NHI vs OHI vs SBRA vs LTC vs CTRE

For growth investors, CareTrust REIT, Inc.

(CTRE) is the stronger pick with 108. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 10. 2% for Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. (SBRA). LTC Properties, Inc. (LTC) offers the better valuation at 15. 2x trailing P/E (19. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate CareTrust REIT, Inc. (CTRE) a "Buy" — based on 19 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, LTC Properties, Inc.

(LTC) is the cheapest at 15. 2x versus Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. at 31. 8x. On forward P/E, LTC Properties, Inc. is actually cheaper at 19. 7x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. wins at 1. 00x versus LTC Properties, Inc. 's 24. 19x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, CareTrust REIT, Inc.

(CTRE) delivered a total return of +101. 5%, compared to +23. 5% for LTC Properties, Inc. (LTC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CTRE returned +272. 9% versus LTC's +26. 7%. 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), Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.

(OHI) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 13β versus CareTrust REIT, Inc. 's 0. 14β — meaning CTRE is approximately -207% more volatile than OHI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, LTC Properties, Inc. (LTC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 55% versus 90% for Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), CareTrust REIT, Inc.

(CTRE) is pulling ahead at 108. 7% versus 10. 2% for Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. (SBRA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: CareTrust REIT, Inc. grew EPS 96. 3% year-over-year, compared to -3. 5% for National Health Investors, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CTRE leads at 36. 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.

CareTrust REIT, Inc.

(CTRE) is the more profitable company, earning 67. 3% net margin versus 20. 1% for Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. — meaning it keeps 67. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CTRE leads at 98. 7% versus 34. 1% for SBRA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CTRE leads at 98. 9%, 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, Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. (OHI) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 00x versus LTC Properties, Inc. 's 24. 19x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, LTC Properties, Inc. (LTC) trades at 19. 7x forward P/E versus 29. 5x for Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. — 9. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NHI: 16. 8% to $85. 40.

In this comparison, SBRA (5.

8% yield), OHI (5. 4% yield), NHI (4. 9% yield), CTRE (3. 2% yield) pay a dividend. LTC does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.

(OHI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 13), 5. 4% yield, +114. 3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (OHI: +114. 3%, LTC: +26. 7%), 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 Real Estate sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: NHI is a small-cap income-oriented stock; OHI is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; SBRA is a small-cap income-oriented stock; LTC is a small-cap high-growth stock; CTRE is a small-cap high-growth stock. NHI, OHI, SBRA, CTRE pay a dividend while LTC 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.