VTR
Ventas, Inc.
REIT - Healthcare Facilities
Market Cap$41.26B
5Y Perf.+148.3%
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Stock Comparison
VTR vs NHI
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
NHI
National Health Investors, Inc.
REIT - Healthcare Facilities
Market Cap$3.54B
5Y Perf.+31.7%
VTR vs NHI — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | VTR | NHI |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | REIT - Healthcare Facilities | REIT - Healthcare Facilities |
| Market Cap | $41.26B | $3.54B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $6.13B | $402M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $260M | $148M |
| Gross Margin | -4.3% | 52.4% |
| Operating Margin | 13.4% | 35.6% |
| Forward P/E | 118.3x | 21.6x |
| Total Debt | $13.22B | $1.16B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $741M | $20M |
VTR vs NHI — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
VTR
NHI
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ventas, Inc. (VTR) | 100 | 248.3 | +148.3% |
| National Health Inv… (NHI) | 100 | 131.7 | +31.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: VTR vs NHI
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: NHI leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. Ventas, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
VTR
Ventas, Inc.
The Real Estate Income Play
VTR is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 18.5%, EPS growth 184.2%, 3Y rev CAGR 12.2%
- 67.4% 10Y total return vs NHI's 59.2%
- 18.5% FFO/revenue growth vs NHI's 12.9%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
NHI
National Health Investors, Inc.
The Real Estate Income Play
NHI carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta -0.08, yield 4.9%
- Lower volatility, beta -0.08, Low D/E 75.6%, current ratio 2.48x
- Beta -0.08, yield 4.9%, current ratio 2.48x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | VTR | 18.5% FFO/revenue growth vs NHI's 12.9% |
| Value | NHI | Lower P/E (21.6x vs 118.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | NHI | 36.8% margin vs VTR's 4.2% |
| Stability / Safety | NHI | Lower D/E ratio (75.6% vs 105.0%) |
| Dividends | NHI | 4.9% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs VTR's 2.1% |
| Momentum (1Y) | VTR | +33.2% vs NHI's +0.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NHI | 5.3% ROA vs VTR's 1.0%, ROIC 5.6% vs 2.5% |
VTR vs NHI — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
VTR vs NHI — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLNHILAGGINGVTR
VTRVentas, Inc.
1leads
NHINational Health Inves…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs VTRMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
NHI6/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
NHI5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
NHI8/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
VTR6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
NHI1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NHI leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
VTR is the larger business by revenue, generating $6.1B annually — 15.2x NHI's $402M. NHI is the more profitable business, keeping 36.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to VTR's 4.2%. On growth, NHI holds the edge at +28.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | VTRVentas, Inc. | NHINational Health I… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $6.1B | $402M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.3B | $229M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $260M | $148M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.4B | $229M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | -4.3% | +52.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +13.4% | +35.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +4.2% | +36.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +22.4% | +56.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +22.0% | +28.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | 0.0% | +10.8% |
NHI leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
NHI leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 24.2x trailing earnings, NHI trades at a 85% valuation discount to VTR's 160.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, NHI's 16.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than VTR's 24.4x.
| Metric | VTRVentas, Inc. | NHINational Health I… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $41.3B | $3.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $53.7B | $4.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 160.70x | 24.20x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 118.34x | 21.58x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 24.36x | 16.82x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 7.07x | 9.36x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.19x | 2.23x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 31.34x | 16.08x |
NHI leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NHI leads this category, winning 8 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NHI delivers a 9.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $10 in annual profit, vs $2 for VTR. NHI carries lower financial leverage with a 0.76x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to VTR's 1.05x.
| Metric | VTRVentas, Inc. | NHINational Health I… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +2.1% | +9.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.0% | +5.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +2.5% | +5.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +3.2% | +8.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.05x | 0.76x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $12.5B | $1.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $741M | $20M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $13.2B | $1.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.40x | 3.45x |
NHI leads this category, winning 8 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
VTR leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in VTR five years ago would be worth $18,002 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $12,999 for NHI. Over the past 12 months, VTR leads with a +33.2% total return vs NHI's +0.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors VTR at 24.5% vs NHI's 19.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | VTRVentas, Inc. | NHINational Health I… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +12.9% | -3.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +33.2% | +0.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +93.0% | +70.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +80.0% | +30.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +67.4% | +59.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +24.5% | +19.4% |
VTR leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — VTR and NHI each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NHI is the less volatile stock with a -0.08 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than VTR's 0.01 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. VTR currently trades 98.1% from its 52-week high vs NHI's 80.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | VTRVentas, Inc. | NHINational Health I… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.01x | -0.08x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $88.50 | $90.94 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $61.76 | $68.80 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.1% | +80.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 62.0 | 29.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.3M | 323K |
Evenly matched — VTR and NHI each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
NHI leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates VTR as "Buy" and NHI as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 16.8% upside for NHI (target: $85) vs 4.6% for VTR (target: $91). For income investors, NHI offers the higher dividend yield at 4.93% vs VTR's 2.14%.
| Metric | VTRVentas, Inc. | NHINational Health I… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $90.80 | $85.40 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 32 | 18 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.1% | +4.9% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.86 | $3.61 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
NHI leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
NHI leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). VTR leads in 1 (Total Returns). 1 tied.
Best OverallNational Health Investors, … (NHI)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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VTR vs NHI: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is VTR or NHI a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Ventas, Inc.
(VTR) is the stronger pick with 18. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 12. 9% for National Health Investors, Inc. (NHI). National Health Investors, Inc. (NHI) offers the better valuation at 24. 2x trailing P/E (21. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Ventas, Inc. (VTR) a "Buy" — based on 32 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 — VTR or NHI?
On trailing P/E, National Health Investors, Inc.
(NHI) is the cheapest at 24. 2x versus Ventas, Inc. at 160. 7x. On forward P/E, National Health Investors, Inc. is actually cheaper at 21. 6x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — VTR or NHI?
Over the past 5 years, Ventas, Inc.
(VTR) delivered a total return of +80. 0%, compared to +30. 0% for National Health Investors, Inc. (NHI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: VTR returned +67. 4% versus NHI's +59. 2%. 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 — VTR or NHI?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), National Health Investors, Inc.
(NHI) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 08β versus Ventas, Inc. 's 0. 01β — meaning VTR is approximately -111% more volatile than NHI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, National Health Investors, Inc. (NHI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 76% versus 105% for Ventas, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — VTR or NHI?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Ventas, Inc.
(VTR) is pulling ahead at 18. 5% versus 12. 9% for National Health Investors, Inc. (NHI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Ventas, Inc. grew EPS 184. 2% year-over-year, compared to -3. 5% for National Health Investors, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, VTR 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.
06Which has better profit margins — VTR or NHI?
National Health Investors, Inc.
(NHI) is the more profitable company, earning 37. 6% net margin versus 4. 3% for Ventas, Inc. — meaning it keeps 37. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NHI leads at 51. 5% versus 14. 2% for VTR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NHI leads at 36. 7%, 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.
07Is VTR or NHI more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, National Health Investors, Inc.
(NHI) trades at 21. 6x forward P/E versus 118. 3x for Ventas, Inc. — 96. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NHI: 16. 8% to $85. 40.
08Which pays a better dividend — VTR or NHI?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
National Health Investors, Inc. (NHI) offers the highest yield at 4. 9%, versus 2. 1% for Ventas, Inc. (VTR).
09Is VTR or NHI better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, National Health Investors, Inc.
(NHI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 08), 4. 9% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NHI: +59. 2%, VTR: +67. 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.
10What are the main differences between VTR and NHI?
Both stocks operate in the Real Estate sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: VTR is a mid-cap high-growth stock; NHI is a small-cap income-oriented stock. 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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Revenue Growth>
%
(VTR: 22.0% · NHI: 28.9%)Net Margin>
%
(VTR: 4.2% · NHI: 36.8%)P/E Ratio<
x
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