Abbott Laboratories (ABT) vs. UnitedHealth Group (UNH)
This page compares Abbott Laboratories (ABT) with UnitedHealth Group (UNH) using historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation metrics.
Company Profile
Abbott Laboratories (ABT) and UnitedHealth Group (UNH) both fall under the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group, but ABT is classified in Health Care Equipment & Supplies while UNH is classified in Health Care Providers & Services.
| Symbol | ABT | UNH |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Abbott Laboratories | UnitedHealth Group Incorporated |
| 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 | Managed Health Care |
| Market Capitalization | 154.71 billion USD | 353.49 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 17, 1980 | October 17, 1984 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | ABT | UNH |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | 4.22% | -1.33% |
| 13-Week Price Return | -21.98% | 33.41% |
| 26-Week Price Return | -30.17% | 21.63% |
| 52-Week Price Return | -34.78% | 33.99% |
| Month-to-Date Return | -3.17% | 5.57% |
| Year-to-Date Return | -29.83% | 18.48% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 13.51M | 7.31M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 12.17M | 9.35M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 25.91% | 34.04% |
| Beta | 0.65 | 0.66 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
Both Abbott Laboratories (ABT) at 12.20% and UnitedHealth Group (UNH) at 12.40% post Return on Equity (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on this measure.
ABT
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
12.20%
- Max
- 46.60%
- Q3
- 16.64%
- Median
- 9.08%
- Q1
- -6.70%
- Min
- -41.21%
UNH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
12.40%
- Max
- 46.60%
- Q3
- 16.64%
- Median
- 9.08%
- Q1
- -6.70%
- Min
- -41.21%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
Abbott Laboratories (ABT) at 13.91% ranks in the top quartile for Net Profit Margin (TTM), ahead of UnitedHealth Group (UNH) at 2.68%, which sits closer to the industry mid-range.
ABT
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
13.91%
- Max
- 28.44%
- Q3
- 10.12%
- Median
- 3.71%
- Q1
- -3.46%
- Min
- -23.04%
UNH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
2.68%
- Max
- 28.44%
- Q3
- 10.12%
- Median
- 3.71%
- Q1
- -3.46%
- Min
- -23.04%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
Abbott Laboratories (ABT) at 17.09% ranks in the top quartile for Operating Profit Margin (TTM), ahead of UnitedHealth Group (UNH) at 4.12%, which sits closer to the industry mid-range.
ABT
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
17.09%
- Max
- 37.44%
- Q3
- 14.78%
- Median
- 7.82%
- Q1
- -1.32%
- Min
- -18.53%
UNH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
4.12%
- Max
- 37.44%
- Q3
- 14.78%
- Median
- 7.82%
- Q1
- -1.32%
- Min
- -18.53%
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | ABT | UNH |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 12.20% | 12.40% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 6.87% | 3.87% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 13.91% | 2.68% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 17.09% | 4.12% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 56.50% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Abbott Laboratories (ABT) at 1.39 keeps Current Ratio (MRQ) within its industry mid-range, while UnitedHealth Group (UNH) at 0.89 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for UNH.
ABT
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
1.39
- Max
- 5.20
- Q3
- 2.91
- Median
- 1.76
- Q1
- 1.33
- Min
- 0.01
UNH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.89
- Max
- 5.20
- Q3
- 2.91
- Median
- 1.76
- Q1
- 1.33
- Min
- 0.01
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
Both Abbott Laboratories (ABT) at 0.65 and UnitedHealth Group (UNH) at 0.75 post Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on leverage.
ABT
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.65
- Max
- 2.20
- Q3
- 1.06
- Median
- 0.63
- Q1
- 0.24
- Min
- 0.00
UNH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.75
- Max
- 2.20
- Q3
- 1.06
- Median
- 0.63
- Q1
- 0.24
- Min
- 0.00
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
Abbott Laboratories (ABT) posts Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) of 63.71, above its industry benchmark range, while UnitedHealth Group (UNH) at 4.67 sits closer to the industry mid-range.
ABT
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
63.71
- Max
- 26.11
- Q3
- 10.11
- Median
- 4.00
- Q1
- -0.92
- Min
- -15.06
UNH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
4.67
- Max
- 26.11
- Q3
- 10.11
- Median
- 4.00
- Q1
- -0.92
- Min
- -15.06
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | ABT | UNH |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.39 | 0.89 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 0.84 | 0.67 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.65 | 0.75 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 63.71 | 4.67 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth at a Glance
| Symbol | ABT | UNH |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY) | 7.78% | 1.96% |
| Revenue Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY) | 6.59% | 9.67% |
| 3-Year Revenue CAGR | 0.51% | 11.35% |
| 5-Year Revenue CAGR | 5.08% | 11.72% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth at a Glance
| Symbol | ABT | UNH |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY) | -18.70% | 0.69% |
| EPS Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY) | -53.59% | -44.58% |
| 3-Year EPS CAGR | -1.71% | -14.51% |
| 5-Year EPS CAGR | 8.20% | -3.76% |
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Abbott Laboratories (ABT) at 2.72% and UnitedHealth Group (UNH) at 2.27% report Dividend Yield (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on cash yield relative to share price.
ABT
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
2.72%
- Max
- 1.73%
- Q3
- 0.73%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
UNH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
2.27%
- Max
- 1.73%
- Q3
- 0.73%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Abbott Laboratories (ABT) at 66.73% and UnitedHealth Group (UNH) at 66.50% post Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) outside their industries’ typical mid-range — either leaning toward more retention or more distribution than the industry median.
ABT
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
66.73%
- Max
- 28.97%
- Q3
- 12.35%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
UNH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
66.50%
- Max
- 28.97%
- Q3
- 12.35%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | ABT | UNH |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.72% | 2.27% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 66.73% | 66.50% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
Both Abbott Laboratories (ABT) at 24.58 and UnitedHealth Group (UNH) at 29.33 post Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) near the typical industry midpoint — neither company stands out strongly from peers on trailing earnings multiple.
ABT
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
24.58
- Max
- 55.40
- Q3
- 39.59
- Median
- 27.03
- Q1
- 19.84
- Min
- 0.85
UNH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
29.33
- Max
- 55.40
- Q3
- 39.59
- Median
- 27.03
- Q1
- 19.84
- Min
- 0.85
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
UnitedHealth Group (UNH) at 0.79 trades in the lower-multiple quartile for Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM), while Abbott Laboratories (ABT) at 3.42 sits around the industry midpoint — UNH has a lower trailing revenue multiple relative to peers, though the gap should be read alongside growth and margins.
ABT
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
3.42
- Max
- 7.51
- Q3
- 3.57
- Median
- 1.79
- Q1
- 0.85
- Min
- 0.03
UNH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.79
- Max
- 7.51
- Q3
- 3.57
- Median
- 1.79
- Q1
- 0.85
- Min
- 0.03
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
Both Abbott Laboratories (ABT) at 3.43 and UnitedHealth Group (UNH) at 2.36 post Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) near the typical industry midpoint — neither company stands out strongly from peers on book-value multiple.
ABT
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
3.43
- Max
- 13.66
- Q3
- 6.49
- Median
- 3.09
- Q1
- 1.67
- Min
- 0.45
UNH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
2.36
- Max
- 13.66
- Q3
- 6.49
- Median
- 3.09
- Q1
- 1.67
- Min
- 0.45
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | ABT | UNH |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 24.58 | 29.33 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 3.42 | 0.79 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 3.43 | 2.36 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 20.91 | 17.90 |