CLOV vs CVS

For growth investors, Clover Health Investments, Corp.

(CLOV) is the stronger pick with 40. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 7. 8% for CVS Health Corporation (CVS). CVS Health Corporation (CVS) offers the better valuation at 62. 5x trailing P/E (12. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate CVS Health Corporation (CVS) a "Buy" — based on 41 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 forward P/E, CVS Health Corporation is actually cheaper at 12.

1x.

Over the past 5 years, CVS Health Corporation (CVS) delivered a total return of +18.

4%, compared to -67. 4% for Clover Health Investments, Corp. (CLOV). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CVS returned +3. 9% versus CLOV's -73. 7%. 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), CVS Health Corporation (CVS) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

05β versus Clover Health Investments, Corp. 's 1. 22β — meaning CLOV is approximately 2312% more volatile than CVS relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Clover Health Investments, Corp.

(CLOV) is pulling ahead at 40. 3% versus 7. 8% for CVS Health Corporation (CVS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: CVS Health Corporation grew EPS -62. 0% year-over-year, compared to -93. 6% for Clover Health Investments, Corp.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CLOV leads at 20. 6% 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.

CVS Health Corporation (CVS) is the more profitable company, earning 0.

4% net margin versus -4. 4% for Clover Health Investments, Corp. — meaning it keeps 0. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CVS leads at 2. 6% versus -4. 4% for CLOV. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CLOV leads at 18. 5%, 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, CVS Health Corporation (CVS) trades at 12.

1x forward P/E versus 62. 6x for Clover Health Investments, Corp. — 50. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CLOV: 24. 3% to $3. 33.

In this comparison, CVS (3.

1% yield) pays a dividend. CLOV does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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. 1% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CVS: +3. 9%, CLOV: -73. 7%), 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.

In terms of investment character: CLOV is a small-cap high-growth stock; CVS is a mid-cap income-oriented stock. CVS pays a dividend while CLOV 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.