Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare LTC Properties, Inc. (LTC) vs CareTrust REIT, Inc. (CTRE) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | CTRE | 108.7% revenue growth vs LTC's 25.3% |
| Value | LTC | Lower P/E (20.4x vs 27.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | CTRE | 80.6% net margin vs LTC's 44.9% |
| Stability / Safety | LTC | Beta 0.13 vs CTRE's 0.17 |
| Dividends | CTRE | 3.1% yield; 2-year raise streak; LTC pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | CTRE | +62.2% vs LTC's +20.3% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | LTC | 5.7% ROA vs CTRE's 5.1%, ROIC 8.9% vs 10.1% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Valuation efficiency (growth/$)
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
LTC Properties is a real estate investment trust that invests in seniors housing and healthcare properties across the United States. It generates revenue primarily through rental income from its portfolio of skilled nursing facilities and senior living communities — roughly split 50/50 between the two segments — along with mortgage interest and structured finance returns. The company's competitive advantage lies in its specialized focus on healthcare real estate and its long-term relationships with experienced operators in the seniors housing sector.
CareTrust REIT is a healthcare-focused real estate investment trust that owns and leases skilled nursing facilities, senior housing, and other medical properties across the United States. It generates revenue primarily through long-term triple-net leases—where tenants pay rent plus property expenses—with skilled nursing facilities representing its largest segment. The company's competitive advantage lies in its specialized healthcare real estate expertise and relationships with quality operators in a fragmented industry.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
CTRE leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Total Returns). LTC leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
CTRE and LTC operate at a comparable scale, with $324M and $263M in trailing revenue. CTRE is the more profitable business, keeping 80.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to LTC's 44.9%. On growth, CTRE holds the edge at +82.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | LTCLTC Properties, I… | CTRECareTrust REIT, I… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $263M | $324M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $247M | $262M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $118M | $261M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $98M | $334M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +79.4% | +96.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +79.4% | +55.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +44.9% | +80.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +37.3% | +103.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +60.3% | +82.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +4.6% | +66.7% |
Valuation Metrics
At 15.7x trailing earnings, LTC trades at a 39% valuation discount to CTRE's 25.9x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), CTRE offers better value at 1.22x vs LTC's 25.13x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | LTCLTC Properties, I… | CTRECareTrust REIT, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.9B | $9.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.6B | $8.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 15.75x | 25.87x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 20.44x | 27.11x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 25.13x | 1.22x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 10.35x | 15.72x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 7.32x | 18.99x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.59x | 2.05x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 14.15x | 22.96x |
Profitability & Efficiency
LTC delivers a 10.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $10 in annual profit, vs $7 for CTRE. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), LTC scores 7/9 vs CTRE's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | LTCLTC Properties, I… | CTRECareTrust REIT, I… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +10.1% | +6.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.7% | +5.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +8.9% | +10.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +13.9% | +11.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.55x | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $630M | -$198M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $14M | $198M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $644M | $0 |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 5.91x | 10.76x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in CTRE five years ago would be worth $20,333 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $12,365 for LTC. Over the past 12 months, CTRE leads with a +62.2% total return vs LTC's +20.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CTRE at 31.0% vs LTC's 9.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | LTCLTC Properties, I… | CTRECareTrust REIT, I… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +15.6% | +11.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +20.3% | +62.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +29.9% | +124.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +23.7% | +103.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +40.4% | +343.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +9.1% | +31.0% |
Risk & Volatility
LTC is the less volatile stock with a 0.13 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CTRE's 0.17 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | LTCLTC Properties, I… | CTRECareTrust REIT, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.13x | 0.17x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $40.80 | $41.72 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $31.70 | $25.48 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +97.3% | +97.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 72.3 | 69.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 343K | 1.5M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates LTC as "Hold" and CTRE as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 3.7% upside for CTRE (target: $42) vs -6.8% for LTC (target: $37). CTRE is the only dividend payer here at 3.13% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | LTCLTC Properties, I… | CTRECareTrust REIT, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $37.00 | $42.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 22 | 19 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +3.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $1.27 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| LTC Properties, Inc. (LTC) | 100 | 78.58 | -21.4% |
| CareTrust REIT, Inc. (CTRE) | 100 | 171.58 | +71.6% |
CareTrust REIT, Inc. (CTRE) returned +103% over 5 years vs LTC Properties, Inc. (LTC)'s +24%. A $10,000 investment in CTRE 5 years ago would be worth $20,333 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| LTC Properties, Inc. (LTC) | $162M | $263M | +62.7% |
| CareTrust REIT, Inc. (CTRE) | $104M | $476M | +358.3% |
LTC Properties, Inc.'s revenue grew from $162M (2016) to $263M (2025) — a 5.6% CAGR. CareTrust REIT, Inc.'s revenue grew from $104M (2016) to $476M (2025) — a 18.4% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| LTC Properties, Inc. (LTC) | 52.7% | 44.9% | -14.8% |
| CareTrust REIT, Inc. (CTRE) | 28.2% | 67.3% | +138.3% |
LTC Properties, Inc.'s net margin went from 53% (2016) to 45% (2025). CareTrust REIT, Inc.'s net margin went from 28% (2016) to 67% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| LTC Properties, Inc. (LTC) | 19.8 | 13.6 | -31.3% |
| CareTrust REIT, Inc. (CTRE) | 46.6 | 23 | -50.6% |
LTC Properties, Inc. has traded in a 11x–24x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~16x. CareTrust REIT, Inc. has traded in a 23x–103x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~26x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| LTC Properties, Inc. (LTC) | 2.21 | 2.52 | +14.0% |
| CareTrust REIT, Inc. (CTRE) | 0.52 | 1.57 | +201.9% |
LTC Properties, Inc.'s EPS grew from $2.21 (2016) to $2.52 (2025) — a 1% CAGR. CareTrust REIT, Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.52 (2016) to $1.57 (2025) — a 13% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
LTC Properties, Inc. generated $136M FCF in 2025 (+49% vs 2021). CareTrust REIT, Inc. generated $394M FCF in 2025 (+161% vs 2021).
LTC vs CTRE: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is LTC or CTRE a better buy right now?
LTC Properties, Inc. (LTC) offers the better valuation at 15.7x trailing P/E (20.4x 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.
02Which has the better valuation — LTC or CTRE?
On trailing P/E, LTC Properties, Inc. (LTC) is the cheapest at 15.7x versus CareTrust REIT, Inc. at 25.9x. On forward P/E, LTC Properties, Inc. is actually cheaper at 20.4x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: CareTrust REIT, Inc. wins at 1.28x versus LTC Properties, Inc.'s 25.13x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.
03Which is the better long-term investment — LTC or CTRE?
Over the past 5 years, CareTrust REIT, Inc. (CTRE) delivered a total return of +103.3%, compared to +23.7% for LTC Properties, Inc. (LTC). A $10,000 investment in CTRE five years ago would be worth approximately $20K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CTRE returned +343.7% versus LTC's +40.4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — LTC or CTRE?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), LTC Properties, Inc. (LTC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.13β versus CareTrust REIT, Inc.'s 0.17β — meaning CTRE is approximately 29% more volatile than LTC relative to the S&P 500.
05Which has better profit margins — LTC or CTRE?
CareTrust REIT, Inc. (CTRE) is the more profitable company, earning 67.3% net margin versus 44.9% for LTC Properties, 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 79.4% for LTC. 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.
06Is LTC or CTRE more undervalued right now?
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, CareTrust REIT, Inc. (CTRE) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1.28x versus LTC Properties, Inc.'s 25.13x. A PEG below 1.5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, LTC Properties, Inc. (LTC) trades at 20.4x forward P/E versus 27.1x for CareTrust REIT, Inc. — 6.7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CTRE: 3.7% to $42.11.
07Which pays a better dividend — LTC or CTRE?
In this comparison, CTRE (3.1% yield) pays a dividend. LTC does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is LTC or CTRE better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, CareTrust REIT, Inc. (CTRE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.17), 3.1% yield, +343.7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CTRE: +343.7%, LTC: +40.4%), 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.
09What are the main differences between LTC and CTRE?
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: LTC is a small-cap deep-value stock; CTRE is a small-cap income-oriented stock. CTRE pays a dividend while LTC 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.
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