Alcon (ALC) vs Medline (MDLN)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Medline is the larger company by market cap ($47.70 billion vs $30.45 billion), about 1.6 times the size. On valuation, Alcon trades at a lower forward P/E (15.9x vs 22.5x for Medline). Alcon pays a dividend yielding 0.56%, while Medline does not currently pay one.
Alcon converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 9.4% versus 4.1%.
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 | MDLN |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $63.00 | $35.45 |
| Market cap | $30.45B | $47.70B |
| 1-day change | -0.30% | -0.28% |
| YTD return | -20.06% | -15.60% |
| 1-year return | -16.41% | — |
| 5-year return | -19.25% | — |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 47.73 | 88.63 |
| Forward P/E | 15.89 | 22.48 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.32 | $0.40 |
| Dividend yield | 0.56% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.353 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $10.40B | $28.43B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +4.94% | — |
| Net income (latest FY) | $980.00M | $1.16B |
| Gross margin | 55.24% | 26.44% |
| Operating margin | 13.08% | 7.78% |
| Net margin | 9.42% | 4.08% |
| 52-week high | $87.64 | $50.88 |
| 52-week low | $61.84 | $31.49 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -28.12% | -30.32% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +32.62% | +25.53% |
| Average volume | 1.86M | 7.59M |
| Shares outstanding | 483.40M | 877.35M |
| Employees | 25,000 | 45,000 |
| Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| Industry | Ophthalmic Goods | Medical/Dental Instruments |
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
- Medline trades at a higher earnings multiple (88.6x vs 47.7x trailing P/E).
- Alcon is more profitable, keeping 9.4 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 4.1 cents for Medline.
About Alcon
ALC stock →Alcon Inc. researches, develops, manufactures, distributes, and sells eye care products worldwide.
Health Care · Ophthalmic Goods · 25,000 employees
About Medline
MDLN stock →Medline Inc. manufactures med-surg products serving the hospital, surgery centers, physician offices, post-acute facilities, and nursing home sites of care in the United States and Internationally.
Health Care · Medical/Dental Instruments · 45,000 employees
ALC vs MDLN FAQ
Which is bigger, Alcon or Medline?
Medline (MDLN) is larger, with a market capitalization of $47.70B compared with $30.45B for Alcon (ALC).
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ALC or MDLN?
ALC has the lower trailing P/E at 47.7, versus 88.6 for MDLN. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Alcon or Medline?
Alcon pays a dividend yielding 0.56%, while Medline does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Alcon and Medline in the same industry?
Both are in the Health Care sector, but in different industries: Ophthalmic Goods for Alcon and Medical/Dental Instruments for Medline.