Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Option Care Health, Inc. (OPCH) vs HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) vs Tenet Healthcare Corporation (THC) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | OPCH | 13.0% revenue growth vs THC's 3.1% |
| Value | THC | Lower P/E (14.1x vs 17.5x), PEG 0.43 vs 0.83 |
| Quality / Margins | HCA | 9.0% net margin vs OPCH's 3.7% |
| Stability / Safety | HCA | Beta 0.29 vs THC's 0.93 |
| Dividends | HCA | 0.6% yield; 5-year raise streak; OPCH, THC pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | THC | +89.1% vs OPCH's -3.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | HCA | 11.2% ROA vs THC's 4.7%, ROIC 19.9% vs 13.5% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Valuation efficiency (growth/$)
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Option Care Health is a leading provider of home and alternate-site infusion therapy services across the United States. It generates revenue primarily from providing specialized infusion treatments—including anti-infectives, immunoglobulin therapies, and nutrition support—which are billed to insurance providers, Medicare, and Medicaid. The company's competitive advantage lies in its national scale, extensive clinical expertise, and established payer relationships that create significant barriers to entry in the complex home infusion market.
HCA Healthcare is one of the largest for-profit hospital operators in the United States, providing comprehensive medical and surgical services through its network of acute care hospitals and outpatient facilities. It generates revenue primarily from patient services — including inpatient hospital stays, outpatient procedures, and emergency care — with the vast majority coming from government programs like Medicare and Medicaid alongside private insurance reimbursements. The company's scale advantage — operating over 180 hospitals concentrated in high-growth markets — creates significant purchasing power with suppliers and negotiating leverage with payers.
Tenet Healthcare is a diversified healthcare services company that operates hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and urgent care facilities. It generates revenue primarily from hospital operations (acute care services) and ambulatory care centers, with additional income from its Conifer segment providing revenue cycle management services to other healthcare providers. The company's scale and integrated network of facilities across multiple states create operational efficiencies and referral pathways that serve as its competitive advantage.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 3 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
THC leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). HCA leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
HCA is the larger business by revenue, generating $75.6B annually — 13.4x OPCH's $5.6B. HCA is the more profitable business, keeping 9.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to OPCH's 3.7%.
| Metric | OPCHOption Care Healt… | HCAHCA Healthcare, I… | THCTenet Healthcare … |
|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $5.6B | $75.6B | $21.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $405M | $15.5B | $4.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $208M | $6.8B | $1.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $240M | $7.7B | $2.5B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +19.3% | +41.5% | +55.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +6.0% | +15.8% | +16.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +3.7% | +9.0% | +6.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +4.2% | +10.2% | +11.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +8.8% | +6.7% | +9.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +5.7% | +44.6% | +27.1% |
Valuation Metrics
At 15.5x trailing earnings, THC trades at a 39% valuation discount to OPCH's 25.4x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), THC offers better value at 0.47x vs HCA's 0.89x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | OPCHOption Care Healt… | HCAHCA Healthcare, I… | THCTenet Healthcare … |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $5.1B | $118.5B | $21.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $4.9B | $167.6B | $31.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 25.36x | 18.66x | 15.45x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 17.36x | 17.50x | 14.12x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.89x | 0.47x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 12.02x | 10.82x | 7.17x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.90x | 1.57x | 0.99x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.91x | — | 2.42x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 19.70x | 15.40x | 8.32x |
Profitability & Efficiency
THC delivers a 15.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $16 in annual profit, vs $16 for OPCH. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), HCA scores 7/9 vs OPCH's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | OPCHOption Care Healt… | HCAHCA Healthcare, I… | THCTenet Healthcare … |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +15.7% | — | +15.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.0% | +11.2% | +4.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +15.3% | +19.9% | +13.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +12.8% | +27.0% | +14.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | — | 1.47x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$233M | $49.2B | $10.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $233M | $1.0B | $2.9B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $0 | $50.2B | $13.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 3.39x | 5.37x | 5.85x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in THC five years ago would be worth $45,270 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $16,419 for OPCH. Over the past 12 months, THC leads with a +89.1% total return vs OPCH's -3.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors THC at 59.9% vs OPCH's 1.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | OPCHOption Care Healt… | HCAHCA Healthcare, I… | THCTenet Healthcare … |
|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +0.7% | +12.6% | +20.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -3.1% | +73.9% | +89.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +5.8% | +120.8% | +309.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +64.2% | +208.8% | +352.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +275.7% | +688.3% | +864.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +1.9% | +30.2% | +59.9% |
Risk & Volatility
HCA is the less volatile stock with a 0.29 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than THC's 0.93 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. THC currently trades 99.5% from its 52-week high vs OPCH's 88.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | OPCHOption Care Healt… | HCAHCA Healthcare, I… | THCTenet Healthcare … |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.32x | 0.29x | 0.93x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $36.80 | $552.90 | $240.57 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $24.24 | $295.00 | $109.82 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +88.2% | +95.8% | +99.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 34.7 | 56.0 | 74.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.4M | 879K | 826K |
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: OPCH as "Buy", HCA as "Buy", THC as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 17.5% upside for OPCH (target: $38) vs -1.1% for HCA (target: $524). HCA is the only dividend payer here at 0.56% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | OPCHOption Care Healt… | HCAHCA Healthcare, I… | THCTenet Healthcare … |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $38.14 | $523.92 | $257.45 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 14 | 46 | 32 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.6% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $2.94 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +6.1% | +8.5% | +6.8% |
Historical Charts
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Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option Care Health,… (OPCH) | 100 | 224.89 | +124.9% |
| HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) | 100 | 367.9 | +267.9% |
| Tenet Healthcare Co… (THC) | 100 | 662.08 | +562.1% |
Tenet Healthcare Co… (THC) returned +353% over 5 years vs Option Care Health,… (OPCH)'s +64%. A $10,000 investment in THC 5 years ago would be worth $45,270 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option Care Health,… (OPCH) | $936M | $5.6B | +503.8% |
| HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) | $41.5B | $75.6B | +82.2% |
| Tenet Healthcare Co… (THC) | $19.6B | $21.3B | +8.6% |
Option Care Health, Inc.'s revenue grew from $936M (2016) to $5.6B (2025) — a 22.1% CAGR. HCA Healthcare, Inc.'s revenue grew from $41.5B (2016) to $75.6B (2025) — a 6.9% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option Care Health,… (OPCH) | -4.6% | 3.7% | +180.4% |
| HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) | 7.0% | 9.0% | +28.8% |
| Tenet Healthcare Co… (THC) | -1.0% | 6.6% | +774.8% |
Option Care Health, Inc.'s net margin went from -5% (2016) to 4% (2025). HCA Healthcare, Inc.'s net margin went from 7% (2016) to 9% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option Care Health,… (OPCH) | 36.9 | 24.9 | -32.5% |
| HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) | 14.8 | 16.5 | +11.5% |
| Tenet Healthcare Co… (THC) | 16 | 12.8 | -20.0% |
Option Care Health, Inc. has traded in a 19x–37x P/E range over 5 years; current trailing P/E is ~25x. HCA Healthcare, Inc. has traded in a 12x–17x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~19x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option Care Health,… (OPCH) | -1.77 | 1.28 | +172.3% |
| HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) | 7.3 | 28.38 | +288.8% |
| Tenet Healthcare Co… (THC) | -1.93 | 15.49 | +902.6% |
Option Care Health, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-1.77 (2016) to $1.28 (2025). HCA Healthcare, Inc.'s EPS grew from $7.30 (2016) to $28.38 (2025) — a 16% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Option Care Health, Inc. generated $258M FCF in 2025 (+41% vs 2021). HCA Healthcare, Inc. generated $8B FCF in 2025 (+43% vs 2021).
OPCH vs HCA vs THC: Key Questions Answered
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is OPCH or HCA or THC a better buy right now?
Tenet Healthcare Corporation (THC) offers the better valuation at 15.5x trailing P/E (14.1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Option Care Health, Inc. (OPCH) a "Buy" — based on 14 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 — OPCH or HCA or THC?
On trailing P/E, Tenet Healthcare Corporation (THC) is the cheapest at 15.5x versus Option Care Health, Inc. at 25.4x. On forward P/E, Tenet Healthcare Corporation is actually cheaper at 14.1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Tenet Healthcare Corporation wins at 0.43x versus HCA Healthcare, Inc.'s 0.83x — a PEG below 1.0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — OPCH or HCA or THC?
Over the past 5 years, Tenet Healthcare Corporation (THC) delivered a total return of +352.7%, compared to +64.2% for Option Care Health, Inc. (OPCH). A $10,000 investment in THC five years ago would be worth approximately $45K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: THC returned +864.5% versus OPCH's +275.7%. 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 — OPCH or HCA or THC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) is the lower-risk stock at 0.29β versus Tenet Healthcare Corporation's 0.93β — meaning THC is approximately 215% more volatile than HCA relative to the S&P 500.
05Which has better profit margins — OPCH or HCA or THC?
HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) is the more profitable company, earning 9.0% net margin versus 3.7% for Option Care Health, Inc. — meaning it keeps 9.0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: THC leads at 16.5% versus 6.0% for OPCH. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HCA leads at 41.5%, 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.
06Is OPCH or HCA or THC more undervalued right now?
The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential. By this metric, Tenet Healthcare Corporation (THC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.43x versus HCA Healthcare, Inc.'s 0.83x. A PEG below 1.0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Tenet Healthcare Corporation (THC) trades at 14.1x forward P/E versus 17.5x for HCA Healthcare, Inc. — 3.4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for OPCH: 17.5% to $38.14.
07Which pays a better dividend — OPCH or HCA or THC?
In this comparison, HCA (0.6% yield) pays a dividend. OPCH, THC do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is OPCH or HCA or THC better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.29), 0.6% yield, +688.3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HCA: +688.3%, THC: +864.5%), 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.
09What are the main differences between OPCH and HCA and THC?
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: OPCH is a small-cap quality compounder stock; HCA is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; THC is a mid-cap deep-value stock. HCA pays a dividend while OPCH, THC do 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.
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