BACK vs ENSG

For growth investors, The Ensign Group, Inc.

(ENSG) is the stronger pick with 18. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -98. 6% for IMAC Holdings, Inc. (BACK). The Ensign Group, Inc. (ENSG) offers the better valuation at 29. 4x trailing P/E (22. 7x 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.

Over the past 5 years, The Ensign Group, Inc.

(ENSG) delivered a total return of +105. 6%, compared to -99. 9% for IMAC Holdings, Inc. (BACK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ENSG returned +738. 2% versus BACK's -100. 0%. 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), IMAC Holdings, Inc.

(BACK) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 04β versus The Ensign Group, Inc. 's 0. 38β — meaning ENSG is approximately -986% more volatile than BACK relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), The Ensign Group, Inc.

(ENSG) is pulling ahead at 18. 7% versus -98. 6% for IMAC Holdings, Inc. (BACK). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: The Ensign Group, Inc. grew EPS 14. 1% year-over-year, compared to -5. 4% for IMAC Holdings, 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.

The Ensign Group, Inc.

(ENSG) is the more profitable company, earning 6. 8% net margin versus -125. 5% for IMAC Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 6. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ENSG leads at 8. 6% versus -78. 0% for BACK. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ENSG leads at 13. 7%, 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.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

IMAC Holdings, Inc. (BACK) offers the highest yield at 100. 0%, versus 0. 1% for The Ensign Group, Inc. (ENSG).

For long-horizon retirement investors, IMAC Holdings, Inc.

(BACK) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 04), 100. 0% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (BACK: -100. 0%, ENSG: +738. 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: BACK is a small-cap income-oriented stock; ENSG is a mid-cap high-growth stock. BACK pays a dividend while ENSG 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.