PGNY vs CVS vs UNH vs HIMS

For growth investors, Hims & Hers Health, Inc.

(HIMS) is the stronger pick with 59. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 7. 8% for CVS Health Corporation (CVS). UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) offers the better valuation at 27. 9x trailing P/E (20. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Progyny, Inc. (PGNY) a "Buy" — based on 20 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, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) is the cheapest at 27.

9x versus CVS Health Corporation at 62. 8x. On forward P/E, CVS Health Corporation is actually cheaper at 12. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Hims & Hers Health, Inc.

(HIMS) delivered a total return of +137. 6%, compared to -62. 9% for Progyny, Inc. (PGNY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: UNH returned +220. 6% versus CVS's +3. 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), CVS Health Corporation (CVS) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

05β versus Hims & Hers Health, Inc. 's 2. 40β — meaning HIMS is approximately 4647% more volatile than CVS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Progyny, Inc. (PGNY) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 5% versus 2% for Hims & Hers Health, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Hims & Hers Health, Inc.

(HIMS) is pulling ahead at 59. 0% versus 7. 8% for CVS Health Corporation (CVS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Progyny, Inc. grew EPS 14. 0% year-over-year, compared to -62. 0% for CVS Health Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, HIMS leads at 64. 5% 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.

Hims & Hers Health, Inc.

(HIMS) is the more profitable company, earning 5. 5% net margin versus 0. 4% for CVS Health Corporation — meaning it keeps 5. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PGNY leads at 6. 6% versus 2. 6% for CVS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HIMS leads at 59. 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, CVS Health Corporation (CVS) trades at 12.

2x forward P/E versus 51. 5x for Hims & Hers Health, Inc. — 39. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PGNY: 60. 8% to $30. 80.

In this comparison, CVS (3.

1% yield), UNH (2. 4% yield) pay a dividend. PGNY, HIMS do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

05), 3. 1% yield). Hims & Hers Health, Inc. (HIMS) carries a higher beta of 2. 40 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CVS: +3. 5%, HIMS: +161. 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: PGNY is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CVS is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; UNH is a large-cap quality compounder stock; HIMS is a small-cap high-growth stock. CVS, UNH pay a dividend while PGNY, HIMS 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.