PLNT vs LTH

For growth investors, Life Time Group Holdings, Inc.

(LTH) is the stronger pick with 14. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 10. 3% for Planet Fitness, Inc. (PLNT). Life Time Group Holdings, Inc. (LTH) offers the better valuation at 20. 2x trailing P/E (23. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Planet Fitness, Inc. (PLNT) a "Buy" — based on 26 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, Life Time Group Holdings, Inc.

(LTH) is the cheapest at 20. 2x versus Planet Fitness, Inc. at 32. 0x. On forward P/E, Planet Fitness, Inc. is actually cheaper at 18. 9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Life Time Group Holdings, Inc.

(LTH) delivered a total return of +89. 2%, compared to -20. 6% for Planet Fitness, Inc. (PLNT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PLNT returned +339. 1% versus LTH's +89. 2%. 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), Planet Fitness, Inc.

(PLNT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 31β versus Life Time Group Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 06β — meaning LTH is approximately 239% more volatile than PLNT relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Life Time Group Holdings, Inc.

(LTH) is pulling ahead at 14. 3% versus 10. 3% for Planet Fitness, Inc. (PLNT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Life Time Group Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 124. 3% year-over-year, compared to 23. 5% for Planet Fitness, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, PLNT leads at 26. 3% 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.

Planet Fitness, Inc.

(PLNT) is the more profitable company, earning 14. 6% net margin versus 12. 5% for Life Time Group Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 14. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PLNT leads at 27. 4% versus 16. 1% for LTH. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PLNT leads at 52. 0%, 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, Planet Fitness, Inc.

(PLNT) trades at 18. 9x forward P/E versus 23. 1x for Life Time Group Holdings, Inc. — 4. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PLNT: 86. 3% to $119. 17.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Planet Fitness, Inc.

(PLNT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 31), +339. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (PLNT: +339. 1%, LTH: +89. 2%), 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 Consumer Cyclical sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

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.