ALC vs HOLX

For growth investors, Alcon Inc.

(ALC) is the stronger pick with 4. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 7% for Hologic, Inc. (HOLX). Hologic, Inc. (HOLX) offers the better valuation at 30. 5x trailing P/E (17. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Alcon Inc. (ALC) a "Buy" — based on 26 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Hologic, Inc.

(HOLX) is the cheapest at 30. 5x versus Alcon Inc. at 32. 3x. On forward P/E, Hologic, Inc. is actually cheaper at 17. 2x.

Over the past 5 years, Hologic, Inc.

(HOLX) delivered a total return of +15. 8%, compared to -6. 7% for Alcon Inc. (ALC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HOLX returned +124. 3% versus ALC's +13. 0%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Hologic, Inc.

(HOLX) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 41β versus Alcon Inc. 's 0. 80β — meaning ALC is approximately 95% more volatile than HOLX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Alcon Inc. (ALC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 24% versus 52% for Hologic, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Alcon Inc.

(ALC) is pulling ahead at 4. 9% versus 1. 7% for Hologic, Inc. (HOLX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Alcon Inc. grew EPS -3. 4% year-over-year, compared to -25. 0% for Hologic, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ALC leads at 6. 1% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Hologic, Inc.

(HOLX) is the more profitable company, earning 13. 8% net margin versus 9. 4% for Alcon Inc. — meaning it keeps 13. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HOLX leads at 17. 4% versus 13. 1% for ALC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HOLX leads at 61. 0%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Hologic, Inc.

(HOLX) trades at 17. 2x forward P/E versus 18. 8x for Alcon Inc. — 1. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ALC: 46. 2% to $93. 36.

In this comparison, ALC (0.

5% yield) pays a dividend. HOLX does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Alcon Inc.

(ALC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 80), 0. 5% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ALC: +13. 0%, HOLX: +124. 3%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

ALC pays a dividend while HOLX does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.