ASTH vs UNH vs CVS vs ALHC

For growth investors, Astrana Health, Inc.

(ASTH) is the stronger pick with 56. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 7. 8% for CVS Health Corporation (CVS). UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) offers the better valuation at 27. 9x trailing P/E (20. 2x 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.

9x versus Astrana Health, Inc. at 78. 4x. On forward P/E, CVS Health Corporation is actually cheaper at 12. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, CVS Health Corporation (CVS) delivered a total return of +17.

0%, compared to -22. 7% for Alignment Healthcare, Inc. (ALHC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ASTH returned +614. 5% versus CVS's +3. 5%. 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), CVS Health Corporation (CVS) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

05β versus Astrana Health, Inc. 's 1. 11β — meaning ASTH is approximately 2094% more volatile than CVS 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 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, 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. 0% for Alignment Healthcare, 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 0. 4% for ALHC. 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, CVS Health Corporation (CVS) trades at 12.

2x forward P/E versus 140. 9x for Alignment Healthcare, Inc. — 128. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ALHC: 36. 1% to $24. 83.

In this comparison, CVS (3.

1% yield), UNH (2. 4% yield), ASTH (0. 4% yield) pay a dividend. ALHC does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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. 5%, ALHC: +5. 4%), 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; CVS is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; ALHC is a small-cap high-growth stock. UNH, CVS pay a dividend while ASTH, ALHC 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.