WORX vs CAH vs MCK vs HCAT

For growth investors, McKesson Corporation (MCK) is the stronger pick with 16.

2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 7% for SCWorx Corp. (WORX). Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH) offers the better valuation at 28. 7x trailing P/E (17. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH) a "Buy" — based on 33 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, Cardinal Health, Inc.

(CAH) is the cheapest at 28. 7x versus McKesson Corporation at 29. 2x. On forward P/E, Health Catalyst, Inc. is actually cheaper at 14. 1x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, McKesson Corporation (MCK) delivered a total return of +286.

9%, compared to -99. 8% for SCWorx Corp. (WORX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MCK returned +348. 1% versus WORX's -100. 0%. 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), Cardinal Health, Inc.

(CAH) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 03β versus Health Catalyst, Inc. 's 2. 05β — meaning HCAT is approximately 5933% more volatile than CAH relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, SCWorx Corp. (WORX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 8% for Health Catalyst, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), McKesson Corporation (MCK) is pulling ahead at 16.

2% versus -3. 7% for SCWorx Corp. (WORX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Cardinal Health, Inc. grew EPS 87. 0% year-over-year, compared to -121. 7% for Health Catalyst, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, MCK leads at 10. 8% 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.

McKesson Corporation (MCK) is the more profitable company, earning 0.

9% net margin versus -154. 4% for SCWorx Corp. — meaning it keeps 0. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MCK leads at 1. 2% versus -51. 7% for HCAT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HCAT leads at 48. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Health Catalyst, Inc.

(HCAT) trades at 14. 1x forward P/E versus 19. 3x for McKesson Corporation — 5. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HCAT: 57. 2% to $2. 50.

In this comparison, CAH (1.

1% yield), MCK (0. 4% yield) pay a dividend. WORX, HCAT do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Cardinal Health, Inc.

(CAH) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 03), 1. 1% yield, +160. 8% 10Y return). Health Catalyst, Inc. (HCAT) carries a higher beta of 2. 05 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CAH: +160. 8%, HCAT: -95. 9%), 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: WORX is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CAH is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; MCK is a mid-cap high-growth stock; HCAT is a small-cap quality compounder stock. CAH pays a dividend while WORX, MCK, HCAT do 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.