ALC vs. LH: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at ALC and LH, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
| Symbol | ALC | LH |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Alcon Inc. | Labcorp Holdings Inc. |
| Country | Switzerland | United States |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry | Health Care Equipment & Supplies | Health Care Providers & Services |
| Market Capitalization | 38.31 billion USD | 23.01 billion USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | April 9, 2019 | March 29, 1990 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of ALC and LH 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 | LH |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | 1.70% | -2.05% |
| 13-Week Price Return | -14.05% | 5.75% |
| 26-Week Price Return | -25.45% | 18.99% |
| 52-Week Price Return | 0.56% | 26.46% |
| Month-to-Date Return | 1.15% | -3.53% |
| Year-to-Date Return | -22.05% | 20.77% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 1.10M | 0.55M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 1.09M | 0.64M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 27.92% | 22.87% |
| Beta | 0.97 | 1.01 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
ALC
5.22%
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 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.
LH
9.25%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 24.86%
- Q3
- 15.79%
- Median
- 8.56%
- Q1
- 5.75%
- Min
- -1.64%
LH’s Return on Equity of 9.25% 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
- 24.41%
- Q3
- 13.71%
- Median
- 10.08%
- Q1
- 5.96%
- Min
- -5.58%
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.
LH
5.66%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 11.56%
- Q3
- 5.45%
- Median
- 2.83%
- Q1
- 1.13%
- Min
- -1.71%
A Net Profit Margin of 5.66% places LH in the upper quartile for the Health Care Providers & Services industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
ALC
15.24%
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 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.
LH
8.83%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 19.08%
- Q3
- 9.66%
- Median
- 4.77%
- Q1
- 2.46%
- Min
- -0.83%
LH’s Operating Profit Margin of 8.83% 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 | LH |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 5.22% | 9.25% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 3.69% | 4.20% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 11.28% | 5.66% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 15.24% | 8.83% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 54.25% | 28.14% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
ALC
2.70
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 2.70 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.
LH
1.50
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 2.00
- Q3
- 1.51
- Median
- 1.29
- Q1
- 0.92
- Min
- 0.14
LH’s Current Ratio of 1.50 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.
LH
0.67
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 2.29
- Q3
- 1.24
- Median
- 0.74
- Q1
- 0.50
- Min
- 0.00
LH’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.67 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.
LH
5.73
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 14.47
- Q3
- 7.50
- Median
- 4.52
- Q1
- 2.12
- Min
- -4.44
LH’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 | LH |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 2.70 | 1.50 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 1.66 | 1.08 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.24 | 0.67 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 9.60 | 5.73 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
ALC
0.35%
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 0.35% is consistent with its peers in the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
LH
1.05%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 5.93%
- Q3
- 2.59%
- Median
- 1.35%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
LH’s Dividend Yield of 1.05% is consistent with its peers in the Health Care Providers & Services industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
ALC
58.30%
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 58.30% is within the typical range for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
LH
31.71%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 185.33%
- Q3
- 74.82%
- Median
- 36.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
LH’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 31.71% is within the typical range for the Health Care Providers & Services industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | ALC | LH |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.35% | 1.05% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 58.30% | 31.71% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
ALC
33.57
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 33.57 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.
LH
30.15
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 40.02
- Q3
- 29.75
- Median
- 21.09
- Q1
- 14.18
- Min
- 7.05
A P/E Ratio of 30.15 places LH in the upper quartile for the Health Care Providers & Services industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company’s future growth.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
ALC
3.79
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 3.79 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.
LH
1.71
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 3.15
- Q3
- 1.87
- Median
- 0.74
- Q1
- 0.27
- Min
- 0.09
LH’s P/S Ratio of 1.71 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
2.37
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 2.37 is within the conventional range for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
LH
2.59
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 7.33
- Q3
- 4.45
- Median
- 2.52
- Q1
- 1.15
- Min
- 0.66
LH’s P/B Ratio of 2.59 is within the conventional range for the Health Care Providers & Services industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | ALC | LH |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 33.57 | 30.15 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 3.79 | 1.71 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 2.37 | 2.59 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 25.87 | 16.81 |