NUTX vs HCA

For growth investors, Nutex Health, Inc.

(NUTX) is the stronger pick with 82. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 7. 1% for HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA). Nutex Health, Inc. (NUTX) offers the better valuation at 12. 5x trailing P/E (8. 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, Nutex Health, Inc.

(NUTX) is the cheapest at 12. 5x versus HCA Healthcare, Inc. at 15. 1x. On forward P/E, Nutex Health, Inc. is actually cheaper at 8. 5x.

Over the past 5 years, HCA Healthcare, Inc.

(HCA) delivered a total return of +111. 1%, compared to -97. 8% for Nutex Health, Inc. (NUTX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HCA returned +451. 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), HCA Healthcare, Inc.

(HCA) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 29β versus Nutex Health, Inc. 's 2. 01β — meaning NUTX is approximately 603% more volatile than HCA relative to the S&P 500.

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

(NUTX) is pulling ahead at 82. 4% versus 7. 1% for HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: HCA Healthcare, Inc. grew EPS 29. 0% year-over-year, compared to 7. 9% for Nutex Health, 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.

HCA Healthcare, Inc.

(HCA) is the more profitable company, earning 9. 0% net margin versus 8. 1% for Nutex Health, Inc. — meaning it keeps 9. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NUTX leads at 31. 5% versus 15. 8% for HCA. 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 8. 5x forward P/E versus 14. 2x for HCA Healthcare, Inc. — 5. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NUTX: 57. 0% to $205. 00.

In this comparison, HCA (0.

7% yield) pays a dividend. NUTX does 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, +451. 4% 10Y return). 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 (HCA: +451. 4%, 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.

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: NUTX is a small-cap high-growth stock; HCA is a mid-cap deep-value stock. HCA pays a dividend while NUTX 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.