NUTX vs ADUS vs AMSF vs UHS vs THC

For growth investors, Nutex Health, Inc.

(NUTX) is the stronger pick with 82. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 6% for AMERISAFE, Inc. (AMSF). Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) offers the better valuation at 7. 4x trailing P/E (7. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Nutex Health, Inc. (NUTX) a "Buy" — based on 2 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, Universal Health Services, Inc.

(UHS) is the cheapest at 7. 4x versus Addus HomeCare Corporation at 18. 7x. On forward P/E, Universal Health Services, Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 3x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Tenet Healthcare Corporation wins at 0. 33x versus Addus HomeCare Corporation's 0. 70x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Tenet Healthcare Corporation (THC) delivered a total return of +190.

4%, compared to -97. 8% for Nutex Health, Inc. (NUTX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: THC returned +523. 4% versus NUTX's -97. 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), AMERISAFE, Inc.

(AMSF) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 23β versus Nutex Health, Inc. 's 2. 01β — meaning NUTX is approximately 772% more volatile than AMSF relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, AMERISAFE, Inc. (AMSF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 147% for Tenet Healthcare Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Nutex Health, Inc.

(NUTX) is pulling ahead at 82. 4% versus 2. 6% for AMERISAFE, Inc. (AMSF). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Universal Health Services, Inc. grew EPS 37. 3% year-over-year, compared to -52. 6% for Tenet Healthcare Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, NUTX leads at 58. 6% 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.

AMERISAFE, Inc.

(AMSF) is the more profitable company, earning 14. 9% net margin versus 6. 6% for Tenet Healthcare Corporation — meaning it keeps 14. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NUTX leads at 31. 5% versus 9. 7% for ADUS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — UHS leads at 90. 4%, 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, Tenet Healthcare Corporation (THC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 33x versus Addus HomeCare Corporation's 0. 70x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) trades at 7. 3x forward P/E versus 14. 4x for AMERISAFE, Inc. — 7. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NUTX: 52. 3% to $205. 00.

In this comparison, AMSF (8.

4% yield), UHS (0. 5% yield) pay a dividend. NUTX, ADUS, THC do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, AMERISAFE, Inc.

(AMSF) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 23), 8. 4% yield). Nutex Health, Inc. (NUTX) carries a higher beta of 2. 01 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (AMSF: +31. 8%, NUTX: -97. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (NUTX (Healthcare) and ADUS (Healthcare) and AMSF (Financial Services) and UHS (Healthcare) and THC (Healthcare)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: NUTX is a small-cap high-growth stock; ADUS is a small-cap high-growth stock; AMSF is a small-cap deep-value stock; UHS is a mid-cap deep-value stock; THC is a mid-cap deep-value stock. AMSF pays a dividend while NUTX, ADUS, UHS, THC 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.