Alcon (ALC) vs Bausch + Lomb (BLCO)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Bausch + Lomb (BLCO) has outperformed Alcon (ALC) over the past year, gaining 16.6% versus a loss of 17.5%. Alcon is the larger company by market cap ($30.52 billion vs $6.13 billion), about 5.0 times the size, while Bausch + Lomb is growing revenue faster (+6.5% vs +4.9%). On valuation, Bausch + Lomb trades at a lower forward P/E (15.4x vs 15.9x for Alcon).
Alcon pays a dividend yielding 0.56%, while Bausch + Lomb does not currently pay one. Alcon converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 9.4% versus -7.1%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | ALC | BLCO |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $63.13 | $17.15 |
| Market cap | $30.52B | $6.13B |
| 1-day change | +0.21% | -1.10% |
| YTD return | -19.90% | +0.41% |
| 1-year return | -17.53% | +16.59% |
| 5-year return | -19.25% | — |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 47.83 | — |
| Forward P/E | 15.92 | 15.40 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.32 | $-0.49 |
| Dividend yield | 0.56% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.353 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $10.40B | $5.10B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +4.94% | +6.47% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $980.00M | $-360.00M |
| Gross margin | 55.24% | — |
| Operating margin | 13.08% | 2.22% |
| Net margin | 9.42% | -7.06% |
| 52-week high | $87.64 | $18.92 |
| 52-week low | $61.84 | $13.77 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -27.97% | -9.33% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +32.35% | +13.06% |
| Average volume | 1.85M | 393.43K |
| Shares outstanding | 483.40M | 357.17M |
| Employees | 25,000 | 13,000 |
| Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| Industry | Ophthalmic Goods | Ophthalmic Goods |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Alcon is about 5.0 times larger than Bausch + Lomb by market value ($30.52B vs $6.13B).
- BLCO has outperformed ALC by 34.1 percentage points over the past year.
- Alcon is more profitable, keeping 9.4 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus -7.1 cents for Bausch + Lomb.
About Alcon
ALC stock →Alcon Inc. researches, develops, manufactures, distributes, and sells eye care products worldwide.
Health Care · Ophthalmic Goods · 25,000 employees
About Bausch + Lomb
BLCO stock →Bausch + Lomb Corporation operates as an eye health company in the United States, Puerto Rico, China, France, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, Russia, Spain, Italy, Mexico, Poland, and internationally. It operates in three segments: Vision Care, Pharmaceuticals, and Surgical.
Health Care · Ophthalmic Goods · 13,000 employees
ALC vs BLCO FAQ
Which is bigger, Alcon or Bausch + Lomb?
Alcon (ALC) is larger, with a market capitalization of $30.52B compared with $6.13B for Bausch + Lomb (BLCO).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ALC or BLCO?
BLCO returned +16.59% over the past 12 months, compared with -17.53% for ALC (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Alcon or Bausch + Lomb?
Alcon pays a dividend yielding 0.56%, while Bausch + Lomb does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Alcon and Bausch + Lomb in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Ophthalmic Goods industry within the Health Care sector.