Which has the lower trailing P/E, ELV or HCA?

HCA has the lower trailing P/E: ELV trades at 16.70 and HCA at 13.61. P/E is one valuation measure and does not by itself establish which business is cheaper.

Which has grown faster, ELV or HCA?

Over the past five years, ELV grew revenue faster — ELV at a 9.25% CAGR versus HCA at 7.73%.

Does ELV or HCA pay a bigger dividend?

ELV yields 1.83% 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 2.47% versus HCA at 8.89%.

How have ELV and HCA total returns compared?

Over the past 10 years, ELV delivered 12.63% and HCA delivered 18.86% annualized total return. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

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

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 July 31, 2026. Differences are shown without an overall score or investment verdict.

ELV

Elevance Health Inc.

$81.51B

$375.84HealthcareDelayed quote: Jul 31, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT

HCA

HCA Healthcare, Inc.

$87.16B

$402.59HealthcareDelayed quote: Jul 31, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT

Total return — ELV vs HCA

growth of $100 · dividends reinvested · last 15y

ELV +598.5%HCA +1412.3%HCA compounded faster

ELV HCA

ELV vs HCA: by the numbers

•HCA is the larger company ($87.16B vs $81.51B market cap).
•HCA trades at the lower trailing earnings multiple (13.61 vs 16.70 P/E), one valuation lens rather than an overall verdict.
•HCA converts more revenue to profit (8.89% vs 2.47% net margin).
•ELV grew revenue faster over the past five years (9.25% vs 7.73% CAGR).
•ELV pays the higher dividend yield (1.83% vs 0.76%).

Metrics side by side

Valuation

Metric	ELV	HCA
P/E ratio	16.70	13.61
Forward P/E	13.85	13.38
P/S ratio	0.41	1.17
P/B ratio	1.82	N/A
PEG ratio	2.50	0.57
EV / EBITDA	12.72	8.90
FCF yield	7.68%	8.83%

Profitability

Metric	ELV	HCA
Gross margin	25.56%	34.92%
Operating margin	3.51%	15.67%
Net margin	2.47%	8.89%
ROE	11.06%	-112.56%
ROIC	6.65%	18.53%

Dividends

Metric	ELV	HCA
Dividend yield	1.83%	0.76%
Payout ratio	27.24%	10.48%

Growth (annualized)

Metric	ELV	HCA
Revenue CAGR (5Y)	9.25%	7.73%
EPS CAGR (5Y)	6.67%	20.90%
FCF CAGR (5Y)	-19.97%	1.92%
Total return CAGR (5Y)	1.02%	11.12%

Frequently asked

Which has the lower trailing P/E, ELV or HCA?: HCA has the lower trailing P/E: ELV trades at 16.70 and HCA at 13.61. P/E is one valuation measure and does not by itself establish which business is cheaper.
Which has grown faster, ELV or HCA?: Over the past five years, ELV grew revenue faster — ELV at a 9.25% CAGR versus HCA at 7.73%.
Does ELV or HCA pay a bigger dividend?: ELV yields 1.83% 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 2.47% versus HCA at 8.89%.
How have ELV and HCA total returns compared?: Over the past 10 years, ELV delivered 12.63% and HCA delivered 18.86% annualized total return. 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 Highest 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 July 31, 2026.