ASTH vs WELL

For growth investors, Astrana Health, Inc.

(ASTH) is the stronger pick with 56. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 35. 8% for Welltower Inc. (WELL). Astrana Health, Inc. (ASTH) offers the better valuation at 78. 4x trailing P/E (29. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Astrana Health, Inc. (ASTH) a "Buy" — based on 9 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, Astrana Health, Inc.

(ASTH) is the cheapest at 78. 4x versus Welltower Inc. at 153. 3x. On forward P/E, Astrana Health, Inc. is actually cheaper at 29. 1x.

Over the past 5 years, Welltower Inc.

(WELL) delivered a total return of +202. 3%, compared to +7. 8% for Astrana Health, Inc. (ASTH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ASTH returned +614. 5% versus WELL's +223. 1%. 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), Welltower Inc.

(WELL) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 13β versus Astrana Health, Inc. 's 1. 11β — meaning ASTH is approximately 735% more volatile than WELL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Welltower Inc. (WELL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 49% versus 193% for Astrana Health, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Astrana Health, Inc.

(ASTH) is pulling ahead at 56. 4% versus 35. 8% for Welltower Inc. (WELL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Welltower Inc. grew EPS -11. 5% year-over-year, compared to -48. 9% for Astrana Health, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ASTH leads at 40. 6% 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.

Welltower Inc.

(WELL) is the more profitable company, earning 8. 8% net margin versus 0. 7% for Astrana Health, Inc. — meaning it keeps 8. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: WELL leads at 3. 3% versus 2. 5% for ASTH. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — WELL leads at 39. 2%, 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, Astrana Health, Inc.

(ASTH) trades at 29. 1x forward P/E versus 78. 4x for Welltower Inc. — 49. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WELL: 6. 3% to $226. 50.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Welltower Inc. (WELL) offers the highest yield at 1. 3%, versus 0. 4% for Astrana Health, Inc. (ASTH).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Welltower Inc.

(WELL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 13), 1. 3% yield, +223. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WELL: +223. 1%, ASTH: +614. 5%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (ASTH (Healthcare) and WELL (Real Estate)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

WELL pays a dividend while ASTH 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.