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Stock Comparison · Single-driver result

Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA vs Smith & Nephew: Which Stock Looks Stronger in 2026?

The structural profiles are close, with Smith & Nephew carrying a narrow edge on profitability. Fresenius SE KGaA still has the edge on growth, which keeps the comparison from looking entirely one-sided. The market setup is currently leaning toward Fresenius SE KGaA, which does not confirm the structural lead. That leaves a split case: the structural lead stays with Smith & Nephew, but the market is not currently confirming it.

The comparison is based on similar long-term financial trajectories, not sector labels. Both peer scores are relative to the STOXX 600 universe, making them directly comparable.

Updated 2026-08-16

The comparison is mainly decided in profitability, while growth remains the main counterforce.

Trajectory Similarity
0.72
Similar
Peer-set rank: #11
within Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA's functional peer set

These two companies are linked by measured long-term financial trajectory similarity within the selected peer universe.

A solid similarity means the pair shares a clearly comparable long-term financial profile, even if individual dimensions still differ.

The clearest structural overlap shows up in margin consistency and capital structure.

Similarity drivers
margin consistencycapital structure
How to read the score
0.85–1.00 · Very similar0.70–0.84 · Similar0.55–0.69 · Moderately similarbelow 0.55 · Loose match
Peer-Relative Score
FRE.DE
Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA
53
Peer-Score
Signal qualityMedium
Peer basis: STOXX 600
vs
SN.L
Smith & Nephew plc
56
Peer-Score
Signal qualitylow
Peer basis: STOXX 600

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

The clearest separation appears in profitability.

Dimension spread: FRE.DE vs SN.L Profitability 20 61 Stability 54 54 Valuation 71 62 Growth 72 41 FRE.DE SN.L
Gap Ranking
#1 Profitability +41
#2 Growth +31
#3 Valuation +9
#4 Stability
Price Setup

Left means cheaper relative valuation. Higher means stronger structure.

Price setup map for FRE.DE and SN.L Stronger + cheaper Stronger + richer Weaker + cheaper Weaker + richer FRE.DESN.L Relative valuation Structural strength

Structure stays fairly close here, while current pricing still looks more supportive for Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA.

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

Relative Position vs Comparable Companies
Profitability
Smith & Nephew plc sits in the stronger part of the group on profitability, while Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA is closer to mid-pack.
Growth
Both profiles are strong on growth, but Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA leads clearly.
Profitability — Dominant Gap
FRE.DE
20
SN.L
61
Gap+41in favour of SN.L

Capital efficiency adds support, with a 4.8-point ROIC advantage.

What keeps the gap from being one-sided

There is still a strong counterforce in growth, so the lead stays clear without becoming a sweep.

What this means for the comparison

The main read on profitability is clearer than the broader score gap.

Explore full peer positioning in AssetNext

Break down the FRE.DE vs SN.L comparison across all dimensions with the full interactive tool.

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Other comparisons with conflicting dimension signals

Explore how FRE.DE and SN.L 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.

Because scores are peer-relative, the same company can have slightly different scores in different index universes. On comparison pages, both companies are shown within their shared peer universe wherever possible — so the scores are directly comparable. The peer basis is stated on each score card.

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.