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ELV vs. UHS: Elevance Health vs. Universal Health Services Stock Comparison

How do Elevance Health (ELV) and Universal Health Services (UHS) 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

Elevance Health (ELV) and Universal Health Services (UHS) both belong to the Health Care Providers & Services industry, though ELV is classified under Managed Health Care while UHS falls under Health Care Facilities.

Company profile comparison for Elevance Health (ELV) and Universal Health Services (UHS)
Profile ItemELVUHS
NameElevance Health, Inc.Universal Health Services Inc. Class B Common Stock
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-IndustryManaged Health CareHealth Care Facilities
Market Capitalization91.96 billion USD11.52 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateOctober 30, 2001July 9, 1981
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ELV
UHS
GSPC
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Elevance Health (ELV) vs. Universal Health Services (UHS), 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 Elevance Health (ELV) and Universal Health Services (UHS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Elevance Health (ELV) and Universal Health Services (UHS). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Elevance Health (ELV) and Universal Health Services (UHS)
MetricELVUHS
Total Return (1Y)35.51%-12.89%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-0.68%16.25%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)1.10%9.70%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ELV
UHS
GSPC
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Elevance Health (ELV) vs. Universal Health Services (UHS), 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 Elevance Health (ELV) and Universal Health Services (UHS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Elevance Health (ELV) and Universal Health Services (UHS)
MetricELVUHS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)35.05%34.26%
Beta (5Y)0.611.06
Max Drawdown (5Y)-50.38%-43.34%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.19M707.83K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ELV and UHS 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 Elevance Health (ELV) and Universal Health Services (UHS)
MetricELVUHS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.89-0.50
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.25-0.70

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Universal Health Services (UHS) at 19.74% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Elevance Health (ELV) at 11.48% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for UHS.

ELV

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

11.48%

Max
47.61%
Q3
14.36%
ELV
11.48%
Median
5.45%
Q1
-10.67%
Min
-47.01%

UHS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

19.74%

Max
47.61%
UHS
19.74%
Q3
14.36%
Median
5.45%
Q1
-10.67%
Min
-47.01%
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Elevance Health (ELV) vs. Universal Health Services (UHS): A comparison of their ROE against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Elevance Health (ELV) at 2.55% and Universal Health Services (UHS) at 7.97% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

ELV

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.55%

Max
29.35%
Q3
9.33%
ELV
2.55%
Median
2.18%
Q1
-6.29%
Min
-28.46%

UHS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

7.97%

Max
29.35%
Q3
9.33%
UHS
7.97%
Median
2.18%
Q1
-6.29%
Min
-28.46%
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Elevance Health (ELV) vs. Universal Health Services (UHS): A comparison of their net margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Elevance Health (ELV) at 4.22% and Universal Health Services (UHS) at 9.60% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

ELV

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

4.22%

Max
35.43%
Q3
14.14%
Median
6.81%
ELV
4.22%
Q1
-0.28%
Min
-16.29%

UHS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

9.60%

Max
35.43%
Q3
14.14%
UHS
9.60%
Median
6.81%
Q1
-0.28%
Min
-16.29%
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Elevance Health (ELV) vs. Universal Health Services (UHS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Elevance Health (ELV) and Universal Health Services (UHS)
MetricELVUHS
ROE (TTM)11.48%19.74%
ROA (TTM)4.01%7.65%
Net Margin (TTM)2.55%7.97%
Operating Margin (TTM)4.22%9.60%
Gross Margin (TTM)26.43%44.51%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Elevance Health (ELV) at 12.62% and Universal Health Services (UHS) at 9.71% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Elevance Health (ELV) vs. Universal Health Services (UHS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Universal Health Services (UHS) at 37.34% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Elevance Health (ELV) at -1.83% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for UHS.

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Elevance Health (ELV) vs. Universal Health Services (UHS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Elevance Health (ELV) and Universal Health Services (UHS)
MetricELVUHS
Revenue Growth (YoY)12.62%9.71%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)8.34%9.03%
EPS Growth (YoY)-1.83%37.34%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)0.53%36.21%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Elevance Health (ELV) at 1.47 and Universal Health Services (UHS) at 1.37 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

ELV

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.47

Max
7.59
Q3
4.00
Median
1.98
ELV
1.47
Q1
1.37
Min
0.30

UHS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.37

Max
7.59
Q3
4.00
Median
1.98
UHS
1.37
Q1
1.37
Min
0.30
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Elevance Health (ELV) vs. Universal Health Services (UHS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Elevance Health (ELV) at 0.69 and Universal Health Services (UHS) at 0.80 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

ELV

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.69

Max
1.88
Q3
0.91
ELV
0.69
Median
0.58
Q1
0.16
Min
0.00

UHS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.80

Max
1.88
Q3
0.91
UHS
0.80
Median
0.58
Q1
0.16
Min
0.00
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Elevance Health (ELV) vs. Universal Health Services (UHS): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Elevance Health (ELV) and Universal Health Services (UHS)
MetricELVUHS
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.471.37
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.690.80
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.812.27

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Elevance Health (ELV) at 1.59% and Universal Health Services (UHS) at 0.10% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.

ELV

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.59%

ELV
1.59%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

UHS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.10%

UHS
0.10%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Elevance Health (ELV) vs. Universal Health Services (UHS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Elevance Health (ELV) at 29.17% and Universal Health Services (UHS) at 3.35% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.

ELV

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

29.17%

ELV
29.17%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

UHS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

3.35%

UHS
3.35%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Elevance Health (ELV) vs. Universal Health Services (UHS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Elevance Health (ELV) and Universal Health Services (UHS)
MetricELVUHS
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.59%0.10%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)29.17%3.35%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Elevance Health (ELV) at 18.07 and Universal Health Services (UHS) at 8.18 sit in the cheaper earnings-multiple quartile for P/E ratio, with the market paying less for a dollar of trailing earnings than it pays for typical peers.

ELV

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

18.07

Max
80.41
Q3
47.62
Median
29.93
Q1
21.19
ELV
18.07
Min
4.21

UHS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

8.18

Max
80.41
Q3
47.62
Median
29.93
Q1
21.19
UHS
8.18
Min
4.21
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Elevance Health (ELV) vs. Universal Health Services (UHS): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Elevance Health (ELV) at 0.46 and Universal Health Services (UHS) at 0.63 fetch a relatively low price per dollar of sales, landing in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

ELV

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.46

Max
8.80
Q3
4.32
Median
2.13
Q1
1.10
ELV
0.46
Min
0.03

UHS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.63

Max
8.80
Q3
4.32
Median
2.13
Q1
1.10
UHS
0.63
Min
0.03
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Elevance Health (ELV) vs. Universal Health Services (UHS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Universal Health Services (UHS) at 1.51 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile against book while Elevance Health (ELV) at 2.06 is valued near its industry’s middle — UHS is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.

ELV

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.06

Max
11.68
Q3
6.12
Median
3.00
ELV
2.06
Q1
1.73
Min
-1.31

UHS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.51

Max
11.68
Q3
6.12
Median
3.00
Q1
1.73
UHS
1.51
Min
-1.31
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Elevance Health (ELV) vs. Universal Health Services (UHS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Elevance Health (ELV) and Universal Health Services (UHS)
MetricELVUHS
P/E Ratio (TTM)18.078.18
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.460.63
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.061.51
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)8.69%6.47%