Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare CareTrust REIT, Inc. (CTRE) vs Strawberry Fields REIT LLC (STRW) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | CTRE | 108.7% revenue growth vs STRW's 17.3% |
| Value | STRW | Lower P/E (16.4x vs 27.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | CTRE | 80.6% net margin vs STRW's 4.8% |
| Stability / Safety | CTRE | Beta 0.17 vs STRW's 0.53 |
| Dividends | STRW | 4.4% yield, 2-year raise streak, vs CTRE's 3.1% |
| Momentum (1Y) | CTRE | +62.2% vs STRW's +14.3% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CTRE | 5.1% ROA vs STRW's 0.8%, ROIC 10.1% vs 7.2% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
CareTrust REIT is a healthcare-focused real estate investment trust that owns and leases skilled nursing facilities, senior housing, and other medical properties across the United States. It generates revenue primarily through long-term triple-net leases—where tenants pay rent plus property expenses—with skilled nursing facilities representing its largest segment. The company's competitive advantage lies in its specialized healthcare real estate expertise and relationships with quality operators in a fragmented industry.
Strawberry Fields REIT is a real estate investment trust that owns and leases skilled nursing facilities and other post-acute healthcare properties. It generates revenue primarily through long-term triple-net leases—where tenants cover property expenses—with healthcare operators, creating stable rental income streams. The company's moat lies in its specialized healthcare real estate portfolio and triple-net lease structure that transfers operational risks to tenants while providing predictable cash flows.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
CTRE leads in 4 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). STRW leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Analyst Outlook).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
CTRE is the larger business by revenue, generating $324M annually — 2.2x STRW's $145M. CTRE is the more profitable business, keeping 80.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to STRW's 4.8%. On growth, CTRE holds the edge at +82.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CTRECareTrust REIT, I… | STRWStrawberry Fields… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $324M | $145M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $262M | $123M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $261M | $7M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $334M | $88M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +96.6% | +81.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +55.7% | +54.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +80.6% | +4.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +103.2% | +60.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +82.4% | +34.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +66.7% | +6.7% |
Valuation Metrics
At 22.5x trailing earnings, STRW trades at a 13% valuation discount to CTRE's 25.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, STRW's 8.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CTRE's 15.7x.
| Metric | CTRECareTrust REIT, I… | STRWStrawberry Fields… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $9.0B | $168M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $8.8B | $791M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 25.87x | 22.46x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 27.11x | 16.41x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.22x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 15.72x | 8.29x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 18.99x | 1.43x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.05x | 1.09x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 22.96x | 4.75x |
Profitability & Efficiency
STRW delivers a 11.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $11 in annual profit, vs $7 for CTRE. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), STRW scores 7/9 vs CTRE's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | CTRECareTrust REIT, I… | STRWStrawberry Fields… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +6.5% | +11.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.1% | +0.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +10.1% | +7.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +11.0% | +9.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 8.04x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$198M | $623M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $198M | $48M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $0 | $672M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 10.76x | 1.82x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in CTRE five years ago would be worth $20,333 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $14,470 for STRW. Over the past 12 months, CTRE leads with a +62.2% total return vs STRW's +14.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CTRE at 31.0% vs STRW's 21.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CTRECareTrust REIT, I… | STRWStrawberry Fields… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +11.9% | -1.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +62.2% | +14.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +124.9% | +79.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +103.3% | +44.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +343.7% | +44.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +31.0% | +21.6% |
Risk & Volatility
CTRE is the less volatile stock with a 0.17 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than STRW's 0.53 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CTRE currently trades 97.4% from its 52-week high vs STRW's 91.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CTRECareTrust REIT, I… | STRWStrawberry Fields… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.17x | 0.53x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $41.72 | $14.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $25.48 | $8.70 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +97.4% | +91.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 69.8 | 48.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.5M | 22K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CTRE as "Buy" and STRW as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 19.8% upside for STRW (target: $15) vs 3.7% for CTRE (target: $42). For income investors, STRW offers the higher dividend yield at 4.42% vs CTRE's 3.13%.
| Metric | CTRECareTrust REIT, I… | STRWStrawberry Fields… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $42.11 | $15.33 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 19 | 2 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.1% | +4.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.27 | $0.57 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +1.5% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Oct 22 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| CareTrust REIT, Inc. (CTRE) | 100 | 200.16 | +100.2% |
| Strawberry Fields R… (STRW) | 101.73 | 132.5 | +30.3% |
CareTrust REIT, Inc. (CTRE) returned +103% over 5 years vs Strawberry Fields R… (STRW)'s +45%. A $10,000 investment in CTRE 5 years ago would be worth $20,333 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| CareTrust REIT, Inc. (CTRE) | $104M | $476M | +358.3% |
| Strawberry Fields R… (STRW) | $84M | $117M | +39.2% |
CareTrust REIT, Inc.'s revenue grew from $104M (2016) to $476M (2025) — a 18.4% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| CareTrust REIT, Inc. (CTRE) | 28.2% | 67.3% | +138.3% |
| Strawberry Fields R… (STRW) | 14.1% | 3.5% | -75.3% |
CareTrust REIT, Inc.'s net margin went from 28% (2016) to 67% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| CareTrust REIT, Inc. (CTRE) | 46.6 | 23 | -50.6% |
| Strawberry Fields R… (STRW) | 26.6 | 18.5 | -30.5% |
CareTrust REIT, Inc. has traded in a 23x–103x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~26x. Strawberry Fields REIT LLC has traded in a 19x–27x P/E range over 3 years; current trailing P/E is ~22x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| CareTrust REIT, Inc. (CTRE) | 0.52 | 1.57 | +201.9% |
| Strawberry Fields R… (STRW) | -2.06 | 0.57 | +127.7% |
CareTrust REIT, Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.52 (2016) to $1.57 (2025) — a 13% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
CareTrust REIT, Inc. generated $394M FCF in 2025 (+161% vs 2021). Strawberry Fields REIT LLC generated $35M FCF in 2024 (-21% vs 2021).
CTRE vs STRW: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CTRE or STRW a better buy right now?
Strawberry Fields REIT LLC (STRW) offers the better valuation at 22.5x trailing P/E (16.4x 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.
02Which has the better valuation — CTRE or STRW?
On trailing P/E, Strawberry Fields REIT LLC (STRW) is the cheapest at 22.5x versus CareTrust REIT, Inc. at 25.9x. On forward P/E, Strawberry Fields REIT LLC is actually cheaper at 16.4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CTRE or STRW?
Over the past 5 years, CareTrust REIT, Inc. (CTRE) delivered a total return of +103.3%, compared to +44.7% for Strawberry Fields REIT LLC (STRW). A $10,000 investment in CTRE five years ago would be worth approximately $20K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CTRE returned +343.7% versus STRW's +44.7%. 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 — CTRE or STRW?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), CareTrust REIT, Inc. (CTRE) is the lower-risk stock at 0.17β versus Strawberry Fields REIT LLC's 0.53β — meaning STRW is approximately 217% more volatile than CTRE relative to the S&P 500.
05Which has better profit margins — CTRE or STRW?
CareTrust REIT, Inc. (CTRE) is the more profitable company, earning 67.3% net margin versus 3.5% for Strawberry Fields REIT LLC — 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 52.4% for STRW. 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.
06Is CTRE or STRW more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Strawberry Fields REIT LLC (STRW) trades at 16.4x forward P/E versus 27.1x for CareTrust REIT, Inc. — 10.7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for STRW: 19.8% to $15.33.
07Which pays a better dividend — CTRE or STRW?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Strawberry Fields REIT LLC (STRW) offers the highest yield at 4.4%, versus 3.1% for CareTrust REIT, Inc. (CTRE).
08Is CTRE or STRW better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, CareTrust REIT, Inc. (CTRE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.17), 3.1% yield, +343.7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CTRE: +343.7%, STRW: +44.7%), 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.
09What are the main differences between CTRE and STRW?
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. 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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