CXW vs ADUS vs ENSG vs GEO vs ACHC

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

2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 0% for Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (ACHC). The GEO Group, Inc. (GEO) offers the better valuation at 12. 0x trailing P/E (17. 8x 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, The GEO Group, Inc.

(GEO) is the cheapest at 12. 0x versus The Ensign Group, Inc. at 29. 4x. On forward P/E, CoreCivic, Inc. is actually cheaper at 13. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: CoreCivic, Inc. wins at 0. 68x versus The Ensign Group, Inc. 's 1. 64x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, The GEO Group, Inc.

(GEO) delivered a total return of +263. 3%, compared to -60. 3% for Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (ACHC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ENSG returned +738. 2% versus ACHC's -57. 2%. 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), The Ensign Group, Inc.

(ENSG) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 38β versus The GEO Group, Inc. 's 1. 22β — meaning GEO is approximately 221% more volatile than ENSG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Addus HomeCare Corporation (ADUS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 19% versus 186% for The Ensign Group, 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 5. 0% for Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (ACHC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: The GEO Group, Inc. grew EPS 727. 3% year-over-year, compared to -537. 4% for Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ENSG leads at 18. 7% 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.

The GEO Group, Inc.

(GEO) is the more profitable company, earning 9. 7% net margin versus -33. 3% for Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. — meaning it keeps 9. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CXW leads at 15. 8% versus 8. 6% for ENSG. 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, CoreCivic, Inc. (CXW) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 68x versus The Ensign Group, Inc. 's 1. 64x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, CoreCivic, Inc. (CXW) trades at 13. 0x forward P/E versus 22. 7x for The Ensign Group, Inc. — 9. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ENSG: 29. 7% to $222. 33.

In this comparison, ENSG (0.

1% yield) pays a dividend. CXW, ADUS, GEO, ACHC do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, The Ensign Group, Inc.

(ENSG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 38), +738. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ENSG: +738. 2%, GEO: +38. 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 (CXW (Real Estate) and ADUS (Healthcare) and ENSG (Healthcare) and GEO (Industrials) and ACHC (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; ENSG is a mid-cap high-growth stock; GEO is a small-cap deep-value stock; ACHC is a small-cap quality compounder 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.