Is CAH or HCA cheaper?

On trailing earnings, HCA is cheaper: CAH trades at a 34.62 P/E and HCA at 13.65.

Which has grown faster, CAH or HCA?

Over the past five years, CAH grew revenue faster — CAH at a 9.86% CAGR versus HCA at 7.73%.

Does CAH or HCA pay a bigger dividend?

CAH yields 0.90% and HCA yields 0.76% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.

Is CAH or HCA more profitable?

HCA runs the higher net margin — CAH at 0.62% versus HCA at 8.89%.

Which has been the better investment, CAH or HCA?

Over the past 10-year, HCA delivered the higher annualized total return — CAH at 14.76% versus HCA at 18.63%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH) vs HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA)

HCA leads on 9 of 16 compared metrics.

A side-by-side comparison of Cardinal Health, Inc. and HCA Healthcare, Inc. across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 16, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).

CAH

Cardinal Health, Inc.

Total return — CAH vs HCA

growth of $100 · last 15y

CAH +455.4%HCA +1179.6%HCA compounded faster

CAH HCA

CAH vs HCA: by the numbers

•HCA is the larger company ($88.05B vs $53.55B market cap).
•HCA trades at the lower earnings multiple (13.65 vs 34.62 P/E).
•HCA converts more revenue to profit (8.89% vs 0.62% net margin).
•CAH grew revenue faster over the past five years (9.86% vs 7.73% CAGR).
•CAH pays the higher dividend yield (0.90% vs 0.76%).

Which is better, CAH or HCA?

Metric tally: CAH 7 · HCA 9

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValueHCA(lower P/E)

GrowthCAH(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)

IncomeCAH(higher dividend yield)

QualityHCA(higher ROIC)

Metrics side by side

Valuation

Metric	CAH	HCA
P/E ratio	34.62	13.65●
Forward P/E	18.86	11.96●
P/S ratio	0.21●	1.18
PEG ratio	0.30●	0.56
EV / EBITDA	19.30	8.86●
FCF yield	8.22%	8.81%●

Profitability

Metric	CAH	HCA
Gross margin	3.68%	34.92%●
Operating margin	0.92%	15.67%●
Net margin	0.62%	8.89%●
ROE	-56.13%●	-112.56%
ROIC	11.37%	18.53%●

Dividends

Metric	CAH	HCA
Dividend yield	0.90%●	0.76%
Payout ratio	31.52%	10.48%

Growth (annualized)

Metric	CAH	HCA
Revenue CAGR (5Y)	9.86%●	7.73%
EPS CAGR (5Y)	6.11%	20.90%●
FCF CAGR (5Y)	22.47%●	1.92%
Total return CAGR (5Y)	34.89%●	14.89%

Frequently asked

Which is better, CAH or HCA?: It depends on your goal. value: HCA (lower P/E); growth: CAH (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: CAH (higher dividend yield); quality: HCA (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, HCA leads 9 to 7.
Is CAH or HCA cheaper?: On trailing earnings, HCA is cheaper: CAH trades at a 34.62 P/E and HCA at 13.65.
Which has grown faster, CAH or HCA?: Over the past five years, CAH grew revenue faster — CAH at a 9.86% CAGR versus HCA at 7.73%.
Does CAH or HCA pay a bigger dividend?: CAH yields 0.90% and HCA yields 0.76% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
Is CAH or HCA more profitable?: HCA runs the higher net margin — CAH at 0.62% versus HCA at 8.89%.
Which has been the better investment, CAH or HCA?: Over the past 10-year, HCA delivered the higher annualized total return — CAH at 14.76% versus HCA at 18.63%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Go deeper

Full CAH analysis Full HCA analysis Interactive comparison tool

Dig into the metrics

Cardinal Health P/E ratio HCA Healthcare P/E ratio Cardinal Health dividend yield HCA Healthcare dividend yield Cardinal Health ROE HCA Healthcare ROE Cardinal Health operating margin HCA Healthcare operating margin Cardinal Health revenue growth HCA Healthcare revenue growth Cardinal Health free cash flow HCA Healthcare free cash flow

Cardinal Health & HCA Healthcare appear in these rankings

Dividend Aristocrats Highest ROIC Stocks Highest FCF Yield Stocks Best 10-Year Total Return Stocks

Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified June 16, 2026.