Medline Inc. (MDLN) vs West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (WST)
A side-by-side comparison of Medline Inc. and West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of August 20, 2026. Differences are shown without an overall score or investment verdict.
MDLN
Medline Inc.
$33.91HealthcareAt close: Aug 19, 2026, 4:00 PM ET
WST
West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.
$352.79HealthcareAt close: Aug 19, 2026, 4:00 PM ET
Total return — MDLN vs WST
growth of $100 · dividends reinvested · last 1yMDLN -17.3% (-17.3%/yr)WST +32.9% (+32.9%/yr)WST compounded faster over this window
MDLN WST
MDLN vs WST: by the numbers
- •MDLN is the larger company ($28.67B vs $24.83B market cap).
- •MDLN trades at the lower trailing earnings multiple (39.43 vs 45.11 P/E), one valuation lens rather than an overall verdict.
- •WST converts more revenue to profit (16.98% vs 2.31% net margin).
- •WST pays a dividend (0.25% yield), while MDLN has no payments in the available dividend history.
Metrics side by side
Valuation
| Metric | MDLN | WST |
|---|---|---|
| P/E ratio | 39.43 | 45.11 |
| Forward P/E | 22.16 | 39.45 |
| P/S ratio | 0.98 | 7.56 |
| P/B ratio | 2.52 | 8.41 |
| EV / EBITDA | 14.34 | 28.88 |
| FCF yield | 6.94% | 1.74% |
Profitability
| Metric | MDLN | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 25.02% | 36.77% |
| Operating margin | 6.07% | 20.64% |
| Net margin | 2.31% | 16.98% |
| ROE | 5.97% | 18.89% |
| ROIC | 4.05% | 15.77% |
Dividends
| Metric | MDLN | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield | N/A | 0.25% |
| Payout ratio | N/A | 12.88% |
Growth (annualized)
| Metric | MDLN | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue CAGR (5Y) | N/A | 5.68% |
| EPS CAGR (5Y) | N/A | 7.85% |
| FCF CAGR (5Y) | N/A | 8.74% |
| Total return CAGR (5Y) | N/A | -4.37% |
Frequently asked
- Which has the lower trailing P/E, MDLN or WST?
- MDLN has the lower trailing P/E: MDLN trades at 39.43 and WST at 45.11. P/E is one valuation measure and does not by itself establish which business is cheaper.
- Does MDLN or WST pay a bigger dividend?
- WST pays a dividend (0.25% yield), while MDLN has no payments in the available dividend history.
- Is MDLN or WST more profitable?
- WST runs the higher net margin — MDLN at 2.31% versus WST at 16.98%.
Go deeper
Dig into the metrics
Medline P/E ratioWest Pharmaceutical Services P/E ratioWest Pharmaceutical Services dividend yieldMedline ROEWest Pharmaceutical Services ROEMedline operating marginWest Pharmaceutical Services operating marginMedline revenue growthWest Pharmaceutical Services revenue growthMedline free cash flowWest Pharmaceutical Services free cash flow
Medline & West Pharmaceutical Services appear in these rankings
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 August 20, 2026.