SGRY vs USPH vs SEM vs AMSF vs NHC

For growth investors, U.

S. Physical Therapy, Inc. (USPH) is the stronger pick with 16. 3% 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. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Surgery Partners, Inc. (SGRY) a "Buy" — based on 22 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 U. S. Physical Therapy, Inc. at 41. 5x. On forward P/E, Select Medical Holdings Corporation is actually cheaper at 13. 1x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, National HealthCare Corporation (NHC) delivered a total return of +162.

1%, compared to -72. 3% for Surgery Partners, Inc. (SGRY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NHC returned +198. 2% versus SGRY's -0. 6%. 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. 23β versus Surgery Partners, Inc. 's 1. 04β — meaning SGRY is approximately 352% 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 182% for Select Medical Holdings Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), U.

S. Physical Therapy, Inc. (USPH) is pulling ahead at 16. 3% 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 -28. 9% for Select Medical Holdings Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, USPH leads at 12. 2% 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: AMSF leads at 18. 6% versus 6. 1% for SEM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AMSF leads at 46. 4%, 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, Select Medical Holdings Corporation (SEM) trades at 13.

1x forward P/E versus 38. 0x for Surgery Partners, Inc. — 24. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for USPH: 72. 9% to $102. 00.

In this comparison, AMSF (8.

4% yield), USPH (3. 1% yield), SEM (1. 5% yield), NHC (1. 4% yield) pay a dividend. SGRY does 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. 23), 8. 4% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AMSF: +31. 8%, SGRY: -0. 6%), 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 (SGRY (Healthcare) and USPH (Healthcare) and SEM (Healthcare) and AMSF (Financial Services) and NHC (Healthcare)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: SGRY is a small-cap quality compounder stock; USPH is a small-cap high-growth stock; SEM is a small-cap deep-value stock; AMSF is a small-cap deep-value stock; NHC is a small-cap quality compounder stock. USPH, SEM, AMSF, NHC pay a dividend while SGRY 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.