SEM
Select Medical Holdings Corporation
Medical - Care Facilities
Market Cap$2.04B
5Y Perf.+89.1%
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Stock Comparison
SEM vs UHS
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
UHS
Universal Health Services, Inc.
Medical - Care Facilities
Market Cap$10.55B
5Y Perf.+59.8%
SEM vs UHS — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | SEM | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Medical - Care Facilities | Medical - Care Facilities |
| Market Cap | $2.04B | $10.55B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $5.52B | $17.76B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $134M | $1.52B |
| Gross Margin | 10.6% | 67.6% |
| Operating Margin | 5.8% | 11.5% |
| Forward P/E | 13.1x | 7.2x |
| Total Debt | $3.70B | $5.51B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $27M | $138M |
SEM vs UHS — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
SEM
UHS
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Select Medical Hold… (SEM) | 100 | 189.1 | +89.1% |
| Universal Health Se… (UHS) | 100 | 159.8 | +59.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: SEM vs UHS
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: UHS leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Select Medical Holdings Corporation is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
SEM
Select Medical Holdings Corporation
The Income Pick
SEM is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.46, yield 1.5%
- 163.0% 10Y total return vs UHS's 30.4%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.46, current ratio 1.04x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
UHS
Universal Health Services, Inc.
The Growth Play
UHS carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure.
- Rev growth 9.7%, EPS growth 37.3%, 3Y rev CAGR 9.0%
- 9.7% revenue growth vs SEM's 5.1%
- Lower P/E (7.2x vs 13.1x)
Best for: growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | UHS | 9.7% revenue growth vs SEM's 5.1% |
| Value | UHS | Lower P/E (7.2x vs 13.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | UHS | 8.6% margin vs SEM's 2.4% |
| Stability / Safety | SEM | Beta 0.46 vs UHS's 0.60 |
| Dividends | SEM | 1.5% yield, vs UHS's 0.5% |
| Momentum (1Y) | SEM | +15.4% vs UHS's -8.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | UHS | 9.8% ROA vs SEM's 2.3%, ROIC 12.3% vs 4.8% |
SEM vs UHS — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
SEM vs UHS — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLUHSLAGGINGSEM
SEMSelect Medical Holdin…
1leads
UHSUniversal Health Serv…
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs SEMMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
UHS6/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
Tied
—
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
UHS7/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
Tied
—
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
SEM2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
UHS leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
UHS is the larger business by revenue, generating $17.8B annually — 3.2x SEM's $5.5B. UHS is the more profitable business, keeping 8.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to SEM's 2.4%. On growth, UHS holds the edge at +9.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | SEMSelect Medical Ho… | UHSUniversal Health … |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $5.5B | $17.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $465M | $2.7B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $134M | $1.5B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $117M | $894M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +10.6% | +67.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +5.8% | +11.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +2.4% | +8.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +2.1% | +5.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +5.0% | +9.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -18.2% | +17.7% |
UHS leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — SEM and UHS each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 7.3x trailing earnings, UHS trades at a 48% valuation discount to SEM's 13.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, UHS's 6.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than SEM's 12.0x.
| Metric | SEMSelect Medical Ho… | UHSUniversal Health … |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.0B | $10.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $5.7B | $15.9B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 13.92x | 7.29x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 13.06x | 7.21x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.46x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 12.04x | 6.09x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.37x | 0.61x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.00x | 1.47x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 5.32x | 12.42x |
Evenly matched — SEM and UHS each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
UHS leads this category, winning 7 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 $7 for SEM. UHS carries lower financial leverage with a 0.74x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to SEM's 1.82x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), UHS scores 6/9 vs SEM's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | SEMSelect Medical Ho… | UHSUniversal Health … |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +6.6% | +20.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.3% | +9.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +4.8% | +12.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +7.0% | +16.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.82x | 0.74x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3.7B | $5.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $27M | $138M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $3.7B | $5.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 4.41x | 10.92x |
UHS leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — SEM and UHS each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in UHS five years ago would be worth $11,165 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $8,490 for SEM. Over the past 12 months, SEM leads with a +15.4% total return vs UHS's -8.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors UHS at 6.1% vs SEM's 2.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SEMSelect Medical Ho… | UHSUniversal Health … |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +11.3% | -23.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +15.4% | -8.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +7.3% | +19.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -15.1% | +11.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +163.0% | +30.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +2.4% | +6.1% |
Evenly matched — SEM and UHS each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
SEM leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
SEM is the less volatile stock with a 0.46 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than UHS's 0.60 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. SEM currently trades 96.7% from its 52-week high vs UHS's 68.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | SEMSelect Medical Ho… | UHSUniversal Health … |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.46x | 0.60x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $16.99 | $246.33 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $11.65 | $152.33 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +96.7% | +68.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 62.9 | 35.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.1M | 791K |
SEM leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — SEM and UHS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SEM as "Hold" and UHS as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 37.4% upside for UHS (target: $232) vs 9.6% for SEM (target: $18). For income investors, SEM offers the higher dividend yield at 1.55% vs UHS's 0.47%.
| Metric | SEMSelect Medical Ho… | UHSUniversal Health … |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $18.00 | $231.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 13 | 43 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.5% | +0.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.25 | $0.80 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +4.9% | +9.2% |
Evenly matched — SEM and UHS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
UHS leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). SEM leads in 1 (Risk & Volatility). 3 tied.
Best OverallUniversal Health Services, … (UHS)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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SEM vs UHS: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SEM 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 5. 1% for Select Medical Holdings Corporation (SEM). Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) offers the better valuation at 7. 3x trailing P/E (7. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Select Medical Holdings Corporation (SEM) a "Hold" — based on 13 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 — SEM or UHS?
On trailing P/E, Universal Health Services, Inc.
(UHS) is the cheapest at 7. 3x versus Select Medical Holdings Corporation at 13. 9x. On forward P/E, Universal Health Services, Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 2x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SEM or UHS?
Over the past 5 years, Universal Health Services, Inc.
(UHS) delivered a total return of +11. 7%, compared to -15. 1% for Select Medical Holdings Corporation (SEM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SEM returned +163. 0% versus UHS's +30. 4%. 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 — SEM or UHS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Select Medical Holdings Corporation (SEM) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
46β versus Universal Health Services, Inc. 's 0. 60β — meaning UHS is approximately 31% more volatile than SEM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 74% versus 182% for Select Medical Holdings Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — SEM or UHS?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Universal Health Services, Inc.
(UHS) is pulling ahead at 9. 7% versus 5. 1% for Select Medical Holdings Corporation (SEM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Universal Health Services, Inc. grew EPS 37. 3% year-over-year, compared to -28. 9% for Select Medical Holdings Corporation. 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 — SEM or UHS?
Universal Health Services, Inc.
(UHS) is the more profitable company, earning 8. 6% net margin versus 2. 7% for Select Medical Holdings Corporation — meaning it keeps 8. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: UHS leads at 11. 5% versus 6. 1% for SEM. 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 SEM or UHS more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Universal Health Services, Inc.
(UHS) trades at 7. 2x forward P/E versus 13. 1x for Select Medical Holdings Corporation — 5. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for UHS: 37. 4% to $231. 50.
08Which pays a better dividend — SEM or UHS?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Select Medical Holdings Corporation (SEM) offers the highest yield at 1. 5%, versus 0. 5% for Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS).
09Is SEM or UHS better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Select Medical Holdings Corporation (SEM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
46), 1. 5% yield, +163. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SEM: +163. 0%, UHS: +30. 4%), 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 SEM 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.
SEM pays a dividend while UHS does 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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(SEM: 5.0% · UHS: 9.6%)Net Margin>
%
(SEM: 2.4% · UHS: 8.6%)P/E Ratio<
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