CAH vs MCK vs HSIC vs OMI vs NXST

For growth investors, McKesson Corporation (MCK) is the stronger pick with 16.

2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -74. 2% for Owens & Minor, Inc. (OMI). Henry Schein, Inc. (HSIC) offers the better valuation at 21. 6x trailing P/E (13. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH) a "Buy" — based on 33 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, Henry Schein, Inc.

(HSIC) is the cheapest at 21. 6x versus Nexstar Media Group, Inc. at 64. 8x. On forward P/E, Owens & Minor, Inc. is actually cheaper at 2. 3x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: McKesson Corporation wins at 0. 49x versus Henry Schein, Inc. 's 4. 21x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

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

9%, compared to -93. 5% for Owens & Minor, Inc. (OMI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MCK returned +348. 1% versus OMI's -86. 2%. 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 Owens & Minor, Inc. 's 1. 44β — meaning OMI is approximately 4160% more volatile than CAH relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Henry Schein, Inc. (HSIC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 77% versus 3% for Nexstar Media Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), McKesson Corporation (MCK) is pulling ahead at 16.

2% versus -74. 2% for Owens & Minor, Inc. (OMI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Cardinal Health, Inc. grew EPS 87. 0% year-over-year, compared to -201. 1% for Owens & Minor, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, MCK 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.

Henry Schein, Inc.

(HSIC) is the more profitable company, earning 3. 0% net margin versus -39. 8% for Owens & Minor, Inc. — meaning it keeps 3. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NXST leads at 17. 4% versus 1. 0% for OMI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NXST leads at 39. 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, McKesson Corporation (MCK) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 49x versus Henry Schein, Inc. 's 4. 21x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Owens & Minor, Inc. (OMI) trades at 2. 3x forward P/E versus 19. 3x for McKesson Corporation — 17. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for OMI: 78. 6% to $4. 00.

In this comparison, NXST (2.

8% yield), CAH (1. 1% yield), MCK (0. 4% yield) pay a dividend. HSIC, OMI do 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%, OMI: -86. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (CAH (Healthcare) and MCK (Healthcare) and HSIC (Healthcare) and OMI (Healthcare) and NXST (Communication Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CAH is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; MCK is a mid-cap high-growth stock; HSIC is a small-cap quality compounder stock; OMI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; NXST is a small-cap quality compounder stock. CAH, NXST pay a dividend while MCK, HSIC, OMI 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.