AHR vs DOC

For growth investors, American Healthcare REIT, Inc.

(AHR) is the stronger pick with 11. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 5% for Healthpeak Properties, Inc. (DOC). Healthpeak Properties, Inc. (DOC) offers the better valuation at 195. 0x trailing P/E (100. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate American Healthcare REIT, Inc. (AHR) a "Buy" — based on 11 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 forward P/E, American Healthcare REIT, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 66. 5x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, American Healthcare REIT, Inc.

(AHR) delivered a total return of +295. 4%, compared to -16. 1% for Healthpeak Properties, Inc. (DOC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AHR returned +295. 4% versus DOC's +15. 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), American Healthcare REIT, Inc.

(AHR) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 23β versus Healthpeak Properties, Inc. 's 0. 52β — meaning DOC is approximately 127% more volatile than AHR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, American Healthcare REIT, Inc. (AHR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 81% versus 126% for Healthpeak Properties, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), American Healthcare REIT, Inc.

(AHR) is pulling ahead at 11. 4% versus 4. 5% for Healthpeak Properties, Inc. (DOC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: American Healthcare REIT, Inc. grew EPS 73. 1% year-over-year, compared to -72. 2% for Healthpeak Properties, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AHR leads at 17. 9% 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.

Healthpeak Properties, Inc.

(DOC) is the more profitable company, earning 2. 5% net margin versus -1. 8% for American Healthcare REIT, Inc. — meaning it keeps 2. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DOC leads at 19. 3% versus 6. 6% for AHR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DOC leads at 22. 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, American Healthcare REIT, Inc.

(AHR) trades at 66. 5x forward P/E versus 100. 1x for Healthpeak Properties, Inc. — 33. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AHR: 13. 5% to $56. 75.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Healthpeak Properties, Inc. (DOC) offers the highest yield at 6. 3%, versus 1. 9% for American Healthcare REIT, Inc. (AHR).

For long-horizon retirement investors, American Healthcare REIT, Inc.

(AHR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 23), 1. 9% yield, +295. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AHR: +295. 4%, DOC: +15. 3%), 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 Real Estate sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: AHR is a small-cap quality compounder stock; DOC is a mid-cap income-oriented stock. 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.