SRDX vs MMSI

For growth investors, Merit Medical Systems, Inc.

(MMSI) is the stronger pick with 11. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -4. 9% for Surmodics, Inc. (SRDX). Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (MMSI) offers the better valuation at 29. 3x trailing P/E (15. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Surmodics, Inc. (SRDX) a "Buy" — based on 7 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.

Over the past 5 years, Merit Medical Systems, Inc.

(MMSI) delivered a total return of -3. 6%, compared to -22. 1% for Surmodics, Inc. (SRDX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MMSI returned +214. 6% versus SRDX's +88. 4%. 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), Surmodics, Inc.

(SRDX) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 48β versus Merit Medical Systems, Inc. 's 0. 71β — meaning MMSI is approximately 48% more volatile than SRDX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Surmodics, Inc. (SRDX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 28% versus 57% for Merit Medical Systems, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Merit Medical Systems, Inc.

(MMSI) is pulling ahead at 11. 7% versus -4. 9% for Surmodics, Inc. (SRDX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Merit Medical Systems, Inc. grew EPS 4. 9% year-over-year, compared to -645. 5% for Surmodics, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, MMSI leads at 9. 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.

Merit Medical Systems, Inc.

(MMSI) is the more profitable company, earning 8. 5% net margin versus -9. 2% for Surmodics, Inc. — meaning it keeps 8. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MMSI leads at 12. 2% versus -4. 5% for SRDX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SRDX leads at 73. 8%, 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MMSI: 52.

4% to $95. 00.

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, Surmodics, Inc.

(SRDX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 48)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SRDX: +88. 4%, MMSI: +214. 6%), 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.