pharmaceutical
companies. Quest is headquartered in Lyndhurst, New Jersey.
KLD
Indexes added Quest Diagnostics because it provides critical products
and services in the health care sector, including HIV testing. The
company has established a thorough quality management program through
which each employee receives annual training related to compliance
and quality topics. All employees are eligible for a cash profit
sharing program, which is based on financial and non-financial metrics,
including reaching quality goals. Quest also promotes employee involvement
through local "town" meetings, which provide an opportunity for
employees to question senior management or provide feedback, and
through employee satisfaction surveys. In addition, Quest has a
notably strong diversity record.
Summary
of changes to KLD's Domini 400 Social Index - December 15, 2005
| Company |
Sector |
Size
($ millions)* |
| Quest
Diagnostics Incorporated |
Health
Care |
10,255 |
|
*As of
December 30, 2005
About KLD's
Domini 400 Social Index
KLD's
Domini 400 Social Index is a float-adjusted market capitalization
weighted common stock index modeled on the S&P 500®
Index. The DS 400 Index is the first benchmark for equity portfolios
subject to multiple social screens. It is a widely recognized benchmark
for measuring the impact of social screening on financial returns
and the performance of socially screened portfolios.
About
KLD Indexes
KLD Indexes,
a division of KLD Research & Analytics, Inc., constructs indexes
for investors who integrate environmental, social and governance
factors into their investment decisions. Investors, trustees and
consultants depend on the quality and integrity of KLD Indexes,
which are designed to be transparent, representative and investable.
Today, more than $10 billion is invested in funds based on KLD's
family of seven indexes, including the Domini 400 Social Index,
KLD Select SocialSM
Index, KLD Global Climate 100SM
Index, KLD Broad Market SocialSM
Index, KLD Large Cap SocialSM
Index, KLD Catholic Values 400SM
Index and KLD NASDAQ Social Index.
For more information about KLD Indexes, please see
our website (www.KLDIndexes.com)
or contact Priya Khetarpal by phone (617.426.5270 x218) or e-mail
(pkhetarpal@kld.com).
|