A vs. HLN: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at A and HLN, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Overview
A’s market capitalization stands at 34.48 billion USD, while HLN’s is 46.09 billion USD, indicating their market valuations are broadly comparable.
A’s beta of 1.23 points to significantly higher volatility compared to HLN (beta: 0.24), suggesting A has greater potential for both gains and losses relative to market movements.
HLN is an American Depositary Receipt (ADR), allowing U.S. investors direct exposure to its non-U.S. operations. A, on the other hand, is a domestic entity.
| Symbol | A | HLN |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Agilent Technologies, Inc. | Haleon plc |
| Country | US | GB |
| Sector | Healthcare | Healthcare |
| Industry | Medical - Diagnostics & Research | Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic |
| CEO | Padraig McDonnell | Brian James McNamara |
| Price | 121.38 USD | 10.25 USD |
| Market Cap | 34.48 billion USD | 46.09 billion USD |
| Beta | 1.23 | 0.24 |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| IPO Date | November 18, 1999 | July 25, 2022 |
| ADR | No | Yes |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of A and HLN by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period.
Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Profitability
Return on Equity
A
19.46%
Medical - Diagnostics & Research Industry
- Max
- 57.35%
- Q3
- 18.17%
- Median
- 2.69%
- Q1
- -16.72%
- Min
- -48.78%
In the upper quartile for the Medical - Diagnostics & Research industry, A’s Return on Equity of 19.46% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
HLN
8.73%
Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic Industry
- Max
- 51.32%
- Q3
- 9.89%
- Median
- -3.37%
- Q1
- -20.99%
- Min
- -36.07%
HLN’s Return on Equity of 8.73% is on par with the norm for the Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
Return on Invested Capital
A
11.71%
Medical - Diagnostics & Research Industry
- Max
- 42.99%
- Q3
- 11.55%
- Median
- 3.02%
- Q1
- -11.49%
- Min
- -40.79%
In the upper quartile for the Medical - Diagnostics & Research industry, A’s Return on Invested Capital of 11.71% signifies a highly effective use of its capital to generate profits when compared to its peers.
HLN
5.68%
Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic Industry
- Max
- 22.54%
- Q3
- 8.45%
- Median
- 1.42%
- Q1
- -9.01%
- Min
- -28.41%
HLN’s Return on Invested Capital of 5.68% is in line with the norm for the Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic industry, reflecting a standard level of efficiency in generating profits from its capital base.
Net Profit Margin
A
17.59%
Medical - Diagnostics & Research Industry
- Max
- 22.76%
- Q3
- 15.19%
- Median
- 1.64%
- Q1
- -22.25%
- Min
- -78.24%
A Net Profit Margin of 17.59% places A in the upper quartile for the Medical - Diagnostics & Research industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
HLN
12.84%
Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic Industry
- Max
- 40.33%
- Q3
- 11.92%
- Median
- -0.45%
- Q1
- -13.07%
- Min
- -34.27%
A Net Profit Margin of 12.84% places HLN in the upper quartile for the Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
Operating Profit Margin
A
21.38%
Medical - Diagnostics & Research Industry
- Max
- 36.06%
- Q3
- 20.26%
- Median
- 6.15%
- Q1
- -21.89%
- Min
- -82.21%
An Operating Profit Margin of 21.38% places A in the upper quartile for the Medical - Diagnostics & Research industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
HLN
19.64%
Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic Industry
- Max
- 46.91%
- Q3
- 19.02%
- Median
- 6.23%
- Q1
- -11.23%
- Min
- -51.89%
An Operating Profit Margin of 19.64% places HLN in the upper quartile for the Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | A | HLN |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 19.46% | 8.73% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 9.59% | 4.20% |
| Return on Invested Capital (TTM) | 11.71% | 5.68% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 17.59% | 12.84% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 21.38% | 19.64% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 53.79% | 61.52% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio
A
2.09
Medical - Diagnostics & Research Industry
- Max
- 6.91
- Q3
- 4.11
- Median
- 2.46
- Q1
- 1.44
- Min
- 0.73
A’s Current Ratio of 2.09 aligns with the median group of the Medical - Diagnostics & Research industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
HLN
0.98
Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic Industry
- Max
- 5.74
- Q3
- 3.37
- Median
- 2.64
- Q1
- 1.73
- Min
- 0.88
HLN’s Current Ratio of 0.98 falls into the lower quartile for the Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio
A
0.57
Medical - Diagnostics & Research Industry
- Max
- 1.10
- Q3
- 0.82
- Median
- 0.39
- Q1
- 0.21
- Min
- 0.01
A’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.57 is typical for the Medical - Diagnostics & Research industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
HLN
0.62
Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic Industry
- Max
- 1.45
- Q3
- 1.06
- Median
- 0.62
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
HLN’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.62 is typical for the Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
Interest Coverage Ratio
A
-472.33
Medical - Diagnostics & Research Industry
- Max
- 37.07
- Q3
- 5.62
- Median
- 1.76
- Q1
- -38.78
- Min
- -57.46
A has a negative Interest Coverage Ratio of -472.33. This indicates that its earnings were insufficient to cover even its operational costs, let alone its interest payments, signaling significant financial distress.
HLN
5.60
Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic Industry
- Max
- 10.17
- Q3
- 3.39
- Median
- 0.85
- Q1
- -2.63
- Min
- -5.84
HLN’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 5.60 is in the upper quartile for the Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic industry, signifying a strong and healthy capacity to meet its interest payments from operating profits.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | A | HLN |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 2.09 | 0.98 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 1.60 | 0.78 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 0.57 | 0.62 |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio (TTM) | 0.29 | 0.29 |
| Net Debt-to-EBITDA Ratio (TTM) | 1.43 | 3.41 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | -472.33 | 5.60 |
Growth
The following charts compare key year-over-year (YoY) growth metrics for A and HLN. These metrics are based on the companies’ annual financial reports.
Revenue Growth
Earnings Per Share (EPS) Growth
Free Cash Flow Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield
A
0.81%
Medical - Diagnostics & Research Industry
- Max
- 2.76%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
With a Dividend Yield of 0.81%, A offers a more attractive income stream than most of its peers in the Medical - Diagnostics & Research industry, signaling a strong commitment to shareholder returns.
HLN
0.90%
Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic Industry
- Max
- 9.29%
- Q3
- 0.31%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
With a Dividend Yield of 0.90%, HLN offers a more attractive income stream than most of its peers in the Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic industry, signaling a strong commitment to shareholder returns.
Dividend Payout Ratio
A
23.76%
Medical - Diagnostics & Research Industry
- Max
- 37.46%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
A’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 23.76% is in the upper quartile for the Medical - Diagnostics & Research industry. This indicates a strong commitment to shareholder returns but also suggests that a smaller portion of earnings is retained for reinvestment compared to many peers.
HLN
0.00%
Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic Industry
- Max
- 125.42%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
HLN has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | A | HLN |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.81% | 0.90% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 23.76% | 0.00% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio
A
29.67
Medical - Diagnostics & Research Industry
- Max
- 48.28
- Q3
- 44.64
- Median
- 29.13
- Q1
- 22.34
- Min
- 15.59
A’s P/E Ratio of 29.67 is within the middle range for the Medical - Diagnostics & Research industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
HLN
23.92
Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic Industry
- Max
- 40.89
- Q3
- 28.12
- Median
- 23.94
- Q1
- 18.79
- Min
- 7.76
HLN’s P/E Ratio of 23.92 is within the middle range for the Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
Forward P/E to Growth Ratio
A
3.80
Medical - Diagnostics & Research Industry
- Max
- 4.18
- Q3
- 3.64
- Median
- 2.40
- Q1
- 0.57
- Min
- 0.04
A Forward PEG Ratio of 3.80 places A in the upper quartile for the Medical - Diagnostics & Research industry. This suggests the stock is potentially expensive compared to its peers relative to its growth forecast, which may warrant caution.
HLN
-0.24
Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic Industry
- Max
- 4.19
- Q3
- 2.94
- Median
- 1.47
- Q1
- 0.35
- Min
- 0.00
HLN has a negative Forward PEG Ratio of -0.24. This typically results from negative earnings or forecasts of declining future earnings, making the ratio not meaningful for valuation.
Price-to-Sales Ratio
A
5.20
Medical - Diagnostics & Research Industry
- Max
- 12.53
- Q3
- 6.19
- Median
- 3.58
- Q1
- 1.95
- Min
- 0.58
A’s P/S Ratio of 5.20 aligns with the market consensus for the Medical - Diagnostics & Research industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
HLN
3.03
Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic Industry
- Max
- 7.49
- Q3
- 4.45
- Median
- 2.12
- Q1
- 1.21
- Min
- 0.25
HLN’s P/S Ratio of 3.03 aligns with the market consensus for the Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
Price-to-Book Ratio
A
5.64
Medical - Diagnostics & Research Industry
- Max
- 10.67
- Q3
- 5.74
- Median
- 2.95
- Q1
- 1.30
- Min
- 0.39
The P/B Ratio is often not a primary valuation metric for the Medical - Diagnostics & Research industry.
HLN
2.13
Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic Industry
- Max
- 4.93
- Q3
- 3.95
- Median
- 2.14
- Q1
- 1.30
- Min
- 0.13
The P/B Ratio is often not a primary valuation metric for the Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic industry.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | A | HLN |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | 29.67 | 23.92 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 3.80 | -0.24 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 5.20 | 3.03 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 5.64 | 2.13 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | 24.63 | -- |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | 25.95 | 18.06 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 5.51 | 3.73 |