AVAH
Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc.
Medical - Care Facilities
Market Cap$1.46B
5Y Perf.-40.6%
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Stock Comparison
AVAH vs ENSG
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
ENSG
The Ensign Group, Inc.
Medical - Care Facilities
Market Cap$10.18B
5Y Perf.+103.0%
AVAH vs ENSG — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | AVAH | ENSG |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Medical - Care Facilities | Medical - Care Facilities |
| Market Cap | $1.46B | $10.18B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $2.43B | $5.27B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $225M | $363M |
| Gross Margin | 33.1% | 15.2% |
| Operating Margin | 10.9% | 8.5% |
| Forward P/E | 12.0x | 23.2x |
| Total Debt | $1.34B | $4.15B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $193M | $504M |
AVAH vs ENSG — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
AVAH
ENSG
| Stock | Apr 21 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aveanna Healthcare … (AVAH) | 100 | 59.4 | -40.6% |
| The Ensign Group, I… (ENSG) | 100 | 203.0 | +103.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: AVAH vs ENSG
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: AVAH leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. The Ensign Group, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
AVAH
Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc.
The Growth Play
AVAH carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure.
- Rev growth 20.2%, EPS growth 19.5%, 3Y rev CAGR 10.8%
- 20.2% revenue growth vs ENSG's 18.7%
- Lower P/E (12.0x vs 23.2x)
Best for: growth exposure
ENSG
The Ensign Group, Inc.
The Income Pick
ENSG is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 12 yrs, beta 0.42, yield 0.1%
- 7.5% 10Y total return vs AVAH's -42.2%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.42, current ratio 1.42x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | AVAH | 20.2% revenue growth vs ENSG's 18.7% |
| Value | AVAH | Lower P/E (12.0x vs 23.2x) |
| Quality / Margins | AVAH | 9.2% margin vs ENSG's 6.9% |
| Stability / Safety | ENSG | Beta 0.42 vs AVAH's 1.40, lower leverage |
| Dividends | ENSG | 0.1% yield; 12-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | AVAH | +44.0% vs ENSG's +27.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AVAH | 12.4% ROA vs ENSG's 6.8%, ROIC 15.1% vs 7.0% |
AVAH vs ENSG — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
AVAH vs ENSG — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLAVAHLAGGINGENSG
ENSGThe Ensign Group, Inc.
1leads
AVAHAveanna Healthcare Ho…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs ENSGMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
AVAH5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
AVAH5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
AVAH7/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
Tied
—
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
ENSG2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
AVAH leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ENSG is the larger business by revenue, generating $5.3B annually — 2.2x AVAH's $2.4B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 9.2% (AVAH) to 6.9% (ENSG). On growth, AVAH holds the edge at +27.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | AVAHAveanna Healthcar… | ENSGThe Ensign Group,… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.4B | $5.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $289M | $558M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $225M | $363M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $126M | $406M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +33.1% | +15.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +10.9% | +8.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +9.2% | +6.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +5.2% | +7.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +27.4% | +18.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +4.9% | +21.9% |
AVAH leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
AVAH leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 6.6x trailing earnings, AVAH trades at a 78% valuation discount to ENSG's 29.8x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, AVAH's 9.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than ENSG's 25.7x.
| Metric | AVAHAveanna Healthcar… | ENSGThe Ensign Group,… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.5B | $10.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.6B | $13.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 6.61x | 29.85x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 11.96x | 23.19x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 2.16x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 9.04x | 25.71x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.60x | 2.01x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 7.67x | 4.59x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 11.63x | 27.46x |
AVAH leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AVAH leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AVAH delivers a 9.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $10 in annual profit, vs $17 for ENSG. ENSG carries lower financial leverage with a 1.86x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AVAH's 6.91x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AVAH scores 6/9 vs ENSG's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | AVAHAveanna Healthcar… | ENSGThe Ensign Group,… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +9.5% | +16.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +12.4% | +6.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +15.1% | +7.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +18.6% | +10.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 6.91x | 1.86x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.2B | $3.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $193M | $504M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.3B | $4.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.79x | 88.33x |
AVAH leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — AVAH and ENSG each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ENSG five years ago would be worth $20,324 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $6,019 for AVAH. Over the past 12 months, AVAH leads with a +44.0% total return vs ENSG's +27.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AVAH at 89.5% vs ENSG's 23.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | AVAHAveanna Healthcar… | ENSGThe Ensign Group,… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -14.1% | +0.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +44.0% | +27.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +580.4% | +88.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -39.8% | +103.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -42.2% | +752.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +89.5% | +23.6% |
Evenly matched — AVAH and ENSG each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ENSG leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ENSG is the less volatile stock with a 0.42 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AVAH's 1.40 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. ENSG currently trades 80.0% from its 52-week high vs AVAH's 67.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | AVAHAveanna Healthcar… | ENSGThe Ensign Group,… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.40x | 0.42x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $10.32 | $218.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $3.73 | $133.81 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +67.2% | +80.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 53.4 | 23.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.1M | 358K |
ENSG leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates AVAH as "Hold" and ENSG as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 58.5% upside for AVAH (target: $11) vs 27.6% for ENSG (target: $222). ENSG is the only dividend payer here at 0.14% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | AVAHAveanna Healthcar… | ENSGThe Ensign Group,… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $11.00 | $222.33 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 12 | 13 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 12 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.24 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.2% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
AVAH leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). ENSG leads in 1 (Risk & Volatility). 1 tied.
Best OverallAveanna Healthcare Holdings… (AVAH)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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AVAH vs ENSG: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is AVAH or ENSG a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc.
(AVAH) is the stronger pick with 20. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 18. 7% for The Ensign Group, Inc. (ENSG). Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc. (AVAH) offers the better valuation at 6. 6x trailing P/E (12. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate The Ensign Group, Inc. (ENSG) a "Buy" — based on 13 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.
02Which has the better valuation — AVAH or ENSG?
On trailing P/E, Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc.
(AVAH) is the cheapest at 6. 6x versus The Ensign Group, Inc. at 29. 8x. On forward P/E, Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc. is actually cheaper at 12. 0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — AVAH or ENSG?
Over the past 5 years, The Ensign Group, Inc.
(ENSG) delivered a total return of +103. 2%, compared to -39. 8% for Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc. (AVAH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ENSG returned +752. 0% versus AVAH's -42. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — AVAH or ENSG?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), The Ensign Group, Inc.
(ENSG) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 42β versus Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc. 's 1. 40β — meaning AVAH is approximately 232% more volatile than ENSG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, The Ensign Group, Inc. (ENSG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 186% versus 7% for Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — AVAH or ENSG?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc.
(AVAH) is pulling ahead at 20. 2% versus 18. 7% for The Ensign Group, Inc. (ENSG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc. grew EPS 1952% year-over-year, compared to 14. 1% for The Ensign Group, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ENSG leads at 18. 7% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — AVAH or ENSG?
Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc.
(AVAH) is the more profitable company, earning 9. 2% net margin versus 6. 8% for The Ensign Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 9. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AVAH leads at 10. 9% versus 8. 6% for ENSG. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AVAH leads at 33. 1%, 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.
07Is AVAH or ENSG more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc.
(AVAH) trades at 12. 0x forward P/E versus 23. 2x for The Ensign Group, Inc. — 11. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AVAH: 58. 5% to $11. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — AVAH or ENSG?
In this comparison, ENSG (0.
1% yield) pays a dividend. AVAH does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is AVAH or ENSG better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, The Ensign Group, Inc.
(ENSG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 42), +752. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ENSG: +752. 0%, AVAH: -42. 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.
10What are the main differences between AVAH and ENSG?
Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(AVAH: 27.4% · ENSG: 18.4%)Net Margin>
%
(AVAH: 9.2% · ENSG: 6.9%)P/E Ratio<
x
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