ALC vs. CVS: Alcon vs. CVS Health Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Alcon (ALC) and CVS Health (CVS) 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

Alcon (ALC) and CVS Health (CVS) both fall under the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group, but ALC is classified in Health Care Equipment & Supplies while CVS is classified in Health Care Providers & Services.

Company profile comparison for Alcon (ALC) and CVS Health (CVS)
Profile Item	ALC	CVS
Name	Alcon Inc.	CVS Health Corporation Common Stock
Country/Region	Switzerland	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 Supplies	Health Care Services
Market Capitalization	36.23 billion USD	107.28 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	April 9, 2019	February 21, 1973
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ALC

CVS

GSPC

Alcon (ALC) vs. CVS Health (CVS), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Alcon (ALC) and CVS Health (CVS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Alcon (ALC) and CVS Health (CVS). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Alcon (ALC) and CVS Health (CVS)
Metric	ALC	CVS
Total Return (1Y)	1.20%	11.41%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	1.17%	12.73%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-2.77%	1.70%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ALC

CVS

GSPC

Alcon (ALC) vs. CVS Health (CVS), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Alcon (ALC) and CVS Health (CVS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Alcon (ALC) and CVS Health (CVS)
Metric	ALC	CVS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	29.23%	34.14%
Beta (5Y)	0.84	0.60
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-37.93%	-56.79%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.74M	8.60M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

ALC and CVS are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Alcon (ALC) and CVS Health (CVS)
Metric	ALC	CVS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.11	0.21
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.15	0.28

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Alcon (ALC) at 2.94% and CVS Health (CVS) at 14.36% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

ALC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.94%

Max: 47.61%
Q3: 14.36%
Median: 5.45%
ALC: 2.94%
Q1: -10.67%
Min: -47.01%

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

14.36%

Max: 47.61%
CVS: 14.36%
Q3: 14.36%
Median: 5.45%
Q1: -10.67%
Min: -47.01%

Alcon (ALC) vs. CVS Health (CVS): A comparison of their ROE against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Alcon (ALC) at 5.92% and CVS Health (CVS) at 2.64% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

ALC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

5.92%

Max: 29.35%
Q3: 9.33%
ALC: 5.92%
Median: 2.18%
Q1: -6.29%
Min: -28.46%

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.64%

Max: 29.35%
Q3: 9.33%
CVS: 2.64%
Median: 2.18%
Q1: -6.29%
Min: -28.46%

Alcon (ALC) vs. CVS Health (CVS): A comparison of their net margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Alcon (ALC) at 14.63% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of CVS Health (CVS) at 2.72%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

ALC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

14.63%

Max: 35.43%
ALC: 14.63%
Q3: 14.14%
Median: 6.81%
Q1: -0.28%
Min: -16.29%

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.72%

Max: 35.43%
Q3: 14.14%
Median: 6.81%
CVS: 2.72%
Q1: -0.28%
Min: -16.29%

Alcon (ALC) vs. CVS Health (CVS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Alcon (ALC) and CVS Health (CVS)
Metric	ALC	CVS
ROE (TTM)	2.94%	14.36%
ROA (TTM)	2.80%	3.11%
Net Margin (TTM)	5.92%	2.64%
Operating Margin (TTM)	14.63%	2.72%
Gross Margin (TTM)	57.22%	13.72%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Alcon (ALC) at 4.94% and CVS Health (CVS) at 7.85% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Alcon (ALC) vs. CVS Health (CVS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Alcon (ALC) at -3.41% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while CVS Health (CVS) at -62.02% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

Alcon (ALC) vs. CVS Health (CVS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Alcon (ALC) and CVS Health (CVS)
Metric	ALC	CVS
Revenue Growth (YoY)	4.94%	7.85%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	6.06%	7.63%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-3.41%	-62.02%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	42.80%	-24.73%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Alcon (ALC) at 2.09 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while CVS Health (CVS) at 0.85 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for CVS.

ALC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.09

Max: 7.59
Q3: 4.00
ALC: 2.09
Median: 1.98
Q1: 1.37
Min: 0.30

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.85

Max: 7.59
Q3: 4.00
Median: 1.98
Q1: 1.37
CVS: 0.85
Min: 0.30

Alcon (ALC) vs. CVS Health (CVS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Alcon (ALC) at 0.25 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while CVS Health (CVS) at 0.93 uses more debt funding than most peers.

ALC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.25

Max: 1.88
Q3: 0.91
Median: 0.58
ALC: 0.25
Q1: 0.16
Min: 0.00

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.93

Max: 1.88
CVS: 0.93
Q3: 0.91
Median: 0.58
Q1: 0.16
Min: 0.00

Alcon (ALC) vs. CVS Health (CVS): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Alcon (ALC) and CVS Health (CVS)
Metric	ALC	CVS
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.09	0.85
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.25	0.93
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.60	3.49

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Alcon (ALC) at 0.46% and CVS Health (CVS) at 3.27% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.

ALC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.46%

ALC: 0.46%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

3.27%

CVS: 3.27%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Alcon (ALC) vs. CVS Health (CVS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Alcon (ALC) at 26.56% and CVS Health (CVS) at 30.89% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.

ALC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

26.56%

ALC: 26.56%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

30.89%

CVS: 30.89%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Alcon (ALC) vs. CVS Health (CVS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Alcon (ALC) and CVS Health (CVS)
Metric	ALC	CVS
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.46%	3.27%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	26.56%	30.89%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

CVS Health (CVS) at 9.74 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Alcon (ALC) at 56.77 sits in the richer quartile — a clear split in what investors pay for each dollar of trailing earnings.

ALC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

56.77

Max: 80.41
ALC: 56.77
Q3: 47.62
Median: 29.93
Q1: 21.19
Min: 4.21

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

9.74

Max: 80.41
Q3: 47.62
Median: 29.93
Q1: 21.19
CVS: 9.74
Min: 4.21

Alcon (ALC) vs. CVS Health (CVS): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

CVS Health (CVS) at 0.26 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Alcon (ALC) at 3.34 prices around its industry’s middle — CVS costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

ALC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

3.34

Max: 8.80
Q3: 4.32
ALC: 3.34
Median: 2.13
Q1: 1.10
Min: 0.03

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.26

Max: 8.80
Q3: 4.32
Median: 2.13
Q1: 1.10
CVS: 0.26
Min: 0.03

Alcon (ALC) vs. CVS Health (CVS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Relative to net asset value, both Alcon (ALC) at 1.68 and CVS Health (CVS) at 1.33 look inexpensive, sitting in the lower P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

ALC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.68

Max: 11.68
Q3: 6.12
Median: 3.00
Q1: 1.73
ALC: 1.68
Min: -1.31

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.33

Max: 11.68
Q3: 6.12
Median: 3.00
Q1: 1.73
CVS: 1.33
Min: -1.31

Alcon (ALC) vs. CVS Health (CVS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Alcon (ALC) and CVS Health (CVS)
Metric	ALC	CVS
P/E Ratio (TTM)	56.77	9.74
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.34	0.26
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.68	1.33
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.51%	11.02%