Medical - Healthcare Plans
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CI vs CVS
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Medical - Healthcare Plans
CI vs CVS — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Medical - Healthcare Plans | Medical - Healthcare Plans |
| Market Cap | $74.35B | $111.32B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $277.94B | $407.90B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $6.29B | $2.93B |
| Gross Margin | 9.3% | 13.9% |
| Operating Margin | 3.4% | 1.5% |
| Forward P/E | 9.3x | 12.1x |
| Total Debt | $31.46B | $93.59B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $7.68B | $8.51B |
CI vs CVS — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cigna Corporation (CI) | 100 | 142.9 | +42.9% |
| CVS Health Corporat… (CVS) | 100 | 132.5 | +32.5% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CI vs CVS
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
CI carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 11.3%, EPS growth 82.9%, 3Y rev CAGR 15.1%
- 135.9% 10Y total return vs CVS's 3.9%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.35, Low D/E 75.1%, current ratio 0.85x
CVS is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and defensive.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.05, yield 3.1%
- Beta 0.05, yield 3.1%, current ratio 0.84x
- Beta 0.05 vs CI's 0.35
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 11.3% revenue growth vs CVS's 7.8% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (9.3x vs 12.1x) | |
| Quality / Margins | Combined ratio 1.0 vs CVS's 1.0 (lower = better underwriting) | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.05 vs CI's 0.35 | |
| Dividends | 2.1% yield, 6-year raise streak, vs CVS's 3.1% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +35.2% vs CI's -13.7% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 4.1% ROA vs CVS's 1.1%, ROIC 10.4% vs 5.0% |
CI vs CVS — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
CI vs CVS — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — CI and CVS each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CVS and CI operate at a comparable scale, with $407.9B and $277.9B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 2.3% (CI) to 0.7% (CVS).
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $277.9B | $407.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $12.1B | $9.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $6.3B | $2.9B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $7.7B | $7.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +9.3% | +13.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +3.4% | +1.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +2.3% | +0.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +2.8% | +1.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +4.6% | +6.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +29.1% | +63.1% |
Valuation Metrics
CI leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 12.7x trailing earnings, CI trades at a 80% valuation discount to CVS's 62.5x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, CI's 8.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CVS's 13.1x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $74.3B | $111.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $98.1B | $196.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 12.72x | 62.49x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 9.30x | 12.13x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 8.34x | 13.10x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.27x | 0.28x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.79x | 1.46x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 8.86x | 14.26x |
Profitability & Efficiency
CI leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CI delivers a 15.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $15 in annual profit, vs $4 for CVS. CI carries lower financial leverage with a 0.75x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CVS's 1.24x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CI scores 8/9 vs CVS's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +15.1% | +3.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.1% | +1.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +10.4% | +5.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +9.2% | +6.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.75x | 1.24x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $23.8B | $85.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $7.7B | $8.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $31.5B | $93.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 6.77x | 4.19x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
CVS leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in CI five years ago would be worth $11,971 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,843 for CVS. Over the past 12 months, CVS leads with a +35.2% total return vs CI's -13.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CVS at 10.8% vs CI's 4.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +1.6% | +10.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -13.7% | +35.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +12.9% | +35.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +19.7% | +18.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +135.9% | +3.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +4.1% | +10.8% |
Risk & Volatility
CVS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CVS is the less volatile stock with a 0.05 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CI's 0.35 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CVS currently trades 98.0% from its 52-week high vs CI's 83.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.35x | 0.05x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $338.89 | $88.63 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $239.51 | $58.35 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +83.2% | +98.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 47.9 | 57.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.6M | 7.4M |
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — CI and CVS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CI as "Buy" and CVS as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 16.3% upside for CI (target: $328) vs 9.6% for CVS (target: $95). For income investors, CVS offers the higher dividend yield at 3.08% vs CI's 2.15%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $328.00 | $95.20 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 39 | 41 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.1% | +3.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 6 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $6.06 | $2.67 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +4.9% | 0.0% |
CI leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). CVS leads in 2 (Total Returns, Risk & Volatility). 2 tied.
CI vs CVS: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CI or CVS a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Cigna Corporation (CI) is the stronger pick with 11.
3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 7. 8% for CVS Health Corporation (CVS). Cigna Corporation (CI) offers the better valuation at 12. 7x trailing P/E (9. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Cigna Corporation (CI) a "Buy" — based on 39 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.
02Which has the better valuation — CI or CVS?
On trailing P/E, Cigna Corporation (CI) is the cheapest at 12.
7x versus CVS Health Corporation at 62. 5x. On forward P/E, Cigna Corporation is actually cheaper at 9. 3x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CI or CVS?
Over the past 5 years, Cigna Corporation (CI) delivered a total return of +19.
7%, compared to +18. 4% for CVS Health Corporation (CVS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CI returned +135. 9% versus CVS's +3. 9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — CI or CVS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), CVS Health Corporation (CVS) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
05β versus Cigna Corporation's 0. 35β — meaning CI is approximately 601% more volatile than CVS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Cigna Corporation (CI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 75% versus 124% for CVS Health Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — CI or CVS?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Cigna Corporation (CI) is pulling ahead at 11.
3% versus 7. 8% for CVS Health Corporation (CVS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Cigna Corporation grew EPS 82. 9% year-over-year, compared to -62. 0% for CVS Health Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, CI leads at 15. 1% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — CI or CVS?
Cigna Corporation (CI) is the more profitable company, earning 2.
2% net margin versus 0. 4% for CVS Health Corporation — meaning it keeps 2. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CI leads at 3. 3% versus 2. 6% for CVS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CVS leads at 13. 8%, 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.
07Is CI or CVS more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Cigna Corporation (CI) trades at 9.
3x forward P/E versus 12. 1x for CVS Health Corporation — 2. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CI: 16. 3% to $328. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — CI or CVS?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
CVS Health Corporation (CVS) offers the highest yield at 3. 1%, versus 2. 1% for Cigna Corporation (CI).
09Is CI or CVS better for a retirement portfolio?
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. 9%, CI: +135. 9%), 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.
10What are the main differences between CI and CVS?
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: CI is a mid-cap deep-value stock; CVS is a mid-cap income-oriented stock. 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.
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