COR
Cencora, Inc.
Medical - Distribution
Market Cap$50.80B
5Y Perf.+173.8%
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Stock Comparison
COR vs UNH
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
UNH
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated
Medical - Healthcare Plans
Market Cap$344.90B
5Y Perf.+24.6%
COR vs UNH — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | COR | UNH |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Medical - Distribution | Medical - Healthcare Plans |
| Market Cap | $50.80B | $344.90B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $328.68B | $449.71B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $2.55B | $12.04B |
| Gross Margin | 3.5% | 18.8% |
| Operating Margin | 1.2% | 4.2% |
| Forward P/E | 14.7x | 20.7x |
| Total Debt | $10.75B | $78.39B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $4.39B | $24.36B |
COR vs UNH — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
COR
UNH
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cencora, Inc. (COR) | 100 | 273.8 | +173.8% |
| UnitedHealth Group … (UNH) | 100 | 124.6 | +24.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: COR vs UNH
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: UNH leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Cencora, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
COR
Cencora, Inc.
The Long-Run Compounder
COR is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night.
- 276.7% 10Y total return vs UNH's 228.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.00, current ratio 0.90x
- Beta 0.00, yield 0.9%, current ratio 0.90x
Best for: long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night
UNH
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated
The Insurance Pick
UNH carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 25 yrs, beta 0.60, yield 2.3%
- Rev growth 11.8%, EPS growth -14.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 11.4%
- 11.8% revenue growth vs COR's 9.3%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | UNH | 11.8% revenue growth vs COR's 9.3% |
| Value | COR | Lower P/E (14.7x vs 20.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | UNH | 2.7% margin vs COR's 0.8% |
| Stability / Safety | COR | Beta 0.00 vs UNH's 0.60 |
| Dividends | UNH | 2.3% yield, 25-year raise streak, vs COR's 0.9% |
| Momentum (1Y) | UNH | +0.8% vs COR's -7.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | UNH | 3.9% ROA vs COR's 3.3%, ROIC 9.2% vs 44.5% |
COR vs UNH — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
COR vs UNH — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLCORLAGGINGUNH
UNHUnitedHealth Group In…
2leads
CORCencora, Inc.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs UNHMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
UNH4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
COR4/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
COR5/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
COR4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
UNH2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
UNH leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
UNH and COR operate at a comparable scale, with $449.7B and $328.7B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 2.7% (UNH) to 0.8% (COR).
| Metric | CORCencora, Inc. | UNHUnitedHealth Grou… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $328.7B | $449.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $5.0B | $23.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2.5B | $12.0B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.6B | $19.7B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +3.5% | +18.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +1.2% | +4.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +0.8% | +2.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +0.5% | +4.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +3.8% | +2.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +128.3% | +0.7% |
UNH leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
COR leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 28.7x trailing earnings, UNH trades at a 12% valuation discount to COR's 32.8x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, COR's 12.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than UNH's 17.1x.
| Metric | CORCencora, Inc. | UNHUnitedHealth Grou… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $50.8B | $344.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $57.1B | $398.9B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 32.80x | 28.72x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 14.74x | 20.71x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 12.14x | 17.10x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.16x | 0.77x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 29.17x | 3.40x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 15.84x | 21.46x |
COR leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
COR leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
COR delivers a 105.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $106 in annual profit, vs $12 for UNH. UNH carries lower financial leverage with a 0.77x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to COR's 6.15x.
| Metric | CORCencora, Inc. | UNHUnitedHealth Grou… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +105.8% | +11.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.3% | +3.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +44.5% | +9.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +23.1% | +9.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 6.15x | 0.77x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $6.4B | $54.0B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $4.4B | $24.4B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $10.7B | $78.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 3.73x | 4.71x |
COR leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
COR leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in COR five years ago would be worth $22,002 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $9,911 for UNH. Over the past 12 months, UNH leads with a +0.8% total return vs COR's -7.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors COR at 16.7% vs UNH's -6.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CORCencora, Inc. | UNHUnitedHealth Grou… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -22.8% | +13.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -7.2% | +0.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +59.0% | -17.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +120.0% | -0.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +276.7% | +228.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +16.7% | -6.3% |
COR leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — COR and UNH each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
COR is the less volatile stock with a 0.00 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than UNH's 0.60 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. UNH currently trades 97.2% from its 52-week high vs COR's 69.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CORCencora, Inc. | UNHUnitedHealth Grou… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.00x | 0.60x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $377.54 | $390.92 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $244.82 | $234.60 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +69.2% | +97.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 19.5 | 76.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.5M | 7.9M |
Evenly matched — COR and UNH each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
UNH leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates COR as "Buy" and UNH as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 54.5% upside for COR (target: $403) vs 1.4% for UNH (target: $385). For income investors, UNH offers the higher dividend yield at 2.29% vs COR's 0.86%.
| Metric | CORCencora, Inc. | UNHUnitedHealth Grou… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $403.29 | $385.43 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 46 | 52 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.9% | +2.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 24 | 25 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.24 | $8.70 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.9% | +1.6% |
UNH leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
COR leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). UNH leads in 2 (Income & Cash Flow, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
Best OverallCencora, Inc. (COR)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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COR vs UNH: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is COR or UNH a better buy right now?
For growth investors, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) is the stronger pick with 11.
8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 9. 3% for Cencora, Inc. (COR). UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) offers the better valuation at 28. 7x trailing P/E (20. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Cencora, Inc. (COR) a "Buy" — based on 46 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 — COR or UNH?
On trailing P/E, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) is the cheapest at 28.
7x versus Cencora, Inc. at 32. 8x. On forward P/E, Cencora, Inc. is actually cheaper at 14. 7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — COR or UNH?
Over the past 5 years, Cencora, Inc.
(COR) delivered a total return of +120. 0%, compared to -0. 9% for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: COR returned +276. 7% versus UNH's +228. 3%. 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 — COR or UNH?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Cencora, Inc.
(COR) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 00β versus UnitedHealth Group Incorporated's 0. 60β — meaning UNH is approximately 19777% more volatile than COR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 77% versus 6% for Cencora, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — COR or UNH?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) is pulling ahead at 11.
8% versus 9. 3% for Cencora, Inc. (COR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Cencora, Inc. grew EPS 5. 7% year-over-year, compared to -14. 7% for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated. Over a 3-year CAGR, UNH leads at 11. 4% 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 — COR or UNH?
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) is the more profitable company, earning 2.
7% net margin versus 0. 5% for Cencora, 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 1. 1% for COR. 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.
07Is COR or UNH more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Cencora, Inc.
(COR) trades at 14. 7x forward P/E versus 20. 7x for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated — 6. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for COR: 54. 5% to $403. 29.
08Which pays a better dividend — COR or UNH?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) offers the highest yield at 2. 3%, versus 0. 9% for Cencora, Inc. (COR).
09Is COR or UNH better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Cencora, Inc.
(COR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 00), 0. 9% yield, +276. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (COR: +276. 7%, UNH: +228. 3%), 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 COR and UNH?
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.
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(COR: 3.8% · UNH: 2.0%)P/E Ratio<
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