Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare National HealthCare Corporation (NHC) vs The Ensign Group, Inc. (ENSG) 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 | ENSG | 18.7% revenue growth vs NHC's 13.2% |
| Value | NHC | Lower P/E (20.5x vs 28.5x), PEG 0.89 vs 2.06 |
| Quality / Margins | ENSG | 6.8% net margin vs NHC's 6.7% |
| Stability / Safety | ENSG | Beta 0.43 vs NHC's 0.44 |
| Dividends | NHC | 1.5% yield, 12-year raise streak, vs ENSG's 0.1% |
| Momentum (1Y) | NHC | +78.2% vs ENSG's +66.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NHC | 6.4% ROA vs ENSG's 6.3%, ROIC 8.4% vs 8.9% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Valuation efficiency (growth/$)
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
National HealthCare Corporation is a diversified healthcare services company that operates skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities, homecare and hospice agencies, and behavioral health services. It generates revenue primarily from patient care services at its facilities — with skilled nursing contributing the largest portion — through Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay sources. The company's competitive advantage lies in its diversified portfolio across the care continuum and its operational expertise in managing complex regulatory environments within the post-acute care sector.
The Ensign Group operates a network of skilled nursing facilities and senior living communities across multiple states. It generates revenue primarily from patient care reimbursements—mainly Medicare and Medicaid—along with private pay services and ancillary offerings like therapy and diagnostics. The company's competitive advantage lies in its decentralized operational model that empowers local leaders and its disciplined acquisition strategy for underperforming facilities.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
NHC leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). ENSG leads in 2 (Financial Metrics, Risk & Volatility). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
ENSG is the larger business by revenue, generating $4.8B annually — 3.2x NHC's $1.5B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 6.8% (ENSG) to 6.7% (NHC). On growth, ENSG holds the edge at +19.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | NHCNational HealthCa… | ENSGThe Ensign Group,… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.5B | $4.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $166M | $501M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $101M | $328M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $147M | $290M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +38.5% | +15.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +8.1% | +8.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +6.7% | +6.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +9.8% | +6.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +12.5% | +19.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -8.4% | +6.0% |
Valuation Metrics
At 21.3x trailing earnings, NHC trades at a 42% valuation discount to ENSG's 36.7x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), NHC offers better value at 0.93x vs ENSG's 2.66x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | NHCNational HealthCa… | ENSGThe Ensign Group,… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.5B | $12.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.6B | $14.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 21.32x | 36.67x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 20.51x | 28.49x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.93x | 2.66x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 15.14x | 26.37x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.73x | 2.45x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.38x | 5.64x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 17.07x | 33.45x |
Profitability & Efficiency
ENSG delivers a 15.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $15 in annual profit, vs $10 for NHC. NHC carries lower financial leverage with a 0.08x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ENSG's 0.93x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ENSG scores 7/9 vs NHC's 2/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | NHCNational HealthCa… | ENSGThe Ensign Group,… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +9.6% | +15.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.4% | +6.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +8.4% | +8.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | — | +10.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 2 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.08x | 0.93x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $87M | $1.6B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | — | $504M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $87M | $2.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 24.41x | 53.02x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in ENSG five years ago would be worth $25,875 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $24,747 for NHC. Over the past 12 months, NHC leads with a +78.2% total return vs ENSG's +66.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NHC at 45.3% vs ENSG's 33.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | NHCNational HealthCa… | ENSGThe Ensign Group,… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +25.4% | +23.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +78.2% | +66.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +206.5% | +140.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +147.5% | +158.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +188.4% | +1027.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +45.3% | +33.9% |
Risk & Volatility
ENSG is the less volatile stock with a 0.43 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than NHC's 0.44 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. ENSG currently trades 98.7% from its 52-week high vs NHC's 95.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | NHCNational HealthCa… | ENSGThe Ensign Group,… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.44x | 0.43x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $171.65 | $217.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $89.14 | $118.73 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +95.3% | +98.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 59.4 | 66.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 58K | 333K |
Analyst Outlook
For income investors, NHC offers the higher dividend yield at 1.51% vs ENSG's 0.11%.
| Metric | NHCNational HealthCa… | ENSGThe Ensign Group,… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $222.33 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 13 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.5% | +0.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 12 | 12 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.47 | $0.24 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.6% | +0.0% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| National HealthCare… (NHC) | 100 | 201.17 | +101.2% |
| The Ensign Group, I… (ENSG) | 100 | 387.78 | +287.8% |
The Ensign Group, I… (ENSG) returned +159% over 5 years vs National HealthCare… (NHC)'s +147%. A $10,000 investment in ENSG 5 years ago would be worth $25,875 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| National HealthCare… (NHC) | $924M | $1.5B | +59.1% |
| The Ensign Group, I… (ENSG) | $1.7B | $5.1B | +205.6% |
National HealthCare Corporation's revenue grew from $924M (2016) to $1.5B (2025) — a 5.3% CAGR. The Ensign Group, Inc.'s revenue grew from $1.7B (2016) to $5.1B (2025) — a 13.2% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| National HealthCare… (NHC) | 5.5% | 8.2% | +49.2% |
| The Ensign Group, I… (ENSG) | 3.0% | 6.8% | +125.1% |
National HealthCare Corporation's net margin went from 5% (2016) to 8% (2025). The Ensign Group, Inc.'s net margin went from 3% (2016) to 7% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| National HealthCare… (NHC) | 16.5 | 17.9 | +8.5% |
| The Ensign Group, I… (ENSG) | 27 | 29.8 | +10.4% |
National HealthCare Corporation has traded in a 8x–41x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~21x. The Ensign Group, Inc. has traded in a 21x–31x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~37x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| National HealthCare… (NHC) | 3.32 | 7.67 | +131.0% |
| The Ensign Group, I… (ENSG) | 0.96 | 5.84 | +508.3% |
National HealthCare Corporation's EPS grew from $3.32 (2016) to $7.67 (2025) — a 10% CAGR. The Ensign Group, Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.96 (2016) to $5.84 (2025) — a 22% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
National HealthCare Corporation generated $149M FCF in 2025 (+546% vs 2021). The Ensign Group, Inc. generated $371M FCF in 2025 (+80% vs 2021).
NHC vs ENSG: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NHC or ENSG a better buy right now?
National HealthCare Corporation (NHC) offers the better valuation at 21.3x trailing P/E (20.5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate The Ensign Group, Inc. (ENSG) a "Buy" — based on 13 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 — NHC or ENSG?
On trailing P/E, National HealthCare Corporation (NHC) is the cheapest at 21.3x versus The Ensign Group, Inc. at 36.7x. On forward P/E, National HealthCare Corporation is actually cheaper at 20.5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: National HealthCare Corporation wins at 0.89x versus The Ensign Group, Inc.'s 2.06x — a PEG below 1.0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — NHC or ENSG?
Over the past 5 years, The Ensign Group, Inc. (ENSG) delivered a total return of +158.8%, compared to +147.5% for National HealthCare Corporation (NHC). A $10,000 investment in ENSG five years ago would be worth approximately $26K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ENSG returned +1027% versus NHC's +188.4%. 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 — NHC or ENSG?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), The Ensign Group, Inc. (ENSG) is the lower-risk stock at 0.43β versus National HealthCare Corporation's 0.44β — meaning NHC is approximately 3% more volatile than ENSG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, National HealthCare Corporation (NHC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 8% versus 93% for The Ensign Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — NHC or ENSG?
National HealthCare Corporation (NHC) is the more profitable company, earning 8.2% net margin versus 6.8% for The Ensign Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 8.2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NHC leads at 8.7% versus 8.4% for ENSG. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NHC leads at 37.3%, 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 NHC or ENSG more undervalued right now?
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, National HealthCare Corporation (NHC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.89x versus The Ensign Group, Inc.'s 2.06x. A PEG below 1.0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, National HealthCare Corporation (NHC) trades at 20.5x forward P/E versus 28.5x for The Ensign Group, Inc. — 8.0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
07Which pays a better dividend — NHC or ENSG?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. National HealthCare Corporation (NHC) offers the highest yield at 1.5%, versus 0.1% for The Ensign Group, Inc. (ENSG).
08Is NHC or ENSG better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, The Ensign Group, Inc. (ENSG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.43), +1027% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ENSG: +1027%, NHC: +188.4%), 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 NHC and ENSG?
Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. NHC pays a dividend while ENSG 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.
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