NAII vs PLNT vs SFM vs HIMS

For growth investors, Hims & Hers Health, Inc.

(HIMS) is the stronger pick with 59. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 12. 1% for Planet Fitness, Inc. (PLNT). Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (SFM) offers the better valuation at 15. 3x trailing P/E (14. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Planet Fitness, Inc. (PLNT) a "Buy" — based on 27 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, Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc.

(SFM) is the cheapest at 15. 3x versus Hims & Hers Health, Inc. at 50. 3x. On forward P/E, Planet Fitness, Inc. is actually cheaper at 14. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc.

(SFM) delivered a total return of +213. 8%, compared to -81. 6% for Natural Alternatives International, Inc. (NAII). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PLNT returned +215. 8% versus NAII's -76. 8%. 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), Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc.

(SFM) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 16β versus Hims & Hers Health, Inc. 's 2. 48β — meaning HIMS is approximately 1456% more volatile than SFM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Natural Alternatives International, Inc. (NAII) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 86% versus 2% for Hims & Hers Health, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Hims & Hers Health, Inc.

(HIMS) is pulling ahead at 59. 0% versus 12. 1% for Planet Fitness, Inc. (PLNT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. grew EPS 41. 6% year-over-year, compared to -85. 4% for Natural Alternatives International, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, HIMS leads at 64. 5% 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.

Planet Fitness, Inc.

(PLNT) is the more profitable company, earning 16. 5% net margin versus -10. 5% for Natural Alternatives International, Inc. — meaning it keeps 16. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PLNT leads at 29. 8% versus -6. 7% for NAII. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PLNT leads at 82. 6%, 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, Planet Fitness, Inc.

(PLNT) trades at 14. 0x forward P/E versus 58. 3x for Hims & Hers Health, Inc. — 44. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PLNT: 79. 8% to $79. 15.

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.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc.

(SFM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 16), +210. 8% 10Y return). Hims & Hers Health, Inc. (HIMS) carries a higher beta of 2. 48 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (SFM: +210. 8%, HIMS: +188. 5%), 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 (NAII (Consumer Defensive) and PLNT (Consumer Cyclical) and SFM (Consumer Defensive) and HIMS (Healthcare)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: NAII is a small-cap quality compounder stock; PLNT is a small-cap deep-value stock; SFM is a small-cap deep-value stock; HIMS is a small-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.