CVS vs. MCK: CVS Health vs. McKesson Stock Comparison

June 13, 2026

This page compares CVS Health (CVS) with McKesson (MCK) using performance and risk, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividends, and valuation metrics.

Performance

Cumulative Growth

CVS

MCK

CVS Health (CVS) vs. McKesson (MCK): 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 CVS Health (CVS) and McKesson (MCK). Returns over one year are annualized.

Performance at a Glance

Performance metrics for CVS Health (CVS) and McKesson (MCK)
Metric	CVS	MCK
1-Year Return	59.29%	7.72%

Risk

Drawdown

CVS

MCK

CVS Health (CVS) vs. McKesson (MCK): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Risk at a Glance

Risk metrics for CVS Health (CVS) and McKesson (MCK)
Metric	CVS	MCK
1-Year Volatility	31.11%	29.15%
Beta	0.60	0.30
3-Month Avg. Volume	8.14M	1.01M

Company Profile

CVS Health (CVS) and McKesson (MCK) both belong to the Health Care Providers & Services industry, though CVS is classified under Health Care Services while MCK falls under Health Care Distributors.

Company profile comparison for CVS Health (CVS) and McKesson (MCK)
Profile Item	CVS	MCK
Name	CVS Health Corporation	McKesson Corporation
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 Services	Health Care Distributors
Market Capitalization	130.09 billion USD	94.25 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	February 21, 1973	November 10, 1994
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

McKesson (MCK) at 20.41 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while CVS Health (CVS) at 44.72 sits in the richer quartile — CVS needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

44.72

Max: 80.40
CVS: 44.72
Q3: 44.58
Median: 28.09
Q1: 19.76
Min: 0.91

MCK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

20.41

Max: 80.40
Q3: 44.58
Median: 28.09
MCK: 20.41
Q1: 19.76
Min: 0.91

CVS Health (CVS) vs. McKesson (MCK): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

Both CVS Health (CVS) at 0.32 and McKesson (MCK) at 0.23 fetch a relatively low price per dollar of sales, landing in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.32

Max: 8.62
Q3: 4.20
Median: 1.94
Q1: 1.01
CVS: 0.32
Min: 0.04

MCK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.23

Max: 8.62
Q3: 4.20
Median: 1.94
Q1: 1.01
MCK: 0.23
Min: 0.04

CVS Health (CVS) vs. McKesson (MCK): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

McKesson (MCK) reports a negative P/B ratio of -43.32, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile CVS Health (CVS) reports 1.68, ranking against industry peers normally.

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.68

Max: 11.03
Q3: 5.50
Median: 2.78
CVS: 1.68
Q1: 1.47
Min: -2.18

MCK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

-43.32

Max: 11.03
Q3: 5.50
Median: 2.78
Q1: 1.47
Min: -2.18
MCK: -43.32

CVS Health (CVS) vs. McKesson (MCK): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation at a Glance

Valuation metrics for CVS Health (CVS) and McKesson (MCK)
Metric	CVS	MCK
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)	44.72	20.41
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)	0.32	0.23
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)	1.68	-43.32
Free Cash Flow Yield	4.00%	6.00%

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: CVS Health (CVS) earns 3.75% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; McKesson (MCK) has no ROE this period.

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

3.75%

Max: 53.65%
Q3: 12.73%
CVS: 3.75%
Median: 3.57%
Q1: -17.96%
Min: -59.21%

MCK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

Max: 53.65%
Q3: 12.73%
Median: 3.57%
Q1: -17.96%
Min: -59.21%
MCK: --

CVS Health (CVS) vs. McKesson (MCK): MCK does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; CVS is benchmarked against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

Both CVS Health (CVS) at 0.72% and McKesson (MCK) at 1.18% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.72%

Max: 30.40%
Q3: 7.96%
Median: 1.27%
CVS: 0.72%
Q1: -9.77%
Min: -34.34%

MCK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.18%

Max: 30.40%
Q3: 7.96%
Median: 1.27%
MCK: 1.18%
Q1: -9.77%
Min: -34.34%

CVS Health (CVS) vs. McKesson (MCK): A comparison of their net margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

Both CVS Health (CVS) at 4.12% and McKesson (MCK) at 2.21% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

4.12%

Max: 35.33%
Q3: 11.89%
Median: 5.44%
CVS: 4.12%
Q1: -4.59%
Min: -25.61%

MCK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.21%

Max: 35.33%
Q3: 11.89%
Median: 5.44%
MCK: 2.21%
Q1: -4.59%
Min: -25.61%

CVS Health (CVS) vs. McKesson (MCK): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability at a Glance

Profitability metrics for CVS Health (CVS) and McKesson (MCK)
Metric	CVS	MCK
Return on Equity (TTM)	3.75%	--
Return on Assets (TTM)	2.67%	4.99%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)	0.72%	1.18%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)	4.12%	2.21%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)	13.39%	3.60%

Growth

Revenue Growth

CVS Health (CVS) vs. McKesson (MCK): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

Revenue Growth at a Glance

Revenue growth metrics for CVS Health (CVS) and McKesson (MCK)
Metric	CVS	MCK
1-Year Revenue Growth	7.85%	12.36%
3-Year Revenue CAGR	7.63%	13.39%

EPS Growth

CVS Health (CVS) vs. McKesson (MCK): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth at a Glance

EPS growth metrics for CVS Health (CVS) and McKesson (MCK)
Metric	CVS	MCK
1-Year EPS Growth	-62.02%	49.22%
3-Year EPS CAGR	-24.73%	15.31%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both CVS Health (CVS) at 0.87 and McKesson (MCK) at 0.85 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.87

Max: 7.79
Q3: 4.29
Median: 1.95
Q1: 1.33
CVS: 0.87
Min: 0.04

MCK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.85

Max: 7.79
Q3: 4.29
Median: 1.95
Q1: 1.33
MCK: 0.85
Min: 0.04

CVS Health (CVS) vs. McKesson (MCK): A comparison of their current ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: CVS Health (CVS) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01 against its industry range, while McKesson (MCK) reports no figure this period.

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.01

Max: 2.02
CVS: 1.01
Q3: 1.01
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.16
Min: 0.00

MCK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

Max: 2.02
Q3: 1.01
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.16
Min: 0.00
MCK: --

CVS Health (CVS) vs. McKesson (MCK): MCK does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; CVS is benchmarked against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group.

Financial Strength at a Glance

Financial strength metrics for CVS Health (CVS) and McKesson (MCK)
Metric	CVS	MCK
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.87	0.85
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)	1.01	--
Net Debt / EBITDA	4.32	0.70

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both CVS Health (CVS) at 2.61% and McKesson (MCK) at 0.42% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.61%

CVS: 2.61%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

MCK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.42%

MCK: 0.42%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

CVS Health (CVS) vs. McKesson (MCK): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

CVS Health (CVS) reports payout ratio above 100% at 116.67%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile McKesson (MCK) reports 8.26%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

116.67%

CVS: 116.67%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

MCK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

8.26%

MCK: 8.26%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

CVS Health (CVS) vs. McKesson (MCK): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividends at a Glance

Dividend metrics for CVS Health (CVS) and McKesson (MCK)
Metric	CVS	MCK
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.61%	0.42%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	116.67%	8.26%