LH vs. UNH: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at LH and UNH, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
| Symbol | LH | UNH |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Labcorp Holdings Inc. | UnitedHealth Group Incorporated |
| Country | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry | Health Care Providers & Services | Health Care Providers & Services |
| Market Capitalization | 23.06 billion USD | 335.03 billion USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 29, 1990 | October 17, 1984 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of LH and UNH by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | LH | UNH |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | -0.69% | 4.58% |
| 13-Week Price Return | 7.12% | 22.12% |
| 26-Week Price Return | 18.87% | -31.55% |
| 52-Week Price Return | 30.88% | -36.61% |
| Month-to-Date Return | -3.33% | 7.13% |
| Year-to-Date Return | 21.01% | -26.87% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 0.61M | 8.39M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 0.63M | 14.98M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 22.92% | 44.69% |
| Beta | 1.01 | 0.43 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
LH
9.25%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 24.86%
- Q3
- 15.79%
- Median
- 8.56%
- Q1
- 5.75%
- Min
- -1.64%
LH’s Return on Equity of 9.25% is on par with the norm for the Health Care Providers & Services industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
UNH
22.26%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 24.86%
- Q3
- 15.79%
- Median
- 8.56%
- Q1
- 5.75%
- Min
- -1.64%
In the upper quartile for the Health Care Providers & Services industry, UNH’s Return on Equity of 22.26% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
LH
5.66%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 11.56%
- Q3
- 5.45%
- Median
- 2.83%
- Q1
- 1.13%
- Min
- -1.71%
A Net Profit Margin of 5.66% places LH in the upper quartile for the Health Care Providers & Services industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
UNH
5.04%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 11.56%
- Q3
- 5.45%
- Median
- 2.83%
- Q1
- 1.13%
- Min
- -1.71%
UNH’s Net Profit Margin of 5.04% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Health Care Providers & Services industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
LH
8.83%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 19.08%
- Q3
- 9.66%
- Median
- 4.77%
- Q1
- 2.46%
- Min
- -0.83%
LH’s Operating Profit Margin of 8.83% is around the midpoint for the Health Care Providers & Services industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
UNH
7.26%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 19.08%
- Q3
- 9.66%
- Median
- 4.77%
- Q1
- 2.46%
- Min
- -0.83%
UNH’s Operating Profit Margin of 7.26% is around the midpoint for the Health Care Providers & Services industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | LH | UNH |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 9.25% | 22.26% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 4.20% | 7.01% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 5.66% | 5.04% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 8.83% | 7.26% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 28.14% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
LH
1.50
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 2.00
- Q3
- 1.51
- Median
- 1.29
- Q1
- 0.92
- Min
- 0.14
LH’s Current Ratio of 1.50 aligns with the median group of the Health Care Providers & Services industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
UNH
0.81
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 2.00
- Q3
- 1.51
- Median
- 1.29
- Q1
- 0.92
- Min
- 0.14
UNH’s Current Ratio of 0.81 falls into the lower quartile for the Health Care Providers & Services industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
LH
0.67
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 2.29
- Q3
- 1.24
- Median
- 0.74
- Q1
- 0.50
- Min
- 0.00
LH’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.67 is typical for the Health Care Providers & Services industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
UNH
0.79
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 2.29
- Q3
- 1.24
- Median
- 0.74
- Q1
- 0.50
- Min
- 0.00
UNH’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.79 is typical for the Health Care Providers & Services industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
LH
5.73
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 14.47
- Q3
- 7.50
- Median
- 4.52
- Q1
- 2.12
- Min
- -4.44
LH’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 5.73 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Health Care Providers & Services industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
UNH
6.14
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 14.47
- Q3
- 7.50
- Median
- 4.52
- Q1
- 2.12
- Min
- -4.44
UNH’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 6.14 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Health Care Providers & Services industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | LH | UNH |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.50 | 0.81 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 1.08 | 0.60 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.67 | 0.79 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 5.73 | 6.14 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
LH
1.05%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 5.93%
- Q3
- 2.59%
- Median
- 1.35%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
LH’s Dividend Yield of 1.05% is consistent with its peers in the Health Care Providers & Services industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
UNH
2.30%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 5.93%
- Q3
- 2.59%
- Median
- 1.35%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
UNH’s Dividend Yield of 2.30% is consistent with its peers in the Health Care Providers & Services industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
LH
31.71%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 185.33%
- Q3
- 74.82%
- Median
- 36.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
LH’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 31.71% is within the typical range for the Health Care Providers & Services industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
UNH
36.54%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 185.33%
- Q3
- 74.82%
- Median
- 36.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
UNH’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 36.54% is within the typical range for the Health Care Providers & Services industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | LH | UNH |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.05% | 2.30% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 31.71% | 36.54% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
LH
30.21
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 40.02
- Q3
- 29.75
- Median
- 21.09
- Q1
- 14.18
- Min
- 7.05
A P/E Ratio of 30.21 places LH in the upper quartile for the Health Care Providers & Services industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company’s future growth.
UNH
15.86
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 40.02
- Q3
- 29.75
- Median
- 21.09
- Q1
- 14.18
- Min
- 7.05
UNH’s P/E Ratio of 15.86 is within the middle range for the Health Care Providers & Services industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
LH
1.71
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 3.15
- Q3
- 1.87
- Median
- 0.74
- Q1
- 0.27
- Min
- 0.09
LH’s P/S Ratio of 1.71 aligns with the market consensus for the Health Care Providers & Services industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
UNH
0.80
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 3.15
- Q3
- 1.87
- Median
- 0.74
- Q1
- 0.27
- Min
- 0.09
UNH’s P/S Ratio of 0.80 aligns with the market consensus for the Health Care Providers & Services industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
LH
2.59
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 7.33
- Q3
- 4.45
- Median
- 2.52
- Q1
- 1.15
- Min
- 0.66
LH’s P/B Ratio of 2.59 is within the conventional range for the Health Care Providers & Services industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
UNH
2.82
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 7.33
- Q3
- 4.45
- Median
- 2.52
- Q1
- 1.15
- Min
- 0.66
UNH’s P/B Ratio of 2.82 is within the conventional range for the Health Care Providers & Services industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | LH | UNH |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 30.21 | 15.86 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 1.71 | 0.80 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 2.59 | 2.82 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 16.84 | 13.36 |