GMED vs ATEC vs SYK vs ZBH vs MDT

For growth investors, Alphatec Holdings, Inc.

(ATEC) is the stronger pick with 25. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 6% for Medtronic plc (MDT). Medtronic plc (MDT) offers the better valuation at 21. 6x trailing P/E (13. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Globus Medical, Inc. (GMED) a "Buy" — based on 36 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, Medtronic plc (MDT) is the cheapest at 21.

6x versus Stryker Corporation at 35. 0x. On forward P/E, Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 9. 7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Globus Medical, Inc. wins at 0. 54x versus Medtronic plc's 35. 17x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Stryker Corporation (SYK) delivered a total return of +21.

5%, compared to -48. 7% for Alphatec Holdings, Inc. (ATEC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GMED returned +233. 8% versus ZBH's -18. 8%. 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), Medtronic plc (MDT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

42β versus Globus Medical, Inc. 's 1. 23β — meaning GMED is approximately 190% more volatile than MDT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Globus Medical, Inc. (GMED) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 17% for Alphatec Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Alphatec Holdings, Inc.

(ATEC) is pulling ahead at 25. 0% versus 3. 6% for Medtronic plc (MDT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Globus Medical, Inc. grew EPS 422. 7% year-over-year, compared to -19. 9% for Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, GMED leads at 42. 2% 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.

Globus Medical, Inc.

(GMED) is the more profitable company, earning 18. 3% net margin versus -18. 8% for Alphatec Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 18. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SYK leads at 19. 5% versus -10. 7% for ATEC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ATEC leads at 69. 6%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Globus Medical, Inc. (GMED) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 54x versus Medtronic plc's 35. 17x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. (ZBH) trades at 9. 7x forward P/E versus 24. 1x for Alphatec Holdings, Inc. — 14. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ATEC: 154. 3% to $19. 71.

In this comparison, MDT (3.

6% yield), ZBH (1. 1% yield), SYK (1. 1% yield) pay a dividend. GMED, ATEC do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

52), 1. 1% yield, +179. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SYK: +179. 2%, GMED: +233. 8%), 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.

In terms of investment character: GMED is a mid-cap high-growth stock; ATEC is a small-cap high-growth stock; SYK is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; ZBH is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; MDT is a mid-cap income-oriented stock. SYK, ZBH, MDT pay a dividend while GMED, ATEC 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.