UTMD vs HOLX

For growth investors, Hologic, Inc.

(HOLX) is the stronger pick with 1. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 8% for Utah Medical Products, Inc. (UTMD). Utah Medical Products, Inc. (UTMD) offers the better valuation at 18. 8x trailing P/E (10. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Hologic, Inc. (HOLX) a "Hold" — based on 42 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, Utah Medical Products, Inc.

(UTMD) is the cheapest at 18. 8x versus Hologic, Inc. at 30. 5x. On forward P/E, Utah Medical Products, Inc. is actually cheaper at 10. 4x.

Over the past 5 years, Hologic, Inc.

(HOLX) delivered a total return of +15. 8%, compared to -18. 2% for Utah Medical Products, Inc. (UTMD). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HOLX returned +124. 3% versus UTMD's +19. 1%. 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), Hologic, Inc.

(HOLX) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 41β versus Utah Medical Products, Inc. 's 0. 55β — meaning UTMD is approximately 35% more volatile than HOLX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Utah Medical Products, Inc. (UTMD) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 52% for Hologic, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Hologic, Inc.

(HOLX) is pulling ahead at 1. 7% versus -5. 8% for Utah Medical Products, Inc. (UTMD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Utah Medical Products, Inc. grew EPS -12. 1% year-over-year, compared to -25. 0% for Hologic, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, HOLX leads at -5. 5% 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.

Utah Medical Products, Inc.

(UTMD) is the more profitable company, earning 29. 3% net margin versus 13. 8% for Hologic, Inc. — meaning it keeps 29. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: UTMD leads at 29. 6% versus 17. 4% for HOLX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HOLX leads at 61. 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, Utah Medical Products, Inc.

(UTMD) trades at 10. 4x forward P/E versus 17. 2x for Hologic, Inc. — 6. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

In this comparison, UTMD (1.

9% yield) pays a dividend. HOLX does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Utah Medical Products, Inc.

(UTMD) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 55), 1. 9% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (UTMD: +19. 1%, HOLX: +124. 3%), 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.

UTMD pays a dividend while HOLX does 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.