Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare The Pennant Group, Inc. (PNTG) vs The Ensign Group, Inc. (ENSG) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | PNTG | 36.3% revenue growth vs ENSG's 18.7% |
| Value | PNTG | Lower P/E (25.8x vs 28.5x) |
| Quality / Margins | ENSG | 6.8% net margin vs PNTG's 3.1% |
| Stability / Safety | ENSG | Beta 0.43 vs PNTG's 0.54, lower leverage |
| Dividends | ENSG | 0.1% yield; 12-year raise streak; PNTG pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | ENSG | +66.0% vs PNTG's +48.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ENSG | 6.3% ROA vs PNTG's 3.1%, ROIC 8.9% vs 5.7% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Valuation efficiency (growth/$)
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
The Pennant Group operates a network of home health, hospice, and senior living facilities across the United States. It generates revenue primarily from Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements for home health and hospice services—roughly 70% of total revenue—with the remainder coming from private pay and insurance for senior living communities. The company's decentralized operating model—which grants local leaders significant autonomy—creates a competitive advantage through better community integration and operational efficiency compared to more centralized healthcare providers.
The Ensign Group operates a network of skilled nursing facilities and senior living communities across multiple states. It generates revenue primarily from patient care reimbursements—mainly Medicare and Medicaid—along with private pay services and ancillary offerings like therapy and diagnostics. The company's competitive advantage lies in its decentralized operational model that empowers local leaders and its disciplined acquisition strategy for underperforming facilities.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
ENSG leads in 5 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). PNTG leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
ENSG is the larger business by revenue, generating $4.8B annually — 5.1x PNTG's $948M. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 6.8% (ENSG) to 3.1% (PNTG). On growth, PNTG holds the edge at +53.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | PNTGThe Pennant Group… | ENSGThe Ensign Group,… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $948M | $4.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $60M | $501M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $30M | $328M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $33M | $290M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +11.2% | +15.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +5.5% | +8.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +3.1% | +6.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +3.5% | +6.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +53.2% | +19.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +50.0% | +6.0% |
Valuation Metrics
At 36.7x trailing earnings, ENSG trades at a 9% valuation discount to PNTG's 40.1x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), ENSG offers better value at 2.66x vs PNTG's 3.99x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | PNTGThe Pennant Group… | ENSGThe Ensign Group,… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.2B | $12.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.6B | $14.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 40.13x | 36.67x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 25.82x | 28.49x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 3.99x | 2.66x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 26.68x | 26.37x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.24x | 2.45x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.18x | 5.64x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 24.35x | 33.45x |
Profitability & Efficiency
ENSG delivers a 15.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $15 in annual profit, vs $8 for PNTG. ENSG carries lower financial leverage with a 0.93x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to PNTG's 1.21x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ENSG scores 7/9 vs PNTG's 3/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | PNTGThe Pennant Group… | ENSGThe Ensign Group,… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +7.9% | +15.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.1% | +6.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.7% | +8.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +7.4% | +10.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.21x | 0.93x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $436M | $1.6B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $17M | $504M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $453M | $2.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 202.23x | 53.02x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in ENSG five years ago would be worth $25,875 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $6,436 for PNTG. Over the past 12 months, ENSG leads with a +66.0% total return vs PNTG's +48.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ENSG at 33.9% vs PNTG's 30.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | PNTGThe Pennant Group… | ENSGThe Ensign Group,… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +21.1% | +23.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +48.0% | +66.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +124.4% | +140.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -35.6% | +158.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +123.4% | +1027.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +30.9% | +33.9% |
Risk & Volatility
ENSG is the less volatile stock with a 0.43 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than PNTG's 0.54 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | PNTGThe Pennant Group… | ENSGThe Ensign Group,… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.54x | 0.43x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $35.00 | $217.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $21.18 | $118.73 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +96.3% | +98.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 48.3 | 66.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 226K | 333K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates PNTG as "Buy" and ENSG as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 15.7% upside for PNTG (target: $39) vs 3.8% for ENSG (target: $222). ENSG is the only dividend payer here at 0.11% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | PNTGThe Pennant Group… | ENSGThe Ensign Group,… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $39.00 | $222.33 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 7 | 13 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 12 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.24 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Pennant Group, … (PNTG) | 100 | 104.89 | +4.9% |
| The Ensign Group, I… (ENSG) | 100 | 389.26 | +289.3% |
The Ensign Group, I… (ENSG) returned +159% over 5 years vs The Pennant Group, … (PNTG)'s -36%. A $10,000 investment in ENSG 5 years ago would be worth $25,875 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Pennant Group, … (PNTG) | $251M | $948M | +277.6% |
| The Ensign Group, I… (ENSG) | $1.7B | $5.1B | +205.6% |
The Ensign Group, Inc.'s revenue grew from $1.7B (2016) to $5.1B (2025) — a 13.2% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Pennant Group, … (PNTG) | 3.9% | 3.1% | -20.6% |
| The Ensign Group, I… (ENSG) | 3.0% | 6.8% | +125.1% |
The Ensign Group, Inc.'s net margin went from 3% (2016) to 7% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Pennant Group, … (PNTG) | 384.5 | 33.5 | -91.3% |
| The Ensign Group, I… (ENSG) | 27 | 29.8 | +10.4% |
The Pennant Group, Inc. has traded in a 32x–385x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~40x. The Ensign Group, Inc. has traded in a 21x–31x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~37x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Pennant Group, … (PNTG) | 0.35 | 0.84 | +140.0% |
| The Ensign Group, I… (ENSG) | 0.96 | 5.84 | +508.3% |
The Ensign Group, Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.96 (2016) to $5.84 (2025) — a 22% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
The Pennant Group, Inc. generated $48M FCF in 2025 (+297% vs 2021). The Ensign Group, Inc. generated $371M FCF in 2025 (+80% vs 2021).
PNTG vs ENSG: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PNTG or ENSG a better buy right now?
The Ensign Group, Inc. (ENSG) offers the better valuation at 36.7x trailing P/E (28.5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate The Pennant Group, Inc. (PNTG) a "Buy" — based on 7 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.
02Which has the better valuation — PNTG or ENSG?
On trailing P/E, The Ensign Group, Inc. (ENSG) is the cheapest at 36.7x versus The Pennant Group, Inc. at 40.1x. On forward P/E, The Pennant Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 25.8x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: The Ensign Group, Inc. wins at 2.06x versus The Pennant Group, Inc.'s 2.57x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — PNTG or ENSG?
Over the past 5 years, The Ensign Group, Inc. (ENSG) delivered a total return of +158.8%, compared to -35.6% for The Pennant Group, Inc. (PNTG). A $10,000 investment in ENSG five years ago would be worth approximately $26K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ENSG returned +1027% versus PNTG's +123.4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — PNTG or ENSG?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), The Ensign Group, Inc. (ENSG) is the lower-risk stock at 0.43β versus The Pennant Group, Inc.'s 0.54β — meaning PNTG is approximately 28% more volatile than ENSG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, The Ensign Group, Inc. (ENSG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 93% versus 121% for The Pennant Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — PNTG or ENSG?
The Ensign Group, Inc. (ENSG) is the more profitable company, earning 6.8% net margin versus 3.1% for The Pennant Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 6.8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ENSG leads at 8.4% versus 5.5% for PNTG. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ENSG leads at 20.5%, 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.
06Is PNTG or ENSG more undervalued right now?
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, The Ensign Group, Inc. (ENSG) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2.06x versus The Pennant Group, Inc.'s 2.57x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, The Pennant Group, Inc. (PNTG) trades at 25.8x forward P/E versus 28.5x for The Ensign Group, Inc. — 2.7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PNTG: 15.7% to $39.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — PNTG or ENSG?
In this comparison, ENSG (0.1% yield) pays a dividend. PNTG does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is PNTG or ENSG better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, The Ensign Group, Inc. (ENSG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.43), +1027% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ENSG: +1027%, PNTG: +123.4%), 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.
09What are the main differences between PNTG and ENSG?
Both stocks operate in the Healthcare 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.
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