Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) vs Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AGIO) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | AGIO | 48.0% revenue growth vs UHS's 9.7% |
| Quality / Margins | UHS | 8.6% net margin vs AGIO's -9.0% |
| Stability / Safety | UHS | Beta 0.69 vs AGIO's 0.91 |
| Dividends | UHS | 0.4% yield; 1-year raise streak; AGIO pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | UHS | +18.1% vs AGIO's -14.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | UHS | 9.6% ROA vs AGIO's -29.0%, ROIC 12.4% vs -26.6% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Universal Health Services is a major hospital operator that owns and runs acute care hospitals alongside behavioral health facilities across the U.S. and internationally. It generates revenue primarily from patient services—split roughly 60% from acute care and 40% from behavioral health—with payments coming from government programs, private insurers, and self-pay patients. The company's scale and geographic diversification across hundreds of facilities create operational efficiencies and a stable revenue base that smaller regional operators cannot match.
Agios Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing treatments for rare genetic diseases related to cellular metabolism. It generates revenue primarily from sales of its lead drug PYRUKYND for pyruvate kinase deficiency — with additional income from research collaborations and milestone payments — while advancing a pipeline of other metabolic therapies. The company's competitive advantage lies in its deep expertise in cellular metabolism science and proprietary platform for targeting metabolic pathways in rare diseases.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
UHS leads in 4 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). AGIO leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
UHS is the larger business by revenue, generating $17.4B annually — 387.7x AGIO's $45M. UHS is the more profitable business, keeping 8.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to AGIO's -9.0%. On growth, AGIO holds the edge at +43.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | UHSUniversal Health … | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $17.4B | $45M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.6B | -$470M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.5B | -$401M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $831M | -$414M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +67.0% | +84.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +11.5% | -10.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +8.6% | -9.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +4.8% | -9.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +9.1% | +43.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +41.3% | -111.0% |
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | UHSUniversal Health … | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3M | $2.25T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $5.0B | $2.25T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 8.92x | -4.25x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 8.80x | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.56x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 1.93x | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.00x | 9999.00x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.79x | 1.47x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 0.00x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
UHS delivers a 20.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $20 in annual profit, vs $-31 for AGIO. AGIO carries lower financial leverage with a 0.03x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to UHS's 0.70x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), UHS scores 7/9 vs AGIO's 3/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | UHSUniversal Health … | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +20.1% | -31.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +9.6% | -29.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +12.4% | -26.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +16.2% | -33.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.70x | 0.03x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $5.0B | -$49M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $138M | $89M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $5.2B | $40M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 9.66x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in UHS five years ago would be worth $16,427 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $6,363 for AGIO. Over the past 12 months, UHS leads with a +18.1% total return vs AGIO's -14.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors UHS at 16.0% vs AGIO's 6.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | UHSUniversal Health … | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -6.3% | +11.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +18.1% | -14.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +56.1% | +19.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +64.3% | -36.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +92.1% | -21.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +16.0% | +6.1% |
Risk & Volatility
UHS is the less volatile stock with a 0.69 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AGIO's 0.91 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. UHS currently trades 83.7% from its 52-week high vs AGIO's 65.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | UHSUniversal Health … | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.69x | 0.91x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $246.33 | $46.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $152.33 | $22.24 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +83.7% | +65.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 36.4 | 62.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 578K | 948K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates UHS as "Hold" and AGIO as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 37.3% upside for AGIO (target: $42) vs 19.2% for UHS (target: $246). UHS is the only dividend payer here at 0.39% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | UHSUniversal Health … | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $245.67 | $41.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 43 | 29 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.4% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.80 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +100.0% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universal Health Se… (UHS) | 100 | 153.13 | +53.1% |
| Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO) | 100 | 57.07 | -42.9% |
Universal Health Se… (UHS) returned +64% over 5 years vs Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO)'s -36%. A $10,000 investment in UHS 5 years ago would be worth $16,427 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universal Health Se… (UHS) | $9.8B | $17.4B | +77.8% |
| Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO) | $70M | $54M | -22.7% |
Universal Health Services, Inc.'s revenue grew from $9.8B (2016) to $17.4B (2025) — a 6.6% CAGR. Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s revenue grew from $70M (2016) to $54M (2025) — a -2.8% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universal Health Se… (UHS) | 7.2% | 8.6% | +19.2% |
| Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO) | -2.8% | -7.6% | -169.0% |
Universal Health Services, Inc.'s net margin went from 7% (2016) to 9% (2025). Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s net margin went from -3% (2016) to -8% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universal Health Se… (UHS) | 14.5 | 9.4 | -35.2% |
Universal Health Services, Inc. has traded in a 9x–16x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~9x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universal Health Se… (UHS) | 7.14 | 23.1 | +223.5% |
| Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO) | -5.07 | -7.12 | -40.4% |
Universal Health Services, Inc.'s EPS grew from $7.14 (2016) to $23.10 (2025) — a 14% CAGR. Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-5.07 (2016) to $-7.12 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Universal Health Services, Inc. generated $849M FCF in 2025 (+2929% vs 2021). Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. generated $-377M FCF in 2025 (+9% vs 2021).
UHS vs AGIO: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is UHS or AGIO a better buy right now?
Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) offers the better valuation at 8.9x trailing P/E (8.8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AGIO) a "Buy" — based on 29 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 is the better long-term investment — UHS or AGIO?
Over the past 5 years, Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) delivered a total return of +64.3%, compared to -36.4% for Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AGIO). A $10,000 investment in UHS five years ago would be worth approximately $16K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: UHS returned +92.1% versus AGIO's -21.2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — UHS or AGIO?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) is the lower-risk stock at 0.69β versus Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s 0.91β — meaning AGIO is approximately 32% more volatile than UHS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AGIO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 70% for Universal Health Services, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which has better profit margins — UHS or AGIO?
Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) is the more profitable company, earning 8.6% net margin versus -764.0% for Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. — 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 -873.9% for AGIO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AGIO leads at 88.3%, 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.
05Is UHS or AGIO more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AGIO: 37.3% to $41.50.
06Which pays a better dividend — UHS or AGIO?
In this comparison, UHS (0.4% yield) pays a dividend. AGIO does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
07Is UHS or AGIO better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.69)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (UHS: +92.1%, AGIO: -21.2%), 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.
08What are the main differences between UHS and AGIO?
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: UHS is a small-cap deep-value stock; AGIO is a mega-cap quality compounder stock. 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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