Compare the 10-year performance and dividend income and total return of two leading companies in the Health Insurance field: Elevance Health Inc (ELV) and UnitedHealth Group Inc (UNH).
10 years returns for UNH & ELV - dividends, price growth and total returns:
Stats below compares the performance of a $10,000 investment into each company 10 years ago, with dividends being automatically reinvested (DRIP) on the payout day, with no additional investments.
| UNH | ELV | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Balance | $10,000 | $10,000 |
| Initial Price | $133.95 | $124.57 |
| Initial Shares | 74.65 | 80.28 |
| Total Dividends | $4,686 | $4,028 |
| Last Shares Price | $379.09 | $418.72 |
| Final Shares | 88.01 | 92.41 |
| Total Portfolio Value | $33,365 | $38,693 |
| Total Return | 233.7% | 286.9% |
Here is a chart comparing the 10-year total returns of UNH and ELV, shown side-by-side. These total return figures take into account dividend reinvestment and represent the value of all shares owned at each respective point in time.
Estimate Dividend Snowball and total future returns for UNH and ELV with our dividend (DRIP) calculator.
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) and Elevance Health Inc. (ELV) are two names in the Medical - Healthcare Plans business, both trading on NYSE. UNH is roughly 3.8x ELV's size — a $343.0B market cap against $91.0B. Over the trailing twelve months, UNH booked $450.1B in revenue against ELV's $201.1B. On price, ELV has been the faster grower — a 12.53%/yr CAGR over the last 10 years versus 10.83%/yr for UNH. The numbers on this page — total returns of a $10,000 dividend-reinvested (DRIP) position, price history, dividend growth and long-run CAGR — come straight from our market data.
UNH vs ELV at a glance
Over the past 10 years, ELV delivered the stronger run: a $10,000 position with dividends reinvested grew to $38,693, a 286.9% total return — a clear step ahead of the same $10,000 in UNH, which reached $33,365 (233.7%). That is a 53.2-point spread, measured, not projected.
On the dividend side, UNH pays $2.32 quarterly — a 2.45% yield at today's $379.09 price — while ELV pays $1.72 quarterly for a 1.64% yield at $418.72. Over the window, the $10,000 position collected $4,686 in UNH dividends against $4,028 from ELV. UNH has raised its payout faster, compounding 14.34%/yr against 10.47%/yr for ELV.
Every figure in this comparison is computed from DRIPCalc's own price and dividend history for UNH and ELV — the same data behind every chart and calculator on this page.
| Metric | UNH | ELV |
|---|---|---|
| Share Price | $379.09 | $418.72 |
| Market Cap | $343.0B | $91.0B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.45% | 1.64% |
| Payment Frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Latest Payment | $2.32 | $1.72 |
| Dividend Growth (CAGR) | 14.34%/yr | 10.47%/yr |
| Price CAGR | 10.83%/yr (10Y) | 12.53%/yr (10Y) |
| Total Return (10Y, with DRIP) | 233.7% | 286.9% |
| $10,000 Grew To | $33,365 | $38,693 |
Compare Earnings, Free Cash Flow, Dividend Payout Ratios and other metrics for UNH vs ELV — or open each ticker's full history: UNH, ELV.
Here are 5 year price charts for UNH & ELV:
In the span of 10 years, the price of UNH climbed 183%, from $133.95 to $379.09 — a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.83%.
In the span of 10 years, the price of ELV climbed 236%, from $124.57 to $418.72 — a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.53%.
Dividend payments and yield graphs for UNH & ELV:
The 10-year window opened with UNH paying $0.63 per share; the latest payment is $2.32 — a dividend CAGR of 14.34%. ELV went from $0.65 to $1.72 over the same stretch, a 10.47% CAGR.
Charts above show historic dividend payments for each company, with the Dividend Yield curve overlaying the payments and the Dividend CAGR for the last 1, 2, 5 and 10 years. A rising yield curve means the price was cheap relative to the dividend at those payment dates; a sloping-down curve means the stock was getting more expensive relative to its dividends.
Based on UNH's 10-year CAGR, it would take 5.02 years to double your dividend yield-on-cost.
Based on ELV's 10-year CAGR, it would take 6.88 years to double your dividend yield-on-cost.
Rule of 72: divide 72 by a growth rate to approximate the years it takes to double — the doubling times above come straight from each dividend CAGR on this page. One caution: extreme double-digit yields have historically often preceded dividend cuts.
Investing $10,000 in UNH & ELV today: Estimated Future Return & Dividends:
Looking across up to ten years of history, UNH achieved a share price compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.83%, accompanied by a dividend CAGR of 14.34%.
By the same measure, ELV recorded a share price CAGR of 12.53%, along with a dividend CAGR of 10.47%.
How a $10,000 investment could perform based on these historic CAGR numbers:
If you invest $10000 today into one of these companies, applying these CAGR figures forecasts the 10-year path of your initial investment, assuming dividends are continuously reinvested (DRIP), as detailed below:
| UNH | ELV | |
|---|---|---|
| Start Value | $10,000 | $10,000 |
| Start Share Price | $379.09 | $418.72 |
| Start Shares | 26.38 | 23.88 |
| Start Dividend (Yield) | $2.32 (2.45%) | $1.72 (1.64%) |
| Final Shares | 34.96 | 27.78 |
| Final Dividends | $8.86 | $4.65 |
| Annual Dividends | $1,239 | $517 |
| Share Price | $956.71 | $1,211.71 |
| Total Dividends | $5,667 | $2,928 |
| Final Value | $33,450 | $33,659 |
And here is how your $10,000 investment into UnitedHealth Group Incorporated or Elevance Health Inc. could perform based on the CAGR figures above, represented on a graph - a Dividend DRIP Snowball:
Try our dividend DRIP calculator:
UNH
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ELV - estimate your returns and dividend income!
Using our dividend calculator, you can customize initial investment, projected Dividend & Price growth rate, additional investment amount and frequency, to fit your investing style and goals.
The figures above are projections built on each stock's historical Dividend and Price CAGR under a DRIP assumption — estimations only, and actual returns will vary.
UNH vs ELV: quick answers
Which had the higher total return over the last 10 years: UNH or ELV?
Over the 10-year window measured on this page, ELV had the higher total return: 286.9% with dividends reinvested (a $10,000 position grew to $38,693), while UNH returned 233.7% ($33,365).
Which has the higher dividend yield today: UNH or ELV?
UNH yields 2.45% today, compared with 1.64% for ELV. Yields move with price, so the gap changes day to day.
How often do UNH and ELV pay dividends?
Both pay quarterly: UNH's latest payment was $2.32 per share and ELV's was $1.72.
Whose dividend has grown faster: UNH or ELV?
Measured by the dividend CAGR on this page, UNH's payout compounded 14.34%/yr, against 10.47%/yr for ELV.
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