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CVS Health (CVS) vs. UnitedHealth Group (UNH)

This page compares CVS Health (CVS) with UnitedHealth Group (UNH) using historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation metrics.

Company Profile

CVS Health (CVS) and UnitedHealth Group (UNH) both belong to the Health Care Providers & Services industry, though CVS is classified under Health Care Services while UNH falls under Managed Health Care.

SymbolCVSUNH
Company NameCVS Health CorporationUnitedHealth Group Incorporated
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupHealth Care Equipment & ServicesHealth Care Equipment & Services
GICS IndustryHealth Care Providers & ServicesHealth Care Providers & Services
GICS Sub-IndustryHealth Care ServicesManaged Health Care
Market Capitalization120.17 billion USD353.49 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973October 17, 1984
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Historical Performance

CVS
UNH
Loading price history…
CVS Health (CVS) vs. UnitedHealth Group (UNH): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Historical Performance at a Glance

SymbolCVSUNH
5-Day Price Return-4.01%-1.33%
13-Week Price Return20.43%33.41%
26-Week Price Return17.92%21.63%
52-Week Price Return50.02%33.99%
Month-to-Date Return13.07%5.57%
Year-to-Date Return18.67%18.48%
10-Day Avg. Volume11.14M7.31M
3-Month Avg. Volume8.80M9.35M
3-Month Volatility33.79%34.04%
Beta0.610.66

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Both CVS Health (CVS) at 3.87% and UnitedHealth Group (UNH) at 12.40% post Return on Equity (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on this measure.

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

3.87%

Max
46.60%
Q3
16.64%
Median
9.08%
Q1
-6.70%
Min
-41.21%

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

12.40%

Max
46.60%
Q3
16.64%
Median
9.08%
Q1
-6.70%
Min
-41.21%
CVS Health (CVS) vs. UnitedHealth Group (UNH): A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

Both CVS Health (CVS) at 0.72% and UnitedHealth Group (UNH) at 2.68% post Net Profit Margin (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on net profitability.

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.72%

Max
28.44%
Q3
10.12%
Median
3.71%
Q1
-3.46%
Min
-23.04%

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.68%

Max
28.44%
Q3
10.12%
Median
3.71%
Q1
-3.46%
Min
-23.04%
CVS Health (CVS) vs. UnitedHealth Group (UNH): A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

Both CVS Health (CVS) at 1.58% and UnitedHealth Group (UNH) at 4.12% post Operating Profit Margin (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on operating profitability.

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.58%

Max
37.44%
Q3
14.78%
Median
7.82%
Q1
-1.32%
Min
-18.53%

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

4.12%

Max
37.44%
Q3
14.78%
Median
7.82%
Q1
-1.32%
Min
-18.53%
CVS Health (CVS) vs. UnitedHealth Group (UNH): A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolCVSUNH
Return on Equity (TTM)3.87%12.40%
Return on Assets (TTM)1.15%3.87%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)0.72%2.68%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)1.58%4.12%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)13.87%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both CVS Health (CVS) at 0.87 and UnitedHealth Group (UNH) at 0.89 run Current Ratio (MRQ) 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
5.20
Q3
2.91
Median
1.76
Q1
1.33
Min
0.01

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.89

Max
5.20
Q3
2.91
Median
1.76
Q1
1.33
Min
0.01
CVS Health (CVS) vs. UnitedHealth Group (UNH): A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

Both CVS Health (CVS) at 0.81 and UnitedHealth Group (UNH) at 0.75 post Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on leverage.

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.81

Max
2.20
Q3
1.06
Median
0.63
Q1
0.24
Min
0.00

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.75

Max
2.20
Q3
1.06
Median
0.63
Q1
0.24
Min
0.00
CVS Health (CVS) vs. UnitedHealth Group (UNH): A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

Both CVS Health (CVS) at 1.68 and UnitedHealth Group (UNH) at 4.67 post Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on interest-coverage headroom.

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.68

Max
26.11
Q3
10.11
Median
4.00
Q1
-0.92
Min
-15.06

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

4.67

Max
26.11
Q3
10.11
Median
4.00
Q1
-0.92
Min
-15.06
CVS Health (CVS) vs. UnitedHealth Group (UNH): A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolCVSUNH
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.870.89
Quick Ratio (MRQ)0.660.67
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)0.810.75
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)1.684.67

Growth

Revenue Growth

CVS Health (CVS) vs. UnitedHealth Group (UNH): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

Revenue Growth at a Glance

SymbolCVSUNH
Revenue Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)6.17%1.96%
Revenue Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)7.64%9.67%
3-Year Revenue CAGR7.63%11.35%
5-Year Revenue CAGR8.39%11.72%

EPS Growth

CVS Health (CVS) vs. UnitedHealth Group (UNH): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth at a Glance

SymbolCVSUNH
EPS Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)63.49%0.69%
EPS Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)-45.98%-44.58%
3-Year EPS CAGR-24.70%-14.51%
5-Year EPS CAGR-23.94%-3.76%

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both CVS Health (CVS) at 2.83% and UnitedHealth Group (UNH) at 2.27% report Dividend Yield (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on cash yield relative to share price.

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.83%

Max
1.73%
Q3
0.73%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.27%

Max
1.73%
Q3
0.73%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
CVS Health (CVS) vs. UnitedHealth Group (UNH): A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both CVS Health (CVS) at 37.03% and UnitedHealth Group (UNH) at 66.50% post Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) outside their industries’ typical mid-range — either leaning toward more retention or more distribution than the industry median.

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

37.03%

Max
28.97%
Q3
12.35%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

66.50%

Max
28.97%
Q3
12.35%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
CVS Health (CVS) vs. UnitedHealth Group (UNH): A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend at a Glance

SymbolCVSUNH
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.83%2.27%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)37.03%66.50%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

UnitedHealth Group (UNH) at 29.33 carries typical industry Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM), while CVS Health (CVS) at 41.05 sits in the higher-multiple quartile — CVS carries a higher trailing earnings multiple relative to peers.

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

41.05

Max
55.40
Q3
39.59
Median
27.03
Q1
19.84
Min
0.85

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

29.33

Max
55.40
Q3
39.59
Median
27.03
Q1
19.84
Min
0.85
CVS Health (CVS) vs. UnitedHealth Group (UNH): A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

Both CVS Health (CVS) at 0.30 and UnitedHealth Group (UNH) at 0.79 trade in the lower-multiple quartile for Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) among industry peers, indicating lower trailing revenue multiples than typical peers.

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.30

Max
7.51
Q3
3.57
Median
1.79
Q1
0.85
Min
0.03

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.79

Max
7.51
Q3
3.57
Median
1.79
Q1
0.85
Min
0.03
CVS Health (CVS) vs. UnitedHealth Group (UNH): A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

CVS Health (CVS) at 1.19 trades in the lower-multiple quartile for Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ), while UnitedHealth Group (UNH) at 2.36 sits around the industry midpoint — CVS has a lower book-value multiple relative to peers, though the gap should be read alongside ROE and asset quality.

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.19

Max
13.66
Q3
6.49
Median
3.09
Q1
1.67
Min
0.45

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.36

Max
13.66
Q3
6.49
Median
3.09
Q1
1.67
Min
0.45
CVS Health (CVS) vs. UnitedHealth Group (UNH): A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolCVSUNH
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)41.0529.33
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)0.300.79
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)1.192.36
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)16.2817.90