ABT vs. EHC: Abbott Laboratories vs. Encompass Health Stock Comparison
How do Abbott Laboratories (ABT) and Encompass Health (EHC) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Abbott Laboratories (ABT) and Encompass Health (EHC) both fall under the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group, but ABT is classified in Health Care Equipment & Supplies while EHC is classified in Health Care Providers & Services.
| Profile Item | ABT | EHC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Abbott Laboratories | Encompass Health Corporation |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry Group | Health Care Equipment & Services | Health Care Equipment & Services |
| GICS Industry | Health Care Equipment & Supplies | Health Care Providers & Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Health Care Equipment | Health Care Facilities |
| Market Capitalization | 190.39 billion USD | 13.50 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 17, 1980 | September 24, 1986 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ABT | EHC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -10.78% | 22.16% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 7.79% | 30.96% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -0.79% | 23.55% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ABT | EHC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 28.48% | 30.54% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.53 | 0.82 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -39.64% | -27.33% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 8.74M | 996.79K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ABT | EHC |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.53 | 0.59 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.76 | 1.08 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Encompass Health (EHC) at 25.11% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Abbott Laboratories (ABT) at 9.14% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for EHC.
ABT
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
9.14%
- Max
- 47.61%
- Q3
- 14.36%
- ABT
- 9.14%
- Median
- 5.45%
- Q1
- -10.67%
- Min
- -47.01%
EHC
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
25.11%
- Max
- 47.61%
- EHC
- 25.11%
- Q3
- 14.36%
- Median
- 5.45%
- Q1
- -10.67%
- Min
- -47.01%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Abbott Laboratories (ABT) at 9.75% and Encompass Health (EHC) at 10.17% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
ABT
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
9.75%
- Max
- 29.35%
- ABT
- 9.75%
- Q3
- 9.33%
- Median
- 2.18%
- Q1
- -6.29%
- Min
- -28.46%
EHC
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
10.17%
- Max
- 29.35%
- EHC
- 10.17%
- Q3
- 9.33%
- Median
- 2.18%
- Q1
- -6.29%
- Min
- -28.46%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Encompass Health (EHC) at 18.07% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Abbott Laboratories (ABT) at 11.66%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
ABT
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
11.66%
- Max
- 35.43%
- Q3
- 14.14%
- ABT
- 11.66%
- Median
- 6.81%
- Q1
- -0.28%
- Min
- -16.29%
EHC
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
18.07%
- Max
- 35.43%
- EHC
- 18.07%
- Q3
- 14.14%
- Median
- 6.81%
- Q1
- -0.28%
- Min
- -16.29%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ABT | EHC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 9.14% | 25.11% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.90% | 10.08% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 9.75% | 10.17% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 11.66% | 18.07% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 57.17% | 44.15% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Abbott Laboratories (ABT) at 5.67% and Encompass Health (EHC) at 10.46% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Encompass Health (EHC) at 24.22% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Abbott Laboratories (ABT) at -51.31% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ABT | EHC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 5.67% | 10.46% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 0.51% | 10.92% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -51.31% | 24.22% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -1.65% | 27.07% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Abbott Laboratories (ABT) at 1.46 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Encompass Health (EHC) at 1.09 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for EHC.
ABT
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
1.46
- Max
- 7.59
- Q3
- 4.00
- Median
- 1.98
- ABT
- 1.46
- Q1
- 1.37
- Min
- 0.30
EHC
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
1.09
- Max
- 7.59
- Q3
- 4.00
- Median
- 1.98
- Q1
- 1.37
- EHC
- 1.09
- Min
- 0.30
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Abbott Laboratories (ABT) at 0.61 and Encompass Health (EHC) at 0.79 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
ABT
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.61
- Max
- 1.88
- Q3
- 0.91
- ABT
- 0.61
- Median
- 0.58
- Q1
- 0.16
- Min
- 0.00
EHC
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.79
- Max
- 1.88
- Q3
- 0.91
- EHC
- 0.79
- Median
- 0.58
- Q1
- 0.16
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ABT | EHC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.46 | 1.09 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.61 | 0.79 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.37 | 1.79 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Abbott Laboratories (ABT) at 2.22% and Encompass Health (EHC) at 0.55% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.
ABT
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
2.22%
- ABT
- 2.22%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
EHC
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.55%
- EHC
- 0.55%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Abbott Laboratories (ABT) at 92.54% and Encompass Health (EHC) at 12.48% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.
ABT
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
92.54%
- ABT
- 92.54%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
EHC
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
12.48%
- EHC
- 12.48%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ABT | EHC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.22% | 0.55% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 92.54% | 12.48% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Abbott Laboratories (ABT) at 41.02 and Encompass Health (EHC) at 22.01 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
ABT
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
41.02
- Max
- 80.41
- Q3
- 47.62
- ABT
- 41.02
- Median
- 29.93
- Q1
- 21.19
- Min
- 4.21
EHC
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
22.01
- Max
- 80.41
- Q3
- 47.62
- Median
- 29.93
- EHC
- 22.01
- Q1
- 21.19
- Min
- 4.21
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Abbott Laboratories (ABT) at 3.95 and Encompass Health (EHC) at 2.13 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
ABT
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
3.95
- Max
- 8.80
- Q3
- 4.32
- ABT
- 3.95
- Median
- 2.13
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.03
EHC
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
2.13
- Max
- 8.80
- Q3
- 4.32
- EHC
- 2.13
- Median
- 2.13
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Abbott Laboratories (ABT) at 3.73 and Encompass Health (EHC) at 5.04 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
ABT
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
3.73
- Max
- 11.68
- Q3
- 6.12
- ABT
- 3.73
- Median
- 3.00
- Q1
- 1.73
- Min
- -1.31
EHC
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
5.04
- Max
- 11.68
- Q3
- 6.12
- EHC
- 5.04
- Median
- 3.00
- Q1
- 1.73
- Min
- -1.31
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ABT | EHC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 41.02 | 22.01 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.95 | 2.13 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 3.73 | 5.04 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 3.19% | 1.97% |