ASTH vs UNH

For growth investors, Astrana Health, Inc.

(ASTH) is the stronger pick with 56. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 11. 8% for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH). UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) offers the better valuation at 27. 8x trailing P/E (20. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Astrana Health, Inc. (ASTH) a "Buy" — based on 9 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, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) is the cheapest at 27.

8x versus Astrana Health, Inc. at 76. 6x. On forward P/E, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated is actually cheaper at 20. 1x.

Over the past 5 years, Astrana Health, Inc.

(ASTH) delivered a total return of +9. 4%, compared to -2. 5% for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ASTH returned +598. 0% versus UNH's +220. 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), UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

59β versus Astrana Health, Inc. 's 1. 11β — meaning ASTH is approximately 89% more volatile than UNH relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 77% versus 193% for Astrana Health, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Astrana Health, Inc.

(ASTH) is pulling ahead at 56. 4% versus 11. 8% for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: UnitedHealth Group Incorporated grew EPS -14. 7% year-over-year, compared to -48. 9% for Astrana Health, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ASTH leads at 40. 6% 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.

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) is the more profitable company, earning 2.

7% net margin versus 0. 7% for Astrana Health, Inc. — meaning it keeps 2. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: UNH leads at 4. 2% versus 2. 5% for ASTH. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — UNH leads at 18. 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.

On forward earnings alone, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) trades at 20.

1x forward P/E versus 28. 5x for Astrana Health, Inc. — 8. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for UNH: 4. 9% to $385. 43.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) offers the highest yield at 2. 4%, versus 0. 5% for Astrana Health, Inc. (ASTH).

For long-horizon retirement investors, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

59), 2. 4% yield, +220. 3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (UNH: +220. 3%, ASTH: +598. 0%), 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: ASTH is a small-cap high-growth stock; UNH is a large-cap quality compounder stock. UNH pays a dividend while ASTH 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.