NHC vs CCRN vs HCSG vs HCA vs ENSG

For growth investors, The Ensign Group, Inc.

(ENSG) is the stronger pick with 18. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -21. 6% for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (CCRN). HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) offers the better valuation at 15. 1x trailing P/E (14. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) a "Buy" — based on 46 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, HCA Healthcare, Inc.

(HCA) is the cheapest at 15. 1x versus The Ensign Group, Inc. at 29. 8x. On forward P/E, HCA Healthcare, Inc. is actually cheaper at 14. 2x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: HCA Healthcare, Inc. wins at 0. 67x versus The Ensign Group, Inc. 's 1. 68x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, National HealthCare Corporation (NHC) delivered a total return of +162.

1%, compared to -22. 5% for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (CCRN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ENSG returned +752. 0% versus HCSG's -26. 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), HCA Healthcare, Inc.

(HCA) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 29β versus Healthcare Services Group, Inc. 's 1. 12β — meaning HCSG is approximately 292% more volatile than HCA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (CCRN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 186% for The Ensign Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), The Ensign Group, Inc.

(ENSG) is pulling ahead at 18. 7% versus -21. 6% for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (CCRN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Healthcare Services Group, Inc. grew EPS 52. 8% year-over-year, compared to -565. 9% for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ENSG leads at 18. 7% 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.

HCA Healthcare, Inc.

(HCA) is the more profitable company, earning 9. 0% net margin versus -9. 0% for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. — meaning it keeps 9. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HCA leads at 15. 8% versus -0. 3% for CCRN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HCA leads at 41. 5%, 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.

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, HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 67x versus The Ensign Group, Inc. 's 1. 68x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) trades at 14. 2x forward P/E versus 133. 8x for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. — 119. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ENSG: 27. 6% to $222. 33.

In this comparison, NHC (1.

4% yield), HCA (0. 7% yield), ENSG (0. 1% yield) pay a dividend. CCRN, HCSG do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, HCA Healthcare, Inc.

(HCA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 29), 0. 7% yield, +450. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HCA: +450. 5%, HCSG: -26. 8%), 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 Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: NHC is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CCRN is a small-cap quality compounder stock; HCSG is a small-cap quality compounder stock; HCA is a mid-cap deep-value stock; ENSG is a mid-cap high-growth stock. NHC, HCA pay a dividend while CCRN, HCSG, ENSG do 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.