CHE
Chemed Corporation
Medical - Care Facilities
Market Cap$5.81B
5Y Perf.-11.3%
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Stock Comparison
CHE vs ENSG
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
ENSG
The Ensign Group, Inc.
Medical - Care Facilities
Market Cap$10.28B
5Y Perf.+302.4%
CHE vs ENSG — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | CHE | ENSG |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Medical - Care Facilities | Medical - Care Facilities |
| Market Cap | $5.81B | $10.28B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $2.54B | $5.27B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $260M | $363M |
| Gross Margin | 22.5% | 15.2% |
| Operating Margin | 12.9% | 8.5% |
| Forward P/E | 17.4x | 23.4x |
| Total Debt | $155M | $4.15B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $75M | $504M |
CHE vs ENSG — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
CHE
ENSG
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemed Corporation (CHE) | 100 | 88.7 | -11.3% |
| The Ensign Group, I… (ENSG) | 100 | 402.4 | +302.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CHE vs ENSG
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: CHE leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. The Ensign Group, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
CHE
Chemed Corporation
The Income Pick
CHE carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 18 yrs, beta 0.33, yield 0.5%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.33, Low D/E 15.8%, current ratio 1.05x
- Beta 0.33, yield 0.5%, current ratio 1.05x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
ENSG
The Ensign Group, Inc.
The Growth Play
ENSG is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 18.7%, EPS growth 14.1%, 3Y rev CAGR 18.7%
- 7.7% 10Y total return vs CHE's 239.1%
- 18.7% revenue growth vs CHE's 4.1%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ENSG | 18.7% revenue growth vs CHE's 4.1% |
| Value | CHE | Lower P/E (17.4x vs 23.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | CHE | 10.2% margin vs ENSG's 6.9% |
| Stability / Safety | CHE | Beta 0.33 vs ENSG's 0.42, lower leverage |
| Dividends | CHE | 0.5% yield, 18-year raise streak, vs ENSG's 0.1% |
| Momentum (1Y) | ENSG | +31.9% vs CHE's -26.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CHE | 15.9% ROA vs ENSG's 6.8%, ROIC 23.7% vs 7.0% |
CHE vs ENSG — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
CHE vs ENSG — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLCHELAGGINGENSG
ENSGThe Ensign Group, Inc.
1leads
CHEChemed Corporation
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs ENSGMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
CHE4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
CHE4/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
CHE8/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
ENSG6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
CHE2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CHE leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ENSG is the larger business by revenue, generating $5.3B annually — 2.1x CHE's $2.5B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 10.2% (CHE) to 6.9% (ENSG). On growth, ENSG holds the edge at +18.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CHEChemed Corporation | ENSGThe Ensign Group,… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.5B | $5.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $377M | $558M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $260M | $363M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $377M | $406M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +22.5% | +15.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +12.9% | +8.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +10.2% | +6.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +14.8% | +7.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +1.6% | +18.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -0.2% | +21.9% |
CHE leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
CHE leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 23.0x trailing earnings, CHE trades at a 23% valuation discount to ENSG's 30.1x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, CHE's 14.6x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than ENSG's 25.9x.
| Metric | CHEChemed Corporation | ENSGThe Ensign Group,… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $5.8B | $10.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $5.9B | $13.9B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 23.05x | 30.13x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 17.43x | 23.40x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 2.18x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 14.60x | 25.88x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.29x | 2.03x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 6.24x | 4.63x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 17.84x | 27.72x |
CHE leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CHE leads this category, winning 8 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CHE delivers a 25.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $25 in annual profit, vs $17 for ENSG. CHE carries lower financial leverage with a 0.16x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ENSG's 1.86x.
| Metric | CHEChemed Corporation | ENSGThe Ensign Group,… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +25.3% | +16.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +15.9% | +6.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +23.7% | +7.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +24.7% | +10.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.16x | 1.86x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $80M | $3.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $75M | $504M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $155M | $4.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 107.24x | 88.33x |
CHE leads this category, winning 8 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
ENSG leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ENSG five years ago would be worth $20,770 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $8,964 for CHE. Over the past 12 months, ENSG leads with a +31.9% total return vs CHE's -26.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ENSG at 24.0% vs CHE's -8.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CHEChemed Corporation | ENSGThe Ensign Group,… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +0.3% | +1.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -26.0% | +31.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -22.1% | +90.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -10.4% | +107.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +239.1% | +768.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -8.0% | +24.0% |
ENSG leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — CHE and ENSG each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CHE is the less volatile stock with a 0.33 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ENSG's 0.42 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. ENSG currently trades 80.7% from its 52-week high vs CHE's 72.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CHEChemed Corporation | ENSGThe Ensign Group,… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.33x | 0.42x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $583.96 | $218.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $365.20 | $129.91 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +72.7% | +80.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 67.6 | 23.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 275K | 352K |
Evenly matched — CHE and ENSG each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
CHE leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CHE as "Hold" and ENSG as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 26.4% upside for ENSG (target: $222) vs 11.9% for CHE (target: $475). For income investors, CHE offers the higher dividend yield at 0.52% vs ENSG's 0.14%.
| Metric | CHEChemed Corporation | ENSGThe Ensign Group,… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $475.00 | $222.33 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 9 | 13 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.5% | +0.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 18 | 12 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.20 | $0.24 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +7.4% | +0.2% |
CHE leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
CHE leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). ENSG leads in 1 (Total Returns). 1 tied.
Best OverallChemed Corporation (CHE)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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CHE vs ENSG: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CHE or ENSG a better buy right now?
For growth investors, The Ensign Group, Inc.
(ENSG) is the stronger pick with 18. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 1% for Chemed Corporation (CHE). Chemed Corporation (CHE) offers the better valuation at 23. 0x trailing P/E (17. 4x 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 — CHE or ENSG?
On trailing P/E, Chemed Corporation (CHE) is the cheapest at 23.
0x versus The Ensign Group, Inc. at 30. 1x. On forward P/E, Chemed Corporation is actually cheaper at 17. 4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CHE or ENSG?
Over the past 5 years, The Ensign Group, Inc.
(ENSG) delivered a total return of +107. 7%, compared to -10. 4% for Chemed Corporation (CHE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ENSG returned +768. 3% versus CHE's +239. 1%. 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 — CHE or ENSG?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Chemed Corporation (CHE) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
33β versus The Ensign Group, Inc. 's 0. 42β — meaning ENSG is approximately 29% more volatile than CHE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Chemed Corporation (CHE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 16% versus 186% for The Ensign Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — CHE or ENSG?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), The Ensign Group, Inc.
(ENSG) is pulling ahead at 18. 7% versus 4. 1% for Chemed Corporation (CHE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: The Ensign Group, Inc. grew EPS 14. 1% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — CHE or ENSG?
Chemed Corporation (CHE) is the more profitable company, earning 10.
5% net margin versus 6. 8% for The Ensign Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 10. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CHE leads at 13. 4% versus 8. 6% for ENSG. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CHE leads at 30. 0%, 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 CHE or ENSG more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Chemed Corporation (CHE) trades at 17.
4x forward P/E versus 23. 4x for The Ensign Group, Inc. — 6. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ENSG: 26. 4% to $222. 33.
08Which pays a better dividend — CHE or ENSG?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Chemed Corporation (CHE) offers the highest yield at 0. 5%, versus 0. 1% for The Ensign Group, Inc. (ENSG).
09Is CHE or ENSG better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Chemed Corporation (CHE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
33), 0. 5% yield, +239. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CHE: +239. 1%, ENSG: +768. 3%), 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 CHE 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.
In terms of investment character: CHE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ENSG is a mid-cap high-growth stock. CHE 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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(CHE: 1.6% · ENSG: 18.4%)Net Margin>
%
(CHE: 10.2% · ENSG: 6.9%)P/E Ratio<
x
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