SNN vs. UHS: Smith & Nephew vs. Universal Health Services Stock Comparison
How do Smith & Nephew (SNN) 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
Smith & Nephew (SNN) and Universal Health Services (UHS) both fall under the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group, but SNN is classified in Health Care Equipment & Supplies while UHS is classified in Health Care Providers & Services.
Universal Health Services (UHS) 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.
| Profile Item | SNN | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Smith & Nephew plc Sponsored ADR | Universal Health Services Inc. Class B Common Stock |
| 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 Providers & Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Health Care Equipment | Health Care Facilities |
| Market Capitalization | 13.04 billion USD | 11.52 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | November 16, 1999 | July 9, 1981 |
| Security Type | ADR | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | SNN | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -4.20% | -12.89% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 11.34% | 16.25% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -0.34% | 9.70% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | SNN | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 27.31% | 34.26% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.49 | 1.06 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -38.80% | -43.34% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.49M | 707.83K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | SNN | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.31 | -0.50 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.46 | -0.70 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Universal Health Services (UHS) at 19.74% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 11.85% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for UHS.
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%
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)
Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 10.08% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Universal Health Services (UHS) at 7.97%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
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%
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)
Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 14.47% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Universal Health Services (UHS) at 9.60%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
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%
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 | SNN | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 11.85% | 19.74% |
| ROA (TTM) | 5.16% | 7.65% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 10.08% | 7.97% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 14.47% | 9.60% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 68.44% | 44.51% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 6.09% 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 Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 52.34% 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 | SNN | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 6.09% | 9.71% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 5.73% | 9.03% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 52.34% | 37.34% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 42.01% | 36.21% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 2.14 and Universal Health Services (UHS) at 1.37 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
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 Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 0.73 and Universal Health Services (UHS) at 0.80 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
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 | SNN | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 2.14 | 1.37 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.73 | 0.80 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.19 | 2.27 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 1.24% 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.
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%
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 Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 53.20% 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.
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%
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 | SNN | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.24% | 0.10% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 53.20% | 3.35% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Universal Health Services (UHS) at 8.18 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 21.19 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for UHS, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
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
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 Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 2.07 prices around its industry’s middle — UHS costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
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
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 relative to book while Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 12.80 prices above its industry range — a wide valuation gap against assets.
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
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 | SNN | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 21.19 | 8.18 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.07 | 0.63 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 12.80 | 1.51 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 8.12% | 6.47% |