NUTX vs ADUS vs SGRY vs HCSG vs AMSF

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). AMERISAFE, Inc. (AMSF) offers the better valuation at 12. 3x trailing P/E (14. 5x 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, AMERISAFE, Inc.

(AMSF) is the cheapest at 12. 3x versus Healthcare Services Group, Inc. at 27. 5x. On forward P/E, Nutex Health, Inc. is actually cheaper at 6. 5x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Addus HomeCare Corporation (ADUS) delivered a total return of +0.

0%, compared to -97. 8% for Nutex Health, Inc. (NUTX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ADUS returned +411. 7% versus NUTX's -97. 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), AMERISAFE, Inc.

(AMSF) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 21β versus Nutex Health, Inc. 's 2. 10β — meaning NUTX is approximately 917% 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 114% for Surgery Partners, Inc. — 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: Surgery Partners, Inc. grew EPS 54. 1% year-over-year, compared to -14. 5% for AMERISAFE, Inc.. 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 -2. 4% for Surgery Partners, Inc. — 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 2. 6% for HCSG. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NUTX leads at 50. 8%, 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, Nutex Health, Inc.

(NUTX) trades at 6. 5x forward P/E versus 37. 4x for Surgery Partners, Inc. — 30. 9x 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) pays a dividend. NUTX, ADUS, SGRY, HCSG 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. 21), 8. 4% yield). Nutex Health, Inc. (NUTX) carries a higher beta of 2. 10 — 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. 9%, NUTX: -97. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (NUTX (Healthcare) and ADUS (Healthcare) and SGRY (Healthcare) and HCSG (Healthcare) and AMSF (Financial Services)), 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; SGRY is a small-cap quality compounder stock; HCSG is a small-cap quality compounder stock; AMSF is a small-cap deep-value stock. AMSF pays a dividend while NUTX, ADUS, SGRY, HCSG 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.