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Insulet Corporation (PODD) vs UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH): Which Is the Better Buy in 2026?

As of 2026-11-01, PODD is fairly valued at $150, with a DCF intrinsic value of $137 and a margin of safety of -9%. UNH is overvalued at $407, with an intrinsic value of $367 and a margin of safety of -11%. Of the two, PODD has the wider margin of safety.

PODD
Insulet Corporation
$149.68
VS
UNH
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated
$406.97

Rewards

PODD
  • ★Gross margin of 71.1% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
  • ★Each dollar of retained earnings has created $3.09 of earning power — management is an exceptional capital allocator.
  • ★Trailing P/E of 28.0x is 97% below the historical average of 1100.9x — potentially undervalued relative to its own history.
UNH
  • ★UnitedHealth Group Incorporated scores 73/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with revenue predictability as the strongest competitive dimension.

Risks

PODD
    UNH
    • ⚠ROIC has declined by 6.9 percentage points over the past 4 years, which may signal competitive erosion.
    • ⚠Gross margin of 20.0% is low, suggesting a competitive or commodity-like market with limited pricing power.
    • ⚠FCF yield of 7.3% suggests reasonable valuation assuming continued moderate growth.

    Key Valuation Metrics

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    PODD
    UNH
    Valuation
    $349.90M
    Free Cash Flow
    $26.50B
    3.37%
    FCF Yield
    7.25%
    28.03
    Trailing P/E
    23.23
    19.38
    Forward P/E
    17.48
    Quality & Moat
    16.01%
    ROIC
    11.51%
    26.02%
    ROE
    15.77%
    71.08%
    Gross Margin
    20.05%
    1.18
    PEG Ratio
    1.03
    Balance Sheet Safety
    0.34
    Net Debt / Equity
    0.43
    N/A
    Interest Coverage
    N/A
    0.78
    Net Debt / EBITDA
    1.58
    0.00%
    Dividend Yield
    2.28%
    PODD: 5Ties: 1UNH: 6
    PODDUNH

    Historical Fundamentals

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    PODD

    Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation. The dashed forward point is the forward P/E — today's price ÷ analyst consensus EPS.

    UNH

    Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation. The dashed forward point is the forward P/E — today's price ÷ analyst consensus EPS.

    Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation. The dashed forward point is the forward P/E — today's price ÷ analyst consensus EPS.

    $1 Retained Earnings Test

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    PODD
    $-0.52
    created per $1 retained over 3 years
    Market Cap Declined
    Σ Retained
    $871.7M
    Δ Market Cap
    $-455.5M
    Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
    > $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
    UNH
    $-7.37
    created per $1 retained over 3 years
    Market Cap Declined
    Σ Retained
    $26.63B
    Δ Market Cap
    $-196.16B
    Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
    > $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

    Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
    > $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

    Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis

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    PODD
    9.2% Overvalued
    Price is 9.2% above estimated fair value
    Current Price: $149.68
    Fair Value: $137.08
    Strongly undervalued
    Undervalued
    Fairly valued
    Overvalued
    Strongly overvalued
    UNH
    10.8% Overvalued
    Price is 10.8% above estimated fair value
    Current Price: $406.97
    Fair Value: $367.30
    Strongly undervalued
    Undervalued
    Fairly valued
    Overvalued
    Strongly overvalued

    Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth

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    PODD

    What growth rate is the market pricing in at $150?

    +18.4%
    Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
    Standard FCF implies +13.7%

    The market implies +18.4% Owner Earnings growth, below historical trends — potential opportunity.

    Standard FCF implies a more demanding +13.7%, reflecting heavy growth investment expected to generate future returns.

    UNH

    What growth rate is the market pricing in at $407?

    +14.2%
    Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
    Standard FCF implies +4.2%

    The market implies +14.2% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.

    Standard FCF implies a demanding +4.2%, reflecting heavy growth investment.

    Economic Moat Score

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    PODD
    55/100
    Narrow Moat
    70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

    Narrow moat with revenue predictability as the key competitive advantage. Improving roic consistency would strengthen the moat.

    Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.
    UNH
    73/100
    Wide Moat
    70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

    Wide moat driven primarily by revenue predictability. Margin Stability is the area most vulnerable to competitive pressure.

    Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.

    Forensic Accounting

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    PODD
    -2.51
    Unlikely Manipulator
    Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

    M-Score Trend

    Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
    UNH
    -2.45
    Unlikely Manipulator
    Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

    M-Score Trend

    Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

    Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

    Ownership Breakdown

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    PODD
    Insiders 0.3%Institutions 106.1%
    No. of Institutional Holders1,076
    High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
    UNH
    Insiders 0.2%Institutions 89.6%Retail & Other 10.1%
    No. of Institutional Holders4,333
    High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

    High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

    Insider Buying Activity

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    PODD
    0
    Buys (3M)
    4
    Buys (12M)
    Total value (12M): $1.70M
    STONESIFER TIMOTHY C
    Director
    $400,393
    @ $143.51 · 2026-06-03
    WEATHERMAN ELIZABETH H
    Director
    $497,490
    @ $144.20 · 2026-06-03
    MINOGUE MICHAEL R
    Director
    $499,847
    @ $246.23 · 2026-02-25
    STONESIFER TIMOTHY C
    Director
    $299,884
    @ $311.73 · 2025-12-05
    Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
    UNH
    0
    Buys (3M)
    0
    Buys (12M)
    No open market insider purchases found.
    Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises

    Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.

    Insider Selling Activity

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    PODD
    0
    Sells (3M)
    2
    Sells (12M)
    Total value (12M): $602,397
    BORIO LUCIANA
    Director
    $59,887
    @ $143.27 · 2026-06-03
    FREDERICK WAYNE A.I.
    Director
    $542,510
    @ $293.09 · 2025-12-15
    SINGH PREM
    Officer
    $238,726
    @ $347.49 · 2025-09-08
    COUSIN LAETITIA
    Officer
    $278,002
    @ $348.81 · 2025-09-08
    BENJAMIN ERIC
    Officer
    $1.42M
    @ $332.23 · 2025-08-21
    SINGH PREM
    Officer
    $429,760
    @ $320.00 · 2025-08-07
    MANEA DANIEL
    Officer
    $390,065
    @ $300.05 · 2025-06-13
    SINGH PREM
    Officer
    $698,216
    @ $300.05 · 2025-06-13
    BORIO LUCIANA
    Director
    $147,056
    @ $305.73 · 2025-06-09
    KAPPLES JOHN W.
    General Counsel
    $1.68M
    @ $318.47 · 2025-05-14
    HOPFIELD JESSICA
    Director
    $1.66M
    @ $317.54 · 2025-05-13
    BENJAMIN ERIC
    Officer
    $960,320
    @ $320.00 · 2025-05-13
    FREDERICK WAYNE A.I.
    Director
    $501,875
    @ $275.00 · 2025-03-25
    BENJAMIN ERIC
    Officer
    $3.47M
    @ $280.00 · 2025-01-21
    BENJAMIN ERIC
    Officer
    $1.17M
    @ $267.60 · 2024-12-16
    BUDDEN LAUREN
    Officer
    $252,192
    @ $275.62 · 2024-12-10
    BORIO LUCIANA
    Director
    $139,598
    @ $274.80 · 2024-11-12
    Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
    UNH
    2
    Sells (3M)
    3
    Sells (12M)
    Total value (12M): $944,910
    CONWAY PATRICK HUGH
    Officer
    $455,910
    @ $390.00 · 2026-08-21
    CONWAY PATRICK HUGH
    Officer
    $205,000
    @ $410.00 · 2026-08-05
    CONWAY PATRICK HUGH
    Officer
    $284,000
    @ $355.00 · 2026-04-23
    Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives

    Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.

    🎭 Mr. Market's Mood

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    PODD
    FearGreed
    😨Fear(37/100)

    "Market is pessimistic — investigate whether fears are temporary or structural"

    Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
    UNH
    FearGreed
    😏Greed(62/100)

    "Market is optimistic — be cautious and ensure you have a margin of safety"

    Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

    Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

    ⚖️ Buffett Signal

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    PODD
    ⚪Awaiting DCF Data

    The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

    DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Fear (37)
    UNH
    ⚪Awaiting DCF Data

    The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

    DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Greed (62)
    View PODD Full AnalysisView UNH Full Analysis

    Frequently Asked Questions: PODD vs UNH

    Is Insulet Corporation or UnitedHealth Group Incorporated more undervalued in 2026?▼

    Based on our discounted cash flow model, PODD trades at a -9.2% margin of safety (intrinsic value $137 vs. price $150), compared to UNH's -10.8% margin of safety (intrinsic $367 vs. $407).

    Which stock has a wider economic moat, Insulet Corporation or UnitedHealth Group Incorporated?▼

    UNH scores 73/100 (Wide moat), while PODD scores 55/100 (Narrow moat). The moat score measures competitive advantage durability across ROIC consistency, margin stability, revenue predictability, and reinvestment efficiency.

    Is UnitedHealth Group Incorporated in financial distress?▼

    UNH's Altman Z-Score of 2.9 places it in the Grey zone, signaling elevated bankruptcy risk. PODD scores 9.1 (Safe zone). The Altman Z-Score is a five-factor model that predicts insolvency within two years; scores below 1.81 indicate significant distress.

    Which company has better free cash flow, Insulet Corporation or UnitedHealth Group Incorporated?▼

    UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) generates a 7.3% free cash flow yield, compared to Insulet Corporation's 3.4%. A higher FCF yield means the business converts more of its market value into cash that can be returned to shareholders or reinvested.

    Which stock has higher return on invested capital, Insulet Corporation or UnitedHealth Group Incorporated?▼

    PODD earns 16.0% ROIC versus UNH's 11.5%. A higher ROIC means the company generates more profit per dollar of capital employed, a hallmark of durable competitive advantage in Buffett-style analysis.

    PODD vs UNH: Which Is the Better Buy in 2026? | SafetyMargin.io