Medical - Care Facilities
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MD vs UHS
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Medical - Care Facilities
MD vs UHS — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Medical - Care Facilities | Medical - Care Facilities |
| Market Cap | $1.90B | $10.68B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.93B | $17.76B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $174M | $1.52B |
| Gross Margin | 25.5% | 67.6% |
| Operating Margin | 11.9% | 11.5% |
| Forward P/E | 10.3x | 7.3x |
| Total Debt | $660M | $5.51B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $375M | $138M |
MD vs UHS — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pediatrix Medical G… (MD) | 100 | 147.6 | +47.6% |
| Universal Health Se… (UHS) | 100 | 161.7 | +61.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: MD vs UHS
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
MD is the clearest fit if your priority is quality and momentum.
- 9.0% margin vs UHS's 8.6%
- +59.8% vs UHS's -8.2%
UHS carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 0.60, yield 0.5%
- Rev growth 9.7%, EPS growth 37.3%, 3Y rev CAGR 9.0%
- 30.8% 10Y total return vs MD's -67.1%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 9.7% revenue growth vs MD's -4.9% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (7.3x vs 10.3x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 9.0% margin vs UHS's 8.6% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.60 vs MD's 0.73, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 0.5% yield; 1-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +59.8% vs UHS's -8.2% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 9.8% ROA vs MD's 8.1%, ROIC 12.3% vs 14.8% |
MD vs UHS — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
MD vs UHS — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MD leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
UHS is the larger business by revenue, generating $17.8B annually — 9.2x MD's $1.9B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 9.0% (MD) to 8.6% (UHS). On growth, UHS holds the edge at +9.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.9B | $17.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $252M | $2.7B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $174M | $1.5B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $238M | $894M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +25.5% | +67.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +11.9% | +11.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +9.0% | +8.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +12.3% | +5.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +3.9% | +9.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +50.0% | +17.7% |
Valuation Metrics
UHS leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 7.4x trailing earnings, UHS trades at a 38% valuation discount to MD's 11.8x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, UHS's 6.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than MD's 8.7x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.9B | $10.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.2B | $16.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 11.82x | 7.38x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 10.26x | 7.30x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.46x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 8.66x | 6.14x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.00x | 0.61x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.26x | 1.48x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 7.54x | 12.57x |
Profitability & Efficiency
MD leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
UHS delivers a 20.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $21 in annual profit, vs $20 for MD. UHS carries lower financial leverage with a 0.74x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to MD's 0.76x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), MD scores 7/9 vs UHS's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +20.1% | +20.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +8.1% | +9.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +14.8% | +12.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +13.2% | +16.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.76x | 0.74x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $285M | $5.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $375M | $138M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $660M | $5.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 20.20x | 10.92x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
MD leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in UHS five years ago would be worth $11,248 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $7,143 for MD. Over the past 12 months, MD leads with a +59.8% total return vs UHS's -8.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors MD at 18.6% vs UHS's 6.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +7.7% | -22.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +59.8% | -8.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +67.0% | +20.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -28.6% | +12.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -67.1% | +30.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +18.6% | +6.5% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — MD and UHS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
UHS is the less volatile stock with a 0.60 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than MD's 0.73 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. MD currently trades 91.8% from its 52-week high vs UHS's 69.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.73x | 0.60x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $24.99 | $246.33 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $11.84 | $152.33 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +91.8% | +69.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 51.3 | 39.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 772K | 793K |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates MD as "Hold" and UHS as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 35.7% upside for UHS (target: $232) vs -3.0% for MD (target: $22). UHS is the only dividend payer here at 0.47% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $22.25 | $231.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 33 | 43 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.80 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +4.6% | +9.1% |
MD leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). UHS leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
MD vs UHS: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is MD or UHS a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Universal Health Services, Inc.
(UHS) is the stronger pick with 9. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -4. 9% for Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. (MD). Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) offers the better valuation at 7. 4x trailing P/E (7. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. (MD) a "Hold" — based on 33 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.
02Which has the better valuation — MD or UHS?
On trailing P/E, Universal Health Services, Inc.
(UHS) is the cheapest at 7. 4x versus Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. at 11. 8x. On forward P/E, Universal Health Services, Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 3x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — MD or UHS?
Over the past 5 years, Universal Health Services, Inc.
(UHS) delivered a total return of +12. 5%, compared to -28. 6% for Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. (MD). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: UHS returned +30. 8% versus MD's -67. 1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — MD or UHS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Universal Health Services, Inc.
(UHS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 60β versus Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. 's 0. 73β — meaning MD is approximately 20% more volatile than UHS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 74% versus 76% for Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — MD or UHS?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Universal Health Services, Inc.
(UHS) is pulling ahead at 9. 7% versus -4. 9% for Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. (MD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. grew EPS 263. 0% year-over-year, compared to 37. 3% for Universal Health Services, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, UHS leads at 9. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — MD or UHS?
Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc.
(MD) is the more profitable company, earning 8. 6% net margin versus 8. 6% for Universal Health Services, Inc. — meaning it keeps 8. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MD leads at 12. 1% versus 11. 5% for UHS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — UHS leads at 90. 4%, 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.
07Is MD or UHS more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Universal Health Services, Inc.
(UHS) trades at 7. 3x forward P/E versus 10. 3x for Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. — 3. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for UHS: 35. 7% to $231. 50.
08Which pays a better dividend — MD or UHS?
In this comparison, UHS (0.
5% yield) pays a dividend. MD does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is MD or UHS better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Universal Health Services, Inc.
(UHS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 60)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (UHS: +30. 8%, MD: -67. 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.
10What are the main differences between MD and UHS?
Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
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.
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