Illumina (ILMN) 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
Illumina (ILMN) has outperformed UnitedHealth Group (UNH) over the past year, gaining 170.6% versus a gain of 0.3%. Over five years, UNH leads with a -13.3% price change compared with -33.7% for ILMN. UnitedHealth Group is the larger company by market cap ($340.46 billion vs $42.00 billion), about 8.1 times the size.
On valuation, UnitedHealth Group trades at a lower forward P/E (16.8x vs 45.5x for Illumina). UnitedHealth Group pays a dividend yielding 2.36%, while Illumina does not currently pay one. Illumina converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 19.6% versus 2.7%.
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 | ILMN | UNH |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $278.17 | $379.30 |
| Market cap | $42.00B | $340.46B |
| 1-day change | +5.14% | +2.25% |
| YTD return | +101.72% | +12.37% |
| 1-year return | +170.58% | +0.28% |
| 5-year return | -33.65% | -13.34% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 51.90 | 24.39 |
| Forward P/E | 45.46 | 16.78 |
| EPS (TTM) | $5.36 | $15.55 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 2.36% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $8.95 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $4.34B | $447.57B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -0.66% | +11.81% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $850.00M | $12.06B |
| Gross margin | 66.08% | 88.68% |
| Operating margin | 18.58% | 4.24% |
| Net margin | 19.57% | 2.69% |
| 52-week high | $309.35 | $461.62 |
| 52-week low | $88.00 | $255.97 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -10.08% | -17.83% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | -16.54% | +27.00% |
| Average volume | 2.69M | 4.94M |
| Shares outstanding | 151.00M | 897.59M |
| Employees | 8,600 | 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 8.1 times larger than Illumina by market value ($340.46B vs $42.00B).
- ILMN has outperformed UNH by 170.3 percentage points over the past year.
- Illumina trades at a higher earnings multiple (51.9x vs 24.4x trailing P/E).
- UnitedHealth Group offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.36% vs 0.00%).
- Illumina is more profitable, keeping 19.6 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 2.7 cents for UnitedHealth Group.
- UnitedHealth Group grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+11.81% vs -0.66%).
About Illumina
ILMN stock →Illumina, Inc. provides sequencing- and array-based solutions for genetic and genomic analysis in the Americas, Europe, Greater China, the Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa.
Health Care · Medical Specialities · 8,600 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
ILMN vs UNH FAQ
Which is bigger, Illumina or UnitedHealth Group?
UnitedHealth Group (UNH) is larger, with a market capitalization of $340.46B compared with $42.00B for Illumina (ILMN).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ILMN or UNH?
ILMN returned +170.58% 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, ILMN or UNH?
UNH has the lower trailing P/E at 24.4, versus 51.9 for ILMN. 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, Illumina or UnitedHealth Group?
UnitedHealth Group pays a dividend yielding 2.36%, while Illumina does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Illumina and UnitedHealth Group in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Medical Specialities industry within the Health Care sector.