ALHC
Alignment Healthcare, Inc.
Medical - Healthcare Plans
Market Cap$3.71B
5Y Perf.-17.3%
Compare Stocks
2 / 10Try these comparisons:
Stock Comparison
ALHC vs CVS
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
CVS
CVS Health Corporation
Medical - Healthcare Plans
Market Cap$111.32B
5Y Perf.+15.5%
ALHC vs CVS — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ALHC | CVS |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Medical - Healthcare Plans | Medical - Healthcare Plans |
| Market Cap | $3.71B | $111.32B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $4.26B | $407.90B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $20M | $2.93B |
| Gross Margin | 9.0% | 13.9% |
| Operating Margin | 0.8% | 1.5% |
| Forward P/E | 140.1x | 12.1x |
| Total Debt | $338M | $93.59B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $578M | $8.51B |
ALHC vs CVS — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
ALHC
CVS
| Stock | Mar 21 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alignment Healthcar… (ALHC) | 100 | 82.7 | -17.3% |
| CVS Health Corporat… (CVS) | 100 | 115.5 | +15.5% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ALHC vs CVS
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: CVS leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. Alignment Healthcare, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and operational efficiency and capital deployment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
ALHC
Alignment Healthcare, Inc.
The Insurance Pick
ALHC is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 46.1%, EPS growth 99.4%, 3Y rev CAGR 40.2%
- 4.8% 10Y total return vs CVS's 3.9%
- 46.1% revenue growth vs CVS's 7.8%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
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 3.1%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.05, current ratio 0.84x
- Beta 0.05, yield 3.1%, current ratio 0.84x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ALHC | 46.1% revenue growth vs CVS's 7.8% |
| Value | CVS | Lower P/E (12.1x vs 140.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | CVS | Combined ratio 1.0 vs ALHC's 1.0 (lower = better underwriting) |
| Stability / Safety | CVS | Beta 0.05 vs ALHC's 0.75, lower leverage |
| Dividends | CVS | 3.1% yield; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | CVS | +35.2% vs ALHC's +15.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ALHC | 1.8% ROA vs CVS's 1.1% |
ALHC vs CVS — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2023
FY 2025
ALHC vs CVS — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLCVSLAGGINGALHC
ALHCAlignment Healthcare,…
1leads
CVSCVS Health Corporation
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs ALHCMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
CVS5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
ALHC5/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
Tied
—
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
CVS2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — ALHC and CVS each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CVS is the larger business by revenue, generating $407.9B annually — 95.8x ALHC's $4.3B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 0.7% (CVS) to 0.5% (ALHC). On growth, ALHC holds the edge at +33.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ALHCAlignment Healthc… | CVSCVS Health Corpor… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $4.3B | $407.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $66M | $9.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $20M | $2.9B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $237M | $7.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +9.0% | +13.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +0.8% | +1.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +0.5% | +0.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +5.6% | +1.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +33.3% | +6.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +2.1% | +63.1% |
Evenly matched — ALHC and CVS each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
CVS leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, CVS's 13.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than ALHC's 76.6x.
| Metric | ALHCAlignment Healthc… | CVSCVS Health Corpor… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.7B | $111.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3.5B | $196.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -4902.70x | 62.49x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 140.08x | 12.13x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 76.63x | 13.10x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.94x | 0.28x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 20.04x | 1.46x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 32.75x | 14.26x |
CVS leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ALHC leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ALHC delivers a 11.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $11 in annual profit, vs $4 for CVS. CVS carries lower financial leverage with a 1.24x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ALHC's 1.89x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ALHC scores 6/9 vs CVS's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ALHCAlignment Healthc… | CVSCVS Health Corpor… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +11.5% | +3.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.8% | +1.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | — | +5.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.9% | +6.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.89x | 1.24x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$240M | $85.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $578M | $8.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $338M | $93.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.27x | 4.19x |
ALHC leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — ALHC and CVS each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in CVS five years ago would be worth $11,843 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $7,216 for ALHC. Over the past 12 months, CVS leads with a +35.2% total return vs ALHC's +15.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ALHC at 35.9% vs CVS's 10.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ALHCAlignment Healthc… | CVSCVS Health Corpor… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -10.3% | +10.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +15.4% | +35.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +150.9% | +35.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -27.8% | +18.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +4.8% | +3.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +35.9% | +10.8% |
Evenly matched — ALHC and CVS each lead in 3 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 ALHC's 0.75 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CVS currently trades 98.0% from its 52-week high vs ALHC's 76.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ALHCAlignment Healthc… | CVSCVS Health Corpor… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.75x | 0.05x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $23.87 | $88.63 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $11.63 | $58.35 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +76.0% | +98.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 38.0 | 57.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.6M | 7.4M |
CVS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ALHC as "Buy" and CVS as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 36.9% upside for ALHC (target: $25) vs 9.6% for CVS (target: $95). CVS is the only dividend payer here at 3.08% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ALHCAlignment Healthc… | CVSCVS Health Corpor… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $24.83 | $95.20 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 16 | 41 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +3.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $2.67 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
CVS leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility). ALHC leads in 1 (Profitability & Efficiency). 2 tied.
Best OverallCVS Health Corporation (CVS)Leads 2 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
ALHC vs CVS: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ALHC or CVS a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Alignment Healthcare, Inc.
(ALHC) is the stronger pick with 46. 1% 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 Alignment Healthcare, Inc. (ALHC) a "Buy" — based on 16 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 — ALHC or CVS?
On forward P/E, CVS Health Corporation is actually cheaper at 12.
1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ALHC or CVS?
Over the past 5 years, CVS Health Corporation (CVS) delivered a total return of +18.
4%, compared to -27. 8% for Alignment Healthcare, Inc. (ALHC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ALHC returned +4. 8% versus CVS's +3. 9%. 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 — ALHC or CVS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), CVS Health Corporation (CVS) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
05β versus Alignment Healthcare, Inc. 's 0. 75β — meaning ALHC is approximately 1379% more volatile than CVS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, CVS Health Corporation (CVS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 124% versus 189% for Alignment Healthcare, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ALHC or CVS?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Alignment Healthcare, Inc.
(ALHC) is pulling ahead at 46. 1% versus 7. 8% for CVS Health Corporation (CVS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Alignment Healthcare, Inc. grew EPS 99. 4% year-over-year, compared to -62. 0% for CVS Health Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, ALHC leads at 40. 2% 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 — ALHC or CVS?
CVS Health Corporation (CVS) is the more profitable company, earning 0.
4% net margin versus -0. 0% for Alignment Healthcare, Inc. — 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 0. 4% for ALHC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CVS leads at 13. 8%, 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 ALHC or CVS more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, CVS Health Corporation (CVS) trades at 12.
1x forward P/E versus 140. 1x for Alignment Healthcare, Inc. — 128. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ALHC: 36. 9% to $24. 83.
08Which pays a better dividend — ALHC or CVS?
In this comparison, CVS (3.
1% yield) pays a dividend. ALHC does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is ALHC or CVS 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. 1% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CVS: +3. 9%, ALHC: +4. 8%), 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 ALHC and CVS?
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: ALHC is a small-cap high-growth stock; CVS is a mid-cap income-oriented stock. CVS pays a dividend while ALHC 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that outperform both.
Revenue Growth>
%
(ALHC: 33.3% · CVS: 6.2%)You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.