Smith & Nephew plc vs Unilever plc — how do they compare? Smith & Nephew plc trades at $27.67 (market cap $11.63B), while Unilever plc trades at $62.45 (market cap $136.96B). The key difference: Unilever plc is far larger — about 11.8× Smith & Nephew plc's market cap, and Unilever plc pays the higher dividend (3.34%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| SNN | UL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $11.63B | $136.96B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $38.53 | $74.59 |
52-Week Low | $27.80 | $55.05 |
Enterprise Value | $14.66B | $162.94B |
Dividend Yield | 2.85% | 3.34% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Smith & Nephew (SNN) trades at $27.87, down 3.46% over 24 hours and near its 52-week low. The stock shows a bearish technical trend with mixed sentiment; recent earnings have mostly beaten expectations, but Q2 2026 revenue growth missed and guidance was cut. Fundamentals are solid with revenue rising to $6.16B in 2025 and net income margin improving to 10.08%, though debt levels have increased. The company faces competitive pressures in key markets like U.S. Orthopaedics.
Outlook is cautious: valuation ratios like P/E of 18.96 are reasonable, but analyst consensus is Hold (65%) due to execution risks and CFO departure. Opportunities include innovation in surgical robotics and new product launches, but investors should monitor U.S. market weakness and debt management for sustained recovery.
Unilever (UL) trades at $63.54, down 1.03% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages but neutral oscillators. Recent earnings misses contrast with strong profitability, including a net income margin of 18.32% and ROE of 54.57% for 2025. The company reported its strongest quarterly volume growth in over a decade in Q2 2026, raising its full-year outlook, while strategic shifts include focusing on beauty and personal care and a planned $65 billion merger with McCormick.
The outlook is mixed: robust fundamentals and strategic refocusing support long-term growth, particularly in emerging markets, but consistent earnings misses and a high P/E ratio of 21.46 pose valuation concerns. Risks include integration challenges from the McCormick deal and competitive pressures. Analyst consensus is divided, with 24% buy ratings, highlighting cautious optimism amid execution uncertainties.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Smith & Nephew designs, manufactures, and markets orthopedic devices, sports medicine and arthroscopic technologies, and wound-care solutions. Roughly 42% of the U.K.-based firm's revenue comes from orthopedic products, and another 30% is sports medicine and ENT. The remaining 28% of revenue is from the advanced wound therapy segment. Roughly half of Smith & Nephew's total revenue comes from the United States, just over 30% is from other developed markets, and emerging markets account for the remainder.
Read more on SNN →Unilever is a diversified personal product (42% of 2021 sales by value), home care (20%), and packaged food (38%) company. Its brands include Knorr soups and sauces, Hellmann's mayonnaise, Lipton teas, Axe and Dove skin products, and the TRESemme haircare brand. The firm has been acquisitive in recent years
Read more on UL →