CVS
CVS Health Corporation
Medical - Healthcare Plans
Market Cap$102.56B
5Y Perf.+23.1%
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Stock Comparison
CVS vs UNH
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
UNH
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated
Medical - Healthcare Plans
Market Cap$330.28B
5Y Perf.+19.4%
CVS vs UNH — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | CVS | UNH |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Medical - Healthcare Plans | Medical - Healthcare Plans |
| Market Cap | $102.56B | $330.28B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $402.07B | $449.71B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $1.77B | $12.04B |
| Gross Margin | 13.8% | 18.8% |
| Operating Margin | 1.2% | 4.2% |
| Forward P/E | 11.3x | 19.9x |
| Total Debt | $93.59B | $78.39B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $8.51B | $24.36B |
CVS vs UNH — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
CVS
UNH
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVS Health Corporat… (CVS) | 100 | 123.1 | +23.1% |
| UnitedHealth Group … (UNH) | 100 | 119.4 | +19.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CVS vs UNH
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: CVS leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and capital preservation and lower volatility. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
CVS
CVS Health Corporation
The Insurance Pick
CVS carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.05, yield 3.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.05, current ratio 0.84x
- Beta 0.05, yield 3.3%, current ratio 0.84x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
UNH
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated
The Insurance Pick
UNH is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 11.8%, EPS growth -14.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 11.4%
- 217.0% 10Y total return vs CVS's -2.2%
- 11.8% revenue growth vs CVS's 7.8%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | UNH | 11.8% revenue growth vs CVS's 7.8% |
| Value | CVS | Lower P/E (11.3x vs 19.9x) |
| Quality / Margins | UNH | Combined ratio 1.0 vs CVS's 1.0 (lower = better underwriting) |
| Stability / Safety | CVS | Beta 0.05 vs UNH's 0.59 |
| Dividends | CVS | 3.3% yield, vs UNH's 2.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | CVS | +24.2% vs UNH's -7.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | UNH | 3.9% ROA vs CVS's 0.7%, ROIC 9.2% vs 5.0% |
CVS vs UNH — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
CVS vs UNH — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLCVSLAGGINGUNH
UNHUnitedHealth Group In…
2leads
CVSCVS Health Corporation
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs UNHMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
UNH4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
CVS5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
UNH9/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
CVS4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
CVS2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
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Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
UNH leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
UNH and CVS operate at a comparable scale, with $449.7B and $402.1B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 2.7% (UNH) to 0.4% (CVS). On growth, CVS holds the edge at +8.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CVSCVS Health Corpor… | UNHUnitedHealth Grou… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $402.1B | $449.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $9.3B | $23.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.8B | $12.0B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $7.8B | $19.7B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +13.8% | +18.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +1.2% | +4.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +0.4% | +2.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +1.9% | +4.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +8.2% | +2.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +76.9% | +0.7% |
UNH leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
CVS leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 27.5x trailing earnings, UNH trades at a 53% valuation discount to CVS's 58.1x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, CVS's 12.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than UNH's 16.5x.
| Metric | CVSCVS Health Corpor… | UNHUnitedHealth Grou… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $102.6B | $330.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $187.6B | $384.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 58.05x | 27.50x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 11.27x | 19.87x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 12.52x | 16.48x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.26x | 0.74x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.36x | 3.26x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 13.14x | 20.55x |
CVS leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
UNH leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
UNH delivers a 11.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $12 in annual profit, vs $2 for CVS. UNH carries lower financial leverage with a 0.77x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CVS's 1.24x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), UNH scores 6/9 vs CVS's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | CVSCVS Health Corpor… | UNHUnitedHealth Grou… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +2.3% | +11.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.7% | +3.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.0% | +9.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +6.1% | +9.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.24x | 0.77x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $85.1B | $54.0B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $8.5B | $24.4B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $93.6B | $78.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.68x | 4.71x |
UNH leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
CVS leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in CVS five years ago would be worth $11,195 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $9,722 for UNH. Over the past 12 months, CVS leads with a +24.2% total return vs UNH's -7.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CVS at 7.8% vs UNH's -7.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CVSCVS Health Corpor… | UNHUnitedHealth Grou… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +2.4% | +8.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +24.2% | -7.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +25.3% | -21.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +11.9% | -2.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -2.2% | +217.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +7.8% | -7.7% |
CVS leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
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 UNH's 0.59 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 UNH's 88.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CVSCVS Health Corpor… | UNHUnitedHealth Grou… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.05x | 0.59x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $85.15 | $409.70 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $58.35 | $234.60 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +94.8% | +88.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 62.0 | 83.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 7.3M | 8.1M |
CVS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — CVS and UNH each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CVS as "Buy" and UNH as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 18.0% upside for CVS (target: $95) vs 5.9% for UNH (target: $385). For income investors, CVS offers the higher dividend yield at 3.31% vs UNH's 2.39%.
| Metric | CVSCVS Health Corpor… | UNHUnitedHealth Grou… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $95.20 | $385.43 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 41 | 52 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.3% | +2.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 25 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.67 | $8.70 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +1.7% |
Evenly matched — CVS and UNH each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
CVS leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). UNH leads in 2 (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). 1 tied.
Best OverallCVS Health Corporation (CVS)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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CVS vs UNH: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CVS or UNH a better buy right now?
For growth investors, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) is the stronger pick with 11.
8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 7. 8% for CVS Health Corporation (CVS). UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) offers the better valuation at 27. 5x trailing P/E (19. 9x 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.
02Which has the better valuation — CVS or UNH?
On trailing P/E, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) is the cheapest at 27.
5x versus CVS Health Corporation at 58. 1x. On forward P/E, CVS Health Corporation is actually cheaper at 11. 3x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CVS or UNH?
Over the past 5 years, CVS Health Corporation (CVS) delivered a total return of +11.
9%, compared to -2. 8% for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: UNH returned +217. 0% 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 — CVS or UNH?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), CVS Health Corporation (CVS) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
05β versus UnitedHealth Group Incorporated's 0. 59β — meaning UNH is approximately 1059% more volatile than CVS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 77% versus 124% for CVS Health Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — CVS or UNH?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) is pulling ahead at 11.
8% versus 7. 8% for CVS Health Corporation (CVS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: UnitedHealth Group Incorporated grew EPS -14. 7% year-over-year, compared to -62. 0% for CVS Health Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, UNH leads at 11. 4% 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 — CVS or UNH?
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) is the more profitable company, earning 2.
7% net margin versus 0. 4% for CVS Health Corporation — meaning it keeps 2. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: UNH leads at 4. 2% versus 2. 6% for CVS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — UNH 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.
07Is CVS or UNH more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, CVS Health Corporation (CVS) trades at 11.
3x forward P/E versus 19. 9x for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated — 8. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CVS: 18. 0% to $95. 20.
08Which pays a better dividend — CVS or UNH?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
CVS Health Corporation (CVS) offers the highest yield at 3. 3%, versus 2. 4% for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH).
09Is CVS or UNH 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%, UNH: +217. 0%), 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 CVS and UNH?
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: CVS is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; UNH is a large-cap quality compounder 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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