CVS Health (CVS) vs Elevance Health (ELV)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
CVS Health (CVS) has outperformed Elevance Health (ELV) over the past year, gaining 14.0% versus a gain of 13.1%. Over five years, ELV leads with a +2.9% price change compared with +2.5% for CVS. CVS Health is the larger company by market cap ($112.49 billion vs $87.68 billion), about 1.3 times the size, while Elevance Health is growing revenue faster (+12.5% vs +7.8%).
On valuation, CVS Health trades at a lower forward P/E (10.3x vs 13.7x for Elevance Health). CVS Health offers the higher dividend yield (3.02% vs 1.70%). Elevance Health converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 2.8% versus 0.4%.
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 | CVS | ELV |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $87.95 | $404.31 |
| Market cap | $112.49B | $87.68B |
| 1-day change | +1.76% | +1.05% |
| YTD return | +10.82% | +15.34% |
| 1-year return | +14.04% | +13.10% |
| 5-year return | +2.46% | +2.86% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 23.14 | 17.90 |
| Forward P/E | 10.30 | 13.69 |
| EPS (TTM) | $3.80 | $22.59 |
| Dividend yield | 3.02% | 1.70% |
| Annual dividend | $2.66 | $6.86 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $402.07B | $199.13B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +7.85% | +12.49% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.77B | $5.66B |
| Gross margin | 44.99% | 89.36% |
| Operating margin | 1.16% | 3.62% |
| Net margin | 0.44% | 2.84% |
| 52-week high | $110.68 | $436.24 |
| 52-week low | $69.51 | $274.84 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -20.54% | -7.32% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +31.62% | +11.67% |
| Average volume | 7.91M | 1.20M |
| Shares outstanding | 1.28B | 216.87M |
| Employees | 219,000 | 96,129 |
| Sector | Consumer Staples | Health Care |
| Industry | Retail-Drug Stores and Proprietary Stores | Medical Specialities |
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
- CVS Health trades at a higher earnings multiple (23.1x vs 17.9x trailing P/E).
- CVS Health offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (3.02% vs 1.70%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: CVS Health in Consumer Staples and Elevance Health in Health Care.
About CVS Health
CVS stock →CVS Health Corporation provides health solutions in the United States. The Health Care Benefits segment offers traditional, voluntary, and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, and behavioral health plans; medical management capabilities; Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans; prescription drug plans (PDPs); and Medicaid health care management services.
Consumer Staples · Retail-Drug Stores and Proprietary Stores · 219,000 employees
About Elevance Health
ELV stock →Elevance Health, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a health benefits company in the United States. The company operates in four segments: Health Benefits, CarelonRx, Carelon Services, and Corporate & Other.
Health Care · Medical Specialities · 96,129 employees
CVS vs ELV FAQ
Which is bigger, CVS Health or Elevance Health?
CVS Health (CVS) is larger, with a market capitalization of $112.49B compared with $87.68B for Elevance Health (ELV).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CVS or ELV?
CVS returned +14.04% over the past 12 months, compared with +13.10% for ELV (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CVS or ELV?
ELV has the lower trailing P/E at 17.9, versus 23.1 for CVS. 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, CVS Health or Elevance Health?
CVS Health has the higher yield at 3.02%, compared with 1.70% for Elevance Health.
Are CVS Health and Elevance Health in the same industry?
No. CVS Health is in the Consumer Staples sector, while Elevance Health is in Health Care.