Medical - Healthcare Plans
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CI vs CVS
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Medical - Healthcare Plans
CI vs CVS — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Medical - Healthcare Plans | Medical - Healthcare Plans |
| Market Cap | $72.68B | $102.56B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $277.94B | $402.07B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $6.29B | $1.77B |
| Gross Margin | 9.3% | 13.8% |
| Operating Margin | 3.4% | 1.2% |
| Forward P/E | 9.1x | 11.3x |
| Total Debt | $31.46B | $93.59B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $7.68B | $8.51B |
CI vs CVS — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cigna Corporation (CI) | 100 | 139.7 | +39.7% |
| CVS Health Corporat… (CVS) | 100 | 123.1 | +23.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CI vs CVS
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
CI carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 11.3%, EPS growth 82.9%, 3Y rev CAGR 15.1%
- 124.1% 10Y total return vs CVS's -2.2%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.35, Low D/E 75.1%, current ratio 0.85x
CVS is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and defensive.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.05, yield 3.3%
- Beta 0.05, yield 3.3%, current ratio 0.84x
- Beta 0.05 vs CI's 0.35
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 11.3% revenue growth vs CVS's 7.8% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (9.1x vs 11.3x) | |
| Quality / Margins | Combined ratio 1.0 vs CVS's 1.0 (lower = better underwriting) | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.05 vs CI's 0.35 | |
| Dividends | 2.2% yield, 6-year raise streak, vs CVS's 3.3% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +24.2% vs CI's -15.4% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 4.1% ROA vs CVS's 0.7%, ROIC 10.4% vs 5.0% |
CI vs CVS — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
CI vs CVS — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — CI and CVS each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CVS and CI operate at a comparable scale, with $402.1B and $277.9B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 2.3% (CI) to 0.4% (CVS). On growth, CVS holds the edge at +8.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $277.9B | $402.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $12.1B | $9.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $6.3B | $1.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $7.7B | $7.8B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +9.3% | +13.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +3.4% | +1.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +2.3% | +0.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +2.8% | +1.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +4.6% | +8.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +29.1% | +76.9% |
Valuation Metrics
CI leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 12.4x trailing earnings, CI trades at a 79% valuation discount to CVS's 58.1x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, CI's 8.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CVS's 12.5x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $72.7B | $102.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $96.5B | $187.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 12.43x | 58.05x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 9.09x | 11.27x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 8.20x | 12.52x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.26x | 0.26x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.75x | 1.36x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 8.66x | 13.14x |
Profitability & Efficiency
CI leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CI delivers a 15.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $15 in annual profit, vs $2 for CVS. CI carries lower financial leverage with a 0.75x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CVS's 1.24x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CI scores 8/9 vs CVS's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +15.1% | +2.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.1% | +0.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +10.4% | +5.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +9.2% | +6.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.75x | 1.24x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $23.8B | $85.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $7.7B | $8.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $31.5B | $93.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 6.77x | 1.68x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
CVS leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in CI five years ago would be worth $11,658 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,195 for CVS. Over the past 12 months, CVS leads with a +24.2% total return vs CI's -15.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CVS at 7.8% vs CI's 3.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -0.7% | +2.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -15.4% | +24.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +12.2% | +25.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +16.6% | +11.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +124.1% | -2.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +3.9% | +7.8% |
Risk & Volatility
CVS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CVS is the less volatile stock with a 0.05 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CI's 0.35 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CVS currently trades 94.8% from its 52-week high vs CI's 81.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.35x | 0.05x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $338.89 | $85.15 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $239.51 | $58.35 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +81.3% | +94.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 51.2 | 62.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.6M | 7.3M |
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — CI and CVS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CI as "Buy" and CVS as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 19.0% upside for CI (target: $328) vs 18.0% for CVS (target: $95). For income investors, CVS offers the higher dividend yield at 3.31% vs CI's 2.20%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $328.00 | $95.20 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 39 | 41 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.2% | +3.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 6 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $6.06 | $2.67 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +5.0% | 0.0% |
CI leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). CVS leads in 2 (Total Returns, Risk & Volatility). 2 tied.
CI vs CVS: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CI or CVS a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Cigna Corporation (CI) is the stronger pick with 11.
3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 7. 8% for CVS Health Corporation (CVS). Cigna Corporation (CI) offers the better valuation at 12. 4x trailing P/E (9. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Cigna Corporation (CI) a "Buy" — based on 39 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.
02Which has the better valuation — CI or CVS?
On trailing P/E, Cigna Corporation (CI) is the cheapest at 12.
4x versus CVS Health Corporation at 58. 1x. On forward P/E, Cigna Corporation is actually cheaper at 9. 1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CI or CVS?
Over the past 5 years, Cigna Corporation (CI) delivered a total return of +16.
6%, compared to +11. 9% for CVS Health Corporation (CVS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CI returned +124. 1% versus CVS's -2. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — CI or CVS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), CVS Health Corporation (CVS) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
05β versus Cigna Corporation's 0. 35β — meaning CI is approximately 601% more volatile than CVS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Cigna Corporation (CI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 75% versus 124% for CVS Health Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — CI or CVS?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Cigna Corporation (CI) is pulling ahead at 11.
3% versus 7. 8% for CVS Health Corporation (CVS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Cigna Corporation grew EPS 82. 9% year-over-year, compared to -62. 0% for CVS Health Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, CI leads at 15. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — CI or CVS?
Cigna Corporation (CI) is the more profitable company, earning 2.
2% net margin versus 0. 4% for CVS Health Corporation — meaning it keeps 2. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CI leads at 3. 3% versus 2. 6% for CVS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CVS leads at 13. 8%, 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.
07Is CI or CVS more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Cigna Corporation (CI) trades at 9.
1x forward P/E versus 11. 3x for CVS Health Corporation — 2. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CI: 19. 0% to $328. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — CI or CVS?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
CVS Health Corporation (CVS) offers the highest yield at 3. 3%, versus 2. 2% for Cigna Corporation (CI).
09Is CI or CVS better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, CVS Health Corporation (CVS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
05), 3. 3% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CVS: -2. 2%, CI: +124. 1%), 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.
10What are the main differences between CI and CVS?
Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: CI is a mid-cap deep-value stock; CVS is a mid-cap income-oriented stock. 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.
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