LH vs. UHS: Labcorp vs. Universal Health Services Stock Comparison
How do Labcorp (LH) 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
Labcorp (LH) and Universal Health Services (UHS) both belong to the Health Care Providers & Services industry, though LH is classified under Health Care Services while UHS falls under Health Care Facilities.
| Profile Item | LH | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Labcorp Holdings Inc. | Universal Health Services Inc. Class B Common Stock |
| 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 Facilities |
| Market Capitalization | 29.77 billion USD | 11.52 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 29, 1990 | July 9, 1981 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | LH | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 48.62% | -12.89% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 23.39% | 16.25% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 10.54% | 9.70% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | LH | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 24.36% | 34.26% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.85 | 1.06 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -34.61% | -43.34% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 721.05K | 707.83K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | LH | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.82 | -0.50 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.99 | -0.70 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Universal Health Services (UHS) at 19.74% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Labcorp (LH) at 11.44% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for UHS.
LH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
11.44%
- Max
- 47.61%
- Q3
- 14.36%
- LH
- 11.44%
- 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%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Labcorp (LH) at 6.88% 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.
LH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
6.88%
- Max
- 29.35%
- Q3
- 9.33%
- LH
- 6.88%
- 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%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Labcorp (LH) at 10.91% and Universal Health Services (UHS) at 9.60% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
LH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
10.91%
- Max
- 35.43%
- Q3
- 14.14%
- LH
- 10.91%
- Median
- 6.81%
- 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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | LH | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 11.44% | 19.74% |
| ROA (TTM) | 5.48% | 7.65% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 6.88% | 7.97% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 10.91% | 9.60% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 28.96% | 44.51% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Labcorp (LH) at 7.25% 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.
EPS Growth
Universal Health Services (UHS) at 37.34% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Labcorp (LH) at 18.33% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for UHS.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | LH | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 7.25% | 9.71% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 5.55% | 9.03% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 18.33% | 37.34% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -9.19% | 36.21% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Labcorp (LH) at 1.41 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.
LH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
1.41
- Max
- 7.59
- Q3
- 4.00
- Median
- 1.98
- LH
- 1.41
- 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
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Labcorp (LH) at 0.77 and Universal Health Services (UHS) at 0.80 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
LH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.77
- Max
- 1.88
- Q3
- 0.91
- LH
- 0.77
- 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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | LH | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.41 | 1.37 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.77 | 0.80 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.81 | 2.27 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Labcorp (LH) at 0.79% 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.
LH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.79%
- LH
- 0.79%
- 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%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Labcorp (LH) at 23.61% 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.
LH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
23.61%
- LH
- 23.61%
- 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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | LH | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.79% | 0.10% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 23.61% | 3.35% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Universal Health Services (UHS) at 8.18 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Labcorp (LH) at 30.05 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for UHS, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
LH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
30.05
- Max
- 80.41
- Q3
- 47.62
- LH
- 30.05
- Median
- 29.93
- Q1
- 21.19
- 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
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Universal Health Services (UHS) at 0.63 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Labcorp (LH) at 2.04 prices around its industry’s middle — UHS costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
LH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
2.04
- Max
- 8.80
- Q3
- 4.32
- Median
- 2.13
- LH
- 2.04
- Q1
- 1.10
- 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
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Universal Health Services (UHS) at 1.51 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile against book while Labcorp (LH) at 3.36 is valued near its industry’s middle — UHS is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.
LH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
3.36
- Max
- 11.68
- Q3
- 6.12
- LH
- 3.36
- Median
- 3.00
- 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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | LH | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 30.05 | 8.18 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.04 | 0.63 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 3.36 | 1.51 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 3.55% | 6.47% |