CTRE vs LTC vs SBRA vs NHI

For growth investors, CareTrust REIT, Inc.

(CTRE) is the stronger pick with 108. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 10. 2% for Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. (SBRA). LTC Properties, Inc. (LTC) offers the better valuation at 15. 3x trailing P/E (19. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate CareTrust REIT, Inc. (CTRE) a "Buy" — based on 19 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, LTC Properties, Inc.

(LTC) is the cheapest at 15. 3x versus Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. at 32. 0x. On forward P/E, LTC Properties, Inc. is actually cheaper at 19. 8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: CareTrust REIT, Inc. wins at 1. 25x versus LTC Properties, Inc. 's 24. 36x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, CareTrust REIT, Inc.

(CTRE) delivered a total return of +99. 1%, compared to +22. 6% for LTC Properties, Inc. (LTC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CTRE returned +270. 6% versus LTC's +26. 3%. 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), National Health Investors, Inc.

(NHI) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 08β versus CareTrust REIT, Inc. 's 0. 14β — meaning CTRE is approximately -263% more volatile than NHI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, LTC Properties, Inc. (LTC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 73% versus 90% for Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), CareTrust REIT, Inc.

(CTRE) is pulling ahead at 108. 7% versus 10. 2% for Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. (SBRA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: CareTrust REIT, Inc. grew EPS 96. 3% year-over-year, compared to -3. 5% for National Health Investors, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CTRE leads at 36. 5% 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.

CareTrust REIT, Inc.

(CTRE) is the more profitable company, earning 67. 3% net margin versus 20. 1% for Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. — meaning it keeps 67. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CTRE leads at 98. 7% versus 34. 1% for SBRA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CTRE leads at 98. 9%, 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, CareTrust REIT, Inc. (CTRE) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 25x versus LTC Properties, Inc. 's 24. 36x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, LTC Properties, Inc. (LTC) trades at 19. 8x forward P/E versus 29. 7x for Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. — 9. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NHI: 15. 6% to $85. 40.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

LTC Properties, Inc. (LTC) offers the highest yield at 6. 0%, versus 3. 2% for CareTrust REIT, Inc. (CTRE).

For long-horizon retirement investors, National Health Investors, Inc.

(NHI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 08), 4. 9% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NHI: +60. 5%, LTC: +26. 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.

Both stocks operate in the Real Estate sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: CTRE is a small-cap high-growth stock; LTC is a small-cap high-growth stock; SBRA is a small-cap income-oriented stock; NHI is a small-cap income-oriented stock. 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.