CXW vs ADUS

For growth investors, Addus HomeCare Corporation (ADUS) is the stronger pick with 23.

2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 12. 7% for CoreCivic, Inc. (CXW). Addus HomeCare Corporation (ADUS) offers the better valuation at 18. 7x trailing P/E (14. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate CoreCivic, Inc. (CXW) a "Buy" — based on 12 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, Addus HomeCare Corporation (ADUS) is the cheapest at 18.

7x versus CoreCivic, Inc. at 20. 2x. On forward P/E, Addus HomeCare Corporation is actually cheaper at 14. 1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Addus HomeCare Corporation wins at 0. 70x versus CoreCivic, Inc. 's 0. 75x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, CoreCivic, Inc.

(CXW) delivered a total return of +167. 9%, compared to +0. 0% for Addus HomeCare Corporation (ADUS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ADUS returned +399. 9% versus CXW's -13. 4%. 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), Addus HomeCare Corporation (ADUS) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

58β versus CoreCivic, Inc. 's 0. 61β — meaning CXW is approximately 6% more volatile than ADUS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Addus HomeCare Corporation (ADUS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 19% versus 87% for CoreCivic, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Addus HomeCare Corporation (ADUS) is pulling ahead at 23.

2% versus 12. 7% for CoreCivic, Inc. (CXW). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: CoreCivic, Inc. grew EPS 74. 2% year-over-year, compared to 23. 2% for Addus HomeCare Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, ADUS leads at 14. 4% 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.

Addus HomeCare Corporation (ADUS) is the more profitable company, earning 6.

7% net margin versus 5. 3% for CoreCivic, Inc. — meaning it keeps 6. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CXW leads at 15. 8% versus 9. 7% for ADUS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ADUS leads at 32. 5%, 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, Addus HomeCare Corporation (ADUS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 70x versus CoreCivic, Inc. 's 0. 75x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Addus HomeCare Corporation (ADUS) trades at 14. 1x forward P/E versus 14. 4x for CoreCivic, Inc. — 0. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ADUS: 32. 3% to $128. 67.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Addus HomeCare Corporation (ADUS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

58), +399. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ADUS: +399. 9%, CXW: -13. 4%), 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 (CXW (Real Estate) and ADUS (Healthcare)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CXW is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ADUS is a small-cap high-growth 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.