ELV vs UNH vs CVS Stock Comparison

Elevance Health, Unitedhealth and Cvs Health Prices as of Nov 5, 2026 Peers: Industry group
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ELV Elevance Health, Inc.
$431.68 +7.9% 1M +35.7% 1Y
Market cap
$93.29B
P/E
18.2x
Revenue (TTM)
$201.83B
Div. yield
1.59%
Managed Care Healthcare
3 wins
UNH Unitedhealth Group Inc
$395.37 +5.1% 1M +20.6% 1Y
Market cap
$354.25B
P/E
22.3x
Revenue (TTM)
$449.66B
Div. yield
2.29%
Managed Care Healthcare
3 wins
CVS CVS HEALTH Corp
$81.32 -5.9% 1M +3.5% 1Y
Market cap
$104.09B
P/E
9.4x
Revenue (TTM)
$420.61B
Div. yield
3.29%
Managed Care Healthcare
6 wins

Head to Head

12 decided of 12

Cvs Health leads on 6 of the 12 questions below (Cvs Health 6, Unitedhealth 3, Elevance Health 3). Which ones matter depends on what you are buying for; a cheap multiple and slow growth often come together.

QuestionELVUNHCVSLeader
Larger companyMarket capitalisation $93.29B $354.25B $104.09B UNH
Cheaper on earningsLower P/E, profitable companies only 18.2x 22.3x 9.4x CVS
Cheaper on forward earningsLower price / next fiscal year consensus EPS 14.3x 18.5x 9.5x CVS
Faster revenue growthRevenue growth, trailing twelve months +3.6% +3.3% +6.7% CVS
More profitableNet margin, trailing twelve months 2.5% 3.5% 2.6% UNH
Better return on capitalReturn on invested capital 8.3% 11.3% 9.7% UNH
Less leveragedLower net debt / EBITDA -0.5x 1.6x 2.3x ELV
Higher dividend yieldTrailing dividend yield 1.59% 2.29% 3.29% CVS
Better 1-year returnPrice return, last 12 months +35.7% +20.6% +3.5% ELV
Better 5-year returnAnnualised price return, 5 years +0.5%/yr -2.8%/yr -2.8%/yr ELV
Less volatileAnnualised volatility, 1 year 36.1% 36.0% 34.9% CVS
Higher overall scoreMean of the five percentile scores vs peers 67/100 58/100 70/100 CVS

Percentile Scorecard

ELVUNHCVS

Each axis is the mean percentile of its metrics against the company's industry group. 100 is the best in the group, 50 the middle.

Scores by Axis

AxisELVUNHCVS
Valuation 80 #6 of 26 60 #11 of 26 100 #1 of 26
Growth 25 #19 of 25 17 #21 of 25 75 #7 of 25
Profitability 71 #8 of 25 88 #4 of 25 83 #5 of 25
Financial Health 72 #8 of 26 44 #15 of 26 28 #19 of 26
Shareholder Returns 88 #3 of 17 81 #4 of 17 63 #7 of 17
Overall 67 58 70
  • ELV ranked among 27 companies in Healthcare Payers and Distributors
  • UNH ranked among 27 companies in Healthcare Payers and Distributors
  • CVS ranked among 27 companies in Healthcare Payers and Distributors

Price Performance

Price return, split-adjusted, before dividends. Click a name to hide or show it.

Returns

PeriodELVUNHCVSSPY
1 month +7.9%+5.1%-5.9% -5.9%
3 months +10.3%-2.1%-15.5% -4.6%
6 months +15.8%+6.9%-6.9% +0.2%
Year to date +23.1%+19.8%+2.5% +7.5%
1 year +35.7%+20.6%+3.5% +8.2%
3 years -5.0%-25.9%+14.4% +68.3%
3 years, per year -1.7%-9.5%+4.6% +19.0%
5 years +2.3%-13.3%-13.3% +56.5%
5 years, per year +0.5%-2.8%-2.8% +9.4%
10 years +261.9%+187.1%-1.2% +251.5%
10 years, per year +13.7%+11.1%-0.1% +13.4%

Risk

MeasureELVUNHCVSSPY
Volatility, 1Y 36.1%36.0%34.9% 13.6%
Downside volatility, 1Y 38.9%38.0%38.7% 14.2%
Beta vs S&P 500, 1Y 0.290.36-0.07 1.00
Return / volatility, 1Y 0.990.570.10 0.60
Max drawdown, 5Y -51.2%-62.0%-60.5% -25.4%
From 52-week high -3.1%-9.4%-26.4% -5.9%
52-week high $445.45$436.35$110.55 $779.14
52-week low $280.74$259.02$70.08 $631.97

Valuation History

Weekly multiples on trailing twelve-month fundamentals. Negative or extreme readings (a loss year, a collapsed denominator) are left out so the chart stays readable.

MultipleELVUNHCVS
P/E now vs peer median 18.2xmedian 25.1x 22.3xmedian 25.1x 9.4xmedian 25.1x
P/S now vs peer median 0.5xmedian 0.4x 0.8xmedian 0.4x 0.2xmedian 0.4x
EV/EBITDA now vs peer median 9.6xmedian 14.2x 14.2xmedian 14.2x 7.7xmedian 14.2x
P/FCF now vs peer median 14.3xmedian 16.4x 15.5xmedian 16.4x 6.7xmedian 16.4x
P/B now vs peer median 2.1xmedian 2.6x 3.4xmedian 2.6x 1.3xmedian 2.6x
PEG now vs peer median -7.79median 1.51 -2.55median 1.51 1.11median 1.51

Financial History

Reported figures by fiscal period, placed on the calendar year (or quarter) each period ended in, so companies with different fiscal years line up.

Trailing twelve monthsELVUNHCVS
Revenue $201.83B $449.66B $420.61B
Gross profit $53.35B $141.79B $186.06B
Operating income $7.70B $23.92B $15.06B
Net income $5.13B $16.67B $11.09B
Free cash flow $6.51B $22.83B $15.57B
EPS (diluted) $23.62 $17.61 $8.55
Cash & equivalents $10.35B $25.85B $11.74B
Total debt $30.76B $74.33B $60.68B
Shares (diluted) 217.60M 902.00M 1.29B
Enterprise value -$49.18B $240.92B $53.04B

All Metrics

58 metrics · best in bold

Bold marks the best reading: the lowest positive value for multiples, leverage and payout, the highest for everything else. The bar under each value is its percentile against that company's own peers. Hover a value for its rank and the peer median.

Valuation

12 metrics
MetricELVUNHCVS
P/E 18.2x 22.3x 9.4x
P/FCF 14.3x 15.5x 6.7x
P/Operating cash flow 12.3x 13.5x 5.6x
P/S 0.5x 0.8x 0.2x
P/B 2.1x 3.4x 1.3x
P/Tangible book 2.8x 4.2x 1.8x
EV/EBITDA 9.6x 14.2x 7.7x
EV/EBIT 11.5x 16.7x 10.0x
EV/Revenue 0.4x 0.9x 0.4x
EV/FCF 13.6x 17.5x 9.6x
EV/Operating cash flow 11.6x 15.3x 8.0x
PEG (3Y EPS CAGR) -7.79 -2.55 1.11

Growth

14 metrics
MetricELVUNHCVS
Revenue growth (1Y) 3.6% 3.3% 6.7%
Revenue CAGR (3Y) 6.2% 7.7% 6.5%
Gross profit growth (1Y) 4.3% 4.1% 5.3%
Gross profit CAGR (3Y) 5.5% 3.8% 10.9%
Operating income growth (1Y) -9.2% -9.2% 206.4%
Operating income CAGR (3Y) -4.2% -8.8% 2.4%
Net income growth (1Y) -7.4% -9.3% 2,369%
Net income CAGR (3Y) -5.2% -9.3% 8.6%
EPS growth (1Y) -4.5% -9.1% 2,213%
EPS CAGR (3Y) -2.3% -8.7% 8.5%
Operating cash flow growth (1Y) 54.6% 25.0% 105.4%
Operating cash flow CAGR (3Y) -7.2% -4.1% 9.9%
Free cash flow growth (1Y) 72.9% 31.4% 147.4%
Free cash flow CAGR (3Y) -7.6% -4.8% 11.3%

Profitability

14 metrics
MetricELVUNHCVS
Gross margin 26.4% 31.5% 44.2%
EBITDA margin 4.6% 6.3% 4.7%
Operating margin 3.8% 5.3% 3.6%
Pretax margin 3.1% 4.4% 2.9%
Net margin 2.5% 3.5% 2.6%
FCF margin 3.2% 5.1% 3.7%
Operating cash flow margin 3.8% 5.8% 4.4%
Return on equity 11.4% 16.0% 13.8%
Return on assets 4.0% 5.4% 4.3%
Return on invested capital 8.3% 11.3% 9.7%
Return on capital employed 9.6% 12.2% 9.2%
Asset turnover 1.6x 1.4x 1.6x
Cash conversion (OCF / net income) 1.5x 1.6x 1.7x
Stock comp / revenue 0.1% 0.2% 0.2%

Financial Health

11 metrics
MetricELVUNHCVS
Debt / assets 24.1% 23.8% 23.5%
Debt / equity 0.7x 0.7x 0.8x
Net debt / EBITDA -0.5x 1.6x 2.3x
Debt / FCF 4.7x 3.3x 3.9x
Liabilities / assets 65.0% 66.7% 68.7%
Equity / assets 35.0% 33.3% 31.3%
Interest coverage 5.3x 6.2x 4.9x
Current ratio 1.5x 0.7x 0.9x
Quick ratio 1.2x 0.7x 0.8x
Cash ratio 0.8x 0.2x 0.2x
Altman Z-score 3.07 3.05 2.47

Shareholder Returns

7 metrics
MetricELVUNHCVS
Dividend yield 1.6% 2.3% 3.3%
Net buyback yield 2.2% 1.2% -0.4%
Shareholder yield 3.7% 3.5% 2.9%
Payout ratio (earnings) – 49.0% –
Payout ratio (FCF) – 35.8% –
Dividend growth (1Y) – 4.2% –
Dividend CAGR (3Y) – 7.6% –

Analyst Estimates

Solid lines are reported fiscal-year results; dashed lines are the consensus for the years ahead. Hover a year for the analysts' high and low, and how each result compared with its estimate.

ConsensusELVUNHCVS
Forward P/E 14.3xFY2026 18.5xFY2026 9.5xFY2026
EPS, next fiscal year $30.12FY2026 $21.36FY2026 $8.59FY2026
EPS growth, next FY -0.6%FY2026 +30.6%FY2026 +27.3%FY2026
EPS growth, the year after +4.2% +12.0% +1.7%
Revenue, next fiscal year $211.92BFY2026 $421.27BFY2026 $427.31BFY2026
Revenue growth, next FY +7.3%FY2026 -5.9%FY2026 +6.3%FY2026
Revenue growth, the year after +0.0% +15.1% -4.8%

Institutional Ownership

13F filings, quarter ended Jun 30, 2026
HoldersELVUNHCVS
Held by institutions 91.8% 86.6% 89.1%
Institutions holding 1,615 3,367 2,073
Change in shares held, QoQ +1.7% +5.0% +3.5%
Institutions buying 862 1,826 1,102
Institutions selling 542 1,250 733
Buyers to sellers 1.59 1.46 1.50

Return Correlation

Daily returns, last 12 months

1.00 means two stocks move in lockstep, 0 that they move independently. Pairs below about 0.5 diversify each other.

ELVUNHCVS
ELV 1.00 0.66 0.43
UNH 0.66 1.00 0.60
CVS 0.43 0.60 1.00

Add a Peer

Largest companies in the same industry

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is bigger, ELV, UNH and CVS?

Unitedhealth (UNH) is the largest by market capitalisation: Elevance Health (ELV) $93.29B, Unitedhealth (UNH) $354.25B, Cvs Health (CVS) $104.09B.

Which stock is cheaper, ELV, UNH and CVS?

Cvs Health (CVS) trades on the lowest price-to-earnings ratio (Elevance Health (ELV) 18.2x, Unitedhealth (UNH) 22.3x, Cvs Health (CVS) 9.4x). On next year's consensus earnings, Cvs Health (CVS) is cheapest (Elevance Health (ELV) 14.3x, Unitedhealth (UNH) 18.5x, Cvs Health (CVS) 9.5x). A lower multiple can reflect slower expected growth, so read it next to the growth figures.

Which company is growing faster?

Cvs Health (CVS) grew revenue fastest over the trailing twelve months: Elevance Health (ELV) +3.6%, Unitedhealth (UNH) +3.3%, Cvs Health (CVS) +6.7%.

Which company is more profitable?

Unitedhealth (UNH) has the highest net margin (Elevance Health (ELV) 2.5%, Unitedhealth (UNH) 3.5%, Cvs Health (CVS) 2.6%). On return on invested capital, Unitedhealth (UNH) leads (Elevance Health (ELV) 8.3%, Unitedhealth (UNH) 11.3%, Cvs Health (CVS) 9.7%).

Which stock has performed better?

Over the past year Elevance Health (ELV) returned the most: Elevance Health (ELV) +35.7%, Unitedhealth (UNH) +20.6%, Cvs Health (CVS) +3.5%. Over five years, Elevance Health (ELV) compounded fastest (Elevance Health (ELV) +0.5%/yr, Unitedhealth (UNH) -2.8%/yr, Cvs Health (CVS) -2.8%/yr). Returns are price only, before dividends.

Which pays a higher dividend?

Cvs Health (CVS) has the highest dividend yield: Elevance Health (ELV) 1.59%, Unitedhealth (UNH) 2.29%, Cvs Health (CVS) 3.29%.

Which stock is riskier?

By one-year price volatility, Cvs Health (CVS) has been the steadiest (Elevance Health (ELV) 36.1%, Unitedhealth (UNH) 36.0%, Cvs Health (CVS) 34.9%). Volatility measures how widely the price swings, not the risk of the business.

Which is the better stock, ELV, UNH and CVS?

There is no single answer; it depends on what you are buying for. On the 12 head-to-head measures on this page, Cvs Health (CVS) leads on 6. Business Quant does not give investment advice; use the comparison as a starting point for your own research.

Data from SEC filings, exchange prices and consensus estimates, via Business Quant. Percentile scores compare each company with its own peer group, so two companies' scores are each relative to different peers unless you rank against the whole market. Price returns exclude dividends. Nothing on this page is investment advice.