Elevance Health (ELV) vs HCA Healthcare (HCA)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Elevance Health (ELV) has outperformed HCA Healthcare (HCA) over the past year, gaining 10.7% versus a gain of 4.4%. Over five years, HCA leads with a +77.9% price change compared with +2.0% for ELV. HCA Healthcare is the larger company by market cap ($96.35 billion vs $86.95 billion), about 1.1 times the size, while Elevance Health is growing revenue faster (+12.5% vs +7.1%).
On valuation, Elevance Health trades at a lower forward P/E (13.6x vs 13.9x for HCA Healthcare). Elevance Health offers the higher dividend yield (1.71% vs 0.67%). HCA Healthcare converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 9.0% versus 2.8%.
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 | ELV | HCA |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $400.94 | $445.01 |
| Market cap | $86.95B | $96.35B |
| 1-day change | -0.83% | +1.33% |
| YTD return | +14.37% | -4.68% |
| 1-year return | +10.65% | +4.40% |
| 5-year return | +2.01% | +77.89% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 17.75 | 14.72 |
| Forward P/E | 13.55 | 13.90 |
| EPS (TTM) | $22.59 | $30.23 |
| Dividend yield | 1.71% | 0.67% |
| Annual dividend | $6.86 | $3.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $199.13B | $75.60B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +12.49% | +7.08% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $5.66B | $6.78B |
| Gross margin | 89.36% | — |
| Operating margin | 3.62% | — |
| Net margin | 2.84% | 8.97% |
| 52-week high | $436.24 | $556.52 |
| 52-week low | $274.84 | $353.99 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -8.09% | -20.04% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +12.61% | +3.20% |
| Average volume | 1.19M | 1.47M |
| Shares outstanding | 216.87M | 216.50M |
| Employees | 96,129 | 230,000 |
| Sector | Health Care | Healthcare |
| Industry | Medical Specialities | Medical Care Facilities |
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
- Elevance Health offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.71% vs 0.67%).
- HCA Healthcare is more profitable, keeping 9.0 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 2.8 cents for Elevance Health.
- Elevance Health grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+12.49% vs +7.08%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Elevance Health in Health Care and HCA Healthcare in Healthcare.
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
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.
Healthcare · Medical Care Facilities · 230,000 employees
ELV vs HCA FAQ
Which is bigger, Elevance Health or HCA Healthcare?
HCA Healthcare (HCA) is larger, with a market capitalization of $96.35B compared with $86.95B for Elevance Health (ELV).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ELV or HCA?
ELV returned +10.65% over the past 12 months, compared with +4.40% for HCA (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ELV or HCA?
HCA has the lower trailing P/E at 14.7, versus 17.7 for ELV. 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, Elevance Health or HCA Healthcare?
Elevance Health has the higher yield at 1.71%, compared with 0.67% for HCA Healthcare.
Are Elevance Health and HCA Healthcare in the same industry?
No. Elevance Health is in the Health Care sector, while HCA Healthcare is in Healthcare.