WallStSmart

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (LH)vsNovartis AG ADR (NVS)

VS

Smart Verdict

WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison

Novartis AG ADR generates 306% more annual revenue ($56.58B vs $13.95B). NVS leads profitability with a 23.9% profit margin vs 6.3%. LH appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.06. LH earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 63/100 (C+).

LH

Buy

63

out of 100

Grade: C+

Growth: 6.7Profit: 5.5Value: 6.0Quality: 6.0
Piotroski: 4/9Altman Z: 2.26

NVS

Buy

51

out of 100

Grade: C-

Growth: 3.3Profit: 9.0Value: 4.0Quality: 5.5
Piotroski: 4/9Altman Z: 1.96
IV

Intrinsic Value Comparison

Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula

LHUndervalued (+7.8%)

Margin of Safety

+7.8%

Fair Value

$314.31

Current Price

$256.80

$57.51 discount

UndervaluedFair: $314.31Overvalued
NVSSignificantly Overvalued (-52.5%)

Margin of Safety

-52.5%

Fair Value

$109.60

Current Price

$147.85

$38.25 premium

UndervaluedFair: $109.60Overvalued

Key Strengths & Concerns

Side-by-side fundamental analysis

Key Strengths

LH1 strengths · Avg: 8.0/10
Price/BookValuation
2.4x8/10

Reasonable price relative to book value

NVS5 strengths · Avg: 9.4/10
Market CapQuality
$282.11B10/10

Mega-cap, among the largest globally

Return on EquityProfitability
34.9%10/10

Every $100 of equity generates 35 in profit

Operating MarginProfitability
30.5%10/10

Strong operational efficiency at 30.5%

Profit MarginProfitability
23.9%9/10

Keeps 24 of every $100 in revenue as profit

Free Cash FlowQuality
$2.87B8/10

Generating 2.9B in free cash flow

Areas to Watch

LH1 concerns · Avg: 3.0/10
Profit MarginProfitability
6.3%3/10

6.3% margin — thin

NVS4 concerns · Avg: 3.0/10
PEG RatioValuation
2.484/10

Expensive relative to growth rate

Altman Z-ScoreHealth
1.964/10

Grey zone — moderate risk

Revenue GrowthGrowth
-0.7%2/10

Revenue declined 0.7%

EPS GrowthGrowth
-9.3%2/10

Earnings declined 9.3%

Comparative Analysis Report

WallStSmart Research

Bull Case : LH

The strongest argument for LH centers on Price/Book. PEG of 1.06 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.

Bull Case : NVS

The strongest argument for NVS centers on Market Cap, Return on Equity, Operating Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 23.9% and operating margin at 30.5%.

Bear Case : LH

The primary concerns for LH are Profit Margin.

Bear Case : NVS

The primary concerns for NVS are PEG Ratio, Altman Z-Score, Revenue Growth.

Key Dynamics to Monitor

LH profiles as a value stock while NVS is a declining play — different risk/reward profiles.

LH carries more volatility with a beta of 0.98 — expect wider price swings.

LH is growing revenue faster at 5.6% — sustainability is the question.

NVS generates stronger free cash flow (2.9B), providing more financial flexibility.

Bottom Line

LH scores higher overall (63/100 vs 51/100). Both earn "Buy" and "Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.

This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings

HEALTHCARE · DIAGNOSTICS & RESEARCH · USA

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, more commonly known as Labcorp, is an American company headquartered in Burlington, North Carolina. It operates one of the largest clinical laboratory networks in the world, with a United States network of 36 primary laboratories.

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Novartis AG ADR

HEALTHCARE · DRUG MANUFACTURERS - GENERAL · USA

Novartis AG researches, develops, manufactures and markets medical devices worldwide. The company is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland.

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