Medline (MDLN) vs West Pharmaceutical Services (WST)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Medline is the larger company by market cap ($48.09 billion vs $25.57 billion), about 1.9 times the size. On valuation, Medline trades at a lower forward P/E (22.7x vs 36.3x for West Pharmaceutical Services). West Pharmaceutical Services pays a dividend yielding 0.24%, while Medline does not currently pay one.
West Pharmaceutical Services converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 16.1% versus 4.1%.
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 | MDLN | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $35.74 | $363.27 |
| Market cap | $48.09B | $25.57B |
| 1-day change | +0.82% | -0.88% |
| YTD return | -15.60% | +33.20% |
| 1-year return | — | +37.79% |
| 5-year return | — | -9.47% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 89.35 | 46.51 |
| Forward P/E | 22.67 | 36.35 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.40 | $7.81 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.24% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.87 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $28.43B | $3.07B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | — | +6.25% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.16B | $493.70M |
| Gross margin | 26.44% | 35.91% |
| Operating margin | 7.78% | 19.03% |
| Net margin | 4.08% | 16.06% |
| 52-week high | $50.88 | $386.00 |
| 52-week low | $31.49 | $223.83 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -29.75% | -5.89% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +24.51% | +13.14% |
| Average volume | 7.54M | 626.98K |
| Shares outstanding | 877.35M | 70.38M |
| Employees | 45,000 | 10,800 |
| Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| Industry | Medical/Dental Instruments | Medical/Dental Instruments |
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
- Medline trades at a higher earnings multiple (89.4x vs 46.5x trailing P/E).
- West Pharmaceutical Services is more profitable, keeping 16.1 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 4.1 cents for Medline.
About Medline
MDLN stock →Medline Inc. manufactures med-surg products serving the hospital, surgery centers, physician offices, post-acute facilities, and nursing home sites of care in the United States and Internationally.
Health Care · Medical/Dental Instruments · 45,000 employees
About West Pharmaceutical Services
WST stock →West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells containment and delivery systems for injectable drugs and healthcare products in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific.
Health Care · Medical/Dental Instruments · 10,800 employees
MDLN vs WST FAQ
Which is bigger, Medline or West Pharmaceutical Services?
Medline (MDLN) is larger, with a market capitalization of $48.09B compared with $25.57B for West Pharmaceutical Services (WST).
Which has the lower P/E ratio, MDLN or WST?
WST has the lower trailing P/E at 46.5, versus 89.4 for MDLN. 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, Medline or West Pharmaceutical Services?
West Pharmaceutical Services pays a dividend yielding 0.24%, while Medline does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Medline and West Pharmaceutical Services in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Medical/Dental Instruments industry within the Health Care sector.