MDLN vs. UHS: Medline vs. Universal Health Services Stock Comparison
How do Medline (MDLN) 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
Medline (MDLN) and Universal Health Services (UHS) both fall under the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group, but MDLN is classified in Health Care Equipment & Supplies while UHS is classified in Health Care Providers & Services.
Universal Health Services (UHS) has been public since July 9, 1981, giving it decades of market history across multiple cycles, while Medline (MDLN) listed only on December 17, 2025 and lacks comparable through-cycle data.
| Profile Item | MDLN | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Medline Inc. Class A Common Stock | 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 Equipment & Supplies | Health Care Providers & Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Health Care Supplies | Health Care Facilities |
| Market Capitalization | 52.17 billion USD | 11.52 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | December 17, 2025 | July 9, 1981 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | MDLN | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -- | -12.89% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -- | 16.25% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -- | 9.70% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Medline (MDLN) reports a negative beta of -0.93, suggesting inverse market sensitivity over the measurement window. That is uncommon for ordinary equities and can reflect commodity-linked or hedge-like exposure, but it can also come from statistical noise. Universal Health Services (UHS) has a non-negative beta of 1.06.
| Metric | MDLN | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 47.93% | 34.26% |
| Beta (5Y) | -0.93 | 1.06 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -36.71% | -43.34% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 8.63M | 707.83K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Both MDLN and UHS need 1-year volatility and 1-year return to plot risk-return positioning.
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | MDLN | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -- | -0.50 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -- | -0.70 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Universal Health Services (UHS) at 19.74% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Medline (MDLN) at 4.85% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for UHS.
MDLN
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
4.85%
- Max
- 47.61%
- Q3
- 14.36%
- Median
- 5.45%
- MDLN
- 4.85%
- 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 Medline (MDLN) at 1.85% 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.
MDLN
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
1.85%
- Max
- 29.35%
- Q3
- 9.33%
- Median
- 2.18%
- MDLN
- 1.85%
- 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 Medline (MDLN) at 5.22% and Universal Health Services (UHS) at 9.60% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
MDLN
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
5.22%
- Max
- 35.43%
- Q3
- 14.14%
- Median
- 6.81%
- MDLN
- 5.22%
- 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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | MDLN | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 4.85% | 19.74% |
| ROA (TTM) | 2.70% | 7.65% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 1.85% | 7.97% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 5.22% | 9.60% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 24.42% | 44.51% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Only one side can be read here: Universal Health Services (UHS) reports revenue growth of 9.71%, ranked against its industry; Medline (MDLN) has no revenue growth figure this period.
EPS Growth
Both companies show strong earnings momentum, but Medline (MDLN) at 117.38% is the standout with EPS growth above its industry range; Universal Health Services (UHS) at 37.34% also sits in the top quartile.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | MDLN | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -- | 9.71% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 9.03% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 117.38% | 37.34% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 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 Medline (MDLN) at 4.04 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.
MDLN
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
4.04
- Max
- 7.59
- MDLN
- 4.04
- Q3
- 4.00
- Median
- 1.98
- 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 Medline (MDLN) at 0.65 and Universal Health Services (UHS) at 0.80 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
MDLN
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.65
- Max
- 1.88
- Q3
- 0.91
- MDLN
- 0.65
- 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 | MDLN | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 4.04 | 1.37 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.65 | 0.80 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 3.35 | 2.27 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Medline (MDLN) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Universal Health Services (UHS) reports a yield of 0.10%, ranking against industry peers normally.
MDLN
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.00%
- MDLN
- 0.00%
- 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)
Medline (MDLN) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Universal Health Services (UHS) reports a payout of 3.35%, ranking against industry peers normally.
MDLN
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.00%
- MDLN
- 0.00%
- 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 | MDLN | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.10% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 3.35% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Universal Health Services (UHS) at 8.18 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Medline (MDLN) at 90.09 trades above its peer range — a wide earnings-valuation gap relative to industry peers.
MDLN
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
90.09
- MDLN
- 90.09
- Max
- 80.41
- Q3
- 47.62
- 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 Medline (MDLN) at 1.70 prices around its industry’s middle — UHS costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
MDLN
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
1.70
- Max
- 8.80
- Q3
- 4.32
- Median
- 2.13
- MDLN
- 1.70
- 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 Medline (MDLN) at 2.95 is valued near its industry’s middle — UHS is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.
MDLN
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
2.95
- Max
- 11.68
- Q3
- 6.12
- Median
- 3.00
- MDLN
- 2.95
- 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 | MDLN | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 90.09 | 8.18 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.70 | 0.63 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.95 | 1.51 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.67% | 6.47% |