EHTH vs UNH

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

8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 1% for eHealth, Inc. (EHTH). 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.

Over the past 5 years, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) delivered a total return of -2.

6%, compared to -97. 3% for eHealth, Inc. (EHTH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: UNH returned +220. 6% 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), UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

59β versus eHealth, Inc. 's 1. 99β — meaning EHTH is approximately 239% more volatile than UNH relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, eHealth, Inc. (EHTH) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 14% versus 77% for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated — 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 4. 1% for eHealth, Inc. (EHTH). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: eHealth, Inc. grew EPS 71. 4% 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.

eHealth, Inc.

(EHTH) is the more profitable company, earning 7. 2% net margin versus 2. 7% for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated — meaning it keeps 7. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: EHTH leads at 12. 4% versus 4. 2% for UNH. 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.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

eHealth, Inc. (EHTH) offers the highest yield at 10. 4%, versus 2. 4% for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH).

For long-horizon retirement investors, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

59), 2. 4% yield, +220. 6% 10Y return). eHealth, Inc. (EHTH) carries a higher beta of 1. 99 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (UNH: +220. 6%, EHTH: -85. 2%), 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 (EHTH (Financial Services) and UNH (Healthcare)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: EHTH is a small-cap income-oriented stock; UNH is a large-cap quality compounder 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.