SNN vs. STE: Smith & Nephew vs. STERIS Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Smith & Nephew (SNN) 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

Smith & Nephew (SNN) and STERIS (STE) are both classified in the Health Care Equipment sub-industry within the broader Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

STERIS (STE) trades as ordinary local shares, while Smith & Nephew (SNN) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Smith & Nephew (SNN) and STERIS (STE)
Profile Item	SNN	STE
Name	Smith & Nephew plc Sponsored ADR	STERIS plc
Country/Region	United Kingdom	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 Equipment & Supplies
GICS Sub-Industry	Health Care Equipment	Health Care Equipment
Market Capitalization	13.04 billion USD	24.50 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	November 16, 1999	June 1, 1992
Security Type	ADR	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

SNN

STE

GSPC

Smith & Nephew (SNN) vs. STERIS (STE), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

Loading price history…

Trailing total returns for Smith & Nephew (SNN) and STERIS (STE). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…

Calendar-year total returns for Smith & Nephew (SNN) and STERIS (STE). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Smith & Nephew (SNN) and STERIS (STE)
Metric	SNN	STE
Total Return (1Y)	-4.20%	-1.85%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	11.34%	9.57%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-0.34%	3.26%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

SNN

STE

GSPC

Smith & Nephew (SNN) vs. STERIS (STE), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

Loading price history…

Distribution of monthly total returns for Smith & Nephew (SNN) and STERIS (STE). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Smith & Nephew (SNN) and STERIS (STE)
Metric	SNN	STE
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	27.31%	26.39%
Beta (5Y)	0.49	0.81
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-38.80%	-36.18%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.49M	694.02K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

SNN and STE are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Smith & Nephew (SNN) and STERIS (STE)
Metric	SNN	STE
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.31	-0.23
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.46	-0.34

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 11.85% and STERIS (STE) at 11.61% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

SNN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

11.85%

Max: 47.61%
Q3: 14.36%
SNN: 11.85%
Median: 5.45%
Q1: -10.67%
Min: -47.01%

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%

Smith & Nephew (SNN) vs. STERIS (STE): A comparison of their ROE against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 10.08% and STERIS (STE) at 13.41% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

SNN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

10.08%

Max: 29.35%
SNN: 10.08%
Q3: 9.33%
Median: 2.18%
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%

Smith & Nephew (SNN) vs. STERIS (STE): A comparison of their net margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 14.47% and STERIS (STE) at 19.18% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

SNN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

14.47%

Max: 35.43%
SNN: 14.47%
Q3: 14.14%
Median: 6.81%
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%

Smith & Nephew (SNN) vs. STERIS (STE): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Smith & Nephew (SNN) and STERIS (STE)
Metric	SNN	STE
ROE (TTM)	11.85%	11.61%
ROA (TTM)	5.16%	7.00%
Net Margin (TTM)	10.08%	13.41%
Operating Margin (TTM)	14.47%	19.18%
Gross Margin (TTM)	68.44%	44.30%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 6.09% 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.

Smith & Nephew (SNN) vs. STERIS (STE): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 52.34% 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.

Smith & Nephew (SNN) vs. STERIS (STE): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Smith & Nephew (SNN) and STERIS (STE)
Metric	SNN	STE
Revenue Growth (YoY)	6.09%	8.73%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	5.73%	9.38%
EPS Growth (YoY)	52.34%	27.90%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	42.01%	94.97%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 2.14 and STERIS (STE) at 2.05 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

SNN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.14

Max: 7.59
Q3: 4.00
SNN: 2.14
Median: 1.98
Q1: 1.37
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

Smith & Nephew (SNN) vs. STERIS (STE): A comparison of their current ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 0.73 and STERIS (STE) at 0.28 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

SNN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.73

Max: 1.88
Q3: 0.91
SNN: 0.73
Median: 0.58
Q1: 0.16
Min: 0.00

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

Smith & Nephew (SNN) vs. STERIS (STE): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Smith & Nephew (SNN) and STERIS (STE)
Metric	SNN	STE
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.14	2.05
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.73	0.28
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.19	0.91

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 1.24% and STERIS (STE) at 1.02% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.

SNN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.24%

SNN: 1.24%
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%

Smith & Nephew (SNN) vs. STERIS (STE): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 53.20% 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.

SNN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

53.20%

SNN: 53.20%
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%

Smith & Nephew (SNN) vs. STERIS (STE): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Smith & Nephew (SNN) and STERIS (STE)
Metric	SNN	STE
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.24%	1.02%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	53.20%	30.61%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 21.19 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.

SNN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

21.19

Max: 80.41
Q3: 47.62
Median: 29.93
SNN: 21.19
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

Smith & Nephew (SNN) vs. STERIS (STE): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 2.07 and STERIS (STE) at 3.97 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

SNN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.07

Max: 8.80
Q3: 4.32
Median: 2.13
SNN: 2.07
Q1: 1.10
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

Smith & Nephew (SNN) vs. STERIS (STE): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

STERIS (STE) at 3.38 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 12.80 prices above its benchmark range — SNN looks rich relative to book.

SNN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

12.80

SNN: 12.80
Max: 11.68
Q3: 6.12
Median: 3.00
Q1: 1.73
Min: -1.31

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

Smith & Nephew (SNN) vs. STERIS (STE): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Smith & Nephew (SNN) and STERIS (STE)
Metric	SNN	STE
P/E Ratio (TTM)	21.19	29.93
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.07	3.97
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	12.80	3.38
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	8.12%	3.36%