MCK vs. STE: McKesson vs. STERIS Stock Comparison
How do McKesson (MCK) and STERIS (STE) 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
McKesson (MCK) and STERIS (STE) both fall under the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group, but MCK is classified in Health Care Providers & Services while STE is classified in Health Care Equipment & Supplies.
| Profile Item | MCK | STE |
|---|---|---|
| Name | McKesson Corporation | STERIS plc |
| 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 Equipment & Supplies |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Health Care Distributors | Health Care Equipment |
| Market Capitalization | 122.48 billion USD | 24.50 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | November 10, 1994 | June 1, 1992 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | MCK | STE |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 25.40% | -1.85% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 32.67% | 9.57% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 37.84% | 3.26% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | MCK | STE |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 31.71% | 26.39% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.26 | 0.81 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -27.17% | -36.18% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 822.69K | 694.02K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | MCK | STE |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.67 | -0.23 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.15 | -0.34 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: STERIS (STE) earns 11.61% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; McKesson (MCK) has no ROE this period.
MCK
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
--
- Max
- 47.61%
- Q3
- 14.36%
- Median
- 5.45%
- Q1
- -10.67%
- Min
- -47.01%
- MCK
- --
STE
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
11.61%
- Max
- 47.61%
- Q3
- 14.36%
- STE
- 11.61%
- Median
- 5.45%
- Q1
- -10.67%
- Min
- -47.01%
Net Margin (TTM)
STERIS (STE) at 13.41% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of McKesson (MCK) at 1.12%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
MCK
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
1.12%
- Max
- 29.35%
- Q3
- 9.33%
- Median
- 2.18%
- MCK
- 1.12%
- Q1
- -6.29%
- Min
- -28.46%
STE
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
13.41%
- Max
- 29.35%
- STE
- 13.41%
- Q3
- 9.33%
- Median
- 2.18%
- Q1
- -6.29%
- Min
- -28.46%
Operating Margin (TTM)
STERIS (STE) at 19.18% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of McKesson (MCK) at 1.48%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
MCK
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
1.48%
- Max
- 35.43%
- Q3
- 14.14%
- Median
- 6.81%
- MCK
- 1.48%
- Q1
- -0.28%
- Min
- -16.29%
STE
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
19.18%
- Max
- 35.43%
- STE
- 19.18%
- Q3
- 14.14%
- Median
- 6.81%
- Q1
- -0.28%
- Min
- -16.29%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | MCK | STE |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -- | 11.61% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.72% | 7.00% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 1.12% | 13.41% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 1.48% | 19.18% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 3.65% | 44.30% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both McKesson (MCK) at 12.36% and STERIS (STE) at 8.73% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both McKesson (MCK) at 49.22% and STERIS (STE) at 27.90% sit in the top peer quartile for EPS growth, so each is compounding per-share earnings faster than typical industry peers.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | MCK | STE |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 12.36% | 8.73% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 13.39% | 9.38% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 49.22% | 27.90% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 15.31% | 94.97% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
STERIS (STE) at 2.05 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while McKesson (MCK) at 0.90 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for MCK.
MCK
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.90
- Max
- 7.59
- Q3
- 4.00
- Median
- 1.98
- Q1
- 1.37
- MCK
- 0.90
- Min
- 0.30
STE
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
2.05
- Max
- 7.59
- Q3
- 4.00
- STE
- 2.05
- Median
- 1.98
- Q1
- 1.37
- Min
- 0.30
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Only one side’s leverage can be read here: STERIS (STE) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28 against its industry range, while McKesson (MCK) reports no figure this period.
MCK
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
--
- Max
- 1.88
- Q3
- 0.91
- Median
- 0.58
- Q1
- 0.16
- Min
- 0.00
- MCK
- --
STE
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.28
- Max
- 1.88
- Q3
- 0.91
- Median
- 0.58
- STE
- 0.28
- Q1
- 0.16
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | MCK | STE |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.90 | 2.05 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | 0.28 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.64 | 0.91 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both McKesson (MCK) at 0.32% and STERIS (STE) at 1.02% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.
MCK
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.32%
- MCK
- 0.32%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
STE
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
1.02%
- STE
- 1.02%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both McKesson (MCK) at 8.77% and STERIS (STE) at 30.61% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.
MCK
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
8.77%
- MCK
- 8.77%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
STE
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
30.61%
- STE
- 30.61%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | MCK | STE |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.32% | 1.02% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 8.77% | 30.61% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both McKesson (MCK) at 27.36 and STERIS (STE) at 29.93 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
MCK
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
27.36
- Max
- 80.41
- Q3
- 47.62
- Median
- 29.93
- MCK
- 27.36
- Q1
- 21.19
- Min
- 4.21
STE
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
29.93
- Max
- 80.41
- Q3
- 47.62
- STE
- 29.93
- Median
- 29.93
- Q1
- 21.19
- Min
- 4.21
P/S Ratio (TTM)
McKesson (MCK) at 0.29 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while STERIS (STE) at 3.97 prices around its industry’s middle — MCK costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
MCK
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.29
- Max
- 8.80
- Q3
- 4.32
- Median
- 2.13
- Q1
- 1.10
- MCK
- 0.29
- Min
- 0.03
STE
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
3.97
- Max
- 8.80
- Q3
- 4.32
- STE
- 3.97
- Median
- 2.13
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
McKesson (MCK) reports a negative P/B ratio of -30.85, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile STERIS (STE) reports 3.38, ranking against industry peers normally.
MCK
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
-30.85
- Max
- 11.68
- Q3
- 6.12
- Median
- 3.00
- Q1
- 1.73
- Min
- -1.31
- MCK
- -30.85
STE
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
3.38
- Max
- 11.68
- Q3
- 6.12
- STE
- 3.38
- Median
- 3.00
- Q1
- 1.73
- Min
- -1.31
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | MCK | STE |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 27.36 | 29.93 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.29 | 3.97 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | -30.85 | 3.38 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 6.04% | 3.36% |