OPRX vs MCK vs CAH vs HCAT

For growth investors, OptimizeRx Corporation (OPRX) is the stronger pick with 18.

8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 9% for Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH). OptimizeRx Corporation (OPRX) offers the better valuation at 24. 6x trailing P/E (7. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate OptimizeRx Corporation (OPRX) a "Buy" — based on 15 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, OptimizeRx Corporation (OPRX) is the cheapest at 24.

6x versus McKesson Corporation at 29. 2x. On forward P/E, OptimizeRx Corporation is actually cheaper at 7. 0x.

Over the past 5 years, McKesson Corporation (MCK) delivered a total return of +286.

9%, compared to -97. 0% for Health Catalyst, Inc. (HCAT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MCK returned +348. 1% versus HCAT's -95. 9%. 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), Cardinal Health, Inc.

(CAH) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 03β versus OptimizeRx Corporation's 2. 28β — meaning OPRX is approximately 6619% more volatile than CAH relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, OptimizeRx Corporation (OPRX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 4% versus 8% for Health Catalyst, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), OptimizeRx Corporation (OPRX) is pulling ahead at 18.

8% versus -1. 9% for Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: OptimizeRx Corporation grew EPS 124. 5% year-over-year, compared to -121. 7% for Health Catalyst, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, OPRX leads at 20. 6% 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.

OptimizeRx Corporation (OPRX) is the more profitable company, earning 4.

7% net margin versus -57. 2% for Health Catalyst, Inc. — meaning it keeps 4. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: OPRX leads at 10. 7% versus -51. 7% for HCAT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — OPRX leads at 67. 3%, 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, OptimizeRx Corporation (OPRX) trades at 7.

0x forward P/E versus 19. 3x for McKesson Corporation — 12. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for OPRX: 156. 4% to $17. 00.

In this comparison, CAH (1.

1% yield), MCK (0. 4% yield) pay a dividend. OPRX, HCAT do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Cardinal Health, Inc.

(CAH) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 03), 1. 1% yield, +160. 8% 10Y return). Health Catalyst, Inc. (HCAT) carries a higher beta of 2. 05 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CAH: +160. 8%, HCAT: -95. 9%), 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: OPRX is a small-cap high-growth stock; MCK is a mid-cap high-growth stock; CAH is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; HCAT is a small-cap quality compounder stock. CAH pays a dividend while OPRX, MCK, HCAT 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.