CRVL vs EHTH vs TDOC vs UNH vs CVS

For growth investors, CorVel Corporation (CRVL) is the stronger pick with 12.

6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 5% for Teladoc Health, Inc. (TDOC). UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) offers the better valuation at 27. 9x trailing P/E (20. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) a "Buy" — based on 52 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, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) is the cheapest at 27.

9x versus CVS Health Corporation at 62. 8x. On forward P/E, CVS Health Corporation is actually cheaper at 12. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, CorVel Corporation (CRVL) delivered a total return of +45.

7%, compared to -97. 3% for eHealth, Inc. (EHTH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CRVL returned +267. 5% versus EHTH's -85. 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), CVS Health Corporation (CVS) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

05β versus eHealth, Inc. 's 1. 99β — meaning EHTH is approximately 3828% more volatile than CVS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, CorVel Corporation (CRVL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 9% versus 124% for CVS Health Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), CorVel Corporation (CRVL) is pulling ahead at 12.

6% versus -1. 5% for Teladoc Health, Inc. (TDOC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Teladoc Health, Inc. grew EPS 80. 6% year-over-year, compared to -62. 0% for CVS Health Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, CRVL leads at 11. 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.

CorVel Corporation (CRVL) is the more profitable company, earning 10.

6% net margin versus -7. 9% for Teladoc Health, Inc. — meaning it keeps 10. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CRVL leads at 13. 5% versus -10. 4% for TDOC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — EHTH leads at 97. 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.

On forward earnings alone, CVS Health Corporation (CVS) trades at 12.

2x forward P/E versus 33. 4x for CorVel Corporation — 21. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CVS: 9. 0% to $95. 20.

In this comparison, EHTH (10.

4% yield), CVS (3. 1% yield), UNH (2. 4% yield) pay a dividend. CRVL, TDOC do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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). Teladoc Health, Inc. (TDOC) carries a higher beta of 1. 91 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CVS: +3. 5%, TDOC: -41. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (CRVL (Financial Services) and EHTH (Financial Services) and TDOC (Healthcare) and UNH (Healthcare) and CVS (Healthcare)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CRVL is a small-cap quality compounder stock; EHTH is a small-cap income-oriented stock; TDOC is a small-cap quality compounder stock; UNH is a large-cap quality compounder stock; CVS is a mid-cap income-oriented stock. EHTH, UNH, CVS pay a dividend while CRVL, TDOC 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.