AMN vs UNH vs HCSG vs HCA

For growth investors, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) is the stronger pick with 11.

8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -8. 5% for AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. (AMN). HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) offers the better valuation at 15. 1x trailing P/E (14. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. (AMN) a "Buy" — based on 17 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, HCA Healthcare, Inc.

(HCA) is the cheapest at 15. 1x versus UnitedHealth Group Incorporated at 27. 9x. On forward P/E, AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. is actually cheaper at 11. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, HCA Healthcare, Inc.

(HCA) delivered a total return of +109. 7%, compared to -75. 1% for AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. (AMN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HCA returned +450. 5% versus AMN's -41. 5%. 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), HCA Healthcare, Inc.

(HCA) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 29β versus Healthcare Services Group, Inc. 's 1. 12β — meaning HCSG is approximately 292% more volatile than HCA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Healthcare Services Group, Inc. (HCSG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 5% versus 125% for AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) is pulling ahead at 11.

8% versus -8. 5% for AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. (AMN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Healthcare Services Group, Inc. grew EPS 52. 8% year-over-year, compared to -14. 7% for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated. Over a 3-year CAGR, UNH leads at 11. 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.

HCA Healthcare, Inc.

(HCA) is the more profitable company, earning 9. 0% net margin versus -3. 5% for AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. — meaning it keeps 9. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HCA leads at 15. 8% versus 1. 2% for AMN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HCA leads at 41. 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, AMN Healthcare Services, Inc.

(AMN) trades at 11. 0x forward P/E versus 20. 8x for Healthcare Services Group, Inc. — 9. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HCA: 22. 9% to $527. 45.

In this comparison, UNH (2.

4% yield), HCA (0. 7% yield) pay a dividend. AMN, HCSG do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, HCA Healthcare, Inc.

(HCA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 29), 0. 7% yield, +450. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HCA: +450. 5%, HCSG: -26. 8%), 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: AMN is a small-cap quality compounder stock; UNH is a large-cap quality compounder stock; HCSG is a small-cap quality compounder stock; HCA is a mid-cap deep-value stock. UNH, HCA pay a dividend while AMN, HCSG do 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.