FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE AG vs UNIVERSAL HEALTH SERVICES, INC., two Medical Care stocks. A side-by-side on valuation, growth, margins, returns, and what each price is betting.
6.08 is where this pair starts: Universal Health's multiple, half of Fresenius Medical's 12.7, both among the lowest in health services. The cheapness differs in kind: UHS earns strong hospital margins, 11.2% operating and 20.2% on equity, that the market expects to fade; Fresenius earns regulated dialysis margins, 11.7% operating and 8.3% on equity, that the market expects to stay squeezed. Both generate cash aggressively, free-cash yields of 10.2% and 21.5%, with small dividends. Debt is moderate at UHS, absent at Fresenius. Two discounts for two different distrusts, cyclical and political; the page prices skepticism twice and lets the reader pick the cheaper fear.
Comparison updated 2026-07-10.
| Metric | FMS | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $23.25 | $145.68 |
| Market cap | $13.6B | $9.0B |
| Sector | Medical Care | Medical Care |
| Stage | Mature | Mature |
| P/E | 12.7 | 6.1 |
| P/B | 0.87 | 1.19 |
| P/S | 0.64 | 0.51 |
| EV/EBITDA | 3.3 | 5.4 |
| Revenue growth | +1.5% | +10.4% |
| Operating margin | 11.7% | 11.2% |
| Net margin | 6.1% | 8.6% |
| Return on equity | 8.3% | 20.2% |
| Return on assets | 3.8% | 9.7% |
| Return on invested capital | 10.1% | 12.0% |
| FCF yield | 21.4% | 10.2% |
| Dividend yield | 1.7% | 0.6% |
| Debt / equity | 0.00 | 0.72 |
| Current ratio | 1.26 | 1.08 |
| Altman Z (solvency) | 1.76 | 7.26 |
| Piotroski F (quality) | 8 / 9 | 7 / 9 |
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The stronger value is highlighted per metric where one is strictly better on that single number; it is not an overall verdict on either company. For informational and research purposes only. Not investment advice. Not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security. boothcheck is not a registered investment adviser. Past performance does not guarantee future results.