CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 137	$ 359
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $269 and $265 as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively	924	926
Inventories	95	82
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	150	155
Assets held for sale	0	9
Total current assets	1,306	1,531
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,145	1,029
Goodwill	6,335	6,000
Intangible assets, net	1,119	949
Investments in equity method investees	462	443
Other assets	136	148
Total assets	10,503	10,100
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	1,021	975
Current portion of long-term debt	36	6
Total current liabilities	1,057	981
Long-term debt	3,748	3,728
Other liabilities	663	654
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	80	77
Quest Diagnostics stockholders’ equity:
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 600 shares authorized as of both December 31, 2017 and 2016; 216 shares issued as of both December 31, 2017 and 2016	2	2
Additional paid-in capital	2,612	2,545
Retained earnings	7,138	6,613
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(48)	(72)
Treasury stock, at cost; 81 shares and 79 shares as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively	(4,783)	(4,460)
Total Quest Diagnostics stockholders' equity	4,921	4,628
Noncontrolling interests	34	32
Total stockholders' equity	4,955	4,660
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 10,503	$ 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.