Brookdale Senior Living (BKD) vs National HealthCare (NHC)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
National HealthCare (NHC) has outperformed Brookdale Senior Living (BKD) over the past year, gaining 87.8% versus a gain of 34.1%. Over five years, NHC leads with a +206.5% price change compared with +65.0% for BKD. National HealthCare is the larger company by market cap ($3.53 billion vs $2.60 billion), about 1.4 times the size.
On valuation, Brookdale Senior Living trades at a lower forward P/E (90.8x vs 523.7x for National HealthCare). National HealthCare pays a dividend yielding 1.15%, while Brookdale Senior Living does not currently pay one. National HealthCare converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 7.9% versus -8.2%.
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 | BKD | NHC |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $10.89 | $225.17 |
| Market cap | $2.60B | $3.53B |
| 1-day change | +1.11% | +1.80% |
| YTD return | +0.93% | +61.35% |
| 1-year return | +34.11% | +87.75% |
| 5-year return | +65.00% | +206.48% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 25.33 |
| Forward P/E | 90.75 | 523.65 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-0.58 | $8.89 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 1.15% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $2.59 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $3.19B | $1.52B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +2.19% | +16.09% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $-262.69M | $120.02M |
| Gross margin | 26.22% | — |
| Operating margin | 0.42% | 8.46% |
| Net margin | -8.22% | 7.91% |
| 52-week high | $17.09 | $239.29 |
| 52-week low | $8.02 | $116.42 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -36.28% | -5.90% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | — |
| Avg. price target upside | +76.77% | — |
| Average volume | 5.01M | 108.25K |
| Shares outstanding | 238.82M | 15.66M |
| Employees | 22,440 | 15,278 |
| Sector | Healthcare | Health Care |
| Industry | Medical Care Facilities | 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
- NHC has outperformed BKD by 53.6 percentage points over the past year.
- National HealthCare offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.15% vs 0.00%).
- National HealthCare is more profitable, keeping 7.9 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus -8.2 cents for Brookdale Senior Living.
- National HealthCare grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+16.09% vs +2.19%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Brookdale Senior Living in Healthcare and National HealthCare in Health Care.
About Brookdale Senior Living
BKD stock →Brookdale Senior Living Inc. owns, manages, and operates senior living communities in the United States.
Healthcare · Medical Care Facilities · 22,440 employees
About National HealthCare
NHC stock →National HealthCare Corporation engages in the operation of services to skilled nursing facilities, assisted and independent living facilities, homecare and hospice agencies, and health hospitals. It operates through two segments: Inpatient and Homecare and Hospice Services.
Health Care · Hospital/Nursing Management · 15,278 employees
BKD vs NHC FAQ
Which is bigger, Brookdale Senior Living or National HealthCare?
National HealthCare (NHC) is larger, with a market capitalization of $3.53B compared with $2.60B for Brookdale Senior Living (BKD).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BKD or NHC?
NHC returned +87.75% over the past 12 months, compared with +34.11% for BKD (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Brookdale Senior Living or National HealthCare?
National HealthCare pays a dividend yielding 1.15%, while Brookdale Senior Living does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Brookdale Senior Living and National HealthCare in the same industry?
No. Brookdale Senior Living is in the Healthcare sector, while National HealthCare is in Health Care.