Is ELV or HCA cheaper?

On trailing earnings, HCA is cheaper: ELV trades at a 17.09 P/E and HCA at 13.65.

Which has grown faster, ELV or HCA?

Over the past five years, ELV grew revenue faster — ELV at a 9.97% CAGR versus HCA at 7.73%.

Does ELV or HCA pay a bigger dividend?

ELV yields 1.71% and HCA yields 0.76% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.

Is ELV or HCA more profitable?

HCA runs the higher net margin — ELV at 2.62% versus HCA at 8.89%.

Which has been the better investment, ELV or HCA?

Over the past 10-year, HCA delivered the higher annualized total return — ELV at 13.25% versus HCA at 18.63%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Elevance Health Inc. (ELV) vs HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA)

HCA leads on 12 of 16 compared metrics.

A side-by-side comparison of Elevance 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).

Total return — ELV vs HCA

growth of $100 · last 15y

ELV +483.8%HCA +1179.6%HCA compounded faster

ELV HCA

ELV vs HCA: by the numbers

•HCA is the larger company ($88.05B vs $86.74B market cap).
•HCA trades at the lower earnings multiple (13.65 vs 17.09 P/E).
•HCA converts more revenue to profit (8.89% vs 2.62% net margin).
•ELV grew revenue faster over the past five years (9.97% vs 7.73% CAGR).
•ELV pays the higher dividend yield (1.71% vs 0.76%).

Which is better, ELV or HCA?

Metric tally: ELV 4 · HCA 12

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValueHCA(lower P/E)

GrowthELV(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)

IncomeELV(higher dividend yield)

QualityHCA(higher ROIC)

Metrics side by side

Valuation

Metric	ELV	HCA
P/E ratio	17.09	13.65●
Forward P/E	13.75	11.96●
P/S ratio	0.44●	1.18
P/B ratio	2.02	—
PEG ratio	2.56	0.56●
EV / EBITDA	12.42	8.86●
FCF yield	7.28%	8.81%●

Profitability

Metric	ELV	HCA
Gross margin	23.16%	34.92%●
Operating margin	3.81%	15.67%●
Net margin	2.62%	8.89%●
ROE	11.94%●	-112.56%
ROIC	6.65%	18.53%●

Dividends

Metric	ELV	HCA
Dividend yield	1.71%●	0.76%
Payout ratio	27.24%	10.48%

Growth (annualized)

Metric	ELV	HCA
Revenue CAGR (5Y)	9.97%●	7.73%
EPS CAGR (5Y)	6.67%	20.90%●
FCF CAGR (5Y)	-7.76%	1.92%●
Total return CAGR (5Y)	2.56%	14.89%●

Frequently asked

Which is better, ELV or HCA?: It depends on your goal. value: HCA (lower P/E); growth: ELV (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: ELV (higher dividend yield); quality: HCA (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, HCA leads 12 to 4.
Is ELV or HCA cheaper?: On trailing earnings, HCA is cheaper: ELV trades at a 17.09 P/E and HCA at 13.65.
Which has grown faster, ELV or HCA?: Over the past five years, ELV grew revenue faster — ELV at a 9.97% CAGR versus HCA at 7.73%.
Does ELV or HCA pay a bigger dividend?: ELV yields 1.71% and HCA yields 0.76% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
Is ELV or HCA more profitable?: HCA runs the higher net margin — ELV at 2.62% versus HCA at 8.89%.
Which has been the better investment, ELV or HCA?: Over the past 10-year, HCA delivered the higher annualized total return — ELV at 13.25% versus HCA at 18.63%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Go deeper

Full ELV analysis Full HCA analysis Interactive comparison tool

Dig into the metrics

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

Elevance Health & HCA Healthcare appear in these rankings

Highest ROIC Stocks Highest FCF Yield Stocks Best 10-Year Total Return Stocks Lowest P/E Ratio 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.