COR vs. UNH: Cencora vs. UnitedHealth Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Cencora (COR) and UnitedHealth (UNH) 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 UnitedHealth (UNH) both belong to the Health Care Providers & Services industry, though COR is classified under Health Care Distributors while UNH falls under Managed Health Care.

Company profile comparison for Cencora (COR) and UnitedHealth (UNH)
Profile Item	COR	UNH
Name	Cencora Inc.	UnitedHealth Group Inc.
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 Providers & Services
GICS Sub-Industry	Health Care Distributors	Managed Health Care
Market Capitalization	63.65 billion USD	353.17 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	April 4, 1995	October 17, 1984
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

COR

UNH

GSPC

Cencora (COR) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH), 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 Cencora (COR) and UnitedHealth (UNH). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Cencora (COR) and UnitedHealth (UNH). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Cencora (COR) and UnitedHealth (UNH)
Metric	COR	UNH
Total Return (1Y)	-3.53%	26.08%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	21.62%	-7.69%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	24.10%	-1.26%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

COR

UNH

GSPC

Cencora (COR) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH), 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 Cencora (COR) and UnitedHealth (UNH). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Cencora (COR) and UnitedHealth (UNH)
Metric	COR	UNH
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	31.90%	34.76%
Beta (5Y)	0.56	0.52
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-32.44%	-61.39%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.29M	5.13M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

COR and UNH 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 Cencora (COR) and UnitedHealth (UNH)
Metric	COR	UNH
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.24	0.63
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.30	0.86

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Cencora (COR) at 129.01% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; UnitedHealth (UNH) at 15.77% also sits in the top quartile.

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%

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

15.77%

Max: 47.61%
UNH: 15.77%
Q3: 14.36%
Median: 5.45%
Q1: -10.67%
Min: -47.01%

Cencora (COR) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): A comparison of their ROE against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Cencora (COR) at 1.03% and UnitedHealth (UNH) at 3.53% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

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%

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

3.53%

Max: 29.35%
Q3: 9.33%
UNH: 3.53%
Median: 2.18%
Q1: -6.29%
Min: -28.46%

Cencora (COR) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): A comparison of their net margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Cencora (COR) at 1.27% and UnitedHealth (UNH) at 5.82% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

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%

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

5.82%

Max: 35.43%
Q3: 14.14%
Median: 6.81%
UNH: 5.82%
Q1: -0.28%
Min: -16.29%

Cencora (COR) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Cencora (COR) and UnitedHealth (UNH)
Metric	COR	UNH
ROE (TTM)	129.01%	15.77%
ROA (TTM)	3.57%	5.24%
Net Margin (TTM)	1.03%	3.53%
Operating Margin (TTM)	1.27%	5.82%
Gross Margin (TTM)	4.09%	20.05%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Only one side can be read here: UnitedHealth (UNH) reports revenue growth of 11.81%, ranked against its industry; Cencora (COR) has no revenue growth figure this period.

Cencora (COR) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Cencora (COR) at 125.50% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than UnitedHealth (UNH) at -14.70%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

Cencora (COR) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Cencora (COR) and UnitedHealth (UNH)
Metric	COR	UNH
Revenue Growth (YoY)	--	11.81%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	11.35%
EPS Growth (YoY)	125.50%	-14.70%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	28.15%	-14.52%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Cencora (COR) at 0.94 and UnitedHealth (UNH) at 0.74 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

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

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.74

Max: 7.59
Q3: 4.00
Median: 1.98
Q1: 1.37
UNH: 0.74
Min: 0.30

Cencora (COR) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): A comparison of their current ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

UnitedHealth (UNH) at 0.70 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

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.70

Max: 1.88
Q3: 0.91
UNH: 0.70
Median: 0.58
Q1: 0.16
Min: 0.00

Cencora (COR) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Cencora (COR) and UnitedHealth (UNH)
Metric	COR	UNH
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.94	0.74
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	3.06	0.70
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.12	1.58

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Cencora (COR) at 0.71% and UnitedHealth (UNH) at 2.29% 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%

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.29%

UNH: 2.29%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Cencora (COR) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Cencora (COR) at 17.45% and UnitedHealth (UNH) at 51.71% 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%

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

51.71%

UNH: 51.71%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Cencora (COR) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Cencora (COR) and UnitedHealth (UNH)
Metric	COR	UNH
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.71%	2.29%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	17.45%	51.71%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Cencora (COR) at 18.58 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while UnitedHealth (UNH) at 22.50 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

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

22.50

Max: 80.41
Q3: 47.62
Median: 29.93
UNH: 22.50
Q1: 21.19
Min: 4.21

Cencora (COR) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Cencora (COR) at 0.19 and UnitedHealth (UNH) at 0.78 fetch a relatively low price per dollar of sales, landing in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

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

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.78

Max: 8.80
Q3: 4.32
Median: 2.13
Q1: 1.10
UNH: 0.78
Min: 0.03

Cencora (COR) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

UnitedHealth (UNH) at 3.60 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

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

3.60

Max: 11.68
Q3: 6.12
UNH: 3.60
Median: 3.00
Q1: 1.73
Min: -1.31

Cencora (COR) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Cencora (COR) and UnitedHealth (UNH)
Metric	COR	UNH
P/E Ratio (TTM)	18.58	22.50
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.19	0.78
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	17.29	3.60
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.81%	7.50%