UTMD vs MDT

For growth investors, Medtronic plc (MDT) is the stronger pick with 3.

6% 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. 5x trailing P/E (10. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Medtronic plc (MDT) a "Buy" — based on 49 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. 5x versus Medtronic plc at 21. 5x. On forward P/E, Utah Medical Products, Inc. is actually cheaper at 10. 2x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Utah Medical Products, Inc. wins at 2. 99x versus Medtronic plc's 35. 84x.

Over the past 5 years, Utah Medical Products, Inc.

(UTMD) delivered a total return of -17. 8%, compared to -28. 3% for Medtronic plc (MDT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MDT returned +27. 0% versus UTMD's +18. 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), Medtronic plc (MDT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

47β versus Utah Medical Products, Inc. 's 0. 55β — meaning UTMD is approximately 19% more volatile than MDT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Utah Medical Products, Inc. (UTMD) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 59% for Medtronic plc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Medtronic plc (MDT) is pulling ahead at 3.

6% versus -5. 8% for Utah Medical Products, Inc. (UTMD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Medtronic plc grew EPS 30. 8% year-over-year, compared to -12. 1% for Utah Medical Products, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, MDT leads at 1. 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.

Utah Medical Products, Inc.

(UTMD) is the more profitable company, earning 29. 3% net margin versus 13. 9% for Medtronic plc — 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. 8% for MDT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MDT leads at 65. 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.

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, Utah Medical Products, Inc. (UTMD) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 99x versus Medtronic plc's 35. 84x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Utah Medical Products, Inc. (UTMD) trades at 10. 2x forward P/E versus 14. 1x for Medtronic plc — 3. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Medtronic plc (MDT) offers the highest yield at 3. 6%, versus 1. 9% for Utah Medical Products, Inc. (UTMD).

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

47), 3. 6% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MDT: +27. 0%, UTMD: +18. 7%), 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: UTMD is a small-cap quality compounder stock; MDT is a mid-cap income-oriented 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.