Chemed (CHE) vs HCA Healthcare (HCA)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Chemed (CHE) has outperformed HCA Healthcare (HCA) over the past year, gaining 15.0% versus a gain of 0.8%. Over five years, HCA leads with a +78.6% price change compared with +16.6% for CHE. HCA Healthcare is the larger company by market cap ($95.08 billion vs $6.55 billion), about 14.5 times the size.
On valuation, HCA Healthcare trades at a lower forward P/E (13.7x vs 18.2x for Chemed). HCA Healthcare offers the higher dividend yield (0.68% vs 0.48%). Chemed converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 10.5% versus 9.0%.
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 | CHE | HCA |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $501.45 | $439.17 |
| Market cap | $6.55B | $95.08B |
| 1-day change | -1.65% | +1.61% |
| YTD return | +17.24% | -5.55% |
| 1-year return | +15.03% | +0.77% |
| 5-year return | +16.58% | +78.61% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 25.22 | 14.72 |
| Forward P/E | 18.22 | 13.72 |
| EPS (TTM) | $19.88 | $29.83 |
| Dividend yield | 0.48% | 0.68% |
| Annual dividend | $2.40 | $3.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $2.53B | $75.60B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +4.06% | +7.08% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $265.24M | $6.78B |
| Gross margin | 32.54% | — |
| Operating margin | 13.37% | — |
| Net margin | 10.48% | 8.97% |
| 52-week high | $557.00 | $556.52 |
| 52-week low | $365.21 | $353.99 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -9.97% | -21.09% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +13.99% | +4.58% |
| Average volume | 160.10K | 1.48M |
| Shares outstanding | 13.07M | 216.50M |
| Employees | 15,811 | 230,000 |
| Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| Industry | Medical/Nursing Services | Hospital/Nursing Management |
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
- HCA Healthcare is about 14.5 times larger than Chemed by market value ($95.08B vs $6.55B).
- CHE has outperformed HCA by 14.3 percentage points over the past year.
- Chemed trades at a higher earnings multiple (25.2x vs 14.7x trailing P/E).
About Chemed
CHE stock →Chemed Corporation provides hospice and palliative care services to patients through a network of physicians, doctors, registered nurses, home health aides, social workers, clergy, and volunteers primarily in the United States. The company operates through two segments: VITAS and Roto-Rooter segments.
Health Care · Medical/Nursing Services · 15,811 employees
About HCA Healthcare
HCA stock →HCA Healthcare, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides health care services in the United States. The company owns, manages, and operates hospitals, ASCs, freestanding emergency care facilities, urgent care facilities, walk-in clinics, diagnostic and imaging centers, radiation and oncology therapy centers, as well as rehabilitation and physical therapy centers, physician practices, home health agencies, hospices, outpatient physical therapy providers, home and community-based services providers, and various other facilities.
Health Care · Hospital/Nursing Management · 230,000 employees
CHE vs HCA FAQ
Which is bigger, Chemed or HCA Healthcare?
HCA Healthcare (HCA) is larger, with a market capitalization of $95.08B compared with $6.55B for Chemed (CHE).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CHE or HCA?
CHE returned +15.03% over the past 12 months, compared with +0.77% for HCA (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CHE or HCA?
HCA has the lower trailing P/E at 14.7, versus 25.2 for CHE. 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, Chemed or HCA Healthcare?
HCA Healthcare has the higher yield at 0.68%, compared with 0.48% for Chemed.
Are Chemed and HCA Healthcare in the same industry?
Both are in the Health Care sector, but in different industries: Medical/Nursing Services for Chemed and Hospital/Nursing Management for HCA Healthcare.