ALC vs. RMD: Alcon vs. ResMed Stock Comparison
How do Alcon (ALC) and ResMed (RMD) 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 ResMed (RMD) both belong to the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, though ALC is classified under Health Care Supplies while RMD falls under Health Care Equipment.
| Profile Item | ALC | RMD |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Alcon Inc. | ResMed Inc. |
| Country/Region | Switzerland | United States |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry Group | Health Care Equipment & Services | Health Care Equipment & Services |
| GICS Industry | Health Care Equipment & Supplies | Health Care Equipment & Supplies |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Health Care Supplies | Health Care Equipment |
| Market Capitalization | 36.23 billion USD | 33.10 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | April 9, 2019 | June 2, 1995 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ALC | RMD |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 1.20% | -5.42% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 1.17% | 18.99% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -2.77% | -1.23% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ALC | RMD |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 29.23% | 30.80% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.84 | 0.75 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -37.93% | -49.04% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.74M | 1.32M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ALC | RMD |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.11 | -0.31 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.15 | -0.43 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
ResMed (RMD) at 26.40% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Alcon (ALC) at 2.94% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for RMD.
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%
RMD
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
26.40%
- Max
- 47.61%
- RMD
- 26.40%
- Q3
- 14.36%
- Median
- 5.45%
- Q1
- -10.67%
- Min
- -47.01%
Net Margin (TTM)
ResMed (RMD) at 27.79% 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%
RMD
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
27.79%
- Max
- 29.35%
- RMD
- 27.79%
- Q3
- 9.33%
- Median
- 2.18%
- Q1
- -6.29%
- Min
- -28.46%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Alcon (ALC) at 14.63% and ResMed (RMD) at 34.82% 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%
RMD
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
34.82%
- Max
- 35.43%
- RMD
- 34.82%
- Q3
- 14.14%
- Median
- 6.81%
- Q1
- -0.28%
- Min
- -16.29%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ALC | RMD |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 2.94% | 26.40% |
| ROA (TTM) | 2.80% | 14.76% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 5.92% | 27.79% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 14.63% | 34.82% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 57.22% | 61.77% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Alcon (ALC) at 4.94% and ResMed (RMD) at 9.85% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: Alcon (ALC) reports EPS growth of -3.41%, ranked against its industry; ResMed (RMD) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ALC | RMD |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 4.94% | 9.85% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 6.06% | 10.21% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -3.41% | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 42.80% | 19.64% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Alcon (ALC) at 2.09 and ResMed (RMD) at 2.65 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
RMD
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
2.65
- Max
- 7.59
- Q3
- 4.00
- RMD
- 2.65
- Median
- 1.98
- Q1
- 1.37
- Min
- 0.30
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
ResMed (RMD) at 0.10 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
RMD
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.10
- Max
- 1.88
- Q3
- 0.91
- Median
- 0.58
- Q1
- 0.16
- RMD
- 0.10
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ALC | RMD |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 2.09 | 2.65 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.25 | 0.10 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.60 | -0.19 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Alcon (ALC) at 0.46% and ResMed (RMD) at 1.03% 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%
RMD
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
1.03%
- RMD
- 1.03%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Alcon (ALC) at 26.56% and ResMed (RMD) at 22.40% 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%
RMD
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
22.40%
- RMD
- 22.40%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ALC | RMD |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.46% | 1.03% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 26.56% | 22.40% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
ResMed (RMD) at 21.43 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
RMD
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
21.43
- Max
- 80.41
- Q3
- 47.62
- Median
- 29.93
- RMD
- 21.43
- Q1
- 21.19
- Min
- 4.21
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Alcon (ALC) at 3.34 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while ResMed (RMD) at 5.77 sits in the pricier quartile — RMD costs more per dollar of 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
RMD
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
5.77
- Max
- 8.80
- RMD
- 5.77
- Q3
- 4.32
- Median
- 2.13
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Alcon (ALC) at 1.68 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile against book while ResMed (RMD) at 5.56 is valued near its industry’s middle — ALC is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.
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
RMD
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
5.56
- Max
- 11.68
- Q3
- 6.12
- RMD
- 5.56
- Median
- 3.00
- Q1
- 1.73
- Min
- -1.31
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ALC | RMD |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 56.77 | 21.43 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.34 | 5.77 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.68 | 5.56 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 3.51% | 3.92% |