META vs. UNH: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at META and UNH, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
| Symbol | META | UNH |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Meta Platforms, Inc. | UnitedHealth Group Incorporated |
| Country | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Communication Services | Health Care |
| GICS Industry | Interactive Media & Services | Health Care Providers & Services |
| Market Capitalization | 1,528.65 billion USD | 295.51 billion USD |
| Exchange | NasdaqGS | NYSE |
| Listing Date | May 18, 2012 | October 17, 1984 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of META 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 | META | UNH |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | -4.00% | 0.09% |
| 13-Week Price Return | -21.55% | 5.87% |
| 26-Week Price Return | -8.70% | 3.37% |
| 52-Week Price Return | 4.31% | -46.88% |
| Month-to-Date Return | -7.15% | -5.77% |
| Year-to-Date Return | 2.82% | -36.37% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 21.64M | 9.12M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 14.58M | 13.84M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 31.01% | 37.81% |
| Beta | 1.30 | 0.44 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
META
30.93%
Interactive Media & Services Industry
- Max
- 51.86%
- Q3
- 34.65%
- Median
- 13.84%
- Q1
- 6.07%
- Min
- -21.93%
META’s Return on Equity of 30.93% is on par with the norm for the Interactive Media & Services industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
UNH
18.60%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 24.67%
- Q3
- 15.54%
- Median
- 8.37%
- Q1
- 5.49%
- Min
- -2.09%
In the upper quartile for the Health Care Providers & Services industry, UNH’s Return on Equity of 18.60% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
META
30.89%
Interactive Media & Services Industry
- Max
- 49.74%
- Q3
- 30.89%
- Median
- 20.53%
- Q1
- 7.75%
- Min
- -11.99%
META’s Net Profit Margin of 30.89% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Interactive Media & Services industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
UNH
4.04%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 9.33%
- Q3
- 4.80%
- Median
- 2.90%
- Q1
- 0.93%
- Min
- -3.28%
UNH’s Net Profit Margin of 4.04% 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)
META
43.23%
Interactive Media & Services Industry
- Max
- 65.96%
- Q3
- 35.84%
- Median
- 19.27%
- Q1
- 12.16%
- Min
- -18.13%
An Operating Profit Margin of 43.23% places META in the upper quartile for the Interactive Media & Services industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
UNH
6.03%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 18.35%
- Q3
- 8.71%
- Median
- 5.10%
- Q1
- 2.10%
- Min
- -3.07%
UNH’s Operating Profit Margin of 6.03% 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 | META | UNH |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 30.93% | 18.60% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 20.27% | 5.71% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 30.89% | 4.04% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 43.23% | 6.03% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 82.00% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
META
1.98
Interactive Media & Services Industry
- Max
- 3.92
- Q3
- 2.52
- Median
- 1.78
- Q1
- 1.25
- Min
- 0.25
META’s Current Ratio of 1.98 aligns with the median group of the Interactive Media & Services industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
UNH
0.95
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 2.00
- Q3
- 1.56
- Median
- 1.28
- Q1
- 0.92
- Min
- 0.01
UNH’s Current Ratio of 0.95 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.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
META
0.15
Interactive Media & Services Industry
- Max
- 0.87
- Q3
- 0.52
- Median
- 0.30
- Q1
- 0.04
- Min
- 0.00
META’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.15 is typical for the Interactive Media & Services industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
UNH
0.84
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 2.41
- Q3
- 1.39
- Median
- 0.74
- Q1
- 0.46
- Min
- 0.00
UNH’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.84 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)
META
168.41
Interactive Media & Services Industry
- Max
- 16.48
- Q3
- 16.48
- Median
- 6.73
- Q1
- -0.50
- Min
- -3.62
With an Interest Coverage Ratio of 168.41, META demonstrates a superior capacity to service its debt, placing it well above the typical range for the Interactive Media & Services industry. This stems from either robust earnings or a conservative debt load.
UNH
6.14
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 14.47
- Q3
- 7.46
- Median
- 4.52
- Q1
- 2.04
- 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 | META | UNH |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.98 | 0.95 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 1.67 | 0.75 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.15 | 0.84 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 168.41 | 6.14 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
META
0.34%
Interactive Media & Services Industry
- Max
- 3.24%
- Q3
- 1.57%
- Median
- 0.29%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
META’s Dividend Yield of 0.34% is consistent with its peers in the Interactive Media & Services industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
UNH
2.67%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 5.51%
- Q3
- 2.66%
- Median
- 1.06%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
With a Dividend Yield of 2.67%, UNH offers a more attractive income stream than most of its peers in the Health Care Providers & Services industry, signaling a strong commitment to shareholder returns.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
META
8.98%
Interactive Media & Services Industry
- Max
- 101.53%
- Q3
- 41.32%
- Median
- 8.01%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
META’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 8.98% is within the typical range for the Interactive Media & Services industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
UNH
44.61%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 187.56%
- Q3
- 81.14%
- Median
- 33.42%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
UNH’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 44.61% 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 | META | UNH |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.34% | 2.67% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 8.98% | 44.61% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
META
26.25
Interactive Media & Services Industry
- Max
- 45.88
- Q3
- 35.11
- Median
- 24.08
- Q1
- 16.48
- Min
- 1.73
META’s P/E Ratio of 26.25 is within the middle range for the Interactive Media & 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.
UNH
16.74
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 48.86
- Q3
- 32.22
- Median
- 21.78
- Q1
- 13.97
- Min
- 8.01
UNH’s P/E Ratio of 16.74 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)
META
8.11
Interactive Media & Services Industry
- Max
- 18.66
- Q3
- 9.65
- Median
- 5.89
- Q1
- 2.17
- Min
- 0.00
META’s P/S Ratio of 8.11 aligns with the market consensus for the Interactive Media & Services industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
UNH
0.68
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 3.66
- Q3
- 1.64
- Median
- 0.72
- Q1
- 0.27
- Min
- 0.10
UNH’s P/S Ratio of 0.68 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)
META
9.51
Interactive Media & Services Industry
- Max
- 16.71
- Q3
- 8.07
- Median
- 4.11
- Q1
- 1.91
- Min
- 0.16
META’s P/B Ratio of 9.51 is in the upper tier for the Interactive Media & Services industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.
UNH
3.26
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 7.33
- Q3
- 4.33
- Median
- 2.48
- Q1
- 1.31
- Min
- 0.65
UNH’s P/B Ratio of 3.26 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 | META | UNH |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 26.25 | 16.74 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 8.11 | 0.68 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 9.51 | 3.26 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 34.26 | 16.94 |