MED vs HIMS

For growth investors, Hims & Hers Health, Inc.

(HIMS) is the stronger pick with 59. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -36. 0% for Medifast, Inc. (MED). Hims & Hers Health, Inc. (HIMS) offers the better valuation at 52. 7x trailing P/E (53. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Medifast, Inc. (MED) a "Hold" — based on 12 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.

Over the past 5 years, Hims & Hers Health, Inc.

(HIMS) delivered a total return of +150. 5%, compared to -89. 3% for Medifast, Inc. (MED). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HIMS returned +174. 3% versus MED's +25. 3%. 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), Medifast, Inc.

(MED) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 94β versus Hims & Hers Health, Inc. 's 2. 40β — meaning HIMS is approximately 155% more volatile than MED relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Medifast, Inc. (MED) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 8% versus 2% for Hims & Hers Health, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Hims & Hers Health, Inc.

(HIMS) is pulling ahead at 59. 0% versus -36. 0% for Medifast, Inc. (MED). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Hims & Hers Health, Inc. grew EPS -3. 8% year-over-year, compared to -994. 7% for Medifast, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, HIMS leads at 64. 5% 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.

Hims & Hers Health, Inc.

(HIMS) is the more profitable company, earning 5. 5% net margin versus -4. 8% for Medifast, Inc. — meaning it keeps 5. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HIMS leads at 5. 2% versus -3. 7% for MED. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MED leads at 71. 3%, 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HIMS: 10.

4% to $29. 67.

In this comparison, MED (0.

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

For long-horizon retirement investors, Medifast, Inc.

(MED) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 94)). Hims & Hers Health, Inc. (HIMS) carries a higher beta of 2. 40 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (MED: +25. 3%, HIMS: +174. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (MED (Consumer Cyclical) and HIMS (Healthcare)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: MED is a small-cap quality compounder stock; HIMS is a small-cap high-growth 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.