Edwards Lifesciences (EW) vs STERIS (Ireland) (STE)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Edwards Lifesciences (EW) has outperformed STERIS (Ireland) (STE) over the past year, gaining 11.8% versus a loss of 13.2%. Over five years, STE leads with a -6.8% price change compared with -23.5% for EW. Edwards Lifesciences is the larger company by market cap ($49.44 billion vs $20.44 billion), about 2.4 times the size.
On valuation, STERIS (Ireland) trades at a lower forward P/E (17.1x vs 25.4x for Edwards Lifesciences). STERIS (Ireland) pays a dividend yielding 1.20%, while Edwards Lifesciences does not currently pay one. Edwards Lifesciences converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 17.7% versus 13.2%.
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 | EW | STE |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $85.78 | $209.68 |
| Market cap | $49.44B | $20.44B |
| 1-day change | -0.81% | +0.49% |
| YTD return | +0.62% | -17.29% |
| 1-year return | +11.81% | -13.20% |
| 5-year return | -23.52% | -6.85% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 51.06 | 25.63 |
| Forward P/E | 25.40 | 17.12 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.68 | $8.18 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 1.20% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $2.52 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $6.07B | $5.94B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +11.55% | +8.73% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.07B | $782.30M |
| Gross margin | 78.01% | 44.25% |
| Operating margin | 20.84% | 18.56% |
| Net margin | 17.69% | 13.18% |
| 52-week high | $96.29 | $269.44 |
| 52-week low | $72.30 | $195.14 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -10.91% | -22.18% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +18.86% | +25.49% |
| Average volume | 3.82M | 694.18K |
| Shares outstanding | 576.40M | 97.50M |
| Employees | 16,000 | 17,937 |
| Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| Industry | Industrial Specialties | Industrial Specialties |
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
- Edwards Lifesciences is about 2.4 times larger than STERIS (Ireland) by market value ($49.44B vs $20.44B).
- EW has outperformed STE by 25.0 percentage points over the past year.
- Edwards Lifesciences trades at a higher earnings multiple (51.1x vs 25.6x trailing P/E).
- STERIS (Ireland) offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.20% vs 0.00%).
About Edwards Lifesciences
EW stock →Edwards Lifesciences Corporation provides products and technologies to treat advanced cardiovascular diseases in the United States, Europe, Japan, and internationally. It offers transcatheter heart valve replacement products for minimally invasive replacement of aortic heart valves under the Edwards SAPIEN family of valves system; and transcatheter heart valve repair and replacement products to treat mitral and tricuspid valve diseases under the PASCAL and EVOQUE brands.
Health Care · Industrial Specialties · 16,000 employees
About STERIS (Ireland)
STE stock →STERIS plc provides infection prevention products and services in the United States, Ireland, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Healthcare, Applied Sterilization Technologies, and Life Sciences.
Health Care · Industrial Specialties · 17,937 employees
EW vs STE FAQ
Which is bigger, Edwards Lifesciences or STERIS (Ireland)?
Edwards Lifesciences (EW) is larger, with a market capitalization of $49.44B compared with $20.44B for STERIS (Ireland) (STE).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, EW or STE?
EW returned +11.81% over the past 12 months, compared with -13.20% for STE (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, EW or STE?
STE has the lower trailing P/E at 25.6, versus 51.1 for EW. 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, Edwards Lifesciences or STERIS (Ireland)?
STERIS (Ireland) pays a dividend yielding 1.20%, while Edwards Lifesciences does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Edwards Lifesciences and STERIS (Ireland) in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Industrial Specialties industry within the Health Care sector.