ARQT vs PRGO vs MCK vs CAH

For growth investors, Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc.

(ARQT) is the stronger pick with 91. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 8% for Perrigo Company plc (PRGO). Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH) offers the better valuation at 28. 7x trailing P/E (17. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc. (ARQT) a "Buy" — 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.

On trailing P/E, Cardinal Health, Inc.

(CAH) is the cheapest at 28. 7x versus McKesson Corporation at 29. 2x. On forward P/E, Perrigo Company plc is actually cheaper at 5. 6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, McKesson Corporation (MCK) delivered a total return of +286.

9%, compared to -60. 1% for Perrigo Company plc (PRGO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MCK returned +348. 1% versus PRGO's -77. 7%. 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), Cardinal Health, Inc.

(CAH) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 03β versus Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc. 's 1. 48β — meaning ARQT is approximately 4266% more volatile than CAH relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc. (ARQT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 135% for Perrigo Company plc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc.

(ARQT) is pulling ahead at 91. 3% versus -2. 8% for Perrigo Company plc (PRGO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc. grew EPS 88. 8% year-over-year, compared to -723. 2% for Perrigo Company plc. Over a 3-year CAGR, ARQT leads at 367. 3% 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.

McKesson Corporation (MCK) is the more profitable company, earning 0.

9% net margin versus -33. 5% for Perrigo Company plc — meaning it keeps 0. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PRGO leads at 8. 1% versus -3. 3% for ARQT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ARQT leads at 90. 2%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, Perrigo Company plc (PRGO) trades at 5.

6x forward P/E versus 77. 6x for Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc. — 72. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ARQT: 71. 8% to $35. 50.

In this comparison, PRGO (9.

8% yield), CAH (1. 1% yield), MCK (0. 4% yield) pay a dividend. ARQT does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Cardinal Health, Inc.

(CAH) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 03), 1. 1% yield, +160. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CAH: +160. 8%, ARQT: -5. 2%), 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.

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: ARQT is a small-cap high-growth stock; PRGO is a small-cap income-oriented stock; MCK is a mid-cap high-growth stock; CAH is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. PRGO, CAH pay a dividend while ARQT, MCK 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.