Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) vs Ardent Health Partners, LLC (ARDT) 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 | ARDT | 10.3% revenue growth vs UHS's 9.7% |
| Value | ARDT | Lower P/E (7.4x vs 8.8x), PEG 0.10 vs 0.55 |
| Quality / Margins | UHS | 8.6% net margin vs ARDT's 3.2% |
| Stability / Safety | UHS | Beta 0.69 vs ARDT's 0.88, lower leverage |
| Dividends | UHS | 0.4% yield; 1-year raise streak; ARDT pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | UHS | +18.1% vs ARDT's -35.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | UHS | 9.6% ROA vs ARDT's 4.0%, ROIC 12.4% vs 9.7% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Valuation efficiency (growth/$)
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.
Ardent Health Partners operates a network of acute care hospitals and clinics providing comprehensive healthcare services across the United States. It generates revenue primarily from patient care services — including inpatient and outpatient treatments, surgeries, and rehabilitation — with the majority coming from government and private insurance reimbursements. The company benefits from its regional concentration in key markets, which creates operational efficiencies and strong local physician relationships that drive patient referrals.
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). ARDT leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
UHS is the larger business by revenue, generating $17.4B annually — 2.7x ARDT's $6.3B. UHS is the more profitable business, keeping 8.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ARDT's 3.2%.
| Metric | UHSUniversal Health … | ARDTArdent Health Par… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $17.4B | $6.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.6B | $948M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.5B | $205M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $831M | $155M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +67.0% | +70.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +11.5% | +12.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +8.6% | +3.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +4.8% | +2.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +9.1% | +8.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +41.3% | -189.5% |
Valuation Metrics
At 5.9x trailing earnings, ARDT trades at a 33% valuation discount to UHS's 8.9x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), ARDT offers better value at 0.08x vs UHS's 0.56x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | UHSUniversal Health … | ARDTArdent Health Par… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3M | $1.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $5.0B | $3.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 8.92x | 5.94x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 8.80x | 7.38x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.56x | 0.08x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 1.93x | 5.55x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.00x | 0.22x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.79x | 0.82x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 0.00x | 10.51x |
Profitability & Efficiency
UHS delivers a 20.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $20 in annual profit, vs $13 for ARDT. UHS carries lower financial leverage with a 0.70x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ARDT's 1.50x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ARDT scores 8/9 vs UHS's 7/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | UHSUniversal Health … | ARDTArdent Health Par… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +20.1% | +12.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +9.6% | +4.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +12.4% | +9.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +16.2% | +10.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.70x | 1.50x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $5.0B | $1.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $138M | $557M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $5.2B | $2.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 9.66x | 7.08x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in UHS five years ago would be worth $16,427 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $5,847 for ARDT. Over the past 12 months, UHS leads with a +18.1% total return vs ARDT's -35.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors UHS at 16.0% vs ARDT's -16.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | UHSUniversal Health … | ARDTArdent Health Par… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -6.3% | +8.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +18.1% | -35.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +56.1% | -41.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +64.3% | -41.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +92.1% | -41.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +16.0% | -16.4% |
Risk & Volatility
UHS is the less volatile stock with a 0.69 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ARDT's 0.88 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 ARDT's 60.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | UHSUniversal Health … | ARDTArdent Health Par… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.69x | 0.88x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $246.33 | $15.55 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $152.33 | $8.07 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +83.7% | +60.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 36.4 | 55.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 578K | 341K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates UHS as "Hold" and ARDT as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 55.2% upside for ARDT (target: $15) 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 … | ARDTArdent Health Par… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $245.67 | $14.57 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 43 | 12 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.4% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 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 | Aug 24 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universal Health Se… (UHS) | 100 | 93.53 | -6.5% |
| Ardent Health Partn… (ARDT) | 111.89 | 53.49 | -52.2% |
Universal Health Se… (UHS) returned +64% over 5 years vs Ardent Health Partn… (ARDT)'s -42%. 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% |
| Ardent Health Partn… (ARDT) | $2.1B | $6.0B | +183.4% |
Universal Health Services, Inc.'s revenue grew from $9.8B (2016) to $17.4B (2025) — a 6.6% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universal Health Se… (UHS) | 7.2% | 8.6% | +19.2% |
| Ardent Health Partn… (ARDT) | 0.7% | 3.5% | +408.3% |
Universal Health Services, Inc.'s net margin went from 7% (2016) to 9% (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% |
| Ardent Health Partn… (ARDT) | 0.1 | 1.58 | +1480.0% |
Universal Health Services, Inc.'s EPS grew from $7.14 (2016) to $23.10 (2025) — a 14% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Universal Health Services, Inc. generated $849M FCF in 2025 (+2929% vs 2021). Ardent Health Partners, LLC generated $128M FCF in 2024 (+167% vs 2022).
UHS vs ARDT: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is UHS or ARDT a better buy right now?
Ardent Health Partners, LLC (ARDT) offers the better valuation at 5.9x trailing P/E (7.4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Ardent Health Partners, LLC (ARDT) a "Buy" — based on 12 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 — UHS or ARDT?
On trailing P/E, Ardent Health Partners, LLC (ARDT) is the cheapest at 5.9x versus Universal Health Services, Inc. at 8.9x. On forward P/E, Ardent Health Partners, LLC is actually cheaper at 7.4x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Ardent Health Partners, LLC wins at 0.10x versus Universal Health Services, Inc.'s 0.55x — a PEG below 1.0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — UHS or ARDT?
Over the past 5 years, Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) delivered a total return of +64.3%, compared to -41.5% for Ardent Health Partners, LLC (ARDT). 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 ARDT's -41.5%. 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 — UHS or ARDT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) is the lower-risk stock at 0.69β versus Ardent Health Partners, LLC's 0.88β — meaning ARDT is approximately 29% more volatile than UHS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 70% versus 150% for Ardent Health Partners, LLC — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — UHS or ARDT?
Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) is the more profitable company, earning 8.6% net margin versus 3.5% for Ardent Health Partners, LLC — 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 6.8% for ARDT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ARDT leads at 82.7%, 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.
06Is UHS or ARDT more undervalued right now?
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, Ardent Health Partners, LLC (ARDT) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.10x versus Universal Health Services, Inc.'s 0.55x. A PEG below 1.0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Ardent Health Partners, LLC (ARDT) trades at 7.4x forward P/E versus 8.8x for Universal Health Services, Inc. — 1.4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ARDT: 55.2% to $14.57.
07Which pays a better dividend — UHS or ARDT?
In this comparison, UHS (0.4% yield) pays a dividend. ARDT does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is UHS or ARDT 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%, ARDT: -41.5%), 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.
09What are the main differences between UHS and ARDT?
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.
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