MCK vs. UHS: McKesson vs. Universal Health Services Stock Comparison
How do McKesson (MCK) 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
McKesson (MCK) and Universal Health Services (UHS) both belong to the Health Care Providers & Services industry, though MCK is classified under Health Care Distributors while UHS falls under Health Care Facilities.
| Profile Item | MCK | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Name | McKesson Corporation | 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 Distributors | Health Care Facilities |
| Market Capitalization | 122.48 billion USD | 11.52 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | November 10, 1994 | July 9, 1981 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | MCK | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 25.40% | -12.89% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 32.67% | 16.25% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 37.84% | 9.70% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | MCK | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 31.71% | 34.26% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.26 | 1.06 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -27.17% | -43.34% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 822.69K | 707.83K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | MCK | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.67 | -0.50 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.15 | -0.70 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Universal Health Services (UHS) earns 19.74% 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
- --
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 McKesson (MCK) at 1.12% 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.
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%
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 McKesson (MCK) at 1.48% and Universal Health Services (UHS) at 9.60% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
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%
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 | MCK | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -- | 19.74% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.72% | 7.65% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 1.12% | 7.97% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 1.48% | 9.60% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 3.65% | 44.51% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both McKesson (MCK) at 12.36% 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
Both McKesson (MCK) at 49.22% and Universal Health Services (UHS) at 37.34% 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 | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 12.36% | 9.71% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 13.39% | 9.03% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 49.22% | 37.34% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 15.31% | 36.21% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Universal Health Services (UHS) at 1.37 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
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)
Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Universal Health Services (UHS) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80 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
- --
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 | MCK | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.90 | 1.37 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | 0.80 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.64 | 2.27 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both McKesson (MCK) at 0.32% 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.
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%
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 McKesson (MCK) at 8.77% 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.
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%
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 | MCK | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.32% | 0.10% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 8.77% | 3.35% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Universal Health Services (UHS) at 8.18 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while McKesson (MCK) at 27.36 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for UHS, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
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
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)
Both McKesson (MCK) at 0.29 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.
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
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)
McKesson (MCK) reports a negative P/B ratio of -30.85, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Universal Health Services (UHS) reports 1.51, 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
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 | MCK | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 27.36 | 8.18 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.29 | 0.63 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | -30.85 | 1.51 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 6.04% | 6.47% |