Ardent Health (ARDT) vs PACS Group (PACS)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
PACS Group (PACS) has outperformed Ardent Health (ARDT) over the past year, gaining 236.4% versus a loss of 24.5%. PACS Group is the larger company by market cap ($6.94 billion vs $1.56 billion), about 4.5 times the size. On valuation, Ardent Health trades at a lower forward P/E (8.8x vs 16.1x for PACS Group).
PACS Group converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 3.6% versus 2.1%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | ARDT | PACS |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $11.05 | $43.84 |
| Market cap | $1.56B | $6.94B |
| 1-day change | -0.27% | +0.35% |
| YTD return | +25.37% | +13.91% |
| 1-year return | -24.49% | +236.38% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 20.46 | 25.34 |
| Forward P/E | 8.80 | 16.05 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.54 | $1.73 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $6.32B | $5.29B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +6.01% | +29.32% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $135.81M | $191.54M |
| Gross margin | — | 21.92% |
| Operating margin | — | 5.85% |
| Net margin | 2.15% | 3.62% |
| 52-week high | $15.48 | $49.49 |
| 52-week low | $7.71 | $10.31 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -28.62% | -11.42% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +14.66% | +34.58% |
| Average volume | 446.62K | 804.84K |
| Shares outstanding | 141.05M | 158.34M |
| Employees | 19,500 | 47,455 |
| Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| Industry | Hospital/Nursing Management | Hospital/Nursing Management |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- PACS Group is about 4.5 times larger than Ardent Health by market value ($6.94B vs $1.56B).
- PACS has outperformed ARDT by 260.9 percentage points over the past year.
- PACS Group grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+29.32% vs +6.01%).
About Ardent Health
ARDT stock →Ardent Health, Inc. owns and operates a network of hospitals and clinics that provides healthcare services in the United States.
Health Care · Hospital/Nursing Management · 19,500 employees
About PACS Group
PACS stock →PACS Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities in the United States. It also provides senior care and independent living facilities.
Health Care · Hospital/Nursing Management · 47,455 employees
ARDT vs PACS FAQ
Which is bigger, Ardent Health or PACS Group?
PACS Group (PACS) is larger, with a market capitalization of $6.94B compared with $1.56B for Ardent Health (ARDT).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ARDT or PACS?
PACS returned +236.38% over the past 12 months, compared with -24.49% for ARDT (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ARDT or PACS?
ARDT has the lower trailing P/E at 20.5, versus 25.3 for PACS. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Are Ardent Health and PACS Group in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Hospital/Nursing Management industry within the Health Care sector.