CTRE vs WELL vs VTR vs SBRA

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). CareTrust REIT, Inc. (CTRE) offers the better valuation at 25. 1x trailing P/E (26. 6x 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, CareTrust REIT, Inc.

(CTRE) is the cheapest at 25. 1x versus Ventas, Inc. at 160. 4x. On forward P/E, CareTrust REIT, Inc. is actually cheaper at 26. 6x.

Over the past 5 years, Welltower Inc.

(WELL) delivered a total return of +211. 9%, compared to +52. 4% for Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. (SBRA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CTRE returned +270. 6% versus SBRA's +54. 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), Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.

(SBRA) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 06β versus CareTrust REIT, Inc. 's 0. 14β — meaning CTRE is approximately -311% more volatile than SBRA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Welltower Inc. (WELL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 49% versus 105% for Ventas, 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: Ventas, Inc. grew EPS 184. 2% year-over-year, compared to -11. 5% for Welltower 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 4. 3% for Ventas, 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 3. 3% for WELL. 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.

On forward earnings alone, CareTrust REIT, Inc.

(CTRE) trades at 26. 6x forward P/E versus 118. 1x for Ventas, Inc. — 91. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CTRE: 7. 6% to $42. 50.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. (SBRA) offers the highest yield at 5. 8%, versus 1. 3% for Welltower Inc. (WELL).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.

(SBRA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 06), 5. 8% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SBRA: +54. 1%, VTR: +66. 5%), 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; WELL is a mid-cap high-growth stock; VTR is a mid-cap high-growth stock; SBRA 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.