OM vs HCAT

For growth investors, Outset Medical, Inc.

(OM) is the stronger pick with 5. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 5% for Health Catalyst, Inc. (HCAT). 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.

Over the past 5 years, Health Catalyst, Inc.

(HCAT) delivered a total return of -97. 0%, compared to -99. 4% for Outset Medical, Inc. (OM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HCAT returned -95. 9% versus OM's -99. 5%. 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), Health Catalyst, Inc.

(HCAT) is the lower-risk stock at 2. 05β versus Outset Medical, Inc. 's 2. 49β — meaning OM is approximately 22% more volatile than HCAT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Health Catalyst, Inc. (HCAT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 8% versus 82% for Outset Medical, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Outset Medical, Inc.

(OM) is pulling ahead at 5. 1% versus 1. 5% for Health Catalyst, Inc. (HCAT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Outset Medical, Inc. grew EPS 85. 5% year-over-year, compared to -121. 7% for Health Catalyst, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, HCAT leads at 4. 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.

Health Catalyst, Inc.

(HCAT) is the more profitable company, earning -57. 2% net margin versus -68. 3% for Outset Medical, Inc. — meaning it keeps -57. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HCAT leads at -51. 7% versus -55. 8% for OM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HCAT leads at 48. 7%, 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.

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, Health Catalyst, Inc.

(HCAT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding. Outset Medical, Inc. (OM) carries a higher beta of 2. 49 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (HCAT: -95. 9%, OM: -99. 5%), 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.

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.