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ALC vs. GKOS: Alcon vs. Glaukos Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for Alcon (ALC) and Glaukos (GKOS)
Profile ItemALCGKOS
NameAlcon Inc.Glaukos Corp.
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 USD13.28 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateApril 9, 2019June 25, 2015
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ALC
GKOS
GSPC
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Alcon (ALC) vs. Glaukos (GKOS), 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 Glaukos (GKOS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Alcon (ALC) and Glaukos (GKOS)
MetricALCGKOS
Total Return (1Y)1.20%179.91%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)1.17%55.51%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-2.77%35.14%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ALC
GKOS
GSPC
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Alcon (ALC) vs. Glaukos (GKOS), 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 Glaukos (GKOS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Alcon (ALC) and Glaukos (GKOS)
MetricALCGKOS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)29.23%61.24%
Beta (5Y)0.840.68
Max Drawdown (5Y)-37.93%-53.68%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.74M1.15M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ALC and GKOS 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 Glaukos (GKOS)
MetricALCGKOS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.112.87
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.155.93

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Glaukos (GKOS) reports a negative ROE of -22.84%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile Alcon (ALC) reports 2.94%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

GKOS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

-22.84%

Max
47.61%
Q3
14.36%
Median
5.45%
Q1
-10.67%
GKOS
-22.84%
Min
-47.01%
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Alcon (ALC) vs. Glaukos (GKOS): A comparison of their ROE against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Glaukos (GKOS) reports a negative net margin of -24.60%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Alcon (ALC) reports 5.92%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

GKOS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

-24.60%

Max
29.35%
Q3
9.33%
Median
2.18%
Q1
-6.29%
GKOS
-24.60%
Min
-28.46%
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Alcon (ALC) vs. Glaukos (GKOS): 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 Glaukos (GKOS) at 0.39%, 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%

GKOS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.39%

Max
35.43%
Q3
14.14%
Median
6.81%
GKOS
0.39%
Q1
-0.28%
Min
-16.29%
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Alcon (ALC) vs. Glaukos (GKOS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Alcon (ALC) and Glaukos (GKOS)
MetricALCGKOS
ROE (TTM)2.94%-22.84%
ROA (TTM)2.80%-3.90%
Net Margin (TTM)5.92%-24.60%
Operating Margin (TTM)14.63%0.39%
Gross Margin (TTM)57.22%81.13%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Glaukos (GKOS) at 32.33% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Alcon (ALC) at 4.94% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for GKOS.

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

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Alcon (ALC) reports EPS growth of -3.41%, ranked against its industry; Glaukos (GKOS) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Alcon (ALC) and Glaukos (GKOS)
MetricALCGKOS
Revenue Growth (YoY)4.94%32.33%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)6.06%21.51%
EPS Growth (YoY)-3.41%--
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)42.80%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Alcon (ALC) at 2.09 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Glaukos (GKOS) at 4.57 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets 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

GKOS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

4.57

Max
7.59
GKOS
4.57
Q3
4.00
Median
1.98
Q1
1.37
Min
0.30
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Alcon (ALC) vs. Glaukos (GKOS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Glaukos (GKOS) at 0.15 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Alcon (ALC) at 0.25 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

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

GKOS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.15

Max
1.88
Q3
0.91
Median
0.58
Q1
0.16
GKOS
0.15
Min
0.00
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Alcon (ALC) vs. Glaukos (GKOS): 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 Glaukos (GKOS)
MetricALCGKOS
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.094.57
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.250.15
Net Debt / EBITDA1.60--

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Glaukos (GKOS) 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%

GKOS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Glaukos (GKOS) 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%

GKOS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Alcon (ALC) and Glaukos (GKOS)
MetricALCGKOS
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.46%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)26.56%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Alcon (ALC) trades at 56.77 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Glaukos (GKOS) has no P/E ratio this period.

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

GKOS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

--

Max
80.41
Q3
47.62
Median
29.93
Q1
21.19
Min
4.21
GKOS
--
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Alcon (ALC) vs. Glaukos (GKOS): GKOS does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; ALC is benchmarked against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Alcon (ALC) at 3.34 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Glaukos (GKOS) at 19.24 clears its benchmark range — GKOS looks notably rich on 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

GKOS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

19.24

GKOS
19.24
Max
8.80
Q3
4.32
Median
2.13
Q1
1.10
Min
0.03
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Alcon (ALC) vs. Glaukos (GKOS): 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 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile relative to book while Glaukos (GKOS) at 18.51 prices above its industry range — a wide valuation gap against assets.

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

GKOS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

18.51

GKOS
18.51
Max
11.68
Q3
6.12
Median
3.00
Q1
1.73
Min
-1.31
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Alcon (ALC) vs. Glaukos (GKOS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Alcon (ALC) and Glaukos (GKOS)
MetricALCGKOS
P/E Ratio (TTM)56.77--
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.3419.24
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.6818.51
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.51%0.40%