SYK vs. UHS: Stryker vs. Universal Health Services Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Stryker (SYK) 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

Stryker (SYK) and Universal Health Services (UHS) both fall under the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group, but SYK is classified in Health Care Equipment & Supplies while UHS is classified in Health Care Providers & Services.

Company profile comparison for Stryker (SYK) and Universal Health Services (UHS)
Profile Item	SYK	UHS
Name	Stryker Corp.	Universal Health Services Inc. Class B Common Stock
Country/Region	United States	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	124.06 billion USD	11.52 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	March 17, 1980	July 9, 1981
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

SYK

UHS

GSPC

Stryker (SYK) vs. Universal Health Services (UHS), 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 Stryker (SYK) and Universal Health Services (UHS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Stryker (SYK) and Universal Health Services (UHS). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Stryker (SYK) and Universal Health Services (UHS)
Metric	SYK	UHS
Total Return (1Y)	-6.99%	-12.89%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	7.60%	16.25%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	4.64%	9.70%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

SYK

UHS

GSPC

Stryker (SYK) vs. Universal Health Services (UHS), 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 Stryker (SYK) and Universal Health Services (UHS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Stryker (SYK) and Universal Health Services (UHS)
Metric	SYK	UHS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	32.80%	34.26%
Beta (5Y)	0.72	1.06
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-32.47%	-43.34%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.81M	707.83K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

SYK and UHS 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 Stryker (SYK) and Universal Health Services (UHS)
Metric	SYK	UHS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.34	-0.50
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.49	-0.70

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Stryker (SYK) at 16.02% and Universal Health Services (UHS) at 19.74% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

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%

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%

Stryker (SYK) vs. Universal Health Services (UHS): A comparison of their ROE against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Stryker (SYK) at 13.78% 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.

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%

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%

Stryker (SYK) vs. Universal Health Services (UHS): A comparison of their net margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Stryker (SYK) at 22.96% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Universal Health Services (UHS) at 9.60%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

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%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Stryker (SYK) and Universal Health Services (UHS)
Metric	SYK	UHS
ROE (TTM)	16.02%	19.74%
ROA (TTM)	8.36%	7.65%
Net Margin (TTM)	13.78%	7.97%
Operating Margin (TTM)	22.96%	9.60%
Gross Margin (TTM)	65.70%	44.51%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Stryker (SYK) at 11.16% 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.

Stryker (SYK) vs. Universal Health Services (UHS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Universal Health Services (UHS) at 37.34% 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 UHS.

Stryker (SYK) vs. Universal Health Services (UHS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Stryker (SYK) and Universal Health Services (UHS)
Metric	SYK	UHS
Revenue Growth (YoY)	11.16%	9.71%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	10.83%	9.03%
EPS Growth (YoY)	8.25%	37.34%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	10.83%	36.21%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Stryker (SYK) at 2.18 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.

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

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

Stryker (SYK) vs. Universal Health Services (UHS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Stryker (SYK) at 0.66 and Universal Health Services (UHS) at 0.80 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

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

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

Stryker (SYK) vs. Universal Health Services (UHS): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Stryker (SYK) and Universal Health Services (UHS)
Metric	SYK	UHS
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.18	1.37
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.66	0.80
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.62	2.27

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Stryker (SYK) at 1.05% 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.

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%

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%

Stryker (SYK) vs. Universal Health Services (UHS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Stryker (SYK) at 37.49% 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.

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%

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%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Stryker (SYK) and Universal Health Services (UHS)
Metric	SYK	UHS
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.05%	0.10%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	37.49%	3.35%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Universal Health Services (UHS) at 8.18 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Stryker (SYK) at 34.70 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for UHS, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

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

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

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Universal Health Services (UHS) at 0.63 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while Stryker (SYK) at 4.72 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.

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

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

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Universal Health Services (UHS) at 1.51 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile against book while Stryker (SYK) at 5.29 is valued near its industry’s middle — UHS is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.

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

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

Stryker (SYK) vs. Universal Health Services (UHS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Stryker (SYK) and Universal Health Services (UHS)
Metric	SYK	UHS
P/E Ratio (TTM)	34.70	8.18
P/S Ratio (TTM)	4.72	0.63
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	5.29	1.51
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.98%	6.47%