CAI vs GH

For growth investors, Caris Life Sciences, Inc.

(CAI) is the stronger pick with 97. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 32. 9% for Guardant Health, Inc. (GH). Analysts rate Caris Life Sciences, Inc. (CAI) a "Buy" — based on 6 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.

Over the past 5 years, Caris Life Sciences, Inc.

(CAI) delivered a total return of -29. 1%, compared to -31. 9% for Guardant Health, Inc. (GH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GH returned +186. 5% versus CAI's -29. 1%. 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), Guardant Health, Inc.

(GH) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 86β versus Caris Life Sciences, Inc. 's 1. 60β — meaning CAI is approximately 85% more volatile than GH relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Caris Life Sciences, Inc.

(CAI) is pulling ahead at 97. 0% versus 32. 9% for Guardant Health, Inc. (GH). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Caris Life Sciences, Inc. grew EPS 29. 6% year-over-year, compared to 6. 7% for Guardant Health, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CAI leads at 46. 5% 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.

Guardant Health, Inc.

(GH) is the more profitable company, earning -42. 4% net margin versus -66. 2% for Caris Life Sciences, Inc. — meaning it keeps -42. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CAI leads at 5. 6% versus -44. 4% for GH. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CAI leads at 66. 4%, 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CAI: 44.

9% to $28. 75.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

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

(GH) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 86), +186. 5% 10Y return). Caris Life Sciences, Inc. (CAI) carries a higher beta of 1. 60 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (GH: +186. 5%, CAI: -29. 1%), 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.

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.