ALC vs. FMS: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at ALC and FMS, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
ALC is a standard domestic listing, while FMS trades as an American Depositary Receipt (ADR), offering U.S. investors access to its foreign-listed shares.
| Symbol | ALC | FMS |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Alcon Inc. | Fresenius Medical Care AG |
| Country | Switzerland | Germany |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry | Health Care Equipment & Supplies | Health Care Providers & Services |
| Market Capitalization | 37.97 billion USD | 16.01 billion USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | April 9, 2019 | September 17, 1996 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of ALC and FMS 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.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | ALC | FMS |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | 1.99% | 2.14% |
| 13-Week Price Return | -12.43% | -1.28% |
| 26-Week Price Return | -27.18% | 3.93% |
| 52-Week Price Return | 0.56% | 26.02% |
| Month-to-Date Return | 2.26% | 3.56% |
| Year-to-Date Return | -21.20% | 4.73% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 1.10M | 0.44M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 1.10M | 0.52M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 28.35% | 21.79% |
| Beta | 0.97 | 0.61 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
ALC
4.93%
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 29.93%
- Q3
- 16.99%
- Median
- 9.28%
- Q1
- 5.10%
- Min
- -12.52%
ALC’s Return on Equity of 4.93% is in the lower quartile for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. This indicates a less efficient generation of profit from its equity base when compared to its competitors.
FMS
4.70%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 24.86%
- Q3
- 15.79%
- Median
- 8.56%
- Q1
- 5.75%
- Min
- -1.64%
FMS’s Return on Equity of 4.70% is in the lower quartile for the Health Care Providers & Services industry. This indicates a less efficient generation of profit from its equity base when compared to its competitors.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
ALC
10.70%
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 24.41%
- Q3
- 13.71%
- Median
- 10.08%
- Q1
- 5.96%
- Min
- -5.58%
ALC’s Net Profit Margin of 10.70% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
FMS
3.36%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 11.56%
- Q3
- 5.45%
- Median
- 2.83%
- Q1
- 1.13%
- Min
- -1.71%
FMS’s Net Profit Margin of 3.36% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Health Care Providers & Services industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
ALC
14.38%
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 31.09%
- Q3
- 18.11%
- Median
- 15.07%
- Q1
- 8.48%
- Min
- -0.28%
ALC’s Operating Profit Margin of 14.38% is around the midpoint for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
FMS
7.57%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 19.08%
- Q3
- 9.66%
- Median
- 4.77%
- Q1
- 2.46%
- Min
- -0.83%
FMS’s Operating Profit Margin of 7.57% is around the midpoint for the Health Care Providers & Services industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | ALC | FMS |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 4.93% | 4.70% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 3.49% | 2.02% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 10.70% | 3.36% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 14.38% | 7.57% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 54.26% | 24.67% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
ALC
2.60
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 5.19
- Q3
- 3.00
- Median
- 2.13
- Q1
- 1.44
- Min
- 0.86
ALC’s Current Ratio of 2.60 aligns with the median group of the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
FMS
1.44
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 2.00
- Q3
- 1.51
- Median
- 1.29
- Q1
- 0.92
- Min
- 0.14
FMS’s Current Ratio of 1.44 aligns with the median group of the Health Care Providers & Services industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
ALC
0.24
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 1.61
- Q3
- 0.76
- Median
- 0.45
- Q1
- 0.14
- Min
- 0.00
ALC’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.24 is typical for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
FMS
0.83
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 2.29
- Q3
- 1.24
- Median
- 0.74
- Q1
- 0.50
- Min
- 0.00
FMS’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.83 is typical for the Health Care Providers & Services 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 (TTM)
ALC
9.60
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 56.35
- Q3
- 25.56
- Median
- 9.60
- Q1
- 3.78
- Min
- -26.49
ALC’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 9.60 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
FMS
5.73
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 14.47
- Q3
- 7.50
- Median
- 4.52
- Q1
- 2.12
- Min
- -4.44
FMS’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 5.73 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Health Care Providers & Services industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | ALC | FMS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 2.60 | 1.44 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 1.61 | 1.08 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.24 | 0.83 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 9.60 | 5.73 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
ALC
0.44%
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 4.15%
- Q3
- 1.76%
- Median
- 0.79%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ALC’s Dividend Yield of 0.44% is consistent with its peers in the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
FMS
3.14%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 5.93%
- Q3
- 2.59%
- Median
- 1.35%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
With a Dividend Yield of 3.14%, FMS offers a more attractive income stream than most of its peers in the Health Care Providers & Services industry, signaling a strong commitment to shareholder returns.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
ALC
94.32%
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 160.00%
- Q3
- 66.60%
- Median
- 27.49%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ALC’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 94.32% is in the upper quartile for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies 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.
FMS
187.56%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 185.33%
- Q3
- 74.82%
- Median
- 36.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
At 187.56%, FMS’s Dividend Payout Ratio is exceptionally high, exceeding the typical range for the Health Care Providers & Services industry. While this provides a significant return to shareholders, it may limit funds for reinvestment and could be difficult to sustain.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | ALC | FMS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.44% | 3.14% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 94.32% | 187.56% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
ALC
35.26
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 67.29
- Q3
- 47.01
- Median
- 30.94
- Q1
- 23.91
- Min
- 10.79
ALC’s P/E Ratio of 35.26 is within the middle range for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
FMS
20.47
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 40.02
- Q3
- 29.75
- Median
- 21.09
- Q1
- 14.18
- Min
- 7.05
FMS’s P/E Ratio of 20.47 is within the middle range for the Health Care Providers & Services industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
ALC
3.77
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 9.49
- Q3
- 5.41
- Median
- 2.86
- Q1
- 2.07
- Min
- 0.74
ALC’s P/S Ratio of 3.77 aligns with the market consensus for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
FMS
0.69
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 3.15
- Q3
- 1.87
- Median
- 0.74
- Q1
- 0.27
- Min
- 0.09
FMS’s P/S Ratio of 0.69 aligns with the market consensus for the Health Care Providers & Services industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
ALC
1.98
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 10.85
- Q3
- 6.56
- Median
- 3.53
- Q1
- 2.36
- Min
- 0.71
ALC’s P/B Ratio of 1.98 is in the lower quartile for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. From a value investing perspective, this is favorable, as it suggests the stock is trading at a discount to its net asset value and may offer a greater margin of safety.
FMS
1.07
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 7.33
- Q3
- 4.45
- Median
- 2.52
- Q1
- 1.15
- Min
- 0.66
FMS’s P/B Ratio of 1.07 is in the lower quartile for the Health Care Providers & Services industry. From a value investing perspective, this is favorable, as it suggests the stock is trading at a discount to its net asset value and may offer a greater margin of safety.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | ALC | FMS |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 35.26 | 20.47 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 3.77 | 0.69 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 1.98 | 1.07 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 26.74 | 6.67 |