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ENSG vs HCA
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Ensign Group (ENSG) vs. HCA Healthcare (HCA) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Ensign Group (ENSG) has delivered stronger year-to-date (YTD) performance at approximately 8.73% compared to HCA Healthcare's (HCA) 7.23%, amid steadier recent momentum.
- HCA, with a market cap exceeding $96 billion, dwarfs ENSG's $11 billion, reflecting its scale as a major hospital operator.
- Recent market activity saw HCA shares drop sharply following a first-quarter earnings miss tied to weak patient volumes, while ENSG maintained positive analyst upgrades.
- ENSG trades at a higher price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 32.37 versus HCA's 15.25, signaling growth expectations in post-acute care.
- Both stocks benefit from healthcare sector tailwinds, but ENSG's lower beta of 0.82 indicates reduced volatility compared to HCA's 1.37.
Introduction
Ensign Group (ENSG) and HCA Healthcare (HCA) represent distinct segments within the healthcare sector: post-acute care services versus acute hospital operations. This stock comparison analyzes their recent performance, financial metrics, and market positioning to aid investors and traders evaluating opportunities in healthcare amid evolving patient demand and operational dynamics. With both companies navigating reimbursement pressures and volume fluctuations, understanding their relative strengths in growth, stability, and sentiment shifts provides valuable insights for portfolio allocation in a resilient yet competitive industry.
ENSG Overview and Recent Performance
The Ensign Group (ENSG) operates a portfolio of skilled nursing facilities, senior living communities, and rehabilitation services across the U.S., focusing on post-acute care. In recent market activity, ENSG shares have traded around $189, within a 52-week range of $123.56 to $218, supported by solid fundamentals including a trailing twelve-month (TTM) earnings per share (EPS) of $5.85 and revenue growth in its latest quarter. Sentiment has been bolstered by strong fourth-quarter 2025 results, where adjusted EPS beat estimates, alongside analyst upgrades like RBC Capital's "Outperform" rating with a $222 target. YTD gains of about 8.73% reflect consistent trend strength, driven by operational expansions and favorable demographics in aging populations, though higher P/E ratios underscore growth pricing.
HCA Overview and Recent Performance
HCA Healthcare (HCA) is one of the largest U.S. hospital operators, managing acute care facilities, surgery centers, and emergency services. Shares recently hovered near $432, down sharply in a session amid broader 52-week bounds of $321 to $557, with a market cap over $96 billion. First-quarter 2026 results showed revenue of $19.11 billion and net income of $1.62 billion, but missed expectations due to softer patient volumes from respiratory illnesses and weather impacts, leading to a stock plunge of over 8%. Despite YTD performance around 7.23% and high analyst targets averaging $543, recent volatility—highlighted by a beta of 1.37—has tempered sentiment, offset partially by cost-saving initiatives.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
Ensign Group (ENSG) emphasizes post-acute care like nursing and rehab, contrasting HCA Healthcare's (HCA) focus on hospitals and acute interventions, exposing HCA more to cyclical admissions. Growth drivers differ: ENSG leverages demographic tailwinds with tuck-in acquisitions, while HCA pursues scale via facility expansions. Recent momentum favors ENSG's steadier gains over HCA's earnings dip, though HCA offers higher EPS scale. Risk profiles highlight ENSG's lower beta for stability versus HCA's volume sensitivity; market sentiment tilts toward ENSG growth amid broader healthcare resilience.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron's AI currently leans toward Ensign Group (ENSG) based on superior recent trend consistency, lower volatility, and positive earnings momentum relative to HCA's volume-driven setback. With stronger YTD positioning and analyst support, ENSG appears probabilistically better aligned for near-term outperformance in healthcare, though HCA retains scale advantages for recovery.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is ENSG is a Hold and HCA is a Buy.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
ENSG’s FA Score shows that 0 FA rating(s) are green whileHCA’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s).
- ENSG’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
- HCA’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
ENSG’s TA Score shows that 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while HCA’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- ENSG’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 4 bearish.
- HCA’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
ENSG (@Hospital/Nursing Management) experienced а +4.03% price change this week, while HCA (@Hospital/Nursing Management) price change was -3.13% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Hospital/Nursing Management industry was -0.10%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +4.78%, and the average quarterly price growth was +27.33%.
Reported Earning Dates
ENSG is expected to report earnings on Jul 23, 2026.
HCA is expected to report earnings on Jul 23, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Hospital/Nursing Management (-0.10% weekly)Hospital/Nursing Management companies own and operate health care facilities. Their operations include nursing homes, acute care facilities, retirement centers and outpatient surgery centers. HCA Healthcare Inc., Alcon Inc. and Universal Health Services, Inc. are some major companies in this industry. Technology has been at the forefront of development of advanced solutions, including quicker diagnoses of complex conditions. Investments in new diagnostics, healthcare IoT, and other healthcare technologies continue to gather momentum in this industry.
| ENSG | HCA | ENSG / HCA | |
| Capitalization | 9.16B | 83.6B | 11% |
| EBITDA | 594M | 15.7B | 4% |
| Gain YTD | -9.971 | -18.968 | 53% |
| P/E Ratio | 25.53 | 12.99 | 197% |
| Revenue | 5.27B | 76.4B | 7% |
| Total Cash | 595M | N/A | - |
| Total Debt | 2.25B | 49.8B | 5% |
ENSG | HCA | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 4 | 4 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 47 Fair valued | 9 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 44 | 49 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 52 | 43 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 75 | 63 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 62 | 73 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
HCA's Valuation (9) in the Hospital Or Nursing Management industry is somewhat better than the same rating for ENSG (47) in the Medical Or Nursing Services industry. This means that HCA’s stock grew somewhat faster than ENSG’s over the last 12 months.
ENSG's Profit vs Risk Rating (44) in the Medical Or Nursing Services industry is in the same range as HCA (49) in the Hospital Or Nursing Management industry. This means that ENSG’s stock grew similarly to HCA’s over the last 12 months.
HCA's SMR Rating (43) in the Hospital Or Nursing Management industry is in the same range as ENSG (52) in the Medical Or Nursing Services industry. This means that HCA’s stock grew similarly to ENSG’s over the last 12 months.
HCA's Price Growth Rating (63) in the Hospital Or Nursing Management industry is in the same range as ENSG (75) in the Medical Or Nursing Services industry. This means that HCA’s stock grew similarly to ENSG’s over the last 12 months.
ENSG's P/E Growth Rating (62) in the Medical Or Nursing Services industry is in the same range as HCA (73) in the Hospital Or Nursing Management industry. This means that ENSG’s stock grew similarly to HCA’s over the last 12 months.
| ENSG | HCA | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 70% | 2 days ago 65% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 62% | 2 days ago 50% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 63% | 2 days ago 72% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 65% | 2 days ago 68% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 64% | 2 days ago 63% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 63% | 2 days ago 59% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 8 days ago 66% | 8 days ago 69% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 6 days ago 59% | 6 days ago 62% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 63% | 2 days ago 47% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 65% | 2 days ago 58% |
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ENSG and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, ENSG has been loosely correlated with EHC. These tickers have moved in lockstep 41% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if ENSG jumps, then EHC could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To ENSG | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENSG | 100% | +2.04% | ||
| EHC - ENSG | 41% Loosely correlated | +0.66% | ||
| UHS - ENSG | 39% Loosely correlated | +1.04% | ||
| NHC - ENSG | 36% Loosely correlated | -0.06% | ||
| PNTG - ENSG | 36% Loosely correlated | +0.36% | ||
| HCA - ENSG | 35% Loosely correlated | +0.49% | ||
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HCA and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, HCA has been closely correlated with UHS. These tickers have moved in lockstep 68% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if HCA jumps, then UHS could also see price increases.