ALC vs. VEEV: Alcon vs. Veeva Systems Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Alcon (ALC) and Veeva Systems (VEEV) 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 Veeva Systems (VEEV) both fall under the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group, but ALC is classified in Health Care Equipment & Supplies while VEEV is classified in Health Care Technology.

Company profile comparison for Alcon (ALC) and Veeva Systems (VEEV)
Profile Item	ALC	VEEV
Name	Alcon Inc.	Veeva Systems 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 Technology
GICS Sub-Industry	Health Care Supplies	Health Care Technology
Market Capitalization	36.23 billion USD	49.18 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	April 9, 2019	October 16, 2013
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ALC

VEEV

GSPC

Alcon (ALC) vs. Veeva Systems (VEEV), 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 Veeva Systems (VEEV). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Alcon (ALC) and Veeva Systems (VEEV)
Metric	ALC	VEEV
Total Return (1Y)	1.20%	3.92%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	1.17%	22.52%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-2.77%	-0.87%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ALC

VEEV

GSPC

Alcon (ALC) vs. Veeva Systems (VEEV), 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 Veeva Systems (VEEV). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Alcon (ALC) and Veeva Systems (VEEV)
Metric	ALC	VEEV
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	29.23%	43.36%
Beta (5Y)	0.84	0.88
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-37.93%	-52.79%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.74M	1.64M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

ALC and VEEV 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 Veeva Systems (VEEV)
Metric	ALC	VEEV
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.11	-0.01
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.15	-0.01

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Veeva Systems (VEEV) at 14.43% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Alcon (ALC) at 2.94% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for VEEV.

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%

VEEV

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

14.43%

Max: 47.61%
VEEV: 14.43%
Q3: 14.36%
Median: 5.45%
Q1: -10.67%
Min: -47.01%

Alcon (ALC) vs. Veeva Systems (VEEV): A comparison of their ROE against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Veeva Systems (VEEV) at 29.35% 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%

VEEV

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

29.35%

VEEV: 29.35%
Max: 29.35%
Q3: 9.33%
Median: 2.18%
Q1: -6.29%
Min: -28.46%

Alcon (ALC) vs. Veeva Systems (VEEV): 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 Veeva Systems (VEEV) at 29.64% 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%

VEEV

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

29.64%

Max: 35.43%
VEEV: 29.64%
Q3: 14.14%
Median: 6.81%
Q1: -0.28%
Min: -16.29%

Alcon (ALC) vs. Veeva Systems (VEEV): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Alcon (ALC) and Veeva Systems (VEEV)
Metric	ALC	VEEV
ROE (TTM)	2.94%	14.43%
ROA (TTM)	2.80%	7.58%
Net Margin (TTM)	5.92%	29.35%
Operating Margin (TTM)	14.63%	29.64%
Gross Margin (TTM)	57.22%	74.96%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Alcon (ALC) at 4.94% and Veeva Systems (VEEV) at 16.34% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Alcon (ALC) vs. Veeva Systems (VEEV): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Alcon (ALC) at -3.41% and Veeva Systems (VEEV) at 25.93% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Alcon (ALC) vs. Veeva Systems (VEEV): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Alcon (ALC) and Veeva Systems (VEEV)
Metric	ALC	VEEV
Revenue Growth (YoY)	4.94%	16.34%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	6.06%	14.03%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-3.41%	25.93%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	42.80%	21.94%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Alcon (ALC) at 2.09 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Veeva Systems (VEEV) at 5.46 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

VEEV

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

5.46

Max: 7.59
VEEV: 5.46
Q3: 4.00
Median: 1.98
Q1: 1.37
Min: 0.30

Alcon (ALC) vs. Veeva Systems (VEEV): A comparison of their current ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Veeva Systems (VEEV) at 0.02 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

VEEV

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.02

Max: 1.88
Q3: 0.91
Median: 0.58
Q1: 0.16
VEEV: 0.02
Min: 0.00

Alcon (ALC) vs. Veeva Systems (VEEV): 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 Veeva Systems (VEEV)
Metric	ALC	VEEV
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.09	5.46
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.25	0.02
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.60	-6.59

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Veeva Systems (VEEV) 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%

VEEV

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.00%

VEEV: 0.00%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Alcon (ALC) vs. Veeva Systems (VEEV): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Veeva Systems (VEEV) 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%

VEEV

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.00%

VEEV: 0.00%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Alcon (ALC) vs. Veeva Systems (VEEV): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Alcon (ALC) and Veeva Systems (VEEV)
Metric	ALC	VEEV
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.46%	0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	26.56%	0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Alcon (ALC) at 56.77 and Veeva Systems (VEEV) at 49.79 sit in the richer earnings-multiple quartile for P/E ratio, so investors are paying more for TTM earnings than they pay for typical peers.

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

VEEV

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

49.79

Max: 80.41
VEEV: 49.79
Q3: 47.62
Median: 29.93
Q1: 21.19
Min: 4.21

Alcon (ALC) vs. Veeva Systems (VEEV): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Alcon (ALC) at 3.34 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Veeva Systems (VEEV) at 14.22 clears its benchmark range — VEEV 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

VEEV

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

14.22

VEEV: 14.22
Max: 8.80
Q3: 4.32
Median: 2.13
Q1: 1.10
Min: 0.03

Alcon (ALC) vs. Veeva Systems (VEEV): 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 Veeva Systems (VEEV) at 6.61 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

VEEV

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

6.61

Max: 11.68
VEEV: 6.61
Q3: 6.12
Median: 3.00
Q1: 1.73
Min: -1.31

Alcon (ALC) vs. Veeva Systems (VEEV): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Alcon (ALC) and Veeva Systems (VEEV)
Metric	ALC	VEEV
P/E Ratio (TTM)	56.77	49.79
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.34	14.22
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.68	6.61
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.51%	2.56%