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ALC

NYSE
Weak · 33/100

Alcon AG

Health Care
Health Care

$68.38

1.8%

Updated Today 12:11 PM ET

Report Card

ALC at a glance — five pillars scored 0–100 from real filed financials.

Value
0
Growth
0
Profitability
0
Health
0
Dividends
0

Overall: Weak · 33/100. A wider, greener shape means more pillars look healthy. Dividends scores 0 when a company pays none — that is a choice, not a flaw.

Price — Past Year

▼ Down 22.1% over the last 12 months

Price 50-day average 200-day averageDCF fair value ±15%Source: Yahoo Finance · refreshed daily
Key Metrics

Market Cap

$30.80B

P/E

41.83x

Forward P/E (est.)

56.71x

ROE

3.7%

Revenue Growth

7.1%

EPS Growth

-26.3%

Profit Margin

7.7%

FCF Yield

2.9%

Debt / Equity

0.24x

ROIC

Interest Coverage

275x

Current Ratio

3.39x

Dividend Yield

0.5%

Implied Growth (rev. DCF)

2.1%

Rating Score

33/100

Business Overview
Research

Alcon AG (ALC) is a large-cap company in the Health Care industry, part of the Health Care sector of the S&P 500, with a market value around $30.80B.

In its latest reported year it generated about $7.18B in revenue.

Our model rates ALC Weak (33/100) on growth, profitability, financial health, and valuation. The summary below is built from its filed financials and current ratios and refreshes automatically.

Technical Analysis (Educational)
Research

Technical analysis reads price and volume to judge momentum and timing. It complements the fundamentals above — it does not replace them. Here is what ALC's chart says today, with each tool explained.

Trend — moving averages. A moving average is the average closing price over a window, which smooths out daily noise. ALC trades near $68.38, around its 50-day average ($67.59) and 200-day average ($75.49). Price tangled in its moving averages means there is no clear trend — the stock is ranging.

Momentum — RSI. The Relative Strength Index runs 0–100 and measures how strong recent gains are versus losses. Above 70 is "overbought", below 30 "oversold". At 56 it is in neutral territory — neither stretched nor washed out.

MACD. MACD compares two moving averages to flag shifts in momentum. Its histogram is currently positive — short-term momentum is improving.

Volatility — ATR. Average True Range is the typical daily move. ALC's is $1.55 (~2.3% of price), so swings of about that size each day are normal — handy for setting a stop that isn't too tight.

Support & resistance. Over the last month ALC found buyers near $63.81 (support) and sellers near $69.75 (resistance); its 52-week range is $61.83–$92.55. A decisive break beyond either edge often marks the next move.

Volume. The latest session traded 0.6× the 20-day average — lighter than usual, so the move carries less conviction. Rising volume on up-days suggests real buying; on down-days, real selling.

Educational information to help you read a chart — not a recommendation or a forecast. It updates daily as the price and indicators change.

Revenue Growth
Research

3Y CAGR

8.6%

1/4 checks passedRevenue growingRevenue growth beats sector midpointEPS growingEPS growing faster than revenue

Revenue moved from $5.60B in 2007 to $7.18B in 2010, a 8.6% compound annual growth rate. The most recent year grew a steady 7.1% year over year. Slower, mature growth is common for established businesses.

Profitability
Research
1/3 checks passedProfitableNet margin above sector midpointROE above 12%

Gross Margin

76.7%

Operating Margin

34.5%

Net Margin

7.7%

ROE

3.7%

Alcon AG keeps about 7.7% of each sales dollar as net profit, with a 76.7% gross margin and 34.5% operating margin. Return on equity is 3.7%. Margins are moderate — typical of a competitive but profitable business.

Debt Analysis
Research
4/4 checks passedDebt under 1× equityDebt under 2× equityInterest covered 3×+Short-term bills covered

Total Debt

$62.00M

Net Debt

-$2.46B

Net cash position

Net Debt / EBITDA

-1x

Debt / Equity

0.24x

Leverage: debt-to-equity is 0.2x, and operating profit covers interest about 275.0x, with a current ratio of 3.4x. That is a conservative balance sheet — a cushion in downturns. It carries roughly $62.00M of total debt against $2.52B of cash.

Cash Flow Analysis
Research
3/3 checks passedPositive free cash flowFCF yield above 2%Market expects achievable growth (<8%)

Operating CF

$2.38B

Free Cash Flow

$2.07B

FCF Margin

28.8%

In the latest year Alcon AG produced about $2.38B of operating cash flow and $2.07B of free cash flow after capital spending. That is a free-cash-flow yield of about 2.9% on today's price. Cash flow is what ultimately pays shareholders, so it is worth tracking over time.

Valuation Analysis
Research
2/4 checks passedPositive earnings (P/E meaningful)P/E below sector's upper bandForward P/E below trailing (earnings growing)Trading below DCF fair value

P/E

41.83x

P/S

3.29x

P/B

1.79x

EV / EBITDA

ALC trades at 41.8x trailing earnings (about 56.7x on estimated forward earnings), 3.3x sales, and 1.8x book value. Reverse-engineering today's price implies the market expects roughly 2.1% long-term free-cash-flow growth. That is a rich multiple that prices in a lot of future growth.

DCF Fair Value (Educational)

A two-stage discounted cash flow on real SEC-filed free cash flow — the intrinsic-value anchor professional analysts triangulate from.

DCF fair value / share

$86.85

Current price

$68.38

+27% · Below fair-value estimate

Starting FCF (latest 10-K)

$2.07B

Growth, years 1–5

7.1%

Fade to terminal, years 6–10

2.5%

Discount rate

9.0%

PV of 10-yr free cash flow$18.30B
PV of terminal value$24.04B
Estimated equity value$42.33B
Shares outstanding487M

Cash flows grow at the stage-1 rate (trailing revenue growth, capped at 20%) for five years, fade to 2.5% by year 10, and continue at that rate forever (Gordon terminal value), all discounted at 9.0%. Small changes in assumptions move the result a lot — treat this as one reference point, not a target price. Educational only, not investment advice.

Metrics vs. Sector Range

Where ALC sits versus its Health Care sector peers in the S&P 500.

TTM P/E
41.8xExpensive
Forward P/E
56.7xExpensive
P/S ratio
3.3xFair
Revenue growth
7.1%Average
EPS growth
-26.3%Weak
Gross margin
76.7%Strong
Net margin
7.7%Average
ROE
3.7%Weak

Bands show the middle half (25th–75th percentile) of the 53 Health Care companies in the S&P 500 — the peer-relative anchor professional comps analysis uses. Context only — not investment advice.

Sector Peer Comparison

How ALC stacks up against its Health Care peers — valuation, profitability, and growth versus the sector median.

In the Health Care sector (198 S&P 500 companies), ALC ranks #44 of 198 by our overall rating. It trades at a premium versus the sector on earnings (41.8x P/E vs. 25.5x median) with a lower return on equity (3.7% vs. 14.5%) and slower revenue growth (7.1% vs. 7.6%).

P/E vs sector

41.8x

median 25.5x

ROE vs sector

3.7%

median 14.5%

Growth vs sector

7.1%

median 7.6%

Sector rank

#44

of 198 by rating

CompanyP/ERev Gr.Rating
ALCThis stock41.8x7.1%Weak· 33
MOH62.7x7.7%Weak· 28
FMS11.6x-0.7%Neutral· 53
GMED18.5x23.5%Strong· 77
EHC17.3x10.1%Favorable· 65
ACHCNot rated
ADUSNot rated
AHCONot rated
Health Care median25.5x7.6%0/100

Valuation vs. quality map

sector medianMOHFMSGMEDEHCALCP/E — cheaper ←→ pricierROE — more profitable ↑

The sweet spot is upper-left: more profitable (higher ROE) for a lower P/E. Dashed lines mark the sector median.

Compare side by side

Peers are the closest Health Care companies by sub-industry and size. Sector median is across all 198 S&P 500 names in the sector. Educational, not a recommendation.

5-Year Projection Model

Project revenue → earnings → price. Edit the assumptions to build your own case.

2030 price target (Base Case)

$0.00 $0.00

vs. $68.38 today · expected CAGR -10%0%

Metric20262027202820292030
Revenue$7.68B$8.22B$8.79B$9.41B$10.07B
Net income$614.52M$657.54M$703.57M$752.82M$805.51M
EPS$1.26$1.35$1.44$1.54$1.65
Share price (low)$31.52$33.72$36.09$38.61$41.31
Share price (high)$52.95$56.66$60.62$64.87$69.41
CAGR (low–high)-54% / -23%-30% / -9%-19% / -4%-13% / -1%-10% / 0%

Educational model on sample fundamentals — not a forecast or investment advice. Outputs are only as good as your assumptions.

Bull Case

The case for ALC:

  • A conservative balance sheet (debt/equity 0.2x) lowers risk.
  • As an established S&P 500 member in Health Care, it brings scale and a long operating history.
Bear Case

The case against ALC:

  • A rich 41.8x earnings multiple prices in a lot of growth.
  • Our model's overall read is Weak (33/100).
Key Risks
Research

Valuation risk — at 41.8x earnings, disappointing results could compress the multiple.

Market risk — sector rotation, the economic cycle, and broad sentiment move the stock regardless of fundamentals.

Investment Thesis
Research

On balance, the fundamentals screen weakly: Alcon AG is a large-cap health care business growing at a mature pace, with modest profitability, and a sound balance sheet. It trades at 41.8x earnings, which our model scores Weak (33/100). Weigh this against your own goals and time horizon — this is educational information, not a recommendation.

ALC — frequently asked questions

Is ALC a good stock to buy?

We don't give buy or sell advice. Our model rates Alcon AG Weak (33/100) based on its growth, profitability, financial health, and valuation — use that as a research starting point and make your own decision.

What is ALC's rating on The Stocks School?

Alcon AG currently scores 33/100 (Weak) on our transparent model, which weighs real fundamentals: growth, margins, returns on capital, balance-sheet strength, and valuation.

How our ratings work
Where does ALC's data come from?

Live price data plus real fundamentals and 5-year financials pulled directly from Alcon AG's SEC filings — refreshed automatically, not hand-entered.

How is the 5-year projection for ALC calculated?

It's a scenario model: it grows revenue at an assumed rate, applies a profit margin and a valuation multiple, and shows the resulting share-price range. The assumptions are yours to change — it's a tool for thinking, not a prediction.

Is this ALC analysis financial advice?

No. Everything on this page is educational research, not financial advice or a recommendation to buy or sell ALC. Always do your own research and consider a licensed professional.

Data notice. Fundamentals and financial statements are sourced from company filings (SEC EDGAR) and market-data providers; prices and market caps refresh on trading days and may be delayed. Ratings, projections, technical signals, and written summaries are model- or rule-generated for education and may simplify or lag the latest filings.

Not advice. Nothing on this page is investment advice or a recommendation to buy, hold, or sell any security. Do your own research and consult a licensed financial professional before investing.