Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (MPW) vs Tenet Healthcare Corporation (THC) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
Selected Stocks
Add up to 10 tickers. Use presets or search to get started.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | THC | 3.1% revenue growth vs MPW's -2.4% |
| Value | THC | Lower P/E (14.1x vs 47.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | THC | 6.6% net margin vs MPW's -20.4% |
| Stability / Safety | MPW | Beta 0.72 vs THC's 0.93, lower leverage |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | THC | +89.1% vs MPW's -2.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | THC | 4.7% ROA vs MPW's -1.3% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Medical Properties Trust is a real estate investment trust that acquires and leases hospital facilities to healthcare operators. It generates revenue primarily through long-term triple-net leases—where tenants pay rent plus property expenses—with hospital operators across nine countries. The company's moat lies in its specialized expertise in hospital real estate and its ability to provide capital solutions that allow operators to monetize their real estate assets while maintaining operational control.
Tenet Healthcare is a diversified healthcare services company that operates hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and urgent care facilities. It generates revenue primarily from hospital operations (acute care services) and ambulatory care centers, with additional income from its Conifer segment providing revenue cycle management services to other healthcare providers. The company's scale and integrated network of facilities across multiple states create operational efficiencies and referral pathways that serve as its competitive advantage.
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
THC leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). MPW leads in 1 (Financial Metrics). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
THC is the larger business by revenue, generating $21.3B annually — 21.9x MPW's $972M. THC is the more profitable business, keeping 6.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to MPW's -20.4%. On growth, MPW holds the edge at +14.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | MPWMedical Propertie… | THCTenet Healthcare … |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $972M | $21.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $663M | $4.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$199M | $1.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $0 | $2.5B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +55.7% | +55.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +38.1% | +16.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -20.4% | +6.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +23.7% | +11.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +14.9% | +9.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +123.2% | +27.1% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, THC's 7.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than MPW's 100.9x.
| Metric | MPWMedical Propertie… | THCTenet Healthcare … |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.2B | $21.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.8B | $31.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -16.48x | 15.45x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 47.59x | 14.12x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.47x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 100.95x | 7.17x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.34x | 0.99x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.71x | 2.42x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 14.07x | 8.32x |
Profitability & Efficiency
THC delivers a 15.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $16 in annual profit, vs $-4 for MPW. MPW carries lower financial leverage with a 0.03x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to THC's 1.47x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), THC scores 7/9 vs MPW's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | MPWMedical Propertie… | THCTenet Healthcare … |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -4.3% | +15.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -1.3% | +4.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | — | +13.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | — | +14.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.03x | 1.47x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$413M | $10.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $541M | $2.9B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $128M | $13.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 5.85x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in THC five years ago would be worth $45,270 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $4,351 for MPW. Over the past 12 months, THC leads with a +89.1% total return vs MPW's -2.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors THC at 59.9% vs MPW's -11.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | MPWMedical Propertie… | THCTenet Healthcare … |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +7.1% | +20.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -2.2% | +89.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -31.0% | +309.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -56.5% | +352.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +24.1% | +864.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -11.6% | +59.9% |
Risk & Volatility
MPW is the less volatile stock with a 0.72 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than THC's 0.93 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. THC currently trades 99.5% from its 52-week high vs MPW's 85.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | MPWMedical Propertie… | THCTenet Healthcare … |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.72x | 0.93x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $6.34 | $240.57 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $3.95 | $109.82 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +85.8% | +99.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 64.2 | 74.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 5.7M | 826K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates MPW as "Hold" and THC as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 7.5% upside for THC (target: $257) vs -8.1% for MPW (target: $5).
| Metric | MPWMedical Propertie… | THCTenet Healthcare … |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $5.00 | $257.45 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 28 | 32 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +6.8% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Feb 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Properties … (MPW) | 100 | 23.76 | -76.2% |
| Tenet Healthcare Co… (THC) | 100 | 715.49 | +615.5% |
Tenet Healthcare Co… (THC) returned +353% over 5 years vs Medical Properties … (MPW)'s -56%. A $10,000 investment in THC 5 years ago would be worth $45,270 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Properties … (MPW) | $541M | $972M | +79.6% |
| Tenet Healthcare Co… (THC) | $19.6B | $21.3B | +8.6% |
Medical Properties Trust, Inc.'s revenue grew from $541M (2016) to $972M (2025) — a 6.7% CAGR. Tenet Healthcare Corporation's revenue grew from $19.6B (2016) to $21.3B (2025) — a 0.9% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Properties … (MPW) | 41.6% | -20.4% | -149.2% |
| Tenet Healthcare Co… (THC) | -1.0% | 6.6% | +774.8% |
Medical Properties Trust, Inc.'s net margin went from 42% (2016) to -20% (2025). Tenet Healthcare Corporation's net margin went from -1% (2016) to 7% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Properties … (MPW) | 16.8 | 7.4 | -56.0% |
| Tenet Healthcare Co… (THC) | 16 | 12.8 | -20.0% |
Medical Properties Trust, Inc. has traded in a 6x–27x P/E range over 6 years; current trailing P/E is ~-16x. Tenet Healthcare Corporation has traded in a 4x–16x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~15x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Properties … (MPW) | 0.86 | -0.33 | -138.4% |
| Tenet Healthcare Co… (THC) | -1.93 | 15.49 | +902.6% |
Medical Properties Trust, Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.86 (2016) to $-0.33 (2025) — a NaN% CAGR. Tenet Healthcare Corporation's EPS grew from $-1.93 (2016) to $15.49 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Medical Properties Trust, Inc. generated $231M FCF in 2025 (-69% vs 2021). Tenet Healthcare Corporation generated $3B FCF in 2025 (+178% vs 2021).
MPW vs THC: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is MPW or THC a better buy right now?
Tenet Healthcare Corporation (THC) offers the better valuation at 15.5x trailing P/E (14.1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Tenet Healthcare Corporation (THC) a "Buy" — based on 32 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 — MPW or THC?
On forward P/E, Tenet Healthcare Corporation is actually cheaper at 14.1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — MPW or THC?
Over the past 5 years, Tenet Healthcare Corporation (THC) delivered a total return of +352.7%, compared to -56.5% for Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (MPW). A $10,000 investment in THC five years ago would be worth approximately $45K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: THC returned +864.5% versus MPW's +24.1%. 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 — MPW or THC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (MPW) is the lower-risk stock at 0.72β versus Tenet Healthcare Corporation's 0.93β — meaning THC is approximately 28% more volatile than MPW relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (MPW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 147% for Tenet Healthcare Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — MPW or THC?
Tenet Healthcare Corporation (THC) is the more profitable company, earning 6.6% net margin versus -20.4% for Medical Properties Trust, Inc. — meaning it keeps 6.6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MPW leads at 38.1% versus 16.5% for THC. 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.
06Is MPW or THC more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Tenet Healthcare Corporation (THC) trades at 14.1x forward P/E versus 47.6x for Medical Properties Trust, Inc. — 33.5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for THC: 7.5% to $257.45.
07Which pays a better dividend — MPW or THC?
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.
08Is MPW or THC better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Tenet Healthcare Corporation (THC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.93), +864.5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (THC: +864.5%, MPW: +24.1%), 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 MPW and THC?
These companies operate in different sectors (MPW (Real Estate) and THC (Healthcare)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced. In terms of investment character: MPW is a small-cap quality compounder stock; THC is a mid-cap deep-value 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that beat both.