ADUS vs UNH

For growth investors, Addus HomeCare Corporation (ADUS) is the stronger pick with 23.

2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 11. 8% for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH). Addus HomeCare Corporation (ADUS) offers the better valuation at 18. 5x trailing P/E (14. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Addus HomeCare Corporation (ADUS) a "Buy" — based on 15 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Addus HomeCare Corporation (ADUS) is the cheapest at 18.

5x versus UnitedHealth Group Incorporated at 27. 8x. On forward P/E, Addus HomeCare Corporation is actually cheaper at 14. 0x.

Over the past 5 years, Addus HomeCare Corporation (ADUS) delivered a total return of +2.

6%, compared to -2. 5% for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ADUS returned +427. 2% versus UNH's +220. 3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Addus HomeCare Corporation (ADUS) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

58β versus UnitedHealth Group Incorporated's 0. 59β — meaning UNH is approximately 2% more volatile than ADUS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Addus HomeCare Corporation (ADUS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 19% versus 77% for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Addus HomeCare Corporation (ADUS) is pulling ahead at 23.

2% versus 11. 8% for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Addus HomeCare Corporation grew EPS 23. 2% year-over-year, compared to -14. 7% for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated. Over a 3-year CAGR, ADUS leads at 14. 4% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Addus HomeCare Corporation (ADUS) is the more profitable company, earning 6.

7% net margin versus 2. 7% for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated — meaning it keeps 6. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ADUS leads at 9. 7% versus 4. 2% for UNH. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ADUS leads at 32. 5%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Addus HomeCare Corporation (ADUS) trades at 14.

0x forward P/E versus 20. 1x for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated — 6. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ADUS: 33. 1% to $128. 67.

In this comparison, UNH (2.

4% yield) pays a dividend. ADUS does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

59), 2. 4% yield, +220. 3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (UNH: +220. 3%, ADUS: +427. 2%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: ADUS is a small-cap high-growth stock; UNH is a large-cap quality compounder stock. UNH pays a dividend while ADUS does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.