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 | 40.22 billion USD | 14.80 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 | -0.46% | 0.81% |
| 13-Week Price Return | -8.88% | -14.79% |
| 26-Week Price Return | -20.10% | -1.29% |
| 52-Week Price Return | 0.56% | 25.24% |
| Month-to-Date Return | -9.13% | -1.84% |
| Year-to-Date Return | -15.14% | -1.13% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 1.89M | 0.49M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 1.09M | 0.53M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 29.06% | 20.16% |
| Beta | 0.96 | 0.61 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
ALC
5.22%
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 34.53%
- Q3
- 19.38%
- Median
- 9.52%
- Q1
- 4.86%
- Min
- -7.58%
ALC’s Return on Equity of 5.22% is on par with the norm for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
FMS
4.70%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 26.03%
- Q3
- 13.74%
- Median
- 8.26%
- Q1
- 4.13%
- Min
- -3.62%
FMS’s Return on Equity of 4.70% is on par with the norm for the Health Care Providers & Services industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
ALC
11.28%
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 23.34%
- Q3
- 13.06%
- Median
- 9.53%
- Q1
- 5.96%
- Min
- -3.87%
ALC’s Net Profit Margin of 11.28% 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
- 12.40%
- Q3
- 5.93%
- Median
- 1.96%
- Q1
- 0.93%
- Min
- -6.10%
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
15.24%
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 29.44%
- Q3
- 17.80%
- Median
- 13.95%
- Q1
- 8.73%
- Min
- -3.56%
ALC’s Operating Profit Margin of 15.24% 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
- 19.05%
- Q3
- 10.21%
- Median
- 4.22%
- Q1
- 1.98%
- Min
- -4.27%
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) | 5.22% | 4.70% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 3.69% | 2.02% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 11.28% | 3.36% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 15.24% | 7.57% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 54.25% | 24.67% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
ALC
2.70
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 4.90
- Q3
- 3.05
- Median
- 2.14
- Q1
- 1.49
- Min
- 0.86
ALC’s Current Ratio of 2.70 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
- 2.01
- Q3
- 1.49
- Median
- 1.30
- Q1
- 0.94
- Min
- 0.17
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
- 1.49
- Q3
- 0.71
- 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
- 2.17
- Q3
- 1.18
- Median
- 0.74
- Q1
- 0.45
- 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
- 58.29
- Q3
- 25.56
- Median
- 9.06
- Q1
- 3.60
- Min
- -28.92
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
- 7.15
- Median
- 5.45
- Q1
- 2.04
- 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) | 2.70 | 1.44 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 1.66 | 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
0.29%
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 4.05%
- Q3
- 1.76%
- Median
- 0.71%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ALC’s Dividend Yield of 0.29% is consistent with its peers in the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
FMS
3.35%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 5.38%
- Q3
- 2.22%
- Median
- 0.55%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
With a Dividend Yield of 3.35%, 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
58.30%
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 160.00%
- Q3
- 72.47%
- Median
- 27.49%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ALC’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 58.30% is within the typical range for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
FMS
187.56%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 186.69%
- Q3
- 74.82%
- Median
- 26.76%
- 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) | 0.29% | 3.35% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 58.30% | 187.56% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
ALC
40.00
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 73.48
- Q3
- 51.69
- Median
- 34.31
- Q1
- 25.74
- Min
- 11.47
ALC’s P/E Ratio of 40.00 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
19.23
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 55.89
- Q3
- 30.85
- Median
- 21.17
- Q1
- 12.63
- Min
- 0.00
FMS’s P/E Ratio of 19.23 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
4.51
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 9.53
- Q3
- 5.26
- Median
- 3.39
- Q1
- 2.13
- Min
- 0.00
ALC’s P/S Ratio of 4.51 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
0.65
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 3.10
- Q3
- 1.74
- Median
- 0.67
- Q1
- 0.24
- Min
- 0.00
FMS’s P/S Ratio of 0.65 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
2.34
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 10.85
- Q3
- 5.98
- Median
- 3.48
- Q1
- 2.43
- Min
- 0.69
ALC’s P/B Ratio of 2.34 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
- 7.61
- Q3
- 4.32
- Median
- 2.53
- Q1
- 1.14
- Min
- 0.77
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) | 40.00 | 19.23 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 4.51 | 0.65 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 2.34 | 1.07 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 30.83 | 6.26 |