CVS vs. SNN: CVS Health vs. Smith & Nephew Stock Comparison
How do CVS Health (CVS) and Smith & Nephew (SNN) 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
CVS Health (CVS) and Smith & Nephew (SNN) both fall under the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group, but CVS is classified in Health Care Providers & Services while SNN is classified in Health Care Equipment & Supplies.
CVS Health (CVS) trades as ordinary local shares, while Smith & Nephew (SNN) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | CVS | SNN |
|---|---|---|
| Name | CVS Health Corporation Common Stock | Smith & Nephew plc Sponsored ADR |
| Country/Region | United States | United Kingdom |
| 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 Services | Health Care Equipment |
| Market Capitalization | 107.28 billion USD | 13.04 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | February 21, 1973 | November 16, 1999 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CVS | SNN |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 11.41% | -4.20% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 12.73% | 11.34% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 1.70% | -0.34% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | CVS | SNN |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 34.14% | 27.31% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.60 | 0.49 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -56.79% | -38.80% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 8.60M | 1.49M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CVS | SNN |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.21 | -0.31 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.28 | -0.46 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both CVS Health (CVS) at 14.36% and Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 11.85% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
CVS
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
14.36%
- Max
- 47.61%
- CVS
- 14.36%
- Q3
- 14.36%
- Median
- 5.45%
- Q1
- -10.67%
- Min
- -47.01%
SNN
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
11.85%
- Max
- 47.61%
- Q3
- 14.36%
- SNN
- 11.85%
- Median
- 5.45%
- Q1
- -10.67%
- Min
- -47.01%
Net Margin (TTM)
Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 10.08% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of CVS Health (CVS) at 2.64%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
CVS
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
2.64%
- Max
- 29.35%
- Q3
- 9.33%
- CVS
- 2.64%
- Median
- 2.18%
- Q1
- -6.29%
- Min
- -28.46%
SNN
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
10.08%
- Max
- 29.35%
- SNN
- 10.08%
- Q3
- 9.33%
- Median
- 2.18%
- Q1
- -6.29%
- Min
- -28.46%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 14.47% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of CVS Health (CVS) at 2.72%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
CVS
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
2.72%
- Max
- 35.43%
- Q3
- 14.14%
- Median
- 6.81%
- CVS
- 2.72%
- Q1
- -0.28%
- Min
- -16.29%
SNN
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
14.47%
- Max
- 35.43%
- SNN
- 14.47%
- Q3
- 14.14%
- Median
- 6.81%
- Q1
- -0.28%
- Min
- -16.29%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CVS | SNN |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 14.36% | 11.85% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.11% | 5.16% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 2.64% | 10.08% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 2.72% | 14.47% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 13.72% | 68.44% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both CVS Health (CVS) at 7.85% and Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 6.09% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 52.34% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while CVS Health (CVS) at -62.02% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | CVS | SNN |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 7.85% | 6.09% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 7.63% | 5.73% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -62.02% | 52.34% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -24.73% | 42.01% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 2.14 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while CVS Health (CVS) at 0.85 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for CVS.
CVS
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.85
- Max
- 7.59
- Q3
- 4.00
- Median
- 1.98
- Q1
- 1.37
- CVS
- 0.85
- Min
- 0.30
SNN
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
2.14
- Max
- 7.59
- Q3
- 4.00
- SNN
- 2.14
- Median
- 1.98
- Q1
- 1.37
- Min
- 0.30
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 0.73 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while CVS Health (CVS) at 0.93 uses more debt funding than most peers.
CVS
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.93
- Max
- 1.88
- CVS
- 0.93
- Q3
- 0.91
- Median
- 0.58
- Q1
- 0.16
- Min
- 0.00
SNN
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.73
- Max
- 1.88
- Q3
- 0.91
- SNN
- 0.73
- Median
- 0.58
- Q1
- 0.16
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | CVS | SNN |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.85 | 2.14 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.93 | 0.73 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 3.49 | 2.19 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both CVS Health (CVS) at 3.27% and Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 1.24% 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
3.27%
- CVS
- 3.27%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
SNN
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
1.24%
- SNN
- 1.24%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both CVS Health (CVS) at 30.89% and Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 53.20% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.
CVS
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
30.89%
- CVS
- 30.89%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
SNN
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
53.20%
- SNN
- 53.20%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | CVS | SNN |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 3.27% | 1.24% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 30.89% | 53.20% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
CVS Health (CVS) at 9.74 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 21.19 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for CVS, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
CVS
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
9.74
- Max
- 80.41
- Q3
- 47.62
- Median
- 29.93
- Q1
- 21.19
- CVS
- 9.74
- Min
- 4.21
SNN
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
21.19
- Max
- 80.41
- Q3
- 47.62
- Median
- 29.93
- SNN
- 21.19
- Q1
- 21.19
- Min
- 4.21
P/S Ratio (TTM)
CVS Health (CVS) at 0.26 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 2.07 prices around its industry’s middle — CVS costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
CVS
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.26
- Max
- 8.80
- Q3
- 4.32
- Median
- 2.13
- Q1
- 1.10
- CVS
- 0.26
- Min
- 0.03
SNN
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
2.07
- Max
- 8.80
- Q3
- 4.32
- Median
- 2.13
- SNN
- 2.07
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
CVS Health (CVS) at 1.33 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile relative to book while Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 12.80 prices above its industry range — a wide valuation gap against assets.
CVS
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
1.33
- Max
- 11.68
- Q3
- 6.12
- Median
- 3.00
- Q1
- 1.73
- CVS
- 1.33
- Min
- -1.31
SNN
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
12.80
- SNN
- 12.80
- Max
- 11.68
- Q3
- 6.12
- Median
- 3.00
- Q1
- 1.73
- Min
- -1.31
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CVS | SNN |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 9.74 | 21.19 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.26 | 2.07 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.33 | 12.80 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 11.02% | 8.12% |