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STERIS vs Stryker: Which Stock Looks Stronger in 2026?

STERIS holds the cleaner structural position, with growth as the main driver and valuation adding further support. 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. Both peer scores are relative to the S&P 500 universe, making them directly comparable.

Updated 2026-07-05

The clearest separation starts in growth, with valuation adding a second layer of support. The overall score gap is 9 points in favour of STERIS plc.

INDUSTRY COMPARISON

Both operate in: Medical Devices

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

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

Peer-Relative Score
STE
STERIS plc
50
Peer-Score
Signal qualitylow
Peer basis: S&P 500
vs
SYK
Stryker Corporation
41
Peer-Score
Signal qualitylow
Peer basis: S&P 500

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

Score differences across key dimensions.

Dimension spread: STE vs SYK Profitability 28 25 Stability 60 64 Valuation 63 51 Growth 53 28 STE SYK
Gap Ranking
#1 Growth +25
#2 Valuation +12
#3 Stability +4
#4 Profitability +3
Price Setup

Left means cheaper relative valuation. Higher means stronger structure.

Price setup map for STE and SYK Stronger + cheaper Stronger + richer Weaker + cheaper Weaker + richer STESYK Relative valuation Structural strength

STERIS plc still looks stronger, and the price setup does not materially undermine that lead.

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

Entry today — historical context

Where STE and SYK each sit in their own 5-year price and valuation history.

BASED ON 5-YEAR HISTORY STE Neutral · below norm 0th 50th 100th 4 pct gap SYK Neutral · below norm 0th 50th 100th 54th 58th
STE (54th percentile) and SYK (58th percentile) both sit in the upper-middle of their own 5-year ranges. The historical entry context is broadly similar for both. This reflects entry timing, not which company is structurally stronger.

Describes historical entry positioning only. Descriptive — not investment advice.

Relative Position vs Comparable Companies
Growth
On growth, STERIS plc is positioned higher in the group, while Stryker Corporation is closer to the middle.
Valuation
STERIS plc sits higher in the group on valuation, adding to the overall structural advantage.
Growth — Dominant Gap
STE
53
SYK
28
Gap+25in favour of STE

Earnings growth is one contributing factor within the growth lead.

What else supports the lead

Absolute pricing adds a second meaningful layer to the lead, with a trailing P/E that is 10.2 turns lower.

What this means for the comparison

Growth is the clearest driver, and valuation also supports STERIS plc's broader structural position.

Explore full peer positioning in AssetNext

Break down the STE vs SYK comparison across all dimensions with the full interactive tool.

Explore full breakdown →
Similar growth-driven comparisons

Explore how STE and SYK 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.