SI vs XTNT vs GMED vs ATEC

For growth investors, SHOULDER INNOVATIONS, INC.

(SI) is the stronger pick with 64. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 16. 7% for Globus Medical, Inc. (GMED). Globus Medical, Inc. (GMED) offers the better valuation at 19. 4x trailing P/E (16. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate SHOULDER INNOVATIONS, INC. (SI) a "Buy" — based on 3 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 forward P/E, Globus Medical, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 16. 3x.

Over the past 5 years, Globus Medical, Inc.

(GMED) delivered a total return of +8. 1%, compared to -66. 8% for Xtant Medical Holdings, Inc. (XTNT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ATEC returned +239. 5% versus XTNT's -98. 0%. 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), Xtant Medical Holdings, Inc.

(XTNT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 67β versus Globus Medical, Inc. 's 1. 23β — meaning GMED is approximately 83% more volatile than XTNT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Globus Medical, Inc. (GMED) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 17% for Alphatec Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), SHOULDER INNOVATIONS, INC.

(SI) is pulling ahead at 64. 1% versus 16. 7% for Globus Medical, Inc. (GMED). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Globus Medical, Inc. grew EPS 422. 7% year-over-year, compared to -22. 2% for SHOULDER INNOVATIONS, INC.. Over a 3-year CAGR, GMED leads at 42. 2% 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.

Globus Medical, Inc.

(GMED) is the more profitable company, earning 18. 3% net margin versus -49. 4% for SHOULDER INNOVATIONS, INC. — meaning it keeps 18. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GMED leads at 16. 3% versus -46. 3% for SI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SI leads at 77. 0%, 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, Globus Medical, Inc.

(GMED) trades at 16. 3x forward P/E versus 24. 8x for Alphatec Holdings, Inc. — 8. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ATEC: 154. 7% to $19. 71.

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, Alphatec Holdings, Inc.

(ATEC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 74), +239. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ATEC: +239. 5%, GMED: +225. 2%), 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.