# How Medtronic (MDT) compares with the whole market and its popular alternatives

> Source: EasyCompare research, https://easycompare.io/research/mdt
> Data as of October 20, 2026. Total returns include reinvested dividends. Past performance does not predict future results; nothing here is investment advice.

Built by QuantCommons' quantitative engine, this page is about relative opportunity, not data on MDT alone. It places MDT (Medtronic Plc) against 20+ popular alternatives, its neighboring categories and the entire market of over 10,000 U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs, and surfaces what has done better on consistent outperformance, return for the risk taken, behavior in real market crashes and diversification. The result is a clearer view of where MDT stands in the market, and of the alternatives worth a closer look.

Period covered: MDT's full trading record, from October 1986 through September 2026. All returns include reinvested dividends. Data as of October 20, 2026.

## Key findings

- **Right now:** Over the past 3 months, MDT rose 14.5% against 3.9% for the S&P 500 and 3.2% for the Nasdaq 100. Not every peer went the same way. Over the past 3 months, ITGR (Integer) rose 31.9% and SYK (Stryker) fell 4.3%.
- **Stock or market?:** MDT's 14.5% gain over the past 3 months far outran its industry: the medical devices ETF IHI (iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF) rose 7.5%. The S&P 500 rose 3.9%. Its medical device peers did not move as one over the past 3 months: ITGR (Integer) rose 31.9%, while SYK (Stryker) fell 4.3%.
- **Past 1 to 3 years:** MDT has trailed the market, rising 1.9% over the past year against 15.8% for the S&P 500 and 17.9% for the Nasdaq 100. The same gap shows up over 3 years (43.6% against 89.3%).
- **Long term:** MDT turned $10,000 into $14,700 over the past decade, against $42,100 in the S&P 500.
- **In a crash:** The late-2018 sell-off took 13.8% off MDT, against 19.3% for the S&P 500. That was more than ABT (Abbott Laboratories, 11.7%) but less than JNJ (Johnson & Johnson, 16.9%). That said, MDT fell further than the S&P 500 in three of the last four sell-offs, including the 2015 China and oil sell-off (17.6% against 12.8%).
- **Diversification:** Over 10 years MDT took more of the market's losses than of its gains: in the S&P 500's rising months it gained 62% as much as the index, and in falling months it lost 1.0 times as much, with a beta of 0.68. When the S&P 500 had a down month, MDT usually fell with it (18 of 22 months).
- **Better options**
  - **Nearby categories and themes:** TAK (Takeda Pharmaceutical, pharmaceuticals) and NVS (Novartis, pharmaceuticals) earned more than MDT with less volatility over the past 5 years. TAK returned 11.9% a year at 19.4% volatility, against a loss of 1.8% a year at 22.5%.
  - **Whole market:** 869 of the 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million earned more than MDT with less volatility over the past 5 years, among them VTI (Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF), VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) and BRK-B (Berkshire Hathaway).

## How much would $10,000 in MDT have grown?

This chart tracks a hypothetical $10,000 investment in MDT over the past 29 years, with dividends reinvested, alongside the same amount in the S&P 500, investments that ended ahead of MDT over the same span and MDT's popular alternatives, among those that traded for the entire period.

- $10,000 invested in MDT at the end of September 1997 would have grown to $61,200 by September 2026, less than the $132,907 it would have become in SPY, an S&P 500 fund.
- Seven of the eight other investments on the chart ended ahead of MDT, and UNH finished highest, at $772,802.

## MDT at a glance

This section summarizes the key facts about the stock, its returns over periods from one to ten years and the risk it has carried, with dividends reinvested throughout.

- MDT's deepest decline since it began trading in 1986 was 57.6%, from January 2006 to March 2009. It took about four years from the low to climb back to its old high.
- Over 29 full calendar years, MDT's best was 2000, when it returned 66.4%, and its worst was 2008, when it lost 36.3%. It lost money in ten of those years.
- MDT is 17.4% below its all-time high.

- Type: Stock, Healthcare (Medical - Devices)
- Trading since: October 17, 1986
- Market value: $121B
- Volatility (5 years): 22.5%; Sharpe ratio: 0.03
- Worst decline ever: −57.6%, from January 19, 2006 to March 9, 2009; back at its high by May 21, 2013

| Period | MDT total return |
| --- | --- |
| 1 month | +4.0% |
| 3 months | +14.5% |
| 6 months | +13.3% |
| year to date | +1.0% |
| 1 year | +1.9% |
| 3 years | +43.6% |
| 5 years | −8.8% |
| 10 years | +46.7% |

## MDT against the whole market

Where MDT ranks among every stock and fund, and what across the market has done better.

### How does MDT rank among all stocks?

This section ranks MDT on return, volatility, risk-adjusted return and worst decline against every stock worth at least $300 million with enough history.

- MDT is among the steadier stocks: its price swings rank in the top 6% of the 2,893 stocks worth at least $300 million, where the top is the calmest.
- On return for the risk taken (the Sharpe ratio), MDT ranks in the bottom 21% of the 2,893 stocks worth at least $300 million.

| Measure | MDT | Rank |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1-year return | +1.9% | 1,915 of 3,287 (top 59%) |
| 3-year return | +43.6% | 1,648 of 3,017 (top 55%) |
| 5-year return | −8.8% | 1,848 of 2,893 (top 64%) |
| 10-year return | +46.7% | 1,592 of 2,202 (top 73%) |
| Volatility, 5 years | 22.5% | 172 of 2,893 (top 6%) |
| Sharpe ratio, 5 years | 0.03 | 2,276 of 2,893 (top 79%) |
| Worst decline, past 10 years | −45.1% | 294 of 2,187 (top 14%) |

### What has beaten MDT on both return and risk?

Each dot is an investment, placed by how much it earned a year over the past 5 years (higher is better) and how much its price swung, its volatility (further left is calmer).

- 95 stocks and 774 ETFs worth at least $500 million sit in the green region: each earned more than MDT over the past 5 years with smaller price swings. That is 24% of the 3,633 screened.
- Among those with at least half MDT's swings, DXJ has the best return for its risk: 26.6% a year at 19.1% volatility, 15% less than MDT's 22.5%, and a Sharpe ratio (return above cash per unit of volatility) of 1.34 against 0.03 for MDT.
- Among MDT's popular alternatives, JNJ is in the region. JNJ earned 12.7% a year against a loss of 1.8% a year for MDT, at 17.9% volatility, 20% less than MDT's 22.5%.

### Is there a better investment than MDT?

The table below lists investments that beat MDT over the past 5 years on at least one of these measures: a higher annual return with lower volatility, a higher annual return at similar volatility, a similar return with lower volatility, a higher Sharpe ratio with a smaller worst decline, a higher total return in most periods from 3 months to 10 years, or smaller losses in recent market crashes.

- Among MDT's popular alternatives, JNJ earned more than MDT with less volatility over the past 5 years: 12.7% a year at 17.9% volatility, against a loss of 1.8% a year at 22.5%.
- Looking beyond its popular alternatives, TAK (pharmaceuticals) and NVS (pharmaceuticals) earned more than MDT with less volatility over the past 5 years. TAK returned 11.9% a year at 19.4% volatility, against a loss of 1.8% a year at 22.5%.
- Across the whole market, 869 of the 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million earned more than MDT with less volatility over the past 5 years, among them VTI, VOO and BRK-B.

The 15 strongest of 869 investments that beat MDT over the past 5 years, out of 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million.

| Investment | Group | Annual return (5 years) | Volatility | Sharpe | Worst decline (10 years) | 10Y return | Correlation with MDT | Better on |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| MDT: Medtronic Plc (this page) |  | −1.8% | 22.5% | 0.03 | −45.1% | +46.7% |  |  |
| [BRK-B](https://easycompare.io/research/brk-b): Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | Insurance | +13.4% | 17.1% | 0.82 | −29.6% | +274% | 0.50 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods |
| [KO](https://easycompare.io/research/ko): The Coca-Cola Company | Food & Beverages | +14.7% | 16.8% | 0.91 | −37.0% | +204% | 0.35 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods |
| [IWD](https://easycompare.io/research/iwd): iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF | US Large-Cap Value | +11.4% | 14.7% | 0.81 | −38.5% | +205% | 0.54 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods |
| [CME](https://easycompare.io/research/cme): CME Group Inc. | Capital Markets | +11.2% | 20.8% | 0.62 | −37.4% | +319% | 0.17 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods |
| [CL](https://easycompare.io/research/cl): Colgate-Palmolive Company | Household & Personal Products | +7.2% | 19.2% | 0.46 | −29.0% | +68.8% | 0.22 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods |
| [XLV](https://easycompare.io/research/xlv): State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF | Health Care Equity | +8.4% | 15.3% | 0.60 | −28.4% | +202% | 0.58 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods |
| HDV: iShares Core High Dividend ETF | US Dividend Equity | +12.9% | 13.0% | 1.00 | −37.0% | +172% | 0.56 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods |
| JQUA: JPMorgan U.S. Quality Factor ETF | US Quality Equity | +13.6% | 15.7% | 0.89 | −32.9% | — | 0.38 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods |
| FLRT: Pacer Aristotle Pacific Floating Rate High Income ETF | Financials | +6.0% | 2.3% | 2.55 | −21.0% | +58.0% | 0.30 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Smaller losses in recent crashes |
| [GLD](https://easycompare.io/research/gld): SPDR Gold Shares | Gold | +17.7% | 18.9% | 0.96 | −26.4% | +213% | 0.23 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Smaller losses in recent crashes |
| [PG](https://easycompare.io/research/pg): The Procter & Gamble Company | Household & Personal Products | +5.1% | 18.3% | 0.37 | −23.8% | +145% | 0.18 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Smaller losses in recent crashes |
| [LIN](https://easycompare.io/research/lin): Linde plc | Chemicals | +11.5% | 20.9% | 0.63 | −32.6% | +394% | 0.26 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Smaller losses in recent crashes |
| [SGOV](https://easycompare.io/research/sgov): iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF | Treasury Bonds | +3.8% | 0.3% | 13.25 | −0.3% | — | 0.17 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline |
| IWX: iShares Russell Top 200 Value ETF | Broad Market | +12.7% | 13.8% | 0.94 | −35.8% | +221% | 0.54 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods |
| [RSG](https://easycompare.io/research/rsg): Republic Services, Inc. | Environmental Services | +13.9% | 18.5% | 0.80 | −34.0% | +446% | 0.32 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Smaller losses in recent crashes |

## MDT against its popular alternatives

The investments people most often weigh against MDT, compared period by period and year by year.

### How do MDT's risk and return compare with its alternatives?

This map plots each investment's annual return over the past 5 years against its volatility, the size of its typical price swings.

- Only JNJ was both more rewarding and calmer than MDT over the past 5 years, earning a higher annual return with lower volatility.
- Over the past 5 years, MDT returned -1.8% a year, less than the S&P 500's 12.7%, with higher volatility (22.5% against 17.1%).

### Has MDT consistently beaten its popular alternatives?

This section compares MDT with the investments people most often weigh against it, checking each one over eight periods from one month to ten years.

- Seven of the 23 popular alternatives, led by MCK, ITGR and CAH, outperformed MDT in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes.
- MCK, ITGR and CAH outperformed MDT in every long-term period and in all but one short-term period, the most consistent record in the group.
- MCK, JNJ and SYK earned more for the risk they took than MDT (a higher Sharpe ratio) and fell less in their worst decline of the past 10 years.

| Investment | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return | 10Y return | Periods ahead of MDT | Verdict | Sharpe |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| MDT: Medtronic Plc (this page) | +1.9% | +43.6% | −8.8% | +46.7% |  |  | 0.03 |
| [MCK](https://easycompare.io/research/mck): McKesson Corporation | +31.3% | +131% | +413% | +586% | 5/5 short-term, 3/3 long-term | all-weather | 1.44 |
| ITGR: Integer Holdings Corporation | +18.0% | +76.0% | +39.4% | +557% | 4/5 short-term, 3/3 long-term | all-weather | 0.37 |
| [CAH](https://easycompare.io/research/cah): Cardinal Health, Inc. | +65.3% | +191% | +479% | +349% | 4/5 short-term, 3/3 long-term | all-weather | 1.55 |
| [HCA](https://easycompare.io/research/hca): HCA Healthcare, Inc. | +8.3% | +97.6% | +93.6% | +513% | 3/5 short-term, 3/3 long-term | consistent | 0.59 |
| [BDX](https://easycompare.io/research/bdx): Becton, Dickinson and Company | +32.3% | +1.6% | +12.2% | +71.4% | 5/5 short-term, 2/3 long-term | consistent | 0.22 |
| [UNH](https://easycompare.io/research/unh): UnitedHealth Group Incorporated | +18.1% | −15.3% | +5.5% | +241% | 4/5 short-term, 2/3 long-term | consistent | 0.20 |
| LIVN: LivaNova PLC | +47.3% | +61.3% | −2.2% | +41.4% | 3/5 short-term, 2/3 long-term | consistent | 0.18 |
| [ISRG](https://easycompare.io/research/isrg): Intuitive Surgical, Inc. | −4.5% | +64.1% | +28.9% | +478% | 2/5 short-term, 3/3 long-term |  | 0.32 |
| GMED: Globus Medical, Inc. | +28.2% | +53.9% | +1.3% | +243% | 2/5 short-term, 3/3 long-term |  | 0.20 |
| [JNJ](https://easycompare.io/research/jnj): Johnson & Johnson | +36.9% | +84.6% | +82.1% | +196% | 2/5 short-term, 3/3 long-term |  | 0.76 |
| STE: STERIS plc | −6.0% | +7.0% | +4.5% | +262% | 1/5 short-term, 2/3 long-term |  | 0.17 |
| [SYK](https://easycompare.io/research/syk): Stryker Corporation | −19.2% | +18.0% | +17.2% | +197% | 1/5 short-term, 2/3 long-term |  | 0.25 |
| [ABT](https://easycompare.io/research/abt): Abbott Laboratories | −18.7% | +13.0% | −8.0% | +204% | 0/5 short-term, 2/3 long-term |  | 0.04 |
| [BSX](https://easycompare.io/research/bsx): Boston Scientific Corporation | −54.7% | −8.9% | +2.5% | +98.1% | 0/5 short-term, 2/3 long-term |  | 0.15 |
| DXCM: DexCom, Inc. | +25.3% | −0.3% | −38.4% | +316% | 3/5 short-term, 1/3 long-term |  | 0.04 |
| ICUI: ICU Medical, Inc. | +37.3% | +49.0% | −30.5% | +12.5% | 3/5 short-term, 1/3 long-term |  | 0.02 |
| [EW](https://easycompare.io/research/ew): Edwards Lifesciences Corporation | +17.3% | +27.1% | −23.6% | +125% | 2/5 short-term, 1/3 long-term |  | 0.01 |
| SNN: Smith & Nephew plc | −17.1% | +41.6% | −5.9% | +20.5% | 1/5 short-term, 1/3 long-term |  | 0.09 |
| PODD: Insulet Corp. | −56.4% | −1.4% | −52.2% | +255% | 0/5 short-term, 1/3 long-term |  | -0.12 |
| BAX: Baxter International Inc. | +6.2% | −20.7% | −66.7% | −40.7% | 4/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | -0.45 |
| TFX: Teleflex Incorporated | +1.6% | −28.1% | −63.4% | −17.4% | 2/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | -0.41 |
| INSP: Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. | −11.7% | −54.3% | −71.6% | — | 2/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | -0.10 |
| ZBH: Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. | −5.6% | −5.5% | −31.1% | −16.1% | 1/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | -0.14 |

### How did MDT do year by year?

This table shows each investment's total return in every full calendar year since 1997, along with where MDT ranked among its popular alternatives each year.

- Among its popular alternatives, HCA came out ahead of MDT most often, in 12 of the 14 years both traded.
- MDT finished ahead of the S&P 500 in 12 of its 29 full calendar years.
- Ranked against its popular alternatives each year, MDT finished in the top quarter in two of 29 years and in the bottom quarter in four. In 2025, it ranked 8 of 24.

| Year | MDT | SPY |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2025 | +24.0% | +17.7% |
| 2024 | +0.3% | +24.9% |
| 2023 | +9.6% | +26.2% |
| 2022 | −22.6% | −18.2% |
| 2021 | −9.8% | +28.7% |
| 2020 | +5.7% | +18.3% |
| 2019 | +27.3% | +31.2% |
| 2018 | +15.2% | −4.6% |
| 2017 | +15.3% | +21.7% |
| 2016 | −5.4% | +12.0% |

## Risk and diversification

How MDT has fallen, how it held up in crashes beside the S&P 500 and its popular alternatives, and what moves independently of it.

### What were MDT's worst declines?

A drawdown is the decline from a peak to the lowest point before a new high.

- In all four of MDT's worst declines, the S&P 500 held up better over the same dates.
- The slowest recovery came after MDT fell 57.6% from January 2006 to March 2009; it did not regain that peak until May 2013, four years later.

| Decline | Peak | Low | Back at the high | SPY over the same dates | Market event |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| −57.6% | January 19, 2006 | March 9, 2009 | May 21, 2013 | −43.6% | 2008 financial crisis |
| −48.3% | November 12, 1992 | April 8, 1993 | September 27, 1994 | — |  |
| −45.1% | September 8, 2021 | October 27, 2023 | not yet | −5.8% | 2022 bear market |
| −44.2% | December 27, 2000 | July 23, 2002 | January 18, 2006 | −38.9% | dot-com bust |
| −39.9% | February 6, 2020 | March 23, 2020 | January 6, 2021 | −32.9% | Covid crash |

### How did MDT do in stock market crashes?

This section measures how far MDT, the S&P 500 and each alternative fell from peak to trough during every major market crash since 2000.

- Among its popular alternatives, JNJ held up best, falling less than MDT in eight of the ten crashes they both traded through.
- MDT fell further than the S&P 500 in five of the ten crashes it has traded through. The clearest case was the 2015 China and oil sell-off, when MDT fell 17.6% and the S&P 500 fell 12.8%.

| Crash | Dates | MDT fall | SPY fall |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Dot-com bust | March 10, 2000 to October 9, 2002 | −44.2% | −47.5% |
| Global financial crisis | October 9, 2007 to March 9, 2009 | −56.5% | −55.2% |
| Flash crash | May 6, 2010 to May 7, 2010 | −1.5% | −1.5% |
| Euro debt crisis | July 22, 2011 to October 3, 2011 | −18.0% | −17.9% |
| China devaluation & oil rout | August 10, 2015 to February 11, 2016 | −17.6% | −12.8% |
| Volmageddon | February 2, 2018 to February 9, 2018 | −7.2% | −6.5% |
| Q4 2018 selloff | September 21, 2018 to December 24, 2018 | −13.8% | −19.3% |
| COVID crash | February 19, 2020 to March 23, 2020 | −36.0% | −33.7% |
| 2022 bear market | January 4, 2022 to October 12, 2022 | −27.9% | −24.5% |
| SVB / regional bank stress | March 8, 2023 to March 13, 2023 | −2.1% | −3.4% |

### How closely does MDT move with the S&P 500?

Upside capture measures how much of the S&P 500's gains an investment kept in the months the market rose, and downside capture how much of its losses it took in the months the market fell.

- 16 of the 22 popular alternatives had a higher capture ratio (upside capture divided by downside capture) than MDT's 0.59, led by MCK, CAH and JNJ.
- MCK took just 27% of the S&P 500's losses, against 105% for MDT, while still keeping 72% of its gains.
- Over the past 10 years, MDT captured 62% of the S&P 500's gains in rising months and 105% of its losses in falling months, with a beta of 0.68. Its share of the market's losses was larger than its share of the gains.

Measured over the past 10 years of monthly returns against SPY.

| Investment | Upside capture | Downside capture | Beta |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| MDT: Medtronic Plc (this page) | 62.0% | 105% | 0.68 |
| [MCK](https://easycompare.io/research/mck): McKesson Corporation | 72.0% | 27.0% | 0.56 |
| ITGR: Integer Holdings Corporation | 118% | 111% | 1.00 |
| [CAH](https://easycompare.io/research/cah): Cardinal Health, Inc. | 71.0% | 51.0% | 0.75 |
| [HCA](https://easycompare.io/research/hca): HCA Healthcare, Inc. | 135% | 140% | 1.37 |
| [BDX](https://easycompare.io/research/bdx): Becton, Dickinson and Company | 53.0% | 77.0% | 0.48 |
| [UNH](https://easycompare.io/research/unh): UnitedHealth Group Incorporated | 81.0% | 82.0% | 0.70 |
| LIVN: LivaNova PLC | 74.0% | 129% | 0.89 |
| [ISRG](https://easycompare.io/research/isrg): Intuitive Surgical, Inc. | 136% | 154% | 1.28 |
| GMED: Globus Medical, Inc. | 118% | 148% | 1.03 |
| [JNJ](https://easycompare.io/research/jnj): Johnson & Johnson | 64.0% | 53.0% | 0.46 |
| STE: STERIS plc | 89.0% | 97.0% | 0.76 |
| [SYK](https://easycompare.io/research/syk): Stryker Corporation | 82.0% | 96.0% | 0.88 |
| [ABT](https://easycompare.io/research/abt): Abbott Laboratories | 76.0% | 79.0% | 0.64 |
| [BSX](https://easycompare.io/research/bsx): Boston Scientific Corporation | 76.0% | 109% | 0.72 |
| DXCM: DexCom, Inc. | 97.0% | 97.0% | 1.13 |
| ICUI: ICU Medical, Inc. | 78.0% | 136% | 0.69 |
| [EW](https://easycompare.io/research/ew): Edwards Lifesciences Corporation | 88.0% | 120% | 0.97 |
| SNN: Smith & Nephew plc | 50.0% | 98.0% | 0.63 |
| PODD: Insulet Corp. | 81.0% | 82.0% | 0.92 |
| BAX: Baxter International Inc. | 45.0% | 125% | 0.64 |
| TFX: Teleflex Incorporated | 79.0% | 170% | 1.01 |
| ZBH: Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. | 62.0% | 139% | 0.88 |

### What diversifies MDT?

Correlation measures how closely two investments move together, on a scale from 1 (in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to -1 (in opposite directions).

- Moving a fifth of the money in MDT into DXJ would have cut the portfolio's volatility by 17% over the past 5 years and raised its annual return (-4.2% for MDT alone, +1.9% for the mix).
- Among large ETFs, LVHI, DXJ and EMLP have moved largely independently of MDT over the past 5 years, with correlations of 0.48 or lower, and each still earned a positive 5-year return.
- FIX made money in seven of the ten calendar years in which MDT lost money.

| Investment | Correlation with MDT | 5Y return | Volatility | Sharpe | Rose in MDT's 10 down years |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| LVHI: Franklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF | 0.48 | +119% | 11.1% | 1.48 | 2 of 10 |
| DXJ: WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund | 0.24 | +225% | 19.1% | 1.34 | 3 of 10 |
| EMLP: First Trust North American Energy Infrastructure Fund | 0.47 | +101% | 14.5% | 1.04 | 3 of 10 |
| [SMH](https://easycompare.io/research/smh): VanEck Semiconductor ETF | 0.01 | +323% | 36.9% | 0.97 | 4 of 10 |
| DBEF: Xtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF | 0.43 | +85.0% | 13.8% | 0.96 | 2 of 10 |
| [GLD](https://easycompare.io/research/gld): SPDR Gold Shares | 0.23 | +126% | 18.9% | 0.96 | 5 of 10 |
| SPMO: Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF | 0.23 | +136% | 20.8% | 0.93 | 2 of 10 |
| [XLE](https://easycompare.io/research/xle): State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF | 0.37 | +177% | 25.5% | 0.93 | 7 of 10 |

## Common questions

### What was MDT's worst drawdown?

MDT's deepest decline since it began trading in 1986 was 57.6%, from January 2006 to March 2009. It took about four years from the low to climb back to its old high.

### What were MDT's best and worst years?

Over 29 full calendar years, MDT's best year was 2000, when it returned 66.4%. Its worst was 2008, with a return of -36.3%.

### Is there a better investment than MDT?

Among MDT's popular alternatives, JNJ earned more than MDT with less volatility over the past 5 years: 12.7% a year at 17.9% volatility, against a loss of 1.8% a year at 22.5%. Looking beyond its popular alternatives, TAK (pharmaceuticals) and NVS (pharmaceuticals) earned more than MDT with less volatility over the past 5 years. TAK returned 11.9% a year at 19.4% volatility, against a loss of 1.8% a year at 22.5%.

### Is MDT more volatile than the S&P 500?

Yes. MDT's volatility over the past 5 years was 22.5%, 1.3 times the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, MDT's return lands within 22.5% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump.

### What is MDT's Sharpe ratio?

MDT's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.03, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so MDT earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings.

### How correlated is MDT with the S&P 500?

Over the past 5 years, MDT's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.36 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They are only loosely linked, which makes it a real diversifier next to an index fund. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against MDT instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a MDT holding.

### What are the best alternatives to MDT?

Of the 23 popular alternatives we compared, seven outperformed MDT in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes, with dividends reinvested: MCK, ITGR and CAH.

### Did MDT outperform the S&P 500?

MDT finished ahead of the S&P 500 (SPY) in 12 of 29 full calendar years. In 2025, it returned +24.0%, against +17.7% for the index.

### How did MDT do in stock market crashes?

MDT fell less than the S&P 500 (SPY) in three of the ten major crashes it has traded through, and further in five. The clearest case was the 2015 China and oil sell-off, when MDT fell 17.6% and the S&P 500 fell 12.8%.

### What diversifies MDT?

These had a low correlation with MDT over the past 5 years and still earned a positive 5-year return: among large ETFs, LVHI (correlation 0.48), DXJ (correlation 0.24) and EMLP (correlation 0.47); among large stocks, CAH (correlation 0.41), CLS (correlation 0.09) and FIX (correlation 0.05). A correlation near zero means the two have moved largely independently.

## More research

- [McKesson (MCK) Performance, Alternatives and Market Rank](https://easycompare.io/research/mck)
- [Cardinal Health (CAH) Performance, Alternatives and Market Rank](https://easycompare.io/research/cah)
- [HCA Healthcare (HCA) Performance, Alternatives and Market Rank](https://easycompare.io/research/hca)
- [Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX) Performance, Alternatives and Market Rank](https://easycompare.io/research/bdx)
- [UnitedHealth Group (UNH) Performance, Alternatives and Market Rank](https://easycompare.io/research/unh)
- [Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) Performance, Alternatives and Market Rank](https://easycompare.io/research/isrg)
- [Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) Performance, Alternatives and Market Rank](https://easycompare.io/research/jnj)
- [Stryker (SYK) Performance, Alternatives and Market Rank](https://easycompare.io/research/syk)
- [Abbott Laboratories (ABT) Performance, Alternatives and Market Rank](https://easycompare.io/research/abt)
- [Boston Scientific (BSX) Performance, Alternatives and Market Rank](https://easycompare.io/research/bsx)
- [Edwards Lifesciences (EW) Performance, Alternatives and Market Rank](https://easycompare.io/research/ew)
- [Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) Performance, Alternatives and Market Rank](https://easycompare.io/research/schd)

## Explore further

- Full page with charts: https://easycompare.io/research/mdt
- All research pages: https://easycompare.io/llms.txt
- Compare the entire market against MDT live: https://betterthanspy.com/?b=MDT&utm_source=easycompare&utm_medium=research