HOLX vs. COO: Which GYN Surgical Stock Is the Better Investment Now?

Core Insights - The demand for gynecological surgical instruments is increasing as more women seek surgical procedures for gynecological conditions, positively impacting the GYN Surgical market outlook [1] - Companies like Hologic and CooperCompanies are positioned well in this growing market, attracting investor interest [1] Hologic Overview - Hologic's Surgical business is a key growth driver, with international sales increasing by 16.2% in Q2 of fiscal 2025, supported by market development and awareness of minimally invasive GYN products like MyoSure [4] - The Fluent Pro system, launched in late 2024, is gaining traction, contributing to the growth of the Surgical unit, which is expected to see high-single-digit growth this year due to the acquisition of Gynesonics [4][7] - Hologic benefits from multiple growth drivers across segments, including advancements in molecular diagnostics and strong adoption of the Breast Cancer Index test [5] - The Skeletal Health segment reported a 22.9% growth in Q2 due to increased production of DXA systems, while the Breast Health segment faces challenges in the capital equipment market [6] - Hologic's profitability allows for M&A and share buybacks, but external pressures such as tariffs and funding cuts may impact costs and outlook [7] CooperCompanies Overview - CooperSurgical is experiencing growth in its surgical medical devices and labor delivery portfolio, with Paragard, a contraceptive IUD, growing by 18% in Q2 of fiscal 2025 [8] - The fertility business is currently soft, particularly in Asia-Pacific, but long-term growth prospects remain positive due to strong underlying fundamentals [9] - Recent acquisition of obp Surgical saw a 31% growth in Q2, indicating potential in the office and surgical category for minimally invasive GYN devices [9] - CooperCompanies is well-positioned financially, expecting a rebound in free cash flow in the second half of the year, while also prioritizing debt reduction [12] Financial Performance and Valuation - Hologic's fiscal 2025 EPS is expected to grow by 2.7%, with recent estimates trending downward [13] - CooperCompanies is projected to see a 10% year-over-year growth in EPS, with analysts becoming more bullish due to upward revisions [13] - Year-to-date, Hologic shares have decreased by 10.5%, while CooperCompanies shares have fallen by 24.4% [14] - Hologic is trading at a five-year price-to-sales ratio of 3.40X, while CooperCompanies is at 3.24X, both below industry averages [15] Investment Outlook - Both Hologic and CooperCompanies currently hold a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), with Hologic benefiting from international momentum and Gynesonics expansion, despite macro pressures [17] - CooperCompanies faces challenges in fertility but has strong growth in GYN Surgical and contact lens offerings, supporting a case for retaining the stock [18] - Hologic appears to be better positioned than CooperCompanies due to its more favorable valuation [18]