STRR vs ADUS vs HCSG vs CODI vs ENSG

For growth investors, Addus HomeCare Corporation (ADUS) is the stronger pick with 23.

2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -66. 9% for Star Equity Holdings, Inc. (STRR). Addus HomeCare Corporation (ADUS) offers the better valuation at 18. 7x trailing P/E (14. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Addus HomeCare Corporation (ADUS) a "Buy" — based on 16 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, Addus HomeCare Corporation (ADUS) is the cheapest at 18.

7x versus The Ensign Group, Inc. at 29. 8x. On forward P/E, Addus HomeCare Corporation is actually cheaper at 14. 3x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Addus HomeCare Corporation wins at 0. 71x versus The Ensign Group, Inc. 's 1. 68x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, The Ensign Group, Inc.

(ENSG) delivered a total return of +103. 2%, compared to -50. 1% for Star Equity Holdings, Inc. (STRR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ENSG returned +738. 2% versus HCSG's -24. 9%. 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), Star Equity Holdings, Inc.

(STRR) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 19β versus Compass Diversified's 1. 28β — meaning CODI is approximately 569% more volatile than STRR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Star Equity Holdings, Inc. (STRR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 3% for Compass Diversified — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Addus HomeCare Corporation (ADUS) is pulling ahead at 23.

2% versus -66. 9% for Star Equity Holdings, Inc. (STRR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Healthcare Services Group, Inc. grew EPS 52. 8% year-over-year, compared to -1426. 1% for Compass Diversified. Over a 3-year CAGR, ENSG leads at 18. 7% 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.

The Ensign Group, Inc.

(ENSG) is the more profitable company, earning 6. 8% net margin versus -19. 6% for Star Equity Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 6. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ADUS leads at 9. 7% versus -15. 8% for STRR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CODI leads at 38. 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.

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, Addus HomeCare Corporation (ADUS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 71x versus The Ensign Group, Inc. 's 1. 68x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Addus HomeCare Corporation (ADUS) trades at 14. 3x forward P/E versus 150. 4x for Compass Diversified — 136. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ADUS: 32. 3% to $128. 67.

In this comparison, STRR (7.

0% yield), CODI (4. 2% yield), ENSG (0. 1% yield) pay a dividend. ADUS, HCSG do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Star Equity Holdings, Inc.

(STRR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 19), 7. 0% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (STRR: +50. 6%, HCSG: -24. 9%), 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 (STRR (Healthcare) and ADUS (Healthcare) and HCSG (Healthcare) and CODI (Industrials) and ENSG (Healthcare)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: STRR is a small-cap income-oriented stock; ADUS is a small-cap high-growth stock; HCSG is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CODI is a small-cap income-oriented stock; ENSG is a mid-cap high-growth stock. STRR, CODI pay a dividend while ADUS, HCSG, ENSG 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.