MPW vs HR

For growth investors, Medical Properties Trust, Inc.

(MPW) is the stronger pick with -2. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -6. 9% for Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated (HR). Analysts rate Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (MPW) a "Hold" — based on 28 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.

Over the past 5 years, Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated (HR) delivered a total return of +3.

8%, compared to -55. 6% for Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (MPW). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HR returned +41. 5% versus MPW's +0. 7%. 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), Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated (HR) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

13β versus Medical Properties Trust, Inc. 's 0. 30β — meaning MPW is approximately 127% more volatile than HR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (MPW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 89% for Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Medical Properties Trust, Inc.

(MPW) is pulling ahead at -2. 4% versus -6. 9% for Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated (HR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Medical Properties Trust, Inc. grew EPS 91. 8% year-over-year, compared to 60. 8% for Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated. Over a 3-year CAGR, HR leads at 8. 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.

Medical Properties Trust, Inc.

(MPW) is the more profitable company, earning -20. 4% net margin versus -20. 8% for Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated — meaning it keeps -20. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MPW leads at 38. 1% versus 8. 0% for HR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MPW leads at 55. 7%, 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HR: -4.

5% to $19. 33.

In this comparison, HR (5.

5% yield) pays a dividend. MPW does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated (HR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

13), 5. 5% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HR: +41. 5%, MPW: +0. 7%), 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.

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: MPW is a small-cap quality compounder stock; HR is a small-cap income-oriented stock. HR pays a dividend while MPW 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.