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ALC vs. PODD: Alcon vs. Insulet Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for Alcon (ALC) and Insulet (PODD)
Profile ItemALCPODD
NameAlcon Inc.Insulet Corporation
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 USD10.16 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateApril 9, 2019May 15, 2007
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ALC
PODD
GSPC
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Alcon (ALC) vs. Insulet (PODD), 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 Insulet (PODD). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Alcon (ALC) and Insulet (PODD)
MetricALCPODD
Total Return (1Y)1.20%-53.25%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)1.17%-0.74%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-2.77%-14.02%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Alcon (ALC) and Insulet (PODD)
MetricALCPODD
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)29.23%46.33%
Beta (5Y)0.841.04
Max Drawdown (5Y)-37.93%-63.02%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.74M1.58M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ALC and PODD 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 Insulet (PODD)
MetricALCPODD
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.11-1.24
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.15-1.51

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Insulet (PODD) at 28.94% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Alcon (ALC) at 2.94% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for PODD.

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%

PODD

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

28.94%

Max
47.61%
PODD
28.94%
Q3
14.36%
Median
5.45%
Q1
-10.67%
Min
-47.01%
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Alcon (ALC) vs. Insulet (PODD): A comparison of their ROE against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Insulet (PODD) at 13.44% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Alcon (ALC) at 5.92%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

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%

PODD

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

13.44%

Max
29.35%
PODD
13.44%
Q3
9.33%
Median
2.18%
Q1
-6.29%
Min
-28.46%
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Alcon (ALC) vs. Insulet (PODD): A comparison of their net margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Alcon (ALC) at 14.63% and Insulet (PODD) at 22.54% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

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%

PODD

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

22.54%

Max
35.43%
PODD
22.54%
Q3
14.14%
Median
6.81%
Q1
-0.28%
Min
-16.29%
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Alcon (ALC) vs. Insulet (PODD): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Alcon (ALC) and Insulet (PODD)
MetricALCPODD
ROE (TTM)2.94%28.94%
ROA (TTM)2.80%11.40%
Net Margin (TTM)5.92%13.44%
Operating Margin (TTM)14.63%22.54%
Gross Margin (TTM)57.22%71.88%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Insulet (PODD) at 30.73% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Alcon (ALC) at 4.94% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for PODD.

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

EPS Growth

Alcon (ALC) at -3.41% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Insulet (PODD) at -39.79% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Alcon (ALC) and Insulet (PODD)
MetricALCPODD
Revenue Growth (YoY)4.94%30.73%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)6.06%27.54%
EPS Growth (YoY)-3.41%-39.79%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)42.80%267.70%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Alcon (ALC) at 2.09 and Insulet (PODD) at 2.51 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity 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

PODD

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.51

Max
7.59
Q3
4.00
PODD
2.51
Median
1.98
Q1
1.37
Min
0.30
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Alcon (ALC) vs. Insulet (PODD): A comparison of their current ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Alcon (ALC) at 0.25 and Insulet (PODD) at 0.66 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

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

PODD

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.66

Max
1.88
Q3
0.91
PODD
0.66
Median
0.58
Q1
0.16
Min
0.00
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Alcon (ALC) vs. Insulet (PODD): 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 Insulet (PODD)
MetricALCPODD
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.092.51
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.250.66
Net Debt / EBITDA1.600.65

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Insulet (PODD) 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%

PODD

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Insulet (PODD) 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%

PODD

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Alcon (ALC) and Insulet (PODD)
MetricALCPODD
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.46%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)26.56%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Insulet (PODD) at 23.94 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

PODD

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

23.94

Max
80.41
Q3
47.62
Median
29.93
PODD
23.94
Q1
21.19
Min
4.21
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Alcon (ALC) vs. Insulet (PODD): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Alcon (ALC) at 3.34 and Insulet (PODD) at 3.19 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

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

PODD

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

3.19

Max
8.80
Q3
4.32
PODD
3.19
Median
2.13
Q1
1.10
Min
0.03
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Alcon (ALC) vs. Insulet (PODD): 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 looks cheap against book in the lower P/B ratio quartile, while Insulet (PODD) at 6.44 carries a premium in the upper quartile — a clear price-to-book gap.

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

PODD

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

6.44

Max
11.68
PODD
6.44
Q3
6.12
Median
3.00
Q1
1.73
Min
-1.31
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Alcon (ALC) vs. Insulet (PODD): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Alcon (ALC) and Insulet (PODD)
MetricALCPODD
P/E Ratio (TTM)56.7723.94
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.343.19
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.686.44
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.51%1.12%