Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (MPW) vs Ventas, Inc. (VTR) 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 | VTR | 18.5% revenue growth vs MPW's -2.4% |
| Value | MPW | Lower P/E (47.6x vs 114.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | VTR | 4.3% net margin vs MPW's -20.4% |
| Stability / Safety | VTR | Beta 0.23 vs MPW's 0.72 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | VTR | +27.3% vs MPW's -2.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | VTR | 0.9% 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.
Ventas is a healthcare-focused real estate investment trust that owns and operates senior housing communities, medical office buildings, and life science research facilities. It generates revenue primarily through rental income from its diversified portfolio — roughly 60% from senior housing, 25% from medical office buildings, and 15% from life science and hospital properties. The company's competitive advantage lies in its scale, diversified healthcare property portfolio, and long-term relationships with leading healthcare operators across multiple care settings.
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
VTR leads in 2 of 6 categories (Total Returns, Risk & Volatility). MPW leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
VTR is the larger business by revenue, generating $5.6B annually — 5.7x MPW's $972M. VTR is the more profitable business, keeping 4.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to MPW's -20.4%. On growth, VTR holds the edge at +20.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | MPWMedical Propertie… | VTRVentas, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $972M | $5.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $663M | $2.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$199M | $238M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $0 | $1.2B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +55.7% | +42.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +38.1% | +14.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -20.4% | +4.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +23.7% | +20.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +14.9% | +20.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +123.2% | +2.1% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, VTR's 24.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than MPW's 100.9x.
| Metric | MPWMedical Propertie… | VTRVentas, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.2B | $40.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.8B | $53.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -16.48x | 159.56x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 47.59x | 114.29x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 100.95x | 24.07x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.34x | 6.93x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.71x | 3.08x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 14.07x | 31.53x |
Profitability & Efficiency
VTR delivers a 1.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $2 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 VTR's 1.04x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), VTR scores 7/9 vs MPW's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | MPWMedical Propertie… | VTRVentas, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -4.3% | +1.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -1.3% | +0.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | — | +2.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | — | +3.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.03x | 1.04x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$413M | $12.6B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $541M | $786M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $128M | $13.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 1.35x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in VTR five years ago would be worth $18,063 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $4,351 for MPW. Over the past 12 months, VTR leads with a +27.3% total return vs MPW's -2.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors VTR at 23.5% vs MPW's -11.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | MPWMedical Propertie… | VTRVentas, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +7.1% | +11.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -2.2% | +27.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -31.0% | +88.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -56.5% | +80.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +24.1% | +97.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -11.6% | +23.5% |
Risk & Volatility
VTR is the less volatile stock with a 0.23 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than MPW's 0.72 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. VTR currently trades 98.1% 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… | VTRVentas, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.72x | 0.23x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $6.34 | $87.87 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $3.95 | $60.15 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +85.8% | +98.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 64.2 | 77.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 5.7M | 2.3M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates MPW as "Hold" and VTR as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 2.9% upside for VTR (target: $89) vs -8.1% for MPW (target: $5).
| Metric | MPWMedical Propertie… | VTRVentas, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $5.00 | $88.70 |
| # 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% | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Properties … (MPW) | 100 | 22.53 | -77.5% |
| Ventas, Inc. (VTR) | 100 | 147.84 | +47.8% |
Ventas, Inc. (VTR) returned +81% over 5 years vs Medical Properties … (MPW)'s -56%. A $10,000 investment in VTR 5 years ago would be worth $18,063 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Properties … (MPW) | $541M | $972M | +79.6% |
| Ventas, Inc. (VTR) | $3.4B | $5.8B | +69.4% |
Medical Properties Trust, Inc.'s revenue grew from $541M (2016) to $972M (2025) — a 6.7% CAGR. Ventas, Inc.'s revenue grew from $3.4B (2016) to $5.8B (2025) — a 6.0% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Properties … (MPW) | 41.6% | -20.4% | -149.2% |
| Ventas, Inc. (VTR) | 18.9% | 4.3% | -77.1% |
Medical Properties Trust, Inc.'s net margin went from 42% (2016) to -20% (2025). Ventas, Inc.'s net margin went from 19% (2016) to 4% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 8 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Properties … (MPW) | 16.8 | 7.4 | -56.0% |
| Ventas, Inc. (VTR) | 15.9 | 143.3 | +801.3% |
Medical Properties Trust, Inc. has traded in a 6x–27x P/E range over 6 years; current trailing P/E is ~-16x. Ventas, Inc. has traded in a 16x–393x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~160x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Properties … (MPW) | 0.86 | -0.33 | -138.4% |
| Ventas, Inc. (VTR) | 1.86 | 0.54 | -71.0% |
Medical Properties Trust, Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.86 (2016) to $-0.33 (2025) — a NaN% CAGR. Ventas, Inc.'s EPS grew from $1.86 (2016) to $0.54 (2025) — a -13% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Medical Properties Trust, Inc. generated $231M FCF in 2025 (-69% vs 2021). Ventas, Inc. generated $1B FCF in 2025 (+116% vs 2021).
MPW vs VTR: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is MPW or VTR a better buy right now?
Ventas, Inc. (VTR) offers the better valuation at 159.6x trailing P/E (114.3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Ventas, Inc. (VTR) 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 VTR?
On forward P/E, Medical Properties Trust, Inc. is actually cheaper at 47.6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — MPW or VTR?
Over the past 5 years, Ventas, Inc. (VTR) delivered a total return of +80.6%, compared to -56.5% for Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (MPW). A $10,000 investment in VTR five years ago would be worth approximately $18K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: VTR returned +97.3% 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 VTR?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Ventas, Inc. (VTR) is the lower-risk stock at 0.23β versus Medical Properties Trust, Inc.'s 0.72β — meaning MPW is approximately 214% more volatile than VTR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (MPW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 104% for Ventas, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — MPW or VTR?
Ventas, Inc. (VTR) is the more profitable company, earning 4.3% net margin versus -20.4% for Medical Properties Trust, Inc. — meaning it keeps 4.3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MPW leads at 38.1% versus 14.2% for VTR. 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 VTR more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (MPW) trades at 47.6x forward P/E versus 114.3x for Ventas, Inc. — 66.7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for VTR: 2.9% to $88.70.
07Which pays a better dividend — MPW or VTR?
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 VTR better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Ventas, Inc. (VTR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.23)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (VTR: +97.3%, 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 VTR?
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. 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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