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ALC vs. MCK: Alcon vs. McKesson Stock Comparison

How do Alcon (ALC) and McKesson (MCK) 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 McKesson (MCK) both fall under the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group, but ALC is classified in Health Care Equipment & Supplies while MCK is classified in Health Care Providers & Services.

Company profile comparison for Alcon (ALC) and McKesson (MCK)
Profile ItemALCMCK
NameAlcon Inc.McKesson Corporation
Country/RegionSwitzerlandUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupHealth Care Equipment & ServicesHealth Care Equipment & Services
GICS IndustryHealth Care Equipment & SuppliesHealth Care Providers & Services
GICS Sub-IndustryHealth Care SuppliesHealth Care Distributors
Market Capitalization36.23 billion USD122.48 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateApril 9, 2019November 10, 1994
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ALC
MCK
GSPC
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Alcon (ALC) vs. McKesson (MCK), 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 McKesson (MCK). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Alcon (ALC) and McKesson (MCK)
MetricALCMCK
Total Return (1Y)1.20%25.40%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)1.17%32.67%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-2.77%37.84%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Alcon (ALC) and McKesson (MCK)
MetricALCMCK
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)29.23%31.71%
Beta (5Y)0.840.26
Max Drawdown (5Y)-37.93%-27.17%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.74M822.69K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ALC and MCK 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 McKesson (MCK)
MetricALCMCK
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.110.67
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.151.15

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Alcon (ALC) earns 2.94% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; McKesson (MCK) has no ROE this period.

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%

MCK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

--

Max
47.61%
Q3
14.36%
Median
5.45%
Q1
-10.67%
Min
-47.01%
MCK
--
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Alcon (ALC) vs. McKesson (MCK): MCK does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; ALC is benchmarked against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Alcon (ALC) at 5.92% and McKesson (MCK) at 1.12% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

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%

MCK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.12%

Max
29.35%
Q3
9.33%
Median
2.18%
MCK
1.12%
Q1
-6.29%
Min
-28.46%
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Alcon (ALC) vs. McKesson (MCK): 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 McKesson (MCK) at 1.48%, 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%

MCK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.48%

Max
35.43%
Q3
14.14%
Median
6.81%
MCK
1.48%
Q1
-0.28%
Min
-16.29%
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Alcon (ALC) vs. McKesson (MCK): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Alcon (ALC) and McKesson (MCK)
MetricALCMCK
ROE (TTM)2.94%--
ROA (TTM)2.80%4.72%
Net Margin (TTM)5.92%1.12%
Operating Margin (TTM)14.63%1.48%
Gross Margin (TTM)57.22%3.65%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Alcon (ALC) at 4.94% and McKesson (MCK) at 12.36% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

McKesson (MCK) at 49.22% 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 MCK.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Alcon (ALC) and McKesson (MCK)
MetricALCMCK
Revenue Growth (YoY)4.94%12.36%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)6.06%13.39%
EPS Growth (YoY)-3.41%49.22%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)42.80%15.31%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Alcon (ALC) at 2.09 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while McKesson (MCK) at 0.90 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for MCK.

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

MCK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.90

Max
7.59
Q3
4.00
Median
1.98
Q1
1.37
MCK
0.90
Min
0.30
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Alcon (ALC) vs. McKesson (MCK): A comparison of their current ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Alcon (ALC) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25 against its industry range, while McKesson (MCK) reports no figure this period.

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

MCK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

--

Max
1.88
Q3
0.91
Median
0.58
Q1
0.16
Min
0.00
MCK
--
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Alcon (ALC) vs. McKesson (MCK): MCK does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; ALC is benchmarked against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Alcon (ALC) and McKesson (MCK)
MetricALCMCK
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.090.90
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.25--
Net Debt / EBITDA1.600.64

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Alcon (ALC) at 0.46% and McKesson (MCK) at 0.32% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.

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%

MCK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.32%

MCK
0.32%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Alcon (ALC) vs. McKesson (MCK): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Alcon (ALC) at 26.56% and McKesson (MCK) at 8.77% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.

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%

MCK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

8.77%

MCK
8.77%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Alcon (ALC) vs. McKesson (MCK): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Alcon (ALC) and McKesson (MCK)
MetricALCMCK
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.46%0.32%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)26.56%8.77%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

McKesson (MCK) at 27.36 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

MCK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

27.36

Max
80.41
Q3
47.62
Median
29.93
MCK
27.36
Q1
21.19
Min
4.21
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Alcon (ALC) vs. McKesson (MCK): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

McKesson (MCK) at 0.29 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Alcon (ALC) at 3.34 prices around its industry’s middle — MCK costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

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

MCK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.29

Max
8.80
Q3
4.32
Median
2.13
Q1
1.10
MCK
0.29
Min
0.03
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Alcon (ALC) vs. McKesson (MCK): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

McKesson (MCK) reports a negative P/B ratio of -30.85, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Alcon (ALC) reports 1.68, ranking against industry peers normally.

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

MCK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

-30.85

Max
11.68
Q3
6.12
Median
3.00
Q1
1.73
Min
-1.31
MCK
-30.85
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Alcon (ALC) vs. McKesson (MCK): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Alcon (ALC) and McKesson (MCK)
MetricALCMCK
P/E Ratio (TTM)56.7727.36
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.340.29
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.68-30.85
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.51%6.04%