CON vs USPH vs CCRN vs ACHC

For growth investors, U.

S. Physical Therapy, Inc. (USPH) is the stronger pick with 16. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -21. 6% for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (CCRN). Concentra Group Holdings Parent, Inc. (CON) offers the better valuation at 18. 2x trailing P/E (16. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Concentra Group Holdings Parent, Inc. (CON) a "Buy" — based on 4 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, Concentra Group Holdings Parent, Inc.

(CON) is the cheapest at 18. 2x versus U. S. Physical Therapy, Inc. at 41. 5x. On forward P/E, Concentra Group Holdings Parent, Inc. is actually cheaper at 16. 3x.

Over the past 5 years, Concentra Group Holdings Parent, Inc.

(CON) delivered a total return of +6. 7%, compared to -61. 8% for Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (ACHC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: USPH returned +23. 1% versus ACHC's -57. 2%. 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), Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.

(CCRN) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 68β versus U. S. Physical Therapy, Inc. 's 1. 00β — meaning USPH is approximately 48% more volatile than CCRN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (CCRN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 5% for Concentra Group Holdings Parent, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), U.

S. Physical Therapy, Inc. (USPH) is pulling ahead at 16. 3% versus -21. 6% for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (CCRN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Concentra Group Holdings Parent, Inc. grew EPS 0. 0% year-over-year, compared to -565. 9% for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, USPH leads at 12. 2% 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.

Concentra Group Holdings Parent, Inc.

(CON) is the more profitable company, earning 8. 0% net margin versus -33. 3% for Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. — meaning it keeps 8. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CON leads at 96. 5% versus -0. 3% for CCRN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CON leads at 28. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Concentra Group Holdings Parent, Inc.

(CON) trades at 16. 3x forward P/E versus 156. 2x for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. — 139. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for USPH: 72. 9% to $102. 00.

In this comparison, USPH (3.

1% yield), CON (1. 1% yield) pay a dividend. CCRN, ACHC do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Concentra Group Holdings Parent, Inc.

(CON) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 70), 1. 1% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CON: +9. 1%, ACHC: -57. 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: CON is a small-cap quality compounder stock; USPH is a small-cap high-growth stock; CCRN is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ACHC is a small-cap quality compounder stock. CON, USPH pay a dividend while CCRN, ACHC 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.