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Elevance Health vs UnitedHealth Group: Which Stock Looks Stronger in 2026?

Elevance Health leads structurally, with profitability as the clearest single gap between the two profiles. UnitedHealth does not offset that deficit through any equally strong structural edge elsewhere. Both sides have seen trend damage — neither carries a clear market edge right now. With both trends damaged, the structural comparison carries most of the weight here.

The comparison is based on similar long-term financial trajectories, not sector labels.

Updated 2026-04-05

The clearest score difference appears in profitability. Elevance Health, Inc. leads by 15 points on the overall comparison score.

INDUSTRY COMPARISON

Both operate in: Healthcare Plans

This comparison is based on industry proximity, not on functional trajectory similarity. ELV and UNH share the same industry classification.

For a similarity-based comparison, see how Elevance Health and UnitedHealth each position within their functional peer groups in AssetNext.

Peer-Relative Score
ELV
Elevance Health, Inc.
61
Peer-Score
Signal qualityMedium
vs
UNH
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated
46
Peer-Score
Signal qualityMedium

Scores reflect position relative to comparable companies with similar long-term financial trajectories.

The largest gaps do not all point in the same direction.

Dimension spread: ELV vs UNH Profitability 64 29 Stability 32 29 Valuation 85 76 Growth 48 43 ELV UNH
Gap Ranking
#1 Profitability +35
#2 Valuation +9
#3 Growth +5
#4 Stability +3
Price Setup

Left means cheaper relative valuation. Higher means stronger structure.

Price setup map for ELV and UNH Stronger + cheaper Stronger + richer Weaker + cheaper Weaker + richer ELVUNH Relative valuation Structural strength

Elevance Health, Inc. looks stronger on relative valuation, while the broader price setup remains mixed.

Valuation position uses peer-relative PE percentile (idx_pct_pe) where available.

Relative Position vs Comparable Companies
Profitability
On profitability, Elevance Health, Inc. is positioned higher in the group, while UnitedHealth Group Incorporated is closer to the middle.
Valuation
Both rank well on valuation, but Elevance Health, Inc. still sits higher.
Profitability — Dominant Gap
ELV
64
UNH
29
Gap+35in favour of ELV

Capital efficiency adds support, with a 6-point ROIC advantage.

What else supports the lead

Volatility exposure is also lower for Elevance Health, Inc., which gives the lead a steadier footing.

What this means for the comparison

The main edge on profitability is clear, but the broader result still comes with a real counterweight.

Explore full peer positioning in AssetNext

Break down the ELV vs UNH comparison across all dimensions with the full interactive tool.

Explore full breakdown →
Similar profitability-driven comparisons

Explore how ELV and UNH each compare against other companies in their peer groups.

Rule-based, descriptive analysis only. Derived from peer percentile dimensions. Not investment advice. Peer groups are determined algorithmically based on structural similarity — not by sector classification alone.

How AssetNext Peer Scores Work

AssetNext scores reflect each company's structural position within its functional peer group — not a ranking against all stocks simultaneously. Peers are identified by similarity across eight financial dimensions, including revenue growth trajectory, margin structure, capital intensity, and earnings stability. A score of 75 means the company ranks in the top quartile within its own peer group, not the entire market.

Four dimension scores drive the overall peer score: Growth (revenue trajectory and expansion dynamics), Quality (margin structure and capital efficiency), Valuation (peer-relative pricing on standard multiples), and Stability (earnings consistency and financial predictability). Each dimension is scored 0–100 relative to the peer group, then combined into an overall peer score using equal weighting.

Scores are recalculated periodically as underlying financial data is updated. All analysis is descriptive and rule-based — AssetNext describes structural realities and never issues buy, sell or hold recommendations.