SNN vs. UNH: Smith & Nephew vs. UnitedHealth Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Smith & Nephew (SNN) and UnitedHealth (UNH) 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 UnitedHealth (UNH) both fall under the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group, but SNN is classified in Health Care Equipment & Supplies while UNH is classified in Health Care Providers & Services.

UnitedHealth (UNH) 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 UnitedHealth (UNH)
Profile Item	SNN	UNH
Name	Smith & Nephew plc Sponsored ADR	UnitedHealth Group Inc.
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	Managed Health Care
Market Capitalization	13.04 billion USD	353.17 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	November 16, 1999	October 17, 1984
Security Type	ADR	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

SNN

UNH

GSPC

Smith & Nephew (SNN) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH), 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 UnitedHealth (UNH). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Smith & Nephew (SNN) and UnitedHealth (UNH)
Metric	SNN	UNH
Total Return (1Y)	-4.20%	26.08%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	11.34%	-7.69%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-0.34%	-1.26%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

SNN

UNH

GSPC

Smith & Nephew (SNN) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH), 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 UnitedHealth (UNH). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Smith & Nephew (SNN) and UnitedHealth (UNH)
Metric	SNN	UNH
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	27.31%	34.76%
Beta (5Y)	0.49	0.52
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-38.80%	-61.39%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.49M	5.13M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

SNN and UNH 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 UnitedHealth (UNH)
Metric	SNN	UNH
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.31	0.63
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.46	0.86

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

UnitedHealth (UNH) at 15.77% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 11.85% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for UNH.

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%

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

15.77%

Max: 47.61%
UNH: 15.77%
Q3: 14.36%
Median: 5.45%
Q1: -10.67%
Min: -47.01%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 10.08% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of UnitedHealth (UNH) at 3.53%, 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%

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

3.53%

Max: 29.35%
Q3: 9.33%
UNH: 3.53%
Median: 2.18%
Q1: -6.29%
Min: -28.46%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 14.47% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of UnitedHealth (UNH) at 5.82%, 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%

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

5.82%

Max: 35.43%
Q3: 14.14%
Median: 6.81%
UNH: 5.82%
Q1: -0.28%
Min: -16.29%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Smith & Nephew (SNN) and UnitedHealth (UNH)
Metric	SNN	UNH
ROE (TTM)	11.85%	15.77%
ROA (TTM)	5.16%	5.24%
Net Margin (TTM)	10.08%	3.53%
Operating Margin (TTM)	14.47%	5.82%
Gross Margin (TTM)	68.44%	20.05%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 6.09% and UnitedHealth (UNH) at 11.81% 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. UnitedHealth (UNH): 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 UnitedHealth (UNH) at -14.70% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for SNN.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Smith & Nephew (SNN) and UnitedHealth (UNH)
Metric	SNN	UNH
Revenue Growth (YoY)	6.09%	11.81%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	5.73%	11.35%
EPS Growth (YoY)	52.34%	-14.70%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	42.01%	-14.52%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 2.14 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while UnitedHealth (UNH) at 0.74 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for UNH.

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

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.74

Max: 7.59
Q3: 4.00
Median: 1.98
Q1: 1.37
UNH: 0.74
Min: 0.30

Smith & Nephew (SNN) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): 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 UnitedHealth (UNH) at 0.70 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

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.70

Max: 1.88
Q3: 0.91
UNH: 0.70
Median: 0.58
Q1: 0.16
Min: 0.00

Smith & Nephew (SNN) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): 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 UnitedHealth (UNH)
Metric	SNN	UNH
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.14	0.74
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.73	0.70
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.19	1.58

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 1.24% and UnitedHealth (UNH) at 2.29% 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%

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.29%

UNH: 2.29%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Smith & Nephew (SNN) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): 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 UnitedHealth (UNH) at 51.71% 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%

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

51.71%

UNH: 51.71%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Smith & Nephew (SNN) and UnitedHealth (UNH)
Metric	SNN	UNH
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.24%	2.29%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	53.20%	51.71%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 21.19 and UnitedHealth (UNH) at 22.50 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

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

22.50

Max: 80.41
Q3: 47.62
Median: 29.93
UNH: 22.50
Q1: 21.19
Min: 4.21

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

UnitedHealth (UNH) at 0.78 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Smith & Nephew (SNN) at 2.07 prices around its industry’s middle — UNH 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

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.78

Max: 8.80
Q3: 4.32
Median: 2.13
Q1: 1.10
UNH: 0.78
Min: 0.03

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

UnitedHealth (UNH) at 3.60 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

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

3.60

Max: 11.68
Q3: 6.12
UNH: 3.60
Median: 3.00
Q1: 1.73
Min: -1.31

Smith & Nephew (SNN) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): 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 UnitedHealth (UNH)
Metric	SNN	UNH
P/E Ratio (TTM)	21.19	22.50
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.07	0.78
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	12.80	3.60
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	8.12%	7.50%