EHC vs UNH

For growth investors, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) is the stronger pick with 11.

8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 10. 5% for Encompass Health Corporation (EHC). Encompass Health Corporation (EHC) offers the better valuation at 19. 0x trailing P/E (17. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Encompass Health Corporation (EHC) a "Buy" — based on 26 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, Encompass Health Corporation (EHC) is the cheapest at 19.

0x versus UnitedHealth Group Incorporated at 27. 8x. On forward P/E, Encompass Health Corporation is actually cheaper at 17. 7x.

Over the past 5 years, Encompass Health Corporation (EHC) delivered a total return of +60.

0%, compared to -2. 5% for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: EHC returned +246. 0% versus UNH's +220. 3%. 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), Encompass Health Corporation (EHC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

40β versus UnitedHealth Group Incorporated's 0. 59β — meaning UNH is approximately 45% more volatile than EHC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 77% versus 83% for Encompass Health Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) is pulling ahead at 11.

8% versus 10. 5% for Encompass Health Corporation (EHC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Encompass Health Corporation grew EPS 24. 2% 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.

Encompass Health Corporation (EHC) is the more profitable company, earning 9.

5% net margin versus 2. 7% for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated — meaning it keeps 9. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: EHC leads at 17. 7% versus 4. 2% for UNH. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — EHC leads at 95. 7%, 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, Encompass Health Corporation (EHC) trades at 17.

7x forward P/E versus 20. 1x for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated — 2. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for EHC: 45. 7% to $153. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) offers the highest yield at 2. 4%, versus 0. 7% for Encompass Health Corporation (EHC).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Encompass Health Corporation (EHC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

40), 0. 7% yield, +246. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (EHC: +246. 0%, UNH: +220. 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.

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.