IRTC vs HOLX vs BDX vs DXCM vs ABT

For growth investors, iRhythm Technologies, Inc.

(IRTC) is the stronger pick with 26. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 7% for Hologic, Inc. (HOLX). Abbott Laboratories (ABT) offers the better valuation at 11. 0x trailing P/E (15. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate iRhythm Technologies, Inc. (IRTC) a "Buy" — based on 19 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, Abbott Laboratories (ABT) is the cheapest at 11.

0x versus Hologic, Inc. at 30. 5x. On forward P/E, Becton, Dickinson and Company is actually cheaper at 11. 9x — 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: Abbott Laboratories wins at 0. 51x versus DexCom, Inc. 's 2. 24x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, iRhythm Technologies, Inc.

(IRTC) delivered a total return of +54. 8%, compared to -29. 3% for DexCom, Inc. (DXCM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IRTC returned +363. 2% versus BDX's +76. 4%. 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), Abbott Laboratories (ABT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

22β versus DexCom, Inc. 's 0. 92β — meaning DXCM is approximately 328% more volatile than ABT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Abbott Laboratories (ABT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 32% versus 5% for iRhythm Technologies, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), iRhythm Technologies, Inc.

(IRTC) is pulling ahead at 26. 2% versus 1. 7% for Hologic, Inc. (HOLX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Abbott Laboratories grew EPS 133. 6% year-over-year, compared to -25. 0% for Hologic, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, IRTC leads at 22. 1% 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.

Abbott Laboratories (ABT) is the more profitable company, earning 31.

9% net margin versus -6. 0% for iRhythm Technologies, Inc. — meaning it keeps 31. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DXCM leads at 19. 6% versus -4. 9% for IRTC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — IRTC leads at 70. 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, Abbott Laboratories (ABT) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 51x versus DexCom, Inc. 's 2. 24x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX) trades at 11. 9x forward P/E versus 27422. 7x for iRhythm Technologies, Inc. — 27410. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for IRTC: 60. 5% to $193. 67.

In this comparison, BDX (2.

8% yield), ABT (2. 6% yield) pay a dividend. IRTC, HOLX, DXCM do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

22), 2. 6% yield, +166. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ABT: +166. 6%, DXCM: +288. 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.

In terms of investment character: IRTC is a small-cap high-growth stock; HOLX is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; BDX is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; DXCM is a mid-cap high-growth stock; ABT is a mid-cap deep-value stock. BDX, ABT pay a dividend while IRTC, HOLX, DXCM 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.