SLGL vs PRGO vs HLN vs DERM vs MCK

For growth investors, Sol-Gel Technologies Ltd.

(SLGL) is the stronger pick with 68. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -29. 1% for Journey Medical Corporation (DERM). Haleon plc (HLN) offers the better valuation at 19. 0x trailing P/E (22. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Sol-Gel Technologies Ltd. (SLGL) a "Buy" — based on 6 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, Haleon plc (HLN) is the cheapest at 19.

0x versus McKesson Corporation at 29. 2x. On forward P/E, Perrigo Company plc is actually cheaper at 5. 6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: McKesson Corporation wins at 0. 49x versus Haleon plc's 2. 63x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

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

9%, compared to -60. 1% for Perrigo Company plc (PRGO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MCK returned +348. 1% versus PRGO's -77. 7%. 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), Sol-Gel Technologies Ltd.

(SLGL) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 18β versus Journey Medical Corporation's 1. 82β — meaning DERM is approximately -1135% more volatile than SLGL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Sol-Gel Technologies Ltd. (SLGL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 4% versus 135% for Perrigo Company plc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Sol-Gel Technologies Ltd.

(SLGL) is pulling ahead at 68. 0% versus -29. 1% for Journey Medical Corporation (DERM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: McKesson Corporation grew EPS 14. 9% year-over-year, compared to -723. 2% for Perrigo Company plc. Over a 3-year CAGR, SLGL leads at 70. 9% 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.

Haleon plc (HLN) is the more profitable company, earning 15.

1% net margin versus -33. 5% for Perrigo Company plc — meaning it keeps 15. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HLN leads at 22. 4% versus -39. 2% for SLGL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SLGL leads at 99. 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, McKesson Corporation (MCK) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 49x versus Haleon plc's 2. 63x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Perrigo Company plc (PRGO) trades at 5. 6x forward P/E versus 69. 0x for Journey Medical Corporation — 63. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DERM: 135. 0% to $11. 75.

In this comparison, PRGO (9.

8% yield), HLN (1. 9% yield), MCK (0. 4% yield) pay a dividend. SLGL, DERM do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

06), 1. 9% yield). Journey Medical Corporation (DERM) carries a higher beta of 1. 82 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (HLN: +31. 7%, DERM: -47. 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.

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: SLGL is a small-cap high-growth stock; PRGO is a small-cap income-oriented stock; HLN is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; DERM is a small-cap quality compounder stock; MCK is a mid-cap high-growth stock. PRGO, HLN pay a dividend while SLGL, DERM, MCK 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.