CWST vs USPH

For growth investors, Casella Waste Systems, Inc.

(CWST) is the stronger pick with 18. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 16. 3% for U. S. Physical Therapy, Inc. (USPH). U. S. Physical Therapy, Inc. (USPH) offers the better valuation at 51. 8x trailing P/E (20. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (CWST) 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, U.

S. Physical Therapy, Inc. (USPH) is the cheapest at 51. 8x versus Casella Waste Systems, Inc. at 704. 8x. On forward P/E, U. S. Physical Therapy, Inc. is actually cheaper at 20. 6x.

Over the past 5 years, Casella Waste Systems, Inc.

(CWST) delivered a total return of +25. 5%, compared to -29. 7% for U. S. Physical Therapy, Inc. (USPH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CWST returned +1059% versus USPH's +22. 6%. 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), Casella Waste Systems, Inc.

(CWST) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 32β versus U. S. Physical Therapy, Inc. 's 0. 93β — meaning USPH is approximately 189% more volatile than CWST relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, U. S. Physical Therapy, Inc. (USPH) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 55% versus 79% for Casella Waste Systems, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Casella Waste Systems, Inc.

(CWST) is pulling ahead at 18. 0% versus 16. 3% for U. S. Physical Therapy, Inc. (USPH). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: U. S. Physical Therapy, Inc. grew EPS -22. 8% year-over-year, compared to -47. 8% for Casella Waste Systems, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CWST leads at 19. 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.

U.

S. Physical Therapy, Inc. (USPH) is the more profitable company, earning 1. 9% net margin versus 0. 4% for Casella Waste Systems, Inc. — meaning it keeps 1. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: USPH leads at 10. 3% versus 4. 9% for CWST. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — USPH leads at 20. 1%, 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, U.

S. Physical Therapy, Inc. (USPH) trades at 20. 6x forward P/E versus 63. 9x for Casella Waste Systems, Inc. — 43. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CWST: 40. 7% to $119. 00.

In this comparison, USPH (2.

4% yield) pays a dividend. CWST does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Casella Waste Systems, Inc.

(CWST) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 32), +1059% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CWST: +1059%, USPH: +22. 6%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (CWST (Industrials) and USPH (Healthcare)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

USPH pays a dividend while CWST 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.