CVS Health (CVS) vs UnitedHealth Group (UNH)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
CVS Health (CVS) has outperformed UnitedHealth Group (UNH) over the past year, gaining 14.0% versus a gain of 3.4%. Over five years, CVS leads with a +2.5% price change compared with -12.2% for UNH. UnitedHealth Group is the larger company by market cap ($332.96 billion vs $112.29 billion), about 3.0 times the size.
On valuation, CVS Health trades at a lower forward P/E (10.3x vs 16.4x for UnitedHealth Group). CVS Health offers the higher dividend yield (3.03% vs 2.41%). UnitedHealth Group converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 2.7% 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 | UNH |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $87.80 | $370.95 |
| Market cap | $112.29B | $332.96B |
| 1-day change | -0.17% | -1.34% |
| YTD return | +10.82% | +13.90% |
| 1-year return | +14.04% | +3.39% |
| 5-year return | +2.46% | -12.17% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 23.11 | 23.86 |
| Forward P/E | 10.29 | 16.41 |
| EPS (TTM) | $3.80 | $15.55 |
| Dividend yield | 3.03% | 2.41% |
| Annual dividend | $2.66 | $8.95 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $402.07B | $447.57B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +7.85% | +11.81% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.77B | $12.06B |
| Gross margin | 44.99% | 88.68% |
| Operating margin | 1.16% | 4.24% |
| Net margin | 0.44% | 2.69% |
| 52-week high | $110.68 | $461.62 |
| 52-week low | $69.51 | $255.97 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -20.67% | -19.64% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +31.85% | +29.86% |
| Average volume | 7.97M | 4.91M |
| Shares outstanding | 1.28B | 897.59M |
| Employees | 219,000 | 390,000 |
| 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
- UnitedHealth Group is about 3.0 times larger than CVS Health by market value ($332.96B vs $112.29B).
- CVS has outperformed UNH by 10.7 percentage points over the past year.
- The two companies sit in different sectors: CVS Health in Consumer Staples and UnitedHealth Group 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 UnitedHealth Group
UNH stock →UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a health care company in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: Optum Health, Optum Insight, Optum Rx; and UnitedHealthcare.
Health Care · Medical Specialities · 390,000 employees
CVS vs UNH FAQ
Which is bigger, CVS Health or UnitedHealth Group?
UnitedHealth Group (UNH) is larger, with a market capitalization of $332.96B compared with $112.29B for CVS Health (CVS).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CVS or UNH?
CVS returned +14.04% over the past 12 months, compared with +3.39% for UNH (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CVS or UNH?
CVS has the lower trailing P/E at 23.1, versus 23.9 for UNH. 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 UnitedHealth Group?
CVS Health has the higher yield at 3.03%, compared with 2.41% for UnitedHealth Group.
Are CVS Health and UnitedHealth Group in the same industry?
No. CVS Health is in the Consumer Staples sector, while UnitedHealth Group is in Health Care.