Seek Returns

ALC vs. DXCM: Alcon vs. DexCom Stock Comparison

How do Alcon (ALC) and DexCom (DXCM) 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 DexCom (DXCM) both belong to the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, though ALC is classified under Health Care Supplies while DXCM falls under Health Care Equipment.

Company profile comparison for Alcon (ALC) and DexCom (DXCM)
Profile ItemALCDXCM
NameAlcon Inc.DexCom Inc.
Country/RegionSwitzerlandUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupHealth Care Equipment & ServicesHealth Care Equipment & Services
GICS IndustryHealth Care Equipment & SuppliesHealth Care Equipment & Supplies
GICS Sub-IndustryHealth Care SuppliesHealth Care Equipment
Market Capitalization36.23 billion USD29.62 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateApril 9, 2019April 14, 2005
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ALC
DXCM
GSPC
Loading price history…
Alcon (ALC) vs. DexCom (DXCM), 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

Loading price history…
Trailing total returns for Alcon (ALC) and DexCom (DXCM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for Alcon (ALC) and DexCom (DXCM). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Alcon (ALC) and DexCom (DXCM)
MetricALCDXCM
Total Return (1Y)1.20%46.33%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)1.17%-4.50%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-2.77%-12.76%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ALC
DXCM
GSPC
Loading price history…
Alcon (ALC) vs. DexCom (DXCM), 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

Loading price history…
Distribution of monthly total returns for Alcon (ALC) and DexCom (DXCM). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Alcon (ALC) and DexCom (DXCM)
MetricALCDXCM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)29.23%38.37%
Beta (5Y)0.841.43
Max Drawdown (5Y)-37.93%-66.32%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.74M4.34M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
ALC and DXCM 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 DexCom (DXCM)
MetricALCDXCM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.111.10
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.151.79

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

DexCom (DXCM) at 37.67% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Alcon (ALC) at 2.94% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for DXCM.

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%

DXCM

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

37.67%

Max
47.61%
DXCM
37.67%
Q3
14.36%
Median
5.45%
Q1
-10.67%
Min
-47.01%
Loading chart…
Alcon (ALC) vs. DexCom (DXCM): A comparison of their ROE against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

DexCom (DXCM) at 19.42% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Alcon (ALC) at 5.92%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

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%

DXCM

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

19.42%

Max
29.35%
DXCM
19.42%
Q3
9.33%
Median
2.18%
Q1
-6.29%
Min
-28.46%
Loading chart…
Alcon (ALC) vs. DexCom (DXCM): A comparison of their net margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Alcon (ALC) at 14.63% and DexCom (DXCM) at 24.34% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

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%

DXCM

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

24.34%

Max
35.43%
DXCM
24.34%
Q3
14.14%
Median
6.81%
Q1
-0.28%
Min
-16.29%
Loading chart…
Alcon (ALC) vs. DexCom (DXCM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Alcon (ALC) and DexCom (DXCM)
MetricALCDXCM
ROE (TTM)2.94%37.67%
ROA (TTM)2.80%11.14%
Net Margin (TTM)5.92%19.42%
Operating Margin (TTM)14.63%24.34%
Gross Margin (TTM)57.22%63.42%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Alcon (ALC) at 4.94% and DexCom (DXCM) at 15.60% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Loading chart…
Alcon (ALC) vs. DexCom (DXCM): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

DexCom (DXCM) at 47.18% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Alcon (ALC) at -3.41% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for DXCM.

Loading chart…
Alcon (ALC) vs. DexCom (DXCM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Alcon (ALC) and DexCom (DXCM)
MetricALCDXCM
Revenue Growth (YoY)4.94%15.60%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)6.06%17.01%
EPS Growth (YoY)-3.41%47.18%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)42.80%36.60%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Alcon (ALC) at 2.09 and DexCom (DXCM) at 1.74 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

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

DXCM

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.74

Max
7.59
Q3
4.00
Median
1.98
DXCM
1.74
Q1
1.37
Min
0.30
Loading chart…
Alcon (ALC) vs. DexCom (DXCM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Alcon (ALC) at 0.25 and DexCom (DXCM) at 0.55 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

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

DXCM

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.55

Max
1.88
Q3
0.91
Median
0.58
DXCM
0.55
Q1
0.16
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
Alcon (ALC) vs. DexCom (DXCM): 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 DexCom (DXCM)
MetricALCDXCM
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.091.74
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.250.55
Net Debt / EBITDA1.60-0.28

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

DexCom (DXCM) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Alcon (ALC) reports a yield of 0.46%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

DXCM

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.00%

DXCM
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Alcon (ALC) vs. DexCom (DXCM): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

DexCom (DXCM) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Alcon (ALC) reports a payout of 26.56%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

DXCM

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.00%

DXCM
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Alcon (ALC) vs. DexCom (DXCM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Alcon (ALC) and DexCom (DXCM)
MetricALCDXCM
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.46%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)26.56%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

DexCom (DXCM) at 31.26 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Alcon (ALC) at 56.77 sits in the richer quartile — ALC needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

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

DXCM

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

31.26

Max
80.41
Q3
47.62
DXCM
31.26
Median
29.93
Q1
21.19
Min
4.21
Loading chart…
Alcon (ALC) vs. DexCom (DXCM): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Alcon (ALC) at 3.34 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while DexCom (DXCM) at 5.80 sits in the pricier quartile — DXCM costs more per dollar of sales.

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

DXCM

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

5.80

Max
8.80
DXCM
5.80
Q3
4.32
Median
2.13
Q1
1.10
Min
0.03
Loading chart…
Alcon (ALC) vs. DexCom (DXCM): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Alcon (ALC) at 1.68 looks cheap against book in the lower P/B ratio quartile, while DexCom (DXCM) at 11.68 carries a premium in the upper quartile — a clear price-to-book gap.

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

DXCM

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

11.68

DXCM
11.68
Max
11.68
Q3
6.12
Median
3.00
Q1
1.73
Min
-1.31
Loading chart…
Alcon (ALC) vs. DexCom (DXCM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Alcon (ALC) and DexCom (DXCM)
MetricALCDXCM
P/E Ratio (TTM)56.7731.26
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.345.80
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.6811.68
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.51%2.74%