COR vs. STE: Cencora vs. STERIS Stock Comparison
How do Cencora (COR) and STERIS (STE) 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
Cencora (COR) and STERIS (STE) both fall under the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group, but COR is classified in Health Care Providers & Services while STE is classified in Health Care Equipment & Supplies.
| Profile Item | COR | STE |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Cencora Inc. | STERIS plc |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry Group | Health Care Equipment & Services | Health Care Equipment & Services |
| GICS Industry | Health Care Providers & Services | Health Care Equipment & Supplies |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Health Care Distributors | Health Care Equipment |
| Market Capitalization | 63.65 billion USD | 24.50 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | April 4, 1995 | June 1, 1992 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | COR | STE |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -3.53% | -1.85% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 21.62% | 9.57% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 24.10% | 3.26% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | COR | STE |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 31.90% | 26.39% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.56 | 0.81 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -32.44% | -36.18% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.29M | 694.02K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | COR | STE |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.24 | -0.23 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.30 | -0.34 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Cencora (COR) at 129.01% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than STERIS (STE) at 11.61%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
COR
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
129.01%
- COR
- 129.01%
- Max
- 47.61%
- Q3
- 14.36%
- Median
- 5.45%
- Q1
- -10.67%
- Min
- -47.01%
STE
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
11.61%
- Max
- 47.61%
- Q3
- 14.36%
- STE
- 11.61%
- Median
- 5.45%
- Q1
- -10.67%
- Min
- -47.01%
Net Margin (TTM)
STERIS (STE) at 13.41% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Cencora (COR) at 1.03%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
COR
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
1.03%
- Max
- 29.35%
- Q3
- 9.33%
- Median
- 2.18%
- COR
- 1.03%
- Q1
- -6.29%
- Min
- -28.46%
STE
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
13.41%
- Max
- 29.35%
- STE
- 13.41%
- Q3
- 9.33%
- Median
- 2.18%
- Q1
- -6.29%
- Min
- -28.46%
Operating Margin (TTM)
STERIS (STE) at 19.18% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Cencora (COR) at 1.27%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
COR
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
1.27%
- Max
- 35.43%
- Q3
- 14.14%
- Median
- 6.81%
- COR
- 1.27%
- Q1
- -0.28%
- Min
- -16.29%
STE
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
19.18%
- Max
- 35.43%
- STE
- 19.18%
- Q3
- 14.14%
- Median
- 6.81%
- Q1
- -0.28%
- Min
- -16.29%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | COR | STE |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 129.01% | 11.61% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.57% | 7.00% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 1.03% | 13.41% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 1.27% | 19.18% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 4.09% | 44.30% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Only one side can be read here: STERIS (STE) reports revenue growth of 8.73%, ranked against its industry; Cencora (COR) has no revenue growth figure this period.
EPS Growth
Both companies show strong earnings momentum, but Cencora (COR) at 125.50% is the standout with EPS growth above its industry range; STERIS (STE) at 27.90% also sits in the top quartile.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | COR | STE |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -- | 8.73% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 9.38% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 125.50% | 27.90% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 28.15% | 94.97% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
STERIS (STE) at 2.05 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Cencora (COR) at 0.94 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for COR.
COR
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.94
- Max
- 7.59
- Q3
- 4.00
- Median
- 1.98
- Q1
- 1.37
- COR
- 0.94
- Min
- 0.30
STE
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
2.05
- Max
- 7.59
- Q3
- 4.00
- STE
- 2.05
- Median
- 1.98
- Q1
- 1.37
- Min
- 0.30
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
STERIS (STE) at 0.28 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while Cencora (COR) at 3.06 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.
COR
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
3.06
- COR
- 3.06
- Max
- 1.88
- Q3
- 0.91
- Median
- 0.58
- Q1
- 0.16
- Min
- 0.00
STE
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.28
- Max
- 1.88
- Q3
- 0.91
- Median
- 0.58
- STE
- 0.28
- Q1
- 0.16
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | COR | STE |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.94 | 2.05 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 3.06 | 0.28 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.12 | 0.91 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Cencora (COR) at 0.71% and STERIS (STE) at 1.02% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.
COR
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.71%
- COR
- 0.71%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
STE
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
1.02%
- STE
- 1.02%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Cencora (COR) at 17.45% and STERIS (STE) at 30.61% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.
COR
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
17.45%
- COR
- 17.45%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
STE
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
30.61%
- STE
- 30.61%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | COR | STE |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.71% | 1.02% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 17.45% | 30.61% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Cencora (COR) at 18.58 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while STERIS (STE) at 29.93 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for COR, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
COR
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
18.58
- Max
- 80.41
- Q3
- 47.62
- Median
- 29.93
- Q1
- 21.19
- COR
- 18.58
- Min
- 4.21
STE
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
29.93
- Max
- 80.41
- Q3
- 47.62
- STE
- 29.93
- Median
- 29.93
- Q1
- 21.19
- Min
- 4.21
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Cencora (COR) at 0.19 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while STERIS (STE) at 3.97 prices around its industry’s middle — COR costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
COR
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.19
- Max
- 8.80
- Q3
- 4.32
- Median
- 2.13
- Q1
- 1.10
- COR
- 0.19
- Min
- 0.03
STE
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
3.97
- Max
- 8.80
- Q3
- 4.32
- STE
- 3.97
- Median
- 2.13
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
STERIS (STE) at 3.38 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Cencora (COR) at 17.29 prices above its benchmark range — COR looks rich relative to book.
COR
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
17.29
- COR
- 17.29
- Max
- 11.68
- Q3
- 6.12
- Median
- 3.00
- Q1
- 1.73
- Min
- -1.31
STE
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
3.38
- Max
- 11.68
- Q3
- 6.12
- STE
- 3.38
- Median
- 3.00
- Q1
- 1.73
- Min
- -1.31
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | COR | STE |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 18.58 | 29.93 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.19 | 3.97 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 17.29 | 3.38 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.81% | 3.36% |