CXW vs ENSG

For growth investors, The Ensign Group, Inc.

(ENSG) is the stronger pick with 18. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 12. 7% for CoreCivic, Inc. (CXW). CoreCivic, Inc. (CXW) offers the better valuation at 19. 6x trailing P/E (14. 0x 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, CoreCivic, Inc.

(CXW) is the cheapest at 19. 6x versus The Ensign Group, Inc. at 30. 1x. On forward P/E, CoreCivic, Inc. is actually cheaper at 14. 0x.

Over the past 5 years, CoreCivic, Inc.

(CXW) delivered a total return of +167. 6%, compared to +107. 7% for The Ensign Group, Inc. (ENSG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ENSG returned +768. 3% versus CXW's -15. 3%. 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. 42β versus CoreCivic, Inc. 's 0. 61β — meaning CXW is approximately 44% more volatile than ENSG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, CoreCivic, Inc. (CXW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 87% versus 186% for The Ensign Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), The Ensign Group, Inc.

(ENSG) is pulling ahead at 18. 7% 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 14. 1% for The Ensign Group, 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 Ensign Group, Inc.

(ENSG) is the more profitable company, earning 6. 8% net margin versus 5. 3% for CoreCivic, Inc. — meaning it keeps 6. 8% 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 — CXW leads at 23. 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.

On forward earnings alone, CoreCivic, Inc.

(CXW) trades at 14. 0x forward P/E versus 23. 4x for The Ensign Group, Inc. — 9. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ENSG: 26. 4% to $222. 33.

In this comparison, ENSG (0.

1% yield) pays a dividend. CXW does 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. 42), +768. 3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ENSG: +768. 3%, CXW: -15. 3%), 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 ENSG (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; ENSG is a mid-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.