Elevance Health (NYSE:ELV) vs. Ardent Health (NYSE:ARDT) Financial Comparison

Elevance Health (NYSE:ELV) and Ardent Health (NYSE:ARDT) are both medical companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, risk, earnings, profitability, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and dividends.

Profitability

This table compares Elevance Health and Ardent Health’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Elevance Health	2.62%	15.58%	5.57%
Ardent Health	2.15%	14.30%	4.58%

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Elevance Health and Ardent Health”s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Elevance Health	$199.13 billion	0.39	$5.66 billion	$23.51	15.15
Ardent Health	$6.32 billion	0.23	$135.81 million	$0.96	10.44

Elevance Health has higher revenue and earnings than Ardent Health. Ardent Health is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Elevance Health, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Volatility & Risk

Elevance Health has a beta of 0.49, indicating that its stock price is 51% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Ardent Health has a beta of 0.57, indicating that its stock price is 43% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

89.2% of Elevance Health shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.3% of Elevance Health shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 1.9% of Ardent Health shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for Elevance Health and Ardent Health, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Elevance Health	0	11	11	0	2.50
Ardent Health	2	5	7	0	2.36

Elevance Health presently has a consensus price target of $380.42, suggesting a potential upside of 6.78%. Ardent Health has a consensus price target of $14.25, suggesting a potential upside of 42.22%. Given Ardent Health’s higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Ardent Health is more favorable than Elevance Health.

Summary

Elevance Health beats Ardent Health on 11 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Elevance Health

Elevance Health, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a health benefits company in the United States. The company operates through four segments: Health Benefits, CarelonRx, Carelon Services, and Corporate & Other. It offers a variety of health plans and services to program members; health products; an array of fee-based administrative managed care services; and specialty and other insurance products and services, such as stop loss, dental, vision, life, disability, and supplemental health insurance benefits. The company operates in the pharmacy services business; and markets and offers pharmacy services, including pharmacy benefit management, as well as home delivery and specialty pharmacies, claims adjudication, formulary management, pharmacy networks, rebate administration, a prescription drug database, and member services. In addition, it provides healthcare-related services and capabilities, including utilization management, behavioral health, integrated care delivery, palliative care, payment integrity services, subrogation services, and health and wellness programs, as well as services related to data management, information technology, and business operations. Further, the company is involved in the National Government Services business. The company provides its services under the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Wellpoint, and Carelon brand names. The company was formerly known as Anthem, Inc. and changed its name to Elevance Health, Inc. in June 2022. Elevance Health, Inc. was incorporated in 2001 and is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.

About Ardent Health

Ardent Health Partners, Inc. owns and operates a network of hospitals and clinics that provides a range of healthcare services in the United States. It operates acute care hospitals, including rehabilitation hospitals and surgical hospitals. The company was founded in 2001 and is based in Brentwood, Tennessee. Ardent Health Partners, Inc. is a subsidiary of EGI-AM Investments, L.L.C.