UNH vs. ZBH: UnitedHealth vs. Zimmer Biomet Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do UnitedHealth (UNH) and Zimmer Biomet (ZBH) 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

UnitedHealth (UNH) and Zimmer Biomet (ZBH) both fall under the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group, but UNH is classified in Health Care Providers & Services while ZBH is classified in Health Care Equipment & Supplies.

Company profile comparison for UnitedHealth (UNH) and Zimmer Biomet (ZBH)
Profile Item	UNH	ZBH
Name	UnitedHealth Group Inc.	Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc.
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 Providers & Services	Health Care Equipment & Supplies
GICS Sub-Industry	Managed Health Care	Health Care Equipment
Market Capitalization	353.17 billion USD	19.98 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	October 17, 1984	July 25, 2001
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

UNH

ZBH

GSPC

UnitedHealth (UNH) vs. Zimmer Biomet (ZBH), 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 UnitedHealth (UNH) and Zimmer Biomet (ZBH). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for UnitedHealth (UNH) and Zimmer Biomet (ZBH). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for UnitedHealth (UNH) and Zimmer Biomet (ZBH)
Metric	UNH	ZBH
Total Return (1Y)	26.08%	24.04%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	-7.69%	2.38%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-1.26%	-2.74%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

UNH

ZBH

GSPC

UnitedHealth (UNH) vs. Zimmer Biomet (ZBH), 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 UnitedHealth (UNH) and Zimmer Biomet (ZBH). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for UnitedHealth (UNH) and Zimmer Biomet (ZBH)
Metric	UNH	ZBH
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	34.76%	32.39%
Beta (5Y)	0.52	0.42
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-61.39%	-43.94%
Avg. Volume (3M)	5.13M	2.09M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

UNH and ZBH 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 UnitedHealth (UNH) and Zimmer Biomet (ZBH)
Metric	UNH	ZBH
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.63	0.61
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.86	0.93

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

UnitedHealth (UNH) at 15.77% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Zimmer Biomet (ZBH) at 6.03% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for UNH.

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%

ZBH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

6.03%

Max: 47.61%
Q3: 14.36%
ZBH: 6.03%
Median: 5.45%
Q1: -10.67%
Min: -47.01%

UnitedHealth (UNH) vs. Zimmer Biomet (ZBH): A comparison of their ROE against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both UnitedHealth (UNH) at 3.53% and Zimmer Biomet (ZBH) at 8.95% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

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%

ZBH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

8.95%

Max: 29.35%
Q3: 9.33%
ZBH: 8.95%
Median: 2.18%
Q1: -6.29%
Min: -28.46%

UnitedHealth (UNH) vs. Zimmer Biomet (ZBH): A comparison of their net margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Zimmer Biomet (ZBH) at 17.35% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of UnitedHealth (UNH) at 5.82%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

ZBH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

17.35%

Max: 35.43%
ZBH: 17.35%
Q3: 14.14%
Median: 6.81%
Q1: -0.28%
Min: -16.29%

UnitedHealth (UNH) vs. Zimmer Biomet (ZBH): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for UnitedHealth (UNH) and Zimmer Biomet (ZBH)
Metric	UNH	ZBH
ROE (TTM)	15.77%	6.03%
ROA (TTM)	5.24%	3.81%
Net Margin (TTM)	3.53%	8.95%
Operating Margin (TTM)	5.82%	17.35%
Gross Margin (TTM)	20.05%	69.33%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both UnitedHealth (UNH) at 11.81% and Zimmer Biomet (ZBH) at 7.20% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

UnitedHealth (UNH) vs. Zimmer Biomet (ZBH): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both UnitedHealth (UNH) at -14.70% and Zimmer Biomet (ZBH) at -19.86% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

UnitedHealth (UNH) vs. Zimmer Biomet (ZBH): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for UnitedHealth (UNH) and Zimmer Biomet (ZBH)
Metric	UNH	ZBH
Revenue Growth (YoY)	11.81%	7.20%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	11.35%	5.85%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-14.70%	-19.86%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-14.52%	47.78%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Zimmer Biomet (ZBH) at 1.46 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.

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

ZBH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.46

Max: 7.59
Q3: 4.00
Median: 1.98
ZBH: 1.46
Q1: 1.37
Min: 0.30

UnitedHealth (UNH) vs. Zimmer Biomet (ZBH): A comparison of their current ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both UnitedHealth (UNH) at 0.70 and Zimmer Biomet (ZBH) at 0.60 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

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

ZBH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.60

Max: 1.88
Q3: 0.91
ZBH: 0.60
Median: 0.58
Q1: 0.16
Min: 0.00

UnitedHealth (UNH) vs. Zimmer Biomet (ZBH): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for UnitedHealth (UNH) and Zimmer Biomet (ZBH)
Metric	UNH	ZBH
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.74	1.46
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.70	0.60
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.58	2.85

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both UnitedHealth (UNH) at 2.29% and Zimmer Biomet (ZBH) at 0.90% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.

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%

ZBH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.90%

ZBH: 0.90%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

UnitedHealth (UNH) vs. Zimmer Biomet (ZBH): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both UnitedHealth (UNH) at 51.71% and Zimmer Biomet (ZBH) at 24.24% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.

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%

ZBH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

24.24%

ZBH: 24.24%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

UnitedHealth (UNH) vs. Zimmer Biomet (ZBH): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for UnitedHealth (UNH) and Zimmer Biomet (ZBH)
Metric	UNH	ZBH
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.29%	0.90%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	51.71%	24.24%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both UnitedHealth (UNH) at 22.50 and Zimmer Biomet (ZBH) at 26.66 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

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

ZBH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

26.66

Max: 80.41
Q3: 47.62
Median: 29.93
ZBH: 26.66
Q1: 21.19
Min: 4.21

UnitedHealth (UNH) vs. Zimmer Biomet (ZBH): 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 Zimmer Biomet (ZBH) at 2.33 prices around its industry’s middle — UNH costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

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

ZBH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.33

Max: 8.80
Q3: 4.32
ZBH: 2.33
Median: 2.13
Q1: 1.10
Min: 0.03

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Zimmer Biomet (ZBH) at 1.58 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile against book while UnitedHealth (UNH) at 3.60 is valued near its industry’s middle — ZBH is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.

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

ZBH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.58

Max: 11.68
Q3: 6.12
Median: 3.00
Q1: 1.73
ZBH: 1.58
Min: -1.31

UnitedHealth (UNH) vs. Zimmer Biomet (ZBH): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for UnitedHealth (UNH) and Zimmer Biomet (ZBH)
Metric	UNH	ZBH
P/E Ratio (TTM)	22.50	26.66
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.78	2.33
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	3.60	1.58
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	7.50%	7.22%