Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) vs HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) 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 | UHS | 9.7% revenue growth vs HCA's 7.1% |
| Value | UHS | Lower P/E (8.8x vs 17.5x), PEG 0.55 vs 0.83 |
| Quality / Margins | HCA | 9.0% net margin vs UHS's 8.6% |
| Stability / Safety | HCA | Beta 0.29 vs UHS's 0.69 |
| Dividends | HCA | 0.6% yield, 5-year raise streak, vs UHS's 0.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | HCA | +73.9% vs UHS's +18.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | HCA | 11.2% ROA vs UHS's 9.6%, ROIC 19.9% vs 12.4% |
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
Universal Health Services is a major hospital operator that owns and runs acute care hospitals alongside behavioral health facilities across the U.S. and internationally. It generates revenue primarily from patient services—split roughly 60% from acute care and 40% from behavioral health—with payments coming from government programs, private insurers, and self-pay patients. The company's scale and geographic diversification across hundreds of facilities create operational efficiencies and a stable revenue base that smaller regional operators cannot match.
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.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
HCA leads in 4 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Total Returns). UHS leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
HCA is the larger business by revenue, generating $75.6B annually — 4.4x UHS's $17.4B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 9.0% (HCA) to 8.6% (UHS).
| Metric | UHSUniversal Health … | HCAHCA Healthcare, I… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $17.4B | $75.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.6B | $15.5B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.5B | $6.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $831M | $7.7B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +67.0% | +41.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +11.5% | +15.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +8.6% | +9.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +4.8% | +10.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +9.1% | +6.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +41.3% | +44.6% |
Valuation Metrics
At 8.9x trailing earnings, UHS trades at a 52% valuation discount to HCA's 18.7x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), UHS offers better value at 0.56x vs HCA's 0.89x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | UHSUniversal Health … | HCAHCA Healthcare, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3M | $118.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $5.0B | $167.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 8.92x | 18.66x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 8.80x | 17.50x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.56x | 0.89x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 1.93x | 10.82x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.00x | 1.57x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.79x | — |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 0.00x | 15.40x |
Profitability & Efficiency
| Metric | UHSUniversal Health … | HCAHCA Healthcare, I… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +20.1% | — |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +9.6% | +11.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +12.4% | +19.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +16.2% | +27.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.70x | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $5.0B | $49.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $138M | $1.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $5.2B | $50.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 9.66x | 5.37x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in HCA five years ago would be worth $30,878 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $16,427 for UHS. Over the past 12 months, HCA leads with a +73.9% total return vs UHS's +18.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors HCA at 30.2% vs UHS's 16.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | UHSUniversal Health … | HCAHCA Healthcare, I… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -6.3% | +12.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +18.1% | +73.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +56.1% | +120.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +64.3% | +208.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +92.1% | +688.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +16.0% | +30.2% |
Risk & Volatility
HCA is the less volatile stock with a 0.29 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than UHS's 0.69 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. HCA currently trades 95.8% from its 52-week high vs UHS's 83.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | UHSUniversal Health … | HCAHCA Healthcare, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.69x | 0.29x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $246.33 | $552.90 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $152.33 | $295.00 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +83.7% | +95.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 36.4 | 56.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 578K | 879K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates UHS as "Hold" and HCA as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 19.2% upside for UHS (target: $246) vs -1.1% for HCA (target: $524). For income investors, HCA offers the higher dividend yield at 0.56% vs UHS's 0.39%.
| Metric | UHSUniversal Health … | HCAHCA Healthcare, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $245.67 | $523.92 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 43 | 46 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.4% | +0.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 5 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.80 | $2.94 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +100.0% | +8.5% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universal Health Se… (UHS) | 100 | 153.13 | +53.1% |
| HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) | 100 | 367.9 | +267.9% |
HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) returned +209% over 5 years vs Universal Health Se… (UHS)'s +64%. A $10,000 investment in HCA 5 years ago would be worth $30,878 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universal Health Se… (UHS) | $9.8B | $17.4B | +77.8% |
| HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) | $41.5B | $75.6B | +82.2% |
Universal Health Services, Inc.'s revenue grew from $9.8B (2016) to $17.4B (2025) — a 6.6% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universal Health Se… (UHS) | 7.2% | 8.6% | +19.2% |
| HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) | 7.0% | 9.0% | +28.8% |
Universal Health Services, Inc.'s net margin went from 7% (2016) to 9% (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universal Health Se… (UHS) | 14.5 | 9.4 | -35.2% |
| HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) | 14.8 | 16.5 | +11.5% |
Universal Health Services, Inc. has traded in a 9x–16x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~9x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universal Health Se… (UHS) | 7.14 | 23.1 | +223.5% |
| HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) | 7.3 | 28.38 | +288.8% |
Universal Health Services, Inc.'s EPS grew from $7.14 (2016) to $23.10 (2025) — a 14% CAGR. HCA Healthcare, Inc.'s EPS grew from $7.30 (2016) to $28.38 (2025) — a 16% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Universal Health Services, Inc. generated $849M FCF in 2025 (+2929% vs 2021). HCA Healthcare, Inc. generated $8B FCF in 2025 (+43% vs 2021).
UHS vs HCA: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is UHS or HCA a better buy right now?
Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) offers the better valuation at 8.9x trailing P/E (8.8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) a "Buy" — based on 46 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 — UHS or HCA?
On trailing P/E, Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) is the cheapest at 8.9x versus HCA Healthcare, Inc. at 18.7x. On forward P/E, Universal Health Services, Inc. is actually cheaper at 8.8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Universal Health Services, Inc. wins at 0.55x 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 — UHS or HCA?
Over the past 5 years, HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) delivered a total return of +208.8%, compared to +64.3% for Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS). A $10,000 investment in HCA five years ago would be worth approximately $31K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HCA returned +688.3% versus UHS's +92.1%. 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 — UHS or HCA?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) is the lower-risk stock at 0.29β versus Universal Health Services, Inc.'s 0.69β — meaning UHS is approximately 134% more volatile than HCA relative to the S&P 500.
05Which has better profit margins — UHS or HCA?
HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) is the more profitable company, earning 9.0% net margin versus 8.6% for Universal Health Services, Inc. — meaning it keeps 9.0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HCA leads at 15.8% versus 11.5% for UHS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — UHS leads at 67.0%, 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 UHS or HCA 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, Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.55x 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, Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) trades at 8.8x forward P/E versus 17.5x for HCA Healthcare, Inc. — 8.7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for UHS: 19.2% to $245.67.
07Which pays a better dividend — UHS or HCA?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) offers the highest yield at 0.6%, versus 0.4% for Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS).
08Is UHS or HCA 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%, UHS: +92.1%), 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.
09What are the main differences between UHS and HCA?
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: UHS is a small-cap deep-value stock; HCA is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. HCA pays a dividend while UHS 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.
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