Humana (HUM) vs UnitedHealth Group (UNH)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Humana (HUM) has outperformed UnitedHealth Group (UNH) over the past year, gaining 29.9% versus a gain of 0.3%. Over five years, HUM leads with a -12.2% price change compared with -13.3% for UNH. UnitedHealth Group is the larger company by market cap ($340.46 billion vs $51.86 billion), about 6.6 times the size.
On valuation, UnitedHealth Group trades at a lower forward P/E (16.8x vs 25.5x for Humana). UnitedHealth Group offers the higher dividend yield (2.36% vs 0.82%). UnitedHealth Group converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 2.7% versus 0.9%.
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 | HUM | UNH |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $431.87 | $379.30 |
| Market cap | $51.86B | $340.46B |
| 1-day change | +11.56% | +2.25% |
| YTD return | +51.14% | +12.37% |
| 1-year return | +29.89% | +0.28% |
| 5-year return | -12.22% | -13.34% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 40.82 | 24.39 |
| Forward P/E | 25.46 | 16.78 |
| EPS (TTM) | $10.58 | $15.55 |
| Dividend yield | 0.82% | 2.36% |
| Annual dividend | $3.54 | $8.95 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $129.66B | $447.57B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +10.11% | +11.81% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.19B | $12.06B |
| Gross margin | — | 88.68% |
| Operating margin | 2.09% | 4.24% |
| Net margin | 0.92% | 2.69% |
| 52-week high | $456.50 | $461.62 |
| 52-week low | $163.11 | $255.97 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -5.40% | -17.83% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | -1.88% | +27.00% |
| Average volume | 1.26M | 4.94M |
| Shares outstanding | 120.08M | 897.59M |
| Employees | 67,060 | 390,000 |
| Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| Industry | Medical Specialities | 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 6.6 times larger than Humana by market value ($340.46B vs $51.86B).
- HUM has outperformed UNH by 29.6 percentage points over the past year.
- Humana trades at a higher earnings multiple (40.8x vs 24.4x trailing P/E).
- UnitedHealth Group offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.36% vs 0.82%).
About Humana
HUM stock →Humana Inc. provides medical and specialty insurance products in the United States.
Health Care · Medical Specialities · 67,060 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
HUM vs UNH FAQ
Which is bigger, Humana or UnitedHealth Group?
UnitedHealth Group (UNH) is larger, with a market capitalization of $340.46B compared with $51.86B for Humana (HUM).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, HUM or UNH?
HUM returned +29.89% over the past 12 months, compared with +0.28% for UNH (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, HUM or UNH?
UNH has the lower trailing P/E at 24.4, versus 40.8 for HUM. 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, Humana or UnitedHealth Group?
UnitedHealth Group has the higher yield at 2.36%, compared with 0.82% for Humana.
Are Humana and UnitedHealth Group in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Medical Specialities industry within the Health Care sector.