CHE vs CSV vs SCI vs ADUS vs ENSG

For growth investors, Addus HomeCare Corporation (ADUS) is the stronger pick with 23.

2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 9% for Service Corporation International (SCI). Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV) offers the better valuation at 13. 7x trailing P/E (12. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV) a "Buy" — based on 7 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, Carriage Services, Inc.

(CSV) is the cheapest at 13. 7x versus The Ensign Group, Inc. at 29. 8x. On forward P/E, Carriage Services, Inc. is actually cheaper at 12. 9x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Carriage Services, Inc. wins at 0. 44x versus Service Corporation International's 3. 30x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

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

(ENSG) delivered a total return of +103. 2%, compared to -11. 2% for Chemed Corporation (CHE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ENSG returned +752. 0% versus CSV's +102. 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), Service Corporation International (SCI) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

11β versus Carriage Services, Inc. 's 0. 66β — meaning CSV is approximately 482% more volatile than SCI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Chemed Corporation (CHE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 16% versus 3% for Service Corporation International — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Addus HomeCare Corporation (ADUS) is pulling ahead at 23.

2% versus 2. 9% for Service Corporation International (SCI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Carriage Services, Inc. grew EPS 54. 8% year-over-year, compared to -7. 4% for Chemed Corporation. 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.

Service Corporation International (SCI) is the more profitable company, earning 12.

6% net margin versus 6. 7% for Addus HomeCare Corporation — meaning it keeps 12. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CSV leads at 23. 7% versus 8. 6% for ENSG. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CSV leads at 35. 3%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 44x versus Service Corporation International's 3. 30x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV) trades at 12. 9x forward P/E versus 23. 2x for The Ensign Group, Inc. — 10. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ADUS: 32. 3% to $128. 67.

In this comparison, SCI (1.

6% yield), CSV (1. 0% yield), CHE (0. 5% yield), ENSG (0. 1% yield) pay a dividend. ADUS does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Service Corporation International (SCI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

11), 1. 6% yield, +225. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SCI: +225. 6%, ADUS: +399. 9%), 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 (CHE (Healthcare) and CSV (Consumer Cyclical) and SCI (Consumer Cyclical) and ADUS (Healthcare) and ENSG (Healthcare)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CHE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CSV is a small-cap deep-value stock; SCI is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; ADUS is a small-cap high-growth stock; ENSG is a mid-cap high-growth stock. CHE, CSV, SCI pay a dividend while ADUS, ENSG 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.