OMI vs AVNS

For growth investors, Avanos Medical, Inc.

(AVNS) is the stronger pick with 1. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -74. 2% for Owens & Minor, Inc. (OMI). Analysts rate Owens & Minor, Inc. (OMI) a "Hold" — 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, Avanos Medical, Inc.

(AVNS) delivered a total return of -39. 8%, compared to -93. 5% for Owens & Minor, Inc. (OMI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AVNS returned -17. 0% versus OMI's -86. 2%. 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), Owens & Minor, Inc.

(OMI) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 44β versus Avanos Medical, Inc. 's 1. 54β — meaning AVNS is approximately 7% more volatile than OMI relative to the S&P 500.

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

(AVNS) is pulling ahead at 1. 9% versus -74. 2% for Owens & Minor, Inc. (OMI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Avanos Medical, Inc. grew EPS 82. 9% year-over-year, compared to -201. 1% for Owens & Minor, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AVNS leads at 0. 8% 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.

Avanos Medical, Inc.

(AVNS) is the more profitable company, earning -9. 7% net margin versus -39. 8% for Owens & Minor, Inc. — meaning it keeps -9. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: OMI leads at 1. 0% versus -8. 8% for AVNS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AVNS leads at 49. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Owens & Minor, Inc.

(OMI) trades at 2. 3x forward P/E versus 24. 8x for Avanos Medical, Inc. — 22. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for OMI: 78. 6% to $4. 00.

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, Owens & Minor, Inc.

(OMI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding. Avanos Medical, Inc. (AVNS) carries a higher beta of 1. 54 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (OMI: -86. 2%, AVNS: -17. 0%), 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.