HCAT vs GOOG vs MSFT vs AMZN

For growth investors, Alphabet Inc.

(GOOG) is the stronger pick with 15. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 5% for Health Catalyst, Inc. (HCAT). Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) offers the better valuation at 30. 9x trailing P/E (25. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Health Catalyst, Inc. (HCAT) a "Buy" — based on 22 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, Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) is the cheapest at 30.

9x versus Amazon. com, Inc. at 37. 8x. On forward P/E, Health Catalyst, Inc. is actually cheaper at 14. 1x — 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: Alphabet Inc. wins at 1. 09x versus Microsoft Corporation's 1. 35x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Alphabet Inc.

(GOOG) delivered a total return of +231. 0%, compared to -97. 0% for Health Catalyst, Inc. (HCAT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GOOG returned +1013% versus HCAT's -95. 9%. 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), Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

89β versus Health Catalyst, Inc. 's 2. 05β — meaning HCAT is approximately 131% more volatile than MSFT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Health Catalyst, Inc. (HCAT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 8% versus 37% for Amazon. com, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Alphabet Inc.

(GOOG) is pulling ahead at 15. 1% versus 1. 5% for Health Catalyst, Inc. (HCAT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Alphabet Inc. grew EPS 34. 5% year-over-year, compared to -121. 7% for Health Catalyst, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, GOOG leads at 12. 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.

Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) is the more profitable company, earning 36.

1% net margin versus -57. 2% for Health Catalyst, Inc. — meaning it keeps 36. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MSFT leads at 45. 6% versus -51. 7% for HCAT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MSFT leads at 68. 8%, 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, Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 09x versus Microsoft Corporation's 1. 35x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Health Catalyst, Inc. (HCAT) trades at 14. 1x forward P/E versus 34. 8x for Amazon. com, Inc. — 20. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HCAT: 57. 2% to $2. 50.

In this comparison, MSFT (0.

8% yield), GOOG (0. 2% yield) pay a dividend. HCAT, AMZN do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

89), 0. 8% yield, +787. 7% 10Y return). Health Catalyst, Inc. (HCAT) carries a higher beta of 2. 05 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (MSFT: +787. 7%, HCAT: -95. 9%), 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 (HCAT (Healthcare) and GOOG (Communication Services) and MSFT (Technology) and AMZN (Consumer Cyclical)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: HCAT is a small-cap quality compounder stock; GOOG is a mega-cap high-growth stock; MSFT is a mega-cap quality compounder stock; AMZN is a mega-cap quality compounder stock. MSFT pays a dividend while HCAT, GOOG, AMZN 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.