HCM vs CAN

For growth investors, Canaan Inc.

(CAN) is the stronger pick with 96. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -24. 8% for HUTCHMED (China) Limited (HCM). HUTCHMED (China) Limited (HCM) offers the better valuation at 60. 5x trailing P/E (41. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate HUTCHMED (China) Limited (HCM) a "Buy" — based on 10 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, HUTCHMED (China) Limited (HCM) delivered a total return of -49.

3%, compared to -92. 3% for Canaan Inc. (CAN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HCM returned +1. 0% versus CAN's -90. 1%. 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), HUTCHMED (China) Limited (HCM) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

66β versus Canaan Inc. 's 4. 41β — meaning CAN is approximately 566% more volatile than HCM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, HUTCHMED (China) Limited (HCM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 12% versus 13% for Canaan Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(CAN) is pulling ahead at 96. 7% versus -24. 8% for HUTCHMED (China) Limited (HCM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Canaan Inc. grew EPS 51. 1% year-over-year, compared to -63. 3% for HUTCHMED (China) Limited. Over a 3-year CAGR, HCM leads at 21. 0% 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.

HUTCHMED (China) Limited (HCM) is the more profitable company, earning 6.

0% net margin versus -39. 7% for Canaan Inc. — meaning it keeps 6. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HCM leads at -6. 9% versus -21. 2% for CAN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HCM leads at 44. 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CAN: 336.

9% to $2. 25.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

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

66)). Canaan Inc. (CAN) carries a higher beta of 4. 41 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (HCM: +1. 0%, CAN: -90. 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 (HCM (Healthcare) and CAN (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: HCM is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CAN is a small-cap high-growth 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.