PACS vs CCRN vs HCA vs THC

For growth investors, PACS Group, Inc.

(PACS) is the stronger pick with 29. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -21. 6% for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (CCRN). Tenet Healthcare Corporation (THC) offers the better valuation at 12. 5x trailing P/E (10. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate PACS Group, Inc. (PACS) a "Buy" — based on 8 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, Tenet Healthcare Corporation (THC) is the cheapest at 12.

5x versus PACS Group, Inc. at 27. 6x. On forward P/E, Tenet Healthcare Corporation is actually cheaper at 10. 9x. 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 HCA Healthcare, Inc. 's 0. 67x — 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 -22. 5% for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (CCRN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: THC returned +523. 4% versus CCRN's -10. 5%. 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 Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. 's 0. 78β — meaning CCRN is approximately 172% more volatile than HCA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (CCRN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 3% for PACS Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), PACS Group, Inc.

(PACS) is pulling ahead at 29. 3% versus -21. 6% for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (CCRN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: PACS Group, Inc. grew EPS 221. 1% year-over-year, compared to -565. 9% for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, HCA leads at 7. 9% 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 -9. 0% for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. — meaning it keeps 9. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: THC leads at 16. 1% versus -0. 3% for CCRN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — THC leads at 82. 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.

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 HCA Healthcare, Inc. 's 0. 67x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Tenet Healthcare Corporation (THC) trades at 10. 9x forward P/E versus 133. 8x for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. — 122. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for THC: 38. 1% to $268. 00.

In this comparison, HCA (0.

7% yield) pays a dividend. PACS, CCRN, THC do 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, +450. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HCA: +450. 5%, CCRN: -10. 5%), 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 (PACS (Financial Services) and CCRN (Healthcare) and HCA (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: PACS is a small-cap high-growth stock; CCRN is a small-cap quality compounder stock; HCA is a mid-cap deep-value stock; THC is a mid-cap deep-value stock. HCA pays a dividend while PACS, CCRN, 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.