AVNS vs SYK vs ZBH vs MMSI

For growth investors, Merit Medical Systems, Inc.

(MMSI) is the stronger pick with 11. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 9% for Avanos Medical, Inc. (AVNS). Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. (ZBH) offers the better valuation at 23. 5x trailing P/E (9. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Stryker Corporation (SYK) a "Buy" — based on 50 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, Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.

(ZBH) is the cheapest at 23. 5x versus Stryker Corporation at 35. 0x. On forward P/E, Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 9. 8x.

Over the past 5 years, Stryker Corporation (SYK) delivered a total return of +21.

5%, compared to -47. 3% for Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. (ZBH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MMSI returned +214. 6% versus ZBH's -17. 8%. 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), Stryker Corporation (SYK) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

55β versus Avanos Medical, Inc. 's 1. 54β — meaning AVNS is approximately 182% more volatile than SYK relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Avanos Medical, Inc. (AVNS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 17% versus 66% for Stryker Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Merit Medical Systems, Inc.

(MMSI) is pulling ahead at 11. 7% versus 1. 9% for Avanos Medical, Inc. (AVNS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Avanos Medical, Inc. grew EPS 82. 9% year-over-year, compared to -19. 9% for Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, SYK leads at 10. 8% 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.

Stryker Corporation (SYK) is the more profitable company, earning 12.

9% net margin versus -9. 7% for Avanos Medical, Inc. — meaning it keeps 12. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SYK leads at 19. 5% versus -8. 8% for AVNS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SYK leads at 64. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.

(ZBH) trades at 9. 8x forward P/E versus 24. 8x for Avanos Medical, Inc. — 14. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MMSI: 52. 4% to $95. 00.

In this comparison, ZBH (1.

1% yield), SYK (1. 1% yield) pay a dividend. AVNS, MMSI do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

55), 1. 1% yield, +187. 1% 10Y return). Avanos Medical, Inc. (AVNS) carries a higher beta of 1. 54 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (SYK: +187. 1%, AVNS: -17. 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.

SYK, ZBH pay a dividend while AVNS, MMSI 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.