ENSG vs. UHS: Ensign vs. Universal Health Services Stock Comparison
How do Ensign (ENSG) and Universal Health Services (UHS) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Ensign (ENSG) and Universal Health Services (UHS) are both classified in the Health Care Facilities sub-industry within the broader Health Care Providers & Services industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | ENSG | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Name | The Ensign Group, Inc. | Universal Health Services Inc. Class B Common Stock |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry Group | Health Care Equipment & Services | Health Care Equipment & Services |
| GICS Industry | Health Care Providers & Services | Health Care Providers & Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Health Care Facilities | Health Care Facilities |
| Market Capitalization | 10.56 billion USD | 11.52 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | November 9, 2007 | July 9, 1981 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ENSG | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 1.36% | -12.89% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 21.65% | 16.25% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 17.48% | 9.70% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ENSG | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 29.85% | 34.26% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.65 | 1.06 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -31.81% | -43.34% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 353.46K | 707.83K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ENSG | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.10 | -0.50 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.16 | -0.70 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Ensign (ENSG) at 17.05% and Universal Health Services (UHS) at 19.74% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.
ENSG
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
17.05%
- Max
- 47.61%
- ENSG
- 17.05%
- Q3
- 14.36%
- Median
- 5.45%
- Q1
- -10.67%
- Min
- -47.01%
UHS
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
19.74%
- Max
- 47.61%
- UHS
- 19.74%
- Q3
- 14.36%
- Median
- 5.45%
- Q1
- -10.67%
- Min
- -47.01%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Ensign (ENSG) at 7.03% and Universal Health Services (UHS) at 7.97% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
ENSG
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
7.03%
- Max
- 29.35%
- Q3
- 9.33%
- ENSG
- 7.03%
- Median
- 2.18%
- Q1
- -6.29%
- Min
- -28.46%
UHS
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
7.97%
- Max
- 29.35%
- Q3
- 9.33%
- UHS
- 7.97%
- Median
- 2.18%
- Q1
- -6.29%
- Min
- -28.46%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Ensign (ENSG) at 9.23% and Universal Health Services (UHS) at 9.60% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
ENSG
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
9.23%
- Max
- 35.43%
- Q3
- 14.14%
- ENSG
- 9.23%
- Median
- 6.81%
- Q1
- -0.28%
- Min
- -16.29%
UHS
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
9.60%
- Max
- 35.43%
- Q3
- 14.14%
- UHS
- 9.60%
- Median
- 6.81%
- Q1
- -0.28%
- Min
- -16.29%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ENSG | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 17.05% | 19.74% |
| ROA (TTM) | 5.59% | 7.65% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 7.03% | 7.97% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 9.23% | 9.60% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 17.10% | 44.51% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Ensign (ENSG) at 18.72% and Universal Health Services (UHS) at 9.71% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Universal Health Services (UHS) at 37.34% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Ensign (ENSG) at 14.06% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for UHS.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ENSG | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 18.72% | 9.71% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 18.68% | 9.03% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 14.06% | 37.34% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 13.92% | 36.21% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Universal Health Services (UHS) at 1.37 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Ensign (ENSG) at 1.20 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for ENSG.
ENSG
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
1.20
- Max
- 7.59
- Q3
- 4.00
- Median
- 1.98
- Q1
- 1.37
- ENSG
- 1.20
- Min
- 0.30
UHS
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
1.37
- Max
- 7.59
- Q3
- 4.00
- Median
- 1.98
- UHS
- 1.37
- Q1
- 1.37
- Min
- 0.30
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Ensign (ENSG) at 0.89 and Universal Health Services (UHS) at 0.80 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
ENSG
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.89
- Max
- 1.88
- Q3
- 0.91
- ENSG
- 0.89
- Median
- 0.58
- Q1
- 0.16
- Min
- 0.00
UHS
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.80
- Max
- 1.88
- Q3
- 0.91
- UHS
- 0.80
- Median
- 0.58
- Q1
- 0.16
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ENSG | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.20 | 1.37 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.89 | 0.80 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 3.05 | 2.27 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Ensign (ENSG) at 0.14% and Universal Health Services (UHS) at 0.10% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.
ENSG
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.14%
- ENSG
- 0.14%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
UHS
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.10%
- UHS
- 0.10%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Ensign (ENSG) at 3.87% and Universal Health Services (UHS) at 3.35% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.
ENSG
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
3.87%
- ENSG
- 3.87%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
UHS
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
3.35%
- UHS
- 3.35%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ENSG | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.14% | 0.10% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 3.87% | 3.35% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Universal Health Services (UHS) at 8.18 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Ensign (ENSG) at 26.95 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for UHS, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
ENSG
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
26.95
- Max
- 80.41
- Q3
- 47.62
- Median
- 29.93
- ENSG
- 26.95
- Q1
- 21.19
- Min
- 4.21
UHS
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
8.18
- Max
- 80.41
- Q3
- 47.62
- Median
- 29.93
- Q1
- 21.19
- UHS
- 8.18
- Min
- 4.21
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Universal Health Services (UHS) at 0.63 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Ensign (ENSG) at 1.86 prices around its industry’s middle — UHS costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
ENSG
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
1.86
- Max
- 8.80
- Q3
- 4.32
- Median
- 2.13
- ENSG
- 1.86
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.03
UHS
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.63
- Max
- 8.80
- Q3
- 4.32
- Median
- 2.13
- Q1
- 1.10
- UHS
- 0.63
- Min
- 0.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Universal Health Services (UHS) at 1.51 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile against book while Ensign (ENSG) at 4.09 is valued near its industry’s middle — UHS is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.
ENSG
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
4.09
- Max
- 11.68
- Q3
- 6.12
- ENSG
- 4.09
- Median
- 3.00
- Q1
- 1.73
- Min
- -1.31
UHS
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
1.51
- Max
- 11.68
- Q3
- 6.12
- Median
- 3.00
- Q1
- 1.73
- UHS
- 1.51
- Min
- -1.31
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ENSG | UHS |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 26.95 | 8.18 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.86 | 0.63 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 4.09 | 1.51 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 3.52% | 6.47% |