SNN vs. SYK: Smith & Nephew vs. Stryker Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Smith & Nephew (SNN) and Stryker (SYK) 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 Stryker (SYK) 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.

Stryker (SYK) 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 Stryker (SYK)
Profile Item	SNN	SYK
Name	Smith & Nephew plc Sponsored ADR	Stryker Corp.
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	124.06 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	November 16, 1999	March 17, 1980
Security Type	ADR	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

SNN

SYK

GSPC

Smith & Nephew (SNN) vs. Stryker (SYK), 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

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

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Smith & Nephew (SNN) and Stryker (SYK)
Metric	SNN	SYK
Total Return (1Y)	-4.20%	-6.99%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	11.34%	7.60%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-0.34%	4.64%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

SNN

SYK

GSPC

Smith & Nephew (SNN) vs. Stryker (SYK), 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

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Smith & Nephew (SNN) and Stryker (SYK)
Metric	SNN	SYK
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	27.31%	32.80%
Beta (5Y)	0.49	0.72
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-38.80%	-32.47%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.49M	2.81M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

SNN and SYK 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 Stryker (SYK)
Metric	SNN	SYK
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.31	-0.34
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.46	-0.49

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Stryker (SYK) at 16.02% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 11.85% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for SYK.

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%

SYK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

16.02%

Max: 47.61%
SYK: 16.02%
Q3: 14.36%
Median: 5.45%
Q1: -10.67%
Min: -47.01%

Smith & Nephew (SNN) vs. Stryker (SYK): 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 Stryker (SYK) at 13.78% 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%

SYK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

13.78%

Max: 29.35%
SYK: 13.78%
Q3: 9.33%
Median: 2.18%
Q1: -6.29%
Min: -28.46%

Smith & Nephew (SNN) vs. Stryker (SYK): 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 Stryker (SYK) at 22.96% 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%

SYK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

22.96%

Max: 35.43%
SYK: 22.96%
Q3: 14.14%
Median: 6.81%
Q1: -0.28%
Min: -16.29%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Smith & Nephew (SNN) and Stryker (SYK)
Metric	SNN	SYK
ROE (TTM)	11.85%	16.02%
ROA (TTM)	5.16%	8.36%
Net Margin (TTM)	10.08%	13.78%
Operating Margin (TTM)	14.47%	22.96%
Gross Margin (TTM)	68.44%	65.70%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 6.09% and Stryker (SYK) at 11.16% 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. Stryker (SYK): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 52.34% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Stryker (SYK) at 8.25% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for SNN.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Smith & Nephew (SNN) and Stryker (SYK)
Metric	SNN	SYK
Revenue Growth (YoY)	6.09%	11.16%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	5.73%	10.83%
EPS Growth (YoY)	52.34%	8.25%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	42.01%	10.83%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 2.14 and Stryker (SYK) at 2.18 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

SYK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.18

Max: 7.59
Q3: 4.00
SYK: 2.18
Median: 1.98
Q1: 1.37
Min: 0.30

Smith & Nephew (SNN) vs. Stryker (SYK): 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 Stryker (SYK) at 0.66 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

SYK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.66

Max: 1.88
Q3: 0.91
SYK: 0.66
Median: 0.58
Q1: 0.16
Min: 0.00

Smith & Nephew (SNN) vs. Stryker (SYK): 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 Stryker (SYK)
Metric	SNN	SYK
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.14	2.18
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.73	0.66
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.19	1.62

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 1.24% and Stryker (SYK) at 1.05% 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%

SYK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.05%

SYK: 1.05%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Smith & Nephew (SNN) vs. Stryker (SYK): 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 Stryker (SYK) at 37.49% 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%

SYK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

37.49%

SYK: 37.49%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Smith & Nephew (SNN) and Stryker (SYK)
Metric	SNN	SYK
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.24%	1.05%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	53.20%	37.49%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 21.19 and Stryker (SYK) at 34.70 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

SYK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

34.70

Max: 80.41
Q3: 47.62
SYK: 34.70
Median: 29.93
Q1: 21.19
Min: 4.21

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 2.07 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Stryker (SYK) at 4.72 sits in the pricier quartile — SYK costs more per dollar of sales.

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

SYK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

4.72

Max: 8.80
SYK: 4.72
Q3: 4.32
Median: 2.13
Q1: 1.10
Min: 0.03

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Stryker (SYK) at 5.29 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

SYK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

5.29

Max: 11.68
Q3: 6.12
SYK: 5.29
Median: 3.00
Q1: 1.73
Min: -1.31

Smith & Nephew (SNN) vs. Stryker (SYK): 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 Stryker (SYK)
Metric	SNN	SYK
P/E Ratio (TTM)	21.19	34.70
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.07	4.72
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	12.80	5.29
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	8.12%	2.98%