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Relative Intelligence · Medical Devices

How Stryker (SYK) compares with the whole market and its popular alternatives

Built by QuantCommons' quantitative engine, this page is about relative opportunity, not data on SYK alone. It places SYK (Stryker Corporation) 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 SYK stands in the market, and of the alternatives worth a closer look.

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

Data as of October 20, 2026. Full tables and charts read best on a larger screen.

Rank the market against SYK →Chart SYK vs. 21 alternatives →
On this page12 sections

Key findings

How much would $10,000 in SYK have grown?

This chart tracks a hypothetical $10,000 investment in SYK over the past 29 years, with dividends reinvested, alongside the same amount in the S&P 500, investments that ended ahead of SYK over the same span and SYK's popular alternatives, among those that traded for the entire period. A second view covers the past 5 years, the period the better options further down the page are judged on. It shows not only where each investment ended up but also how smooth or uneven the path was.

Choose a period

From the end of September 1997 to the end of September 2026. The scale is logarithmic, so equal steps up the chart are equal percentage gains. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 188 of the 1,042 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of SYK; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.

$1,000$10,000$100,000$1M199720022007201220172022$1,000$10,000$100,000$1M19972004201120182025
  • RMD$2M+16,400% total · +19.3% a year
  • DGX$784,474+7,745% total · +16.2% a year
  • COST$727,732+7,177% total · +15.9% a year
  • COR$574,137+5,641% total · +15.0% a year
  • FAST$485,606+4,756% total · +14.3% a year
  • SYK$323,233+3,132% total · +12.7% a year
  • JNJ$189,226+1,792% total · +10.7% a year
  • SPY (S&P 500)$132,907+1,229% total · +9.3% a year
  • CAH$113,257+1,033% total · +8.7% a year
  • THC$32,921+229% total · +4.2% a year
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From the end of September 2021 to the end of September 2026. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 2,324 of the 3,628 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of SYK; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.

$0$10,000$20,000$30,000$40,000$50,000$60,000202120222023202420252026$0$20,000$40,000$60,000202120222023202420252026
  • CAH$49,682+397% total · +37.8% a year
  • THC$38,466+285% total · +30.9% a year
  • SPY (S&P 500)$19,000+90.0% total · +13.7% a year
  • JNJ$18,849+88.5% total · +13.5% a year
  • HCA$18,335+83.3% total · +12.9% a year
  • ITGR$14,142+41.4% total · +7.2% a year
  • ISRG$12,270+22.7% total · +4.2% a year
  • SYK$11,008+10.1% total · +1.9% a year
  • STE$10,793+7.9% total · +1.5% a year
  • GMED$9,776−2.2% total · −0.5% a year
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SYK 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. These figures serve as the baseline for every comparison that follows.

The company

Market value
$117B
Industry
Medical - Devices
Price history from
October 1986

Returns

Past 1 year
−19.2%total return
Past 3 years
+18.0%+5.7% a year
Past 5 years
+17.2%+3.2% a year
Past 10 years
+197%+11.5% a year
Best calendar year
+47.9%1998
Worst calendar year
−46.0%2008
Losing years
5 of 29full calendar years

Risk

Volatility
25.7%typical yearly swing, 5 years
Sharpe ratio
0.25return per unit of risk, 5 years
Worst decline ever
−58.6%Dec 2007 to Mar 2009
From its all-time high
−23.5%below the peak

SYK against the whole market

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

How does SYK rank among all stocks?

This section ranks SYK on return, volatility, risk-adjusted return and worst decline against every stock worth at least $300 million with enough history. Where the comparisons with its popular alternatives show how SYK stacks up against its peers, these rankings show where it stands in the market as a whole.

Ranked against U.S.-listed stocks worth at least $300M that have enough history for each measure, so the count changes from row to row; smaller stocks are left out. Lower volatility and smaller declines rank higher.

MeasureSYKRankStanding
1-year return−19.2%2,616 of 3,287bottom 21%
3-year return+18.0%2,052 of 3,017bottom 33%
5-year return+17.2%1,491 of 2,893bottom 49%
10-year return+197%874 of 2,202top 40%
Volatility, 5 years25.7%384 of 2,893top 13%
Sharpe ratio, 5 years0.251,689 of 2,893bottom 43%
Worst decline, past 10 years−43.8%252 of 2,187top 12%

What has beaten SYK 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). SYK sits where the dashed lines cross. Anything in the green box above and to the left earned more than SYK with smaller swings, a better trade-off over this period on both counts. Past results are no promise, but a name in the box is worth a closer look.

Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested, and volatility the annualized swing in daily prices, both over 5 years. Labeled dots are the strongest picks from the table below and the names called out above, colored by how close they sit to SYK; faint dots are 91 more of the 774 in the green region (the strongest, one per fund family). 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million were screened. Hover over a dot for its figures.

0.0%5.0%10.0%15.0%20.0%25.0%30.0%35.0%40.0%45.0%−10.0%0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsMore return, less volatility than SYKRSG: +13.9% a year, volatility 18.5%JAAA: +5.1% a year, volatility 1.7%WM: +9.3% a year, volatility 19.2%WCN: +6.1% a year, volatility 20.0%AEE: +7.9% a year, volatility 19.4%VTI: +11.5% a year, volatility 17.5%VOO: +12.8% a year, volatility 16.9%IOO: +15.7% a year, volatility 17.2%WMT: +20.8% a year, volatility 22.6%MOAT: +9.1% a year, volatility 18.4%IWX: +12.7% a year, volatility 13.8%V: +12.8% a year, volatility 22.9%LVHI: +17.0% a year, volatility 11.1%BALT: +6.3% a year, volatility 3.3%COST: +17.4% a year, volatility 22.9%VXUS: +8.2% a year, volatility 16.4%QQQ: +14.5% a year, volatility 23.0%FLRT: +6.0% a year, volatility 2.3%VEA: +9.3% a year, volatility 16.9%QUS: +11.1% a year, volatility 14.2%LIN: +11.5% a year, volatility 20.9%EQL: +13.5% a year, volatility 14.5%QDEF: +12.7% a year, volatility 13.7%UNP: +7.1% a year, volatility 22.9%LMT: +11.1% a year, volatility 24.2%VT: +10.3% a year, volatility 16.2%SO: +11.3% a year, volatility 18.8%IEMG: +6.8% a year, volatility 19.4%VWO: +5.2% a year, volatility 17.5%EP-PC: +5.2% a year, volatility 8.9%CME: +11.2% a year, volatility 20.8%UL: +5.5% a year, volatility 21.5%PJUL: +10.5% a year, volatility 8.6%MSI: +14.8% a year, volatility 23.6%FJAN: +11.1% a year, volatility 10.5%DUK: +7.5% a year, volatility 18.0%AEP: +12.4% a year, volatility 20.2%SCHG: +13.1% a year, volatility 22.4%DYNF: +14.7% a year, volatility 17.5%CL: +7.2% a year, volatility 19.2%ITW: +6.7% a year, volatility 21.4%JEPI: +7.5% a year, volatility 11.0%ED: +12.0% a year, volatility 18.8%XLV: +8.4% a year, volatility 15.3%CHT: +7.7% a year, volatility 13.3%SPMO: +18.7% a year, volatility 20.8%CB: +15.7% a year, volatility 20.4%DFIV: +14.8% a year, volatility 16.4%XEL: +6.5% a year, volatility 20.9%AVLV: +14.0% a year, volatility 16.9%TRV: +22.4% a year, volatility 22.3%HYGH: +6.6% a year, volatility 7.1%HDV: +12.9% a year, volatility 13.0%WEC: +7.2% a year, volatility 19.0%DFAT: +9.6% a year, volatility 21.0%DGX: +12.3% a year, volatility 22.5%FTS: +8.4% a year, volatility 16.4%USMV: +7.6% a year, volatility 12.3%SPHQ: +12.0% a year, volatility 16.7%COWZ: +11.4% a year, volatility 17.7%EWJ: +9.2% a year, volatility 18.8%WTW: +6.9% a year, volatility 23.9%XLU: +7.8% a year, volatility 17.4%SDY: +7.6% a year, volatility 14.0%BUFR: +9.9% a year, volatility 10.5%RY: +17.3% a year, volatility 18.2%RWL: +13.7% a year, volatility 14.4%EVRG: +9.5% a year, volatility 18.9%CHD: +6.1% a year, volatility 21.1%DBEF: +13.1% a year, volatility 13.8%BKLN: +5.4% a year, volatility 4.5%ETR: +19.2% a year, volatility 22.4%JQUA: +13.6% a year, volatility 15.7%DIVO: +11.1% a year, volatility 11.9%SRLN: +4.7% a year, volatility 3.9%LNT: +7.3% a year, volatility 19.8%XLP: +7.2% a year, volatility 13.8%MRSH: +4.4% a year, volatility 20.9%FTSL: +5.0% a year, volatility 3.4%SHYG: +4.5% a year, volatility 5.8%ACT: +20.5% a year, volatility 24.3%QYLD: +8.4% a year, volatility 15.0%BBEU: +8.9% a year, volatility 17.5%FLTW: +21.8% a year, volatility 24.3%DBMF: +9.8% a year, volatility 12.4%USMC: +14.1% a year, volatility 16.4%GCOW: +14.1% a year, volatility 13.6%IDA: +8.8% a year, volatility 19.2%FTCS: +6.2% a year, volatility 13.2%TDIV: +16.2% a year, volatility 21.3%MPLX: +23.5% a year, volatility 18.8%SYK: +3.2% a year, volatility 25.7%SPY (S&P 500): +12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%JNJ: +12.7% a year, volatility 17.9%CAH: +42.1% a year, volatility 24.7%HCA: +14.1% a year, volatility 30.1%ISRG: +5.2% a year, volatility 34.6%GMED: +0.3% a year, volatility 38.6%NVS: +17.1% a year, volatility 20.7%COR: +24.2% a year, volatility 22.8%MCK: +38.7% a year, volatility 25.0%ABBV: +26.1% a year, volatility 23.4%GSK: +9.5% a year, volatility 24.5%RMD: −0.3% a year, volatility 31.8%BRK-B: +13.4% a year, volatility 17.1%KO: +14.7% a year, volatility 16.8%VTV: +12.1% a year, volatility 13.7%GLD: +17.7% a year, volatility 18.9%VIG: +10.4% a year, volatility 14.1%SCHD: +9.7% a year, volatility 14.3%FAST: +15.8% a year, volatility 24.6%USHY: +3.6% a year, volatility 7.4%DXJ: +26.6% a year, volatility 19.1%SYKSPY (S&P 500)JNJCAHHCAISRGGMEDNVSCORMCKABBVGSKRMDVTVGLDVIGSCHDFASTUSHYDXJ0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%−10.0%0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsMore return, less volatility than SYKRSG: +13.9% a year, volatility 18.5%JAAA: +5.1% a year, volatility 1.7%WM: +9.3% a year, volatility 19.2%WCN: +6.1% a year, volatility 20.0%AEE: +7.9% a year, volatility 19.4%VTI: +11.5% a year, volatility 17.5%VOO: +12.8% a year, volatility 16.9%IOO: +15.7% a year, volatility 17.2%WMT: +20.8% a year, volatility 22.6%MOAT: +9.1% a year, volatility 18.4%IWX: +12.7% a year, volatility 13.8%V: +12.8% a year, volatility 22.9%LVHI: +17.0% a year, volatility 11.1%BALT: +6.3% a year, volatility 3.3%COST: +17.4% a year, volatility 22.9%VXUS: +8.2% a year, volatility 16.4%QQQ: +14.5% a year, volatility 23.0%FLRT: +6.0% a year, volatility 2.3%VEA: +9.3% a year, volatility 16.9%QUS: +11.1% a year, volatility 14.2%LIN: +11.5% a year, volatility 20.9%EQL: +13.5% a year, volatility 14.5%QDEF: +12.7% a year, volatility 13.7%UNP: +7.1% a year, volatility 22.9%LMT: +11.1% a year, volatility 24.2%VT: +10.3% a year, volatility 16.2%SO: +11.3% a year, volatility 18.8%IEMG: +6.8% a year, volatility 19.4%VWO: +5.2% a year, volatility 17.5%EP-PC: +5.2% a year, volatility 8.9%CME: +11.2% a year, volatility 20.8%UL: +5.5% a year, volatility 21.5%PJUL: +10.5% a year, volatility 8.6%MSI: +14.8% a year, volatility 23.6%FJAN: +11.1% a year, volatility 10.5%DUK: +7.5% a year, volatility 18.0%AEP: +12.4% a year, volatility 20.2%SCHG: +13.1% a year, volatility 22.4%DYNF: +14.7% a year, volatility 17.5%CL: +7.2% a year, volatility 19.2%ITW: +6.7% a year, volatility 21.4%JEPI: +7.5% a year, volatility 11.0%ED: +12.0% a year, volatility 18.8%XLV: +8.4% a year, volatility 15.3%CHT: +7.7% a year, volatility 13.3%SPMO: +18.7% a year, volatility 20.8%CB: +15.7% a year, volatility 20.4%DFIV: +14.8% a year, volatility 16.4%XEL: +6.5% a year, volatility 20.9%AVLV: +14.0% a year, volatility 16.9%TRV: +22.4% a year, volatility 22.3%HYGH: +6.6% a year, volatility 7.1%HDV: +12.9% a year, volatility 13.0%WEC: +7.2% a year, volatility 19.0%DFAT: +9.6% a year, volatility 21.0%DGX: +12.3% a year, volatility 22.5%FTS: +8.4% a year, volatility 16.4%USMV: +7.6% a year, volatility 12.3%SPHQ: +12.0% a year, volatility 16.7%COWZ: +11.4% a year, volatility 17.7%EWJ: +9.2% a year, volatility 18.8%WTW: +6.9% a year, volatility 23.9%XLU: +7.8% a year, volatility 17.4%SDY: +7.6% a year, volatility 14.0%BUFR: +9.9% a year, volatility 10.5%RY: +17.3% a year, volatility 18.2%RWL: +13.7% a year, volatility 14.4%EVRG: +9.5% a year, volatility 18.9%CHD: +6.1% a year, volatility 21.1%DBEF: +13.1% a year, volatility 13.8%BKLN: +5.4% a year, volatility 4.5%ETR: +19.2% a year, volatility 22.4%JQUA: +13.6% a year, volatility 15.7%DIVO: +11.1% a year, volatility 11.9%SRLN: +4.7% a year, volatility 3.9%LNT: +7.3% a year, volatility 19.8%XLP: +7.2% a year, volatility 13.8%MRSH: +4.4% a year, volatility 20.9%FTSL: +5.0% a year, volatility 3.4%SHYG: +4.5% a year, volatility 5.8%ACT: +20.5% a year, volatility 24.3%QYLD: +8.4% a year, volatility 15.0%BBEU: +8.9% a year, volatility 17.5%FLTW: +21.8% a year, volatility 24.3%DBMF: +9.8% a year, volatility 12.4%USMC: +14.1% a year, volatility 16.4%GCOW: +14.1% a year, volatility 13.6%IDA: +8.8% a year, volatility 19.2%FTCS: +6.2% a year, volatility 13.2%TDIV: +16.2% a year, volatility 21.3%MPLX: +23.5% a year, volatility 18.8%SYK: +3.2% a year, volatility 25.7%SPY (S&P 500): +12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%JNJ: +12.7% a year, volatility 17.9%CAH: +42.1% a year, volatility 24.7%HCA: +14.1% a year, volatility 30.1%ISRG: +5.2% a year, volatility 34.6%GMED: +0.3% a year, volatility 38.6%NVS: +17.1% a year, volatility 20.7%COR: +24.2% a year, volatility 22.8%MCK: +38.7% a year, volatility 25.0%ABBV: +26.1% a year, volatility 23.4%GSK: +9.5% a year, volatility 24.5%RMD: −0.3% a year, volatility 31.8%BRK-B: +13.4% a year, volatility 17.1%KO: +14.7% a year, volatility 16.8%VTV: +12.1% a year, volatility 13.7%GLD: +17.7% a year, volatility 18.9%VIG: +10.4% a year, volatility 14.1%SCHD: +9.7% a year, volatility 14.3%FAST: +15.8% a year, volatility 24.6%USHY: +3.6% a year, volatility 7.4%DXJ: +26.6% a year, volatility 19.1%SYKSPY (S&P 500)JNJCAHISRGGMEDNVSCORMCKABBVGSKRMDVTVGLDSCHDFASTUSHY
  • Popular alternatives
  • Same and neighboring categories, and shared themes
  • The whole market
  • Others in the green region
  • 1 with more than 1.6× SYK's volatility is in the table only

Is there a better investment than SYK?

Investments that beat SYK over the past 5 years on return, volatility, drawdowns, consistency, crash losses or fees, from its popular alternatives out to the whole market.

How this works

The table below lists investments that beat SYK 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. It checks SYK's popular alternatives first, then the rest of its own and neighboring categories, then every stock and fund worth at least $500 million, and shows the strongest few in each group. The full list of those with a higher return and lower volatility than SYK follows the table.

Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested. Annual return, volatility and the Sharpe ratio cover 5 years; the worst decline covers the past 10 years. Green marks a better figure than SYK's. "On the frontier" means no other option shown or tested earned more with less volatility. Funds that hold the same thing are shown once. Beyond the popular alternatives, nothing with more than 1.5× SYK's volatility counts as better.

These figures cover the past 5 years. Green marks a better figure than SYK's.

Screen the whole market against SYK for any period in BetterThanSPYOpen these 21 in EasyCompare
InvestmentWhy it is betterPast 5 yearsDownsideLong runFit
Annual return?higher is betterVolatility?lower is calmerSharpe?return per unit of riskWorst decline?past 10 years10Y returntotalCorr. with SYK?lower diversifies moreExpenseper year
SYKStryker Corporation · this page
+3.2%25.7%0.25−43.8%+197%1.00—
SPYState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF · S&P 500
+12.7%17.1%0.79−33.7%+321%0.520.09%
Popular alternativesbest 6 shownThe investments people most often weigh against SYK. 7 of 20 passed at least one test.
JNJJohnson & Johnson · Pharmaceuticals
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+12.7%17.9%0.76−27.4%+196%0.37—
CAHCardinal Health, Inc. · Health Care Distribution
On the frontierHigher return, similar volatilityHigher return in most periods+42.1%24.7%1.55−46.1%+349%0.54—
HCAHCA Healthcare, Inc. · Health Care Facilities
Higher return in most periods+14.1%30.1%0.59−54.7%+513%0.66—
THCTenet Healthcare Corporation · Health Care Facilities
Higher return in most periods+32.9%45.1%0.86−71.7%+1,058%0.54—
ISRGIntuitive Surgical, Inc. · Medical Devices
Higher return in most periods+5.2%34.6%0.32−49.9%+478%0.59—
GMEDGlobus Medical, Inc. · Medical Devices
Higher return in most periods+0.3%38.6%0.20−47.9%+243%0.44—
Same and neighboring categories, and shared themesbest 6 shownEverything else in Medical Devices and the categories next to it (Health Care Facilities, Pharmaceuticals, Life Sciences Tools, Health Care Distribution), plus SYK's specific themes. 25 of 58 passed at least one test.
NVSNovartis AG · Pharmaceuticals
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+17.1%20.7%0.87−26.8%+226%0.55—
CORCencora, Inc. · Health Care Distribution
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+24.2%22.8%1.07−32.4%+406%0.66—
MCKMcKesson Corporation · Health Care Distribution
Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+38.7%25.0%1.44−38.1%+586%0.41—
ABBVAbbVie Inc. · Pharmaceuticals
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods+26.1%23.4%1.11−45.1%+603%0.24—
GSKGSK plc · Pharmaceuticals
Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+9.5%24.5%0.49−37.6%+95.1%0.36—
RMDResMed Inc. · Medical Devices
Higher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes−0.3%31.8%0.15−54.0%+331%0.49—
The whole marketbest 8 shownEvery other stock and fund worth at least $500 million. 1,522 of 3,556 passed at least one test.
BRK-BBerkshire Hathaway Inc. · Insurance
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+13.4%17.1%0.82−29.6%+274%0.62—
KOThe Coca-Cola Company · Food & Beverages
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+14.7%16.8%0.91−37.0%+204%0.46—
VTVVanguard Morningstar Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+12.1%13.7%0.90−36.8%+235%0.650.03%
GLDSPDR Gold Shares · Gold
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+17.7%18.9%0.96−26.4%+213%0.240.40%
VIGVanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF · US Dividend Equity
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+10.4%14.1%0.78−31.7%+258%0.640.04%
SCHDSchwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF · US Dividend Equity
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+9.7%14.3%0.72−33.4%+252%0.570.06%
FASTFastenal Company · Industrial Distribution
Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+15.8%24.6%0.72−30.7%+576%0.38—
USHYiShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF · High Yield Bonds
Similar return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+3.6%7.4%0.52−22.4%—0.600.08%
What these numbers mean for SYK
Annual return
SYK returned 3.2% a year over the past 5 years with dividends reinvested, against 12.7% a year for the S&P 500. At that pace, $10,000 became about $11,700. Annual return is the steady yearly rate that would produce the same total result, so investments held over the same span compare fairly. Guide: What is performance and return? →
Volatility
SYK's volatility over the past 5 years was 25.7%, 1.5 times the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, SYK's return lands within 25.7% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump. Guide: Understanding and measuring risk (volatility) →
Sharpe ratio
SYK's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.25, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so SYK 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. Guide: Balancing reward with risk (Sharpe ratio) →
Worst decline
SYK's worst fall from a peak to a low over the past 10 years was 43.8%, against 33.7% for the S&P 500. Losses and gains are not symmetric: climbing back from a 43.8% fall takes a 77.9% gain. Guide: Market crash risk and tail risk →
Correlation
Over the past 5 years, SYK's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.52 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They often move together: some diversification next to an index fund, but not a cushion. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against SYK instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a SYK holding. Guide: Correlation and diversification →
Show all 774 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that earned more than SYK with less volatility

Out of 3,633 tested over 5 years. The strongest 100 are listed, best first, with funds that hold the same thing listed once.

#InvestmentFound inAnnual returnVolatilitySharpeWorst decline10Y returnCorr. with SYKExpense
1
BRK-BBerkshire Hathaway Inc. · Insurance
Whole market+13.4%17.1%0.82−29.6%+274%0.62—
2
KOThe Coca-Cola Company · Food & Beverages
Whole market+14.7%16.8%0.91−37.0%+204%0.46—
3
VTVVanguard Morningstar Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value
Whole market+12.1%13.7%0.90−36.8%+235%0.650.03%
4
GLDSPDR Gold Shares · Gold
Whole market+17.7%18.9%0.96−26.4%+213%0.240.40%
5
VIGVanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF · US Dividend Equity
Whole market+10.4%14.1%0.78−31.7%+258%0.640.04%
6
SCHDSchwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF · US Dividend Equity
Whole market+9.7%14.3%0.72−33.4%+252%0.570.06%
7
RSGRepublic Services, Inc. · Environmental Services
Whole market+13.9%18.5%0.80−34.0%+446%0.51—
8
JAAAJanus Henderson AAA CLO ETF · CLO Bonds
Whole market+5.1%1.7%2.98−2.6%—0.130.20%
9
WMWaste Management, Inc. · Environmental Services
Whole market+9.3%19.2%0.56−30.1%+344%0.52—
10
WCNWaste Connections, Inc. · Environmental Services
Whole market+6.1%20.0%0.40−31.6%+270%0.49—
11
AEEAmeren Corporation · Electric Utilities
Whole market+7.9%19.4%0.49−29.1%+192%0.37—
12
VTIVanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF · US Total Market
Whole market+11.5%17.5%0.71−35.0%+302%0.520.03%
13
VOOVanguard S&P 500 ETF · US Large-Cap Equity
Whole market+12.8%16.9%0.80−34.0%+324%0.520.03%
14
IOOiShares Global 100 ETF · Global Equity
Whole market+15.7%17.2%0.94−31.4%+361%0.450.40%
15
JNJJohnson & Johnson · Pharmaceuticals
Popular alternative+12.7%17.9%0.76−27.4%+196%0.37—
16
WMTWalmart Inc. · Discount Retail
Whole market+20.8%22.6%0.96−25.7%+508%0.47—
17
MOATVanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF · US Large-Cap Equity
Whole market+9.1%18.4%0.57−33.3%+276%0.590.46%
18
IWXiShares Russell Top 200 Value ETF · Broad Market
Whole market+12.7%13.8%0.94−35.8%+221%0.620.20%
19
VVisa Inc. · Payment Processing
Whole market+12.8%22.9%0.64−36.4%+429%0.58—
20
LVHIFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF · International Equity
Whole market+17.0%11.1%1.48−32.4%+194%0.500.40%
21
BALTInnovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF · Crypto
Whole market+6.3%3.3%1.85−4.9%—0.470.69%
22
COSTCostco Wholesale Corporation · Discount Retail
Whole market+17.4%22.9%0.82−31.4%+685%0.41—
23
VXUSVanguard Total International Stock ETF · International Equity
Whole market+8.2%16.4%0.57−36.0%+140%0.470.05%
24
QQQInvesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 · US Large-Cap Growth
Whole market+14.5%23.0%0.71−35.1%+553%0.320.18%
25
FLRTPacer Aristotle Pacific Floating Rate High Income ETF · Financials
Whole market+6.0%2.3%2.55−21.0%+58.0%0.250.60%
26
VEAVanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF · Developed International Equity
Whole market+9.3%16.9%0.61−35.8%+153%0.540.03%
27
QUSState Street SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF · Broad Market
Whole market+11.1%14.2%0.81−33.8%+273%0.630.15%
28
LINLinde plc · Chemicals
Whole market+11.5%20.9%0.63−32.6%+394%0.54—
29
EQLALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF · Broad Market
Whole market+13.5%14.5%0.94−34.2%+387%0.650.19%
30
QDEFNorthern Trust Quality Dividend Defensive ETF · Dividend & Income
Whole market+12.7%13.7%0.94−35.7%+228%0.600.40%
31
UNPUnion Pacific Corporation · Railroads
Whole market+7.1%22.9%0.42−38.7%+295%0.40—
32
LMTLockheed Martin Corporation · Aerospace & Defense
Whole market+11.1%24.2%0.56−36.7%+204%0.26—
33
VTVanguard Total World Stock ETF · Global Equity
Whole market+10.3%16.2%0.69−34.2%+223%0.530.06%
34
SOThe Southern Company · Electric Utilities
Whole market+11.3%18.8%0.67−38.4%+170%0.32—
35
IEMGiShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF · Emerging Markets Equity
Whole market+6.8%19.4%0.44−38.7%+122%0.210.09%
36
VWOVanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF · Emerging Markets Equity
Whole market+5.2%17.5%0.38−36.4%+102%0.200.06%
37
EP-PCEl Paso Energy Capital Trust I PFD CV TR SECS · Preferred Stocks
Whole market+5.2%8.9%0.61−25.4%+37.8%0.34—
38
CMECME Group Inc. · Capital Markets
Whole market+11.2%20.8%0.62−37.4%+319%0.29—
39
ULUnilever PLC · Household & Personal Products
Whole market+5.5%21.5%0.36−30.1%+89.8%0.50—
40
PJULInnovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF · Broad Market
Whole market+10.5%8.6%1.20−18.2%—0.510.79%
41
MSIMotorola Solutions, Inc. · Communications Equipment
Whole market+14.8%23.6%0.71−32.8%+625%0.60—
42
FJANFT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - January · Multi-Asset
Whole market+11.1%10.5%1.05−13.6%—0.480.85%
43
DUKDuke Energy Corporation · Electric Utilities
Whole market+7.5%18.0%0.50−37.4%+132%0.37—
44
AEPAmerican Electric Power Company, Inc. · Electric Utilities
Whole market+12.4%20.2%0.68−32.9%+185%0.34—
45
SCHGSchwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF · US Large-Cap Growth
Whole market+13.1%22.4%0.67−34.5%+451%0.390.04%
46
DYNFiShares U.S. Equity Factor Rotation Active ETF · US Multifactor Equity
Whole market+14.7%17.5%0.87−34.7%—0.500.26%
47
CLColgate-Palmolive Company · Household & Personal Products
Whole market+7.2%19.2%0.46−29.0%+68.8%0.49—
48
ITWIllinois Tool Works Inc. · Industrial Machinery
Whole market+6.7%21.4%0.41−37.9%+208%0.65—
49
JEPIJPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF · Equity Income
Whole market+7.5%11.0%0.71−13.7%—0.710.35%
50
EDConsolidated Edison, Inc. · Electric Utilities
Whole market+12.0%18.8%0.70−30.9%+114%0.26—
51
XLVState Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF · Health Care Equity
Whole market+8.4%15.3%0.60−28.4%+202%0.620.08%
52
CHTChunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd. · Integrated Telecommunications
Whole market+7.7%13.3%0.63−23.8%+101%0.18—
53
SPMOInvesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF · US Momentum Equity
Whole market+18.7%20.8%0.93−30.9%+499%0.440.13%
54
CBChubb Limited · Property & Casualty Insurance
Whole market+15.7%20.4%0.82−42.6%+248%0.44—
55
DFIVDimensional - International Value ETF · International Equity
Whole market+14.8%16.4%0.93−25.4%—0.520.27%
56
XELXcel Energy Inc. · Electric Utilities
Whole market+6.5%20.9%0.41−34.4%+156%0.24—
57
AVLVAvantis U.S. Large Cap Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value
Whole market+14.0%16.9%0.86−19.5%—0.570.15%
58
TRVThe Travelers Companies, Inc. · Property & Casualty Insurance
Whole market+22.4%22.3%1.02−46.3%+347%0.53—
59
HYGHiShares Interest Rate Hedged High Yield Bond ETF · Bonds
Whole market+6.6%7.1%0.94−23.9%+74.5%0.591.12%
60
HDViShares Core High Dividend ETF · US Dividend Equity
Whole market+12.9%13.0%1.00−37.0%+172%0.600.08%
61
WECWEC Energy Group, Inc. · Electric Utilities
Whole market+7.2%19.0%0.46−32.3%+159%0.35—
62
DFATDimensional - US Targeted Value ETF · US Small-Cap Equity
Whole market+9.6%21.0%0.54−26.1%—0.510.33%
63
DGXQuest Diagnostics Incorporated · Medical Diagnostics
Whole market+12.3%22.5%0.63−36.6%+243%0.54—
64
FTSFortis Inc. · Electric Utilities
Whole market+8.4%16.4%0.58−34.3%+154%0.45—
65
NVSNovartis AG · Pharmaceuticals
Same or nearby category+17.1%20.7%0.87−26.8%+226%0.55—
66
USMViShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF · US Low-Volatility Equity
Whole market+7.6%12.3%0.66−33.1%+176%0.680.15%
67
SPHQInvesco S&P 500 Quality ETF · US Quality Equity
Whole market+12.0%16.7%0.76−31.6%+300%0.600.20%
68
COWZPacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF · US Large-Cap Value
Whole market+11.4%17.7%0.70−38.7%—0.560.49%
69
EWJiShares MSCI Japan ETF · International Equity
Whole market+9.2%18.8%0.57−33.1%+132%0.470.49%
70
WTWWillis Towers Watson Public Limited Company · Insurance
Whole market+6.9%23.9%0.40−32.9%+187%0.49—
71
XLUState Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF · Utilities Equity
Whole market+7.8%17.4%0.52−36.0%+138%0.440.08%
72
SDYState Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF · US Dividend Equity
Whole market+7.6%14.0%0.59−36.7%+157%0.630.35%
73
BUFRFT Vest Laddered Buffer ETF · Buffered Equity
Whole market+9.9%10.5%0.96−13.7%—0.520.10%
74
RYRoyal Bank of Canada · Banks
Whole market+17.3%18.2%0.97−40.0%+352%0.34—
75
RWLInvesco S&P 500 Revenue ETF · US Large-Cap Equity
Whole market+13.7%14.4%0.97−36.1%+287%0.630.39%
76
EVRGEvergy, Inc. · Electric Utilities
Whole market+9.5%18.9%0.57−38.8%+109%0.38—
77
CHDChurch & Dwight Co., Inc. · Household & Personal Products
Whole market+6.1%21.1%0.39−31.7%+154%0.52—
78
CORCencora, Inc. · Health Care Distribution
Same or nearby category+24.2%22.8%1.07−32.4%+406%0.66—
79
DBEFXtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF · International Equity
Whole market+13.1%13.8%0.96−32.5%+206%0.570.35%
80
BKLNInvesco Senior Loan ETF · Bank Loans
Whole market+5.4%4.5%1.19−24.1%+50.7%0.410.67%
81
ETREntergy Corporation · Electric Utilities
Whole market+19.2%22.4%0.90−42.0%+311%0.27—
82
JQUAJPMorgan U.S. Quality Factor ETF · US Quality Equity
Whole market+13.6%15.7%0.89−32.9%—0.580.12%
83
DIVOAmplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETF · Equity Income
Whole market+11.1%11.9%0.95−30.0%—0.670.56%
84
SRLNState Street Blackstone Senior Loan ETF · Bank Loans
Whole market+4.7%3.9%1.18−22.3%+54.2%0.330.70%
85
LNTAlliant Energy Corporation · Electric Utilities
Whole market+7.3%19.8%0.46−33.5%+150%0.37—
86
XLPState Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF · Consumer Staples
Whole market+7.2%13.8%0.57−24.5%+121%0.640.08%
87
MRSHMarsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. · Insurance
Whole market+4.4%20.9%0.31−35.8%+245%0.56—
88
FTSLFirst Trust Senior Loan Fund · Bonds
Whole market+5.0%3.4%1.49−22.7%+52.1%0.330.70%
89
SHYGiShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF · High Yield Bonds
Whole market+4.5%5.8%0.79−19.3%+56.4%0.610.30%
90
ACTEnact Holdings Inc. · Insurance
Whole market+20.5%24.3%0.89−20.2%—0.33—
91
QYLDGlobal X - Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF · Equity Income
Whole market+8.4%15.0%0.62−24.7%+156%0.350.60%
92
BBEUJPMorgan BetaBuilders Europe ETF · International Equity
Whole market+8.9%17.5%0.57−36.3%—0.570.09%
93
FLTWFranklin FTSE Taiwan ETF · Technology
Whole market+21.8%24.3%0.94−38.0%—0.110.19%
94
DBMFiMGP DBi Managed Futures Strategy ETF · Alternatives
Whole market+9.8%12.4%0.82−20.4%—-0.140.85%
95
USMCPrincipal U.S. Mega-Cap ETF · Broad Market
Whole market+14.1%16.4%0.89−30.0%—0.490.12%
96
GCOWPacer Global Cash Cows Dividend ETF · International
Whole market+14.1%13.6%1.04−37.6%+168%0.500.60%
97
IDAIDACORP, Inc. · Electric Utilities
Whole market+8.8%19.2%0.54−34.3%+141%0.37—
98
FTCSFirst Trust Capital Strength ETF · US Quality Equity
Whole market+6.2%13.2%0.52−31.9%+188%0.710.53%
99
TDIVFirst Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund · Technology Equity
Whole market+16.2%21.3%0.81−32.0%+388%0.350.50%
100
MPLXMPLX Lp · Oil & Gas Midstream
Whole market+23.5%18.8%1.22−75.2%+350%0.54—

SYK against its popular alternatives

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

How do SYK'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. Investments toward the upper left earned more for a smoother ride, and those toward the lower right earned less for a rougher one. The dashed lines cross at SYK, which divides the map into what did better or worse on each measure.

Green points earned more than SYK with less volatility; red points earned less with more. Hover over a point for its figures. Total returns with dividends reinvested, annualized.

10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%60.0%70.0%−30.0%−20.0%−10.0%0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsHigher return, lower volatilityLower return, higher volatilitySYK: 3.2% a year, volatility 25.7%SPY (S&P 500): 12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%CAH: 42.1% a year, volatility 24.7%JNJ: 12.7% a year, volatility 17.9%GMED: 0.3% a year, volatility 38.6%STE: 0.9% a year, volatility 26.2%EW: −5.3% a year, volatility 32.7%SNN: −1.2% a year, volatility 27.5%CNMD: −19.4% a year, volatility 41.3%ZBH: −7.2% a year, volatility 27.2%INSP: −22.3% a year, volatility 61.0%ATEC: −2.4% a year, volatility 63.5%BSX: 0.5% a year, volatility 26.6%ENOV: −25.1% a year, volatility 43.0%OFIX: −23.1% a year, volatility 46.4%THC: 32.9% a year, volatility 45.1%ITGR: 6.9% a year, volatility 35.3%HCA: 14.1% a year, volatility 30.1%ISRG: 5.2% a year, volatility 34.6%MDT: −1.8% a year, volatility 22.5%ABT: −1.7% a year, volatility 23.1%BDX: 2.3% a year, volatility 24.1%SYKSPY (S&P 500)CAHJNJGMEDSTEEWSNNCNMDZBHINSPATECENOVOFIXTHCITGRHCAISRGMDTABTBDX10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%60.0%70.0%−40.0%−20.0%0.0%20.0%40.0%60.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsHigher return, lower volatilityLower return, higher volatilitySYK: 3.2% a year, volatility 25.7%SPY (S&P 500): 12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%CAH: 42.1% a year, volatility 24.7%JNJ: 12.7% a year, volatility 17.9%GMED: 0.3% a year, volatility 38.6%STE: 0.9% a year, volatility 26.2%EW: −5.3% a year, volatility 32.7%SNN: −1.2% a year, volatility 27.5%CNMD: −19.4% a year, volatility 41.3%ZBH: −7.2% a year, volatility 27.2%INSP: −22.3% a year, volatility 61.0%ATEC: −2.4% a year, volatility 63.5%BSX: 0.5% a year, volatility 26.6%ENOV: −25.1% a year, volatility 43.0%OFIX: −23.1% a year, volatility 46.4%THC: 32.9% a year, volatility 45.1%ITGR: 6.9% a year, volatility 35.3%HCA: 14.1% a year, volatility 30.1%ISRG: 5.2% a year, volatility 34.6%MDT: −1.8% a year, volatility 22.5%ABT: −1.7% a year, volatility 23.1%BDX: 2.3% a year, volatility 24.1%SYKSPY (S&P 500)CAHJNJGMEDSTEEWSNNCNMDZBHINSPATECENOVTHCITGR
All figures
InvestmentAnnual returnVolatility
CAH Cardinal Health, Inc.+42.1%24.7%
THC Tenet Healthcare Corporation+32.9%45.1%
HCA HCA Healthcare, Inc.+14.1%30.1%
JNJ Johnson & Johnson+12.7%17.9%
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF+12.7%17.1%
ITGR Integer Holdings Corporation+6.9%35.3%
ISRG Intuitive Surgical, Inc.+5.2%34.6%
SYK This pageStryker Corporation+3.2%25.7%
BDX Becton, Dickinson and Company+2.3%24.1%
STE STERIS plc+0.9%26.2%
BSX Boston Scientific Corporation+0.5%26.6%
GMED Globus Medical, Inc.+0.3%38.6%
SNN Smith & Nephew plc−1.2%27.5%
ABT Abbott Laboratories−1.7%23.1%
MDT Medtronic Plc−1.8%22.5%
ATEC Alphatec Holdings, Inc.−2.4%63.5%
EW Edwards Lifesciences Corporation−5.3%32.7%
ZBH Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.−7.2%27.2%
CNMD CONMED Corporation−19.4%41.3%
INSP Inspire Medical Systems, Inc.−22.3%61.0%
OFIX Orthofix Medical Inc.−23.1%46.4%
ENOV Enovis Corporation−25.1%43.0%
Open these 22 in EasyCompare

Has SYK consistently beaten its popular alternatives?

This section compares SYK with the investments people most often weigh against it, checking each one over eight periods from one month to ten years. Counting how often an alternative earned more than SYK helps separate lasting outperformance from a single strong stretch.

A green cell means the alternative earned more than SYK over that period. "Qualified" marks those that did so in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods.

InvestmentPeriods outperformed Short termLong termRisk · 5 yearsFund
1M3M6MYTD1Y3Y5Y10YVolatilitylower is calmerSharpehigher is betterWorst declinepast 10 yearsExpenseAssetsOverlapsame sectors
SYK Stryker Corporation (this page)—+11.4%−4.3%−9.5%−11.8%−19.2%+18.0%+17.2%+197%25.7%0.25−43.8%—$117B—
CAH QualifiedCardinal Health, Inc.5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather+14.3%+14.3%+22.5%+26.1%+65.3%+191%+479%+349%24.7%1.55−46.1%—$60B—
THC QualifiedTenet Healthcare Corporation4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather+4.3%+40.1%+42.4%+36.5%+34.7%+399%+315%+1,058%45.1%0.86−71.7%—$22B—
ITGR QualifiedInteger Holdings Corporation4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather+0.3%+31.9%+41.9%+65.0%+18.0%+76.0%+39.4%+557%35.3%0.37−56.1%—$4.3B—
HCA QualifiedHCA Healthcare, Inc.4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather+9.3%+26.0%−2.2%−0.5%+8.3%+97.6%+93.6%+513%30.1%0.59−54.7%—$101B—
ISRG QualifiedIntuitive Surgical, Inc.3/5 short3/3 long+9.0%+24.0%−5.9%−22.1%−4.5%+64.1%+28.9%+478%34.6%0.32−49.9%—$155B—
JNJ QualifiedJohnson & Johnson4/5 short2/3 long−3.8%+4.8%+13.6%+27.1%+36.9%+84.6%+82.1%+196%17.9%0.76−27.4%—$625B—
GMED QualifiedGlobus Medical, Inc.3/5 short2/3 long+6.3%+3.9%−18.4%−9.6%+28.2%+53.9%+1.3%+243%38.6%0.20−47.9%—$11B—
STE Medical - SpecialtiesSTERIS plc4/5 short1/3 long+8.8%+5.3%+0.1%−9.2%−6.0%+7.0%+4.5%+262%26.2%0.17−36.2%—$22B—
EW Medical - DevicesEdwards Lifesciences Corporation4/5 short1/3 long−0.1%+3.9%+8.4%+3.5%+17.3%+27.1%−23.6%+125%32.7%0.01−54.3%—$51B—
MDT Medical - DevicesMedtronic Plc4/5 short1/3 long+4.0%+14.5%+13.3%+1.0%+1.9%+43.6%−8.8%+46.7%22.5%0.03−45.1%—$121B—
SNN Medical - DevicesSmith & Nephew plc3/5 short1/3 long+7.2%−2.5%−13.3%−8.4%−17.1%+41.6%−5.9%+20.5%27.5%0.09−55.1%—$12B—
ABT Medical - DevicesAbbott Laboratories2/5 short1/3 long+0.3%+1.6%+8.4%−15.3%−18.7%+13.0%−8.0%+204%23.1%0.04−39.6%—$178B—
BDX Medical - Instruments & SuppliesBecton, Dickinson and Company4/5 short0/3 long+7.2%+26.2%+23.7%+28.9%+32.3%+1.6%+12.2%+71.4%24.1%0.22−39.9%—$53B—
CNMD Medical - DevicesCONMED Corporation4/5 short0/3 long+6.5%+9.5%+19.9%+17.4%−0.4%−47.3%−65.9%+30.2%41.3%-0.32−78.8%—$1.4B—
ZBH Medical - DevicesZimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.4/5 short0/3 long+2.1%+7.3%+1.1%+7.5%−5.6%−5.5%−31.1%−16.1%27.2%-0.14−52.1%—$18B—
GEHC Medical - DevicesGE HealthCare Technologies Inc.3/5 short0/3 long+8.4%+11.8%−5.2%−15.1%−6.8%+10.1%————−37.4%—$32B—
INSP Medical - DevicesInspire Medical Systems, Inc.3/5 short0/3 long−5.8%+33.9%+25.2%−22.7%−11.7%−54.3%−71.6%—61.0%-0.10−87.7%—$2.1B—
ATEC Medical - DevicesAlphatec Holdings, Inc.2/5 short0/3 long+6.8%+31.3%−6.0%−47.7%−29.9%−11.3%−11.4%+81.6%63.5%0.28−81.8%—$1.7B—
BSX Medical - DevicesBoston Scientific Corporation1/5 short0/3 long+4.3%+4.1%−25.3%−51.9%−54.7%−8.9%+2.5%+98.1%26.6%0.15−61.6%—$66B—
ENOV Medical - DevicesEnovis Corporation1/5 short0/3 long+14.7%−22.9%−21.2%−22.0%−36.2%−53.5%−76.4%−59.0%43.0%-0.46−80.9%—$1.2B—
OFIX Medical - DevicesOrthofix Medical Inc.0/5 short0/3 long+10.1%−14.8%−22.1%−33.6%−36.9%−10.4%−73.1%−75.3%46.4%-0.33−87.2%—$398M—
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How did SYK do year by year?

This table shows each investment's total return in every full calendar year since 1997, along with where SYK ranked among its popular alternatives each year. Annual results reveal how consistently each one kept pace with SYK and how far its good and bad years diverged, detail that multiyear averages tend to smooth over.

Newest year first. Green marks a year in which the fund came out ahead of SYK; gray means the two finished within a fraction of a point. The rank row places SYK among the alternatives that traded the full year; dark green is the top quarter and red the bottom quarter.

InvestmentYears ahead of SYK20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000199919981997
SYK This pageStryker Corporation—−1.5%+21.3%+23.8%−7.4%+10.2%+18.2%+35.3%+2.4%+30.8%+30.7%0.0%+27.4%+39.3%+12.1%−6.1%+7.9%+26.7%−46.0%+36.2%+24.5%−7.7%+13.7%+26.8%+15.2%+15.6%+45.6%+26.6%+47.9%+25.0%
Rank among alternativesTop quarter in 7 of 2915 of 227 of 228 of 2210 of 2113 of 216 of 2110 of 2114 of 208 of 202 of 2013 of 209 of 2012 of 209 of 1910 of 189 of 189 of 1813 of 172 of 173 of 1610 of 168 of 168 of 164 of 1610 of 145 of 111 of 103 of 108 of 10
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF12 of 29+17.7%+24.9%+26.2%−18.2%+28.7%+18.3%+31.2%−4.6%+21.7%+12.0%+1.2%+13.5%+32.3%+16.0%+1.9%+15.1%+26.4%−36.8%+5.1%+15.9%+4.8%+10.7%+28.2%−21.6%−11.7%−9.8%+20.4%+28.7%+33.5%
CAH Cardinal Health, Inc.12 of 29+76.3%+19.0%+34.1%+54.1%−0.4%+10.1%+18.0%−24.5%−12.7%−17.5%+12.6%+23.0%+66.0%+3.8%+8.1%+21.4%−4.4%−39.6%−9.8%−5.8%+18.7%−4.7%+3.5%−8.3%−2.5%+108%−36.8%+51.7%+29.1%
THC Tenet Healthcare Corporation12 of 29+57.4%+67.0%+54.9%−40.3%+105%+5.0%+122%+13.1%+2.2%−51.0%−40.2%+20.3%+29.7%+58.2%−23.3%+24.1%+369%−77.4%−27.1%−9.0%−30.2%−31.6%−2.1%−58.1%+32.1%+89.2%−10.5%−20.8%+51.4%
ITGR Integer Holdings Corporation11 of 25−40.8%+33.8%+44.7%−20.0%+5.4%+0.9%+5.5%+68.3%+53.8%−43.9%+6.5%+11.4%+90.4%+5.2%−8.5%+25.6%−27.3%+32.4%−25.7%+3.5%+16.0%−47.0%+44.8%−19.1%+27.8%————
HCA HCA Healthcare, Inc.7 of 14+56.7%+11.8%+13.8%−5.6%+57.6%+11.6%+20.2%+43.4%+18.7%+9.4%−7.8%+53.8%+58.1%+70.9%———————————————
ISRG Intuitive Surgical, Inc.16 of 25+8.5%+54.7%+27.1%−26.2%+31.8%+38.4%+23.4%+31.2%+72.7%+16.1%+3.3%+37.7%−21.7%+5.9%+79.6%−15.0%+139%−60.7%+237%−18.2%+193%+134%+38.7%−38.6%+18.0%————
JNJ Johnson & Johnson9 of 29+47.5%−4.8%−8.6%+6.0%+11.4%+10.8%+16.2%−5.1%+24.4%+15.3%+1.2%+17.3%+34.6%+10.8%+9.9%−0.6%+11.3%−7.7%+3.6%+12.4%−3.4%+25.2%−2.0%−7.9%+14.0%+14.2%+12.5%+29.0%+34.3%
GMED Globus Medical, Inc.7 of 13+5.6%+55.2%−28.2%+2.9%+10.7%+10.8%+36.0%+5.3%+65.7%−10.8%+17.0%+17.8%+92.4%————————————————
STE STERIS plc14 of 29+24.6%−5.6%+20.2%−23.4%+29.5%+25.5%+44.1%+23.6%+31.7%−9.1%+17.9%+37.2%+40.9%+19.2%−16.5%+32.5%+26.3%−16.4%+15.4%+1.4%+6.0%+4.9%−6.8%+32.8%+13.2%+57.4%−63.9%+17.8%+10.9%
EW Edwards Lifesciences Corporation13 of 25+15.2%−2.9%+2.2%−42.4%+42.0%+17.3%+52.3%+35.9%+20.3%+18.6%+24.0%+93.7%−27.1%+27.6%−12.6%+86.1%+58.1%+19.6%−2.3%+13.0%+0.9%+37.0%+18.4%−7.8%+55.4%————
MDT Medtronic Plc10 of 29+24.0%+0.3%+9.6%−22.6%−9.8%+5.7%+27.3%+15.2%+15.3%−5.4%+8.6%+28.1%+42.8%+10.6%+5.8%−13.8%+42.6%−36.3%−5.2%−6.3%+16.8%+2.7%+7.3%−10.3%−14.8%+66.4%−1.5%+42.1%+55.3%
SNN Smith & Nephew plc9 of 26+36.8%−7.3%+4.4%−20.2%−16.2%−10.4%+30.8%+8.9%+18.5%−13.9%−1.4%+31.8%+32.5%+17.5%−6.9%+4.1%+61.7%−43.2%+10.7%+14.1%−9.4%+24.6%+38.3%+2.4%+33.7%+40.4%———
ABT Abbott Laboratories13 of 29+12.9%+4.8%+2.3%−20.7%+30.5%+28.1%+22.1%+29.1%+52.0%−12.3%+1.9%+20.1%+24.3%+20.3%+21.8%−8.3%+4.6%−2.5%+18.1%+26.9%−13.5%+9.2%+19.3%−26.8%+17.0%+35.8%−24.7%+51.9%+31.4%
BDX Becton, Dickinson and Company10 of 24−12.5%−5.3%−2.7%+5.1%+1.9%−6.8%+22.2%+6.6%+31.2%+9.2%+12.6%+28.3%+44.3%+7.3%−9.7%+9.4%+17.6%−16.9%+20.7%+18.3%+7.2%+39.8%+35.6%−6.4%—————
CNMD CONMED Corporation10 of 29−40.0%−36.8%+24.5%−37.0%+27.4%+1.2%+75.7%+27.4%+17.3%+2.2%−0.4%+7.8%+55.0%+11.2%−2.9%+15.9%−4.8%+3.6%−0.1%−2.3%−16.7%+19.4%+21.5%−1.9%+162%+32.4%−21.6%+25.8%+28.0%
ZBH Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.9 of 24−14.0%−12.5%−3.8%+4.3%−17.0%+3.8%+45.4%−13.3%+17.9%+1.5%−8.8%+22.8%+41.2%+26.2%−0.5%−9.2%+46.3%−38.9%−15.6%+16.2%−15.8%+13.8%+69.6%+35.9%—————
GEHC GE HealthCare Technologies Inc.2 of 3+5.1%+1.3%+32.6%——————————————————————————
INSP Inspire Medical Systems, Inc.4 of 7−50.2%−8.9%−19.2%+9.5%+22.3%+153%+75.6%——————————————————————
ATEC Alphatec Holdings, Inc.5 of 19+129%−39.3%+22.4%+8.1%−21.3%+105%+210%−13.9%−17.1%−10.8%−78.7%−29.8%+21.8%−4.1%−36.3%−49.4%+127%−53.4%+35.1%——————————
BSX Boston Scientific Corporation12 of 29+6.8%+54.5%+24.9%+8.9%+18.2%−20.5%+28.0%+42.6%+14.6%+17.3%+39.2%+10.2%+110%+7.3%−29.5%−15.9%+16.3%−33.5%−32.3%−29.8%−31.1%−3.3%+72.9%+76.3%+76.3%−37.5%−18.4%+16.9%−23.5%
ENOV Enovis Corporation7 of 17−39.3%−21.7%+4.7%−32.4%+20.2%+5.1%+74.1%−47.3%+10.3%+53.9%−54.7%−19.0%+57.8%+41.7%+54.7%+52.9%+15.9%————————————
OFIX Orthofix Medical Inc.11 of 29−13.2%+29.5%−34.3%−34.0%−27.7%−6.9%−12.0%−4.0%+51.2%−7.7%+30.4%+31.7%−42.0%+11.6%+21.5%−6.2%+102%−73.6%+15.9%+25.4%+2.1%−20.2%+74.1%−24.1%+93.9%+33.7%+2.2%+19.1%+42.4%
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Risk and diversification

How SYK 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 SYK's worst declines?

A drawdown is the decline from a peak to the lowest point before a new high. This section presents SYK's five deepest drawdowns since it began trading in 1986, alongside the S&P 500's return over the same dates, and how long each took to recover. Together, these figures show how much an investor could have lost and how long it took to get back to even.

Green means SYK fell less than the S&P 500 over the same dates. Based on daily closing prices with dividends reinvested.

DuringSYK fellS&P 500, same datesPeakLowTime to the lowBack at the peakTime to recover
2008 financial crisis−58.6%−53.4%Dec 2007Mar 200915 monthsSep 20134.5 years
No named crash−57.0%—Dec 1991Jun 199318 monthsNov 19952.4 years
No named crash−55.2%—Jul 1987Dec 19875 monthsMay 198917 months
Covid crash−43.8%−33.7%Feb 2020Mar 20201 monthOct 20207 months
No named crash−36.0%−6.9%Jan 2000Mar 20002 monthsJun 20003 months

How did SYK do in stock market crashes?

This section measures how far SYK, the S&P 500 and each alternative fell from peak to trough during every major market crash since 2000. A smaller decline means an investment held up better, and comparing results across crashes shows whether that resilience was consistent or a one-off.

Newest crash first. Each figure is the fund's deepest fall within the crash window; green means a smaller fall than SYK.

InvestmentHeld up better2023 regional bank crisisMar 20232022 bear marketJan 2022Covid crashFeb 2020Late-2018 sell-offSep 2018February 2018 volatility shockFeb 20182015 China and oil sell-offAug 20152011 euro debt crisisJul 20112010 flash crashMay 20102008 financial crisisOct 2007Dot-com bustMar 2000
SYK This pageStryker Corporation—−1.4%−31.4%−43.8%−18.8%−8.8%−15.6%−23.0%−3.8%−58.6%−26.9%
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF7 of 10−3.4%−24.5%−33.7%−19.3%−6.5%−12.8%−17.9%−1.5%−55.2%−47.5%
CAH Cardinal Health, Inc.6 of 10−3.5%−21.0%−32.1%−25.5%−4.6%−15.9%−17.5%−1.8%−57.9%−36.1%
THC Tenet Healthcare Corporation2 of 10−10.6%−45.6%−67.8%−42.5%−3.8%−57.4%−42.6%−4.7%−86.6%−20.4%
ITGR Integer Holdings Corporation2 of 9−5.1%−41.5%−52.3%−21.0%−12.3%−46.0%−29.4%0.0%−41.1%—
HCA HCA Healthcare, Inc.1 of 7−2.2%−39.5%−54.4%−20.6%−3.8%−31.3%−49.0%———
ISRG Intuitive Surgical, Inc.3 of 9−2.7%−47.6%−40.5%−24.3%−8.4%−14.7%−20.6%−3.8%−75.9%—
JNJ Johnson & Johnson8 of 10−1.1%−12.7%−25.4%−16.9%−8.2%−9.0%−9.8%−0.1%−34.4%−35.9%
GMED Globus Medical, Inc.2 of 6−5.9%−34.8%−38.0%−28.0%−5.1%−23.6%————
STE STERIS plc5 of 10−2.8%−36.2%−35.8%−17.3%−7.1%−19.6%−23.9%−2.8%−49.6%−35.9%
EW Edwards Lifesciences Corporation6 of 9−3.8%−36.0%−33.2%−20.0%−6.1%−9.7%−19.4%−2.4%−31.9%—
MDT Medtronic Plc7 of 10−2.1%−27.9%−36.0%−13.8%−7.2%−17.6%−18.0%−1.5%−56.5%−44.2%
SNN Smith & Nephew plc5 of 10−0.4%−38.8%−46.2%−12.7%−4.8%−18.6%−21.8%−3.9%−55.2%−26.7%
ABT Abbott Laboratories6 of 10−2.5%−27.9%−29.7%−11.7%−8.8%−27.4%−11.5%−0.5%−22.3%−45.7%
BDX Becton, Dickinson and Company6 of 9−2.0%−19.7%−21.8%−20.4%−10.8%−15.1%−18.3%−1.6%−34.1%—
CNMD CONMED Corporation1 of 10−6.1%−50.9%−62.1%−28.1%−6.3%−35.9%−26.0%−3.9%−64.6%−42.2%
ZBH Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.6 of 90.0%−23.9%−49.6%−26.0%−8.2%−14.8%−20.3%−2.1%−62.0%—
GEHC GE HealthCare Technologies Inc.0 of 1−2.2%—————————
INSP Inspire Medical Systems, Inc.0 of 4−9.6%−44.7%−53.7%−29.5%——————
ATEC Alphatec Holdings, Inc.1 of 9−10.1%−51.4%−66.8%−36.0%−1.3%−72.9%−41.4%−3.4%−82.1%—
BSX Boston Scientific Corporation4 of 10−1.2%−25.2%−40.0%−18.7%−8.0%−15.2%−24.0%−3.2%−63.5%−56.7%
ENOV Enovis Corporation1 of 8−5.1%−44.5%−62.4%−47.4%−17.3%−53.6%−31.8%−0.2%——
OFIX Orthofix Medical Inc.1 of 10−8.7%−60.0%−50.6%−21.8%−9.5%−19.6%−26.7%−2.6%−85.1%−40.8%
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How closely does SYK 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. An investment that captures more of the gains than the losses has compounded ahead of the market over time. This section compares SYK with its popular alternatives on both measures, and on beta (how strongly each has moved with the market), over the past 10 years.

Monthly total returns over the past 10 years, measured against SPY. 100% capture or a beta of 1.00 means moving in line with the S&P 500. Green marks a better figure than SYK's: more upside, less downside or a higher capture ratio. Sorted by capture ratio.

InvestmentUpside captureDownside captureCapture ratioBeta
SYK This pageStryker Corporation82%96%0.860.88
CAH Cardinal Health, Inc.71%51%1.400.75
JNJ Johnson & Johnson64%53%1.200.46
ITGR Integer Holdings Corporation118%111%1.061.00
THC Tenet Healthcare Corporation173%168%1.031.87
HCA HCA Healthcare, Inc.135%140%0.971.37
ABT Abbott Laboratories76%79%0.960.64
STE STERIS plc89%97%0.920.76
ISRG Intuitive Surgical, Inc.136%154%0.881.28
GMED Globus Medical, Inc.118%148%0.801.03
EW Edwards Lifesciences Corporation88%120%0.730.97
BSX Boston Scientific Corporation76%109%0.700.72
BDX Becton, Dickinson and Company53%77%0.690.48
MDT Medtronic Plc62%105%0.590.68
CNMD CONMED Corporation90%159%0.571.25
ATEC Alphatec Holdings, Inc.63%117%0.541.28
SNN Smith & Nephew plc50%98%0.520.63
ZBH Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.62%139%0.440.88
ENOV Enovis Corporation95%252%0.381.65
OFIX Orthofix Medical Inc.41%180%0.230.88
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What diversifies SYK?

Correlation measures how closely two investments move together, on a scale from 1 (in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to -1 (in opposite directions). This section lists large ETFs and stocks whose returns have had a low correlation with SYK's. Because such investments tend not to fall at the same time, pairing SYK with them can reduce a portfolio's overall swings.

Only ETFs with at least $1.0B in assets and stocks worth at least $10B, with a correlation below 0.5 over the past 5 years and a positive return, are included, ranked by Sharpe ratio; funds that hold the same thing are shown once. The year columns are the years in which SYK lost money. The last two columns show a portfolio that is 80% SYK and 20% the other investment, rebalanced monthly.

ETFs

InvestmentCorrelation5Y returnSharpe2025202220112008200580/20 mix volatility80/20 mix annual return
SYK Stryker Corporation (this page)1.00+17.2%0.25−1.5%−7.4%−6.1%−46.0%−7.7%23.4%+1.9%
DXJ InternationalWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund0.43+225%1.34+32.8%+6.0%−16.1%−20.8%—20.0%+6.9%
SMH TechnologyVanEck Semiconductor ETF0.17+323%0.97+49.2%−33.5%+6.8%−44.7%+10.8%21.0%+9.5%
GLD CommoditiesSPDR Gold Shares0.24+126%0.96+63.7%−0.8%+9.6%+4.9%+17.8%19.8%+5.6%
IOO InternationaliShares Global 100 ETF0.45+107%0.94+27.0%−16.3%−4.1%−36.1%+4.3%20.3%+5.1%
SPMO Broad MarketInvesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF0.44+136%0.93+26.6%−10.4%———20.9%+6.1%
XLE EnergyState Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF0.32+177%0.93+7.9%+64.4%+2.8%−39.0%+40.1%21.0%+6.6%
VLUE Broad MarketiShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF0.39+109%0.90+32.7%−14.2%———20.6%+5.4%
EWT TechnologyiShares MSCI Taiwan ETF0.12+153%0.89+28.4%−28.9%−21.8%−45.3%+4.7%20.0%+6.5%

Stocks

InvestmentCorrelation5Y returnSharpe2025202220112008200580/20 mix volatility80/20 mix annual return
SYK Stryker Corporation (this page)1.00+17.2%0.25−1.5%−7.4%−6.1%−46.0%−7.7%23.4%+1.9%
CLS Hardware, Equipment & PartsCelestica Inc.0.09+3,143%1.47+220%+1.3%−24.4%−20.5%−25.2%23.0%+21.3%
FIX Engineering & ConstructionComfort Systems USA, Inc.0.33+1,636%1.46+121%+17.0%−17.0%−15.2%+20.1%23.2%+17.1%
MCK Medical - DistributionMcKesson Corporation0.41+413%1.44+44.5%+51.8%+11.8%−40.4%+64.9%21.3%+8.4%
MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation0.26+690%1.41+19.2%+86.6%———21.3%+11.0%
ATI Manufacturing - Metal FabricationATI Inc.0.33+1,008%1.34+109%+87.5%−12.2%−70.0%+68.2%23.6%+13.7%
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Common questions

What was SYK's worst drawdown?

SYK's deepest decline since it began trading in 1986 was 58.6%, from December 2007 to March 2009. It took about four years from the low to climb back to its old high.

What were SYK's best and worst years?

Over 29 full calendar years, SYK's best year was 1998, when it returned 47.9%. Its worst was 2008, with a return of -46.0%.

Is there a better investment than SYK?

Among SYK's popular alternatives, JNJ earned more than SYK with less volatility over the past 5 years: 12.7% a year at 17.9% volatility, against 3.2% a year at 25.7%. Looking beyond its popular alternatives, NVS (pharmaceuticals) and COR (health care distribution) earned more than SYK with less volatility over the past 5 years. NVS returned 17.1% a year at 20.7% volatility, against 3.2% a year at 25.7%.

Is SYK more volatile than the S&P 500?

Yes. SYK's volatility over the past 5 years was 25.7%, 1.5 times the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, SYK's return lands within 25.7% 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 SYK's Sharpe ratio?

SYK's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.25, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so SYK 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 SYK with the S&P 500?

Over the past 5 years, SYK's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.52 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They often move together: some diversification next to an index fund, but not a cushion. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against SYK instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a SYK holding.

What are the best alternatives to SYK?

Of the 21 popular alternatives we compared, seven outperformed SYK in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes, with dividends reinvested: CAH, THC and ITGR.

Did SYK outperform the S&P 500?

SYK finished ahead of the S&P 500 (SPY) in 15 of 29 full calendar years. In 2025, it returned -1.5%, against +17.7% for the index.

How did SYK do in stock market crashes?

SYK fell less than the S&P 500 (SPY) in two of the ten major crashes it has traded through, and further in seven. The clearest case was the Covid crash, when SYK fell 43.8% and the S&P 500 fell 33.7%.

What diversifies SYK?

These had a low correlation with SYK over the past 5 years and still earned a positive 5-year return: among large ETFs, DXJ (correlation 0.43), SMH (correlation 0.17) and GLD (correlation 0.24); among large stocks, CLS (correlation 0.09), FIX (correlation 0.33) and MCK (correlation 0.41). A correlation near zero means the two have moved largely independently.

How we measure

More research

Popular alternatives to SYK

Other stocks and ETFs