The Ensign Group, Inc. (ENSG) AI Stock Analysis

NASDAQ: ENSGAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

ENSG AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

The Ensign Group, Inc. is a healthcare provider offering skilled nursing, senior living, and rehabilitative services across multiple US states. The company generated $5.06B in revenue in FY2025 with an operating cash flow of $564.3M. In the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue grew 17.3% year-over-year while trailing twelve month EPS reached $6.38.

Market cap
$10.29B
Revenue (TTM)
$5.49B
P/E
27.7x
fwd 20.7x
1Y return
-1.4%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$220.00
24.6% vs last close

Bull case

  • Annual revenue increased from $2.63B in FY2021 to $5.06B in FY2025, producing a 5-year revenue CAGR of 16.1%.
  • Free cash flow surged to $370.7M in FY2025, backed by robust operating cash flow of $564.3M.
  • Analysts project fiscal year EPS to grow 18.9% to $7.81 in FY2026, supported by 4 consecutive quarterly earnings beats.

Bear case

  • The stock trades at a trailing P/E of 27.7x and forward P/E of 20.7x, both higher than the US-listed Healthcare peer medians of 24.6x and 17.3x.
  • Operating margin declined from 9.9% in FY2021 to 8.4% in FY2025, while gross margin compressed from 17.8% to 15.8%.
  • ENSG stock declined 1.4% over the past year, lagging the S&P 500 return of 16.8%.

What Ensign does

The Ensign Group, Inc. provides skilled nursing, senior living, and rehabilitative services, along with ancillary healthcare offerings. Operating through two core segments, Skilled Services provides skilled nursing facilities and rehabilitation therapy for patients with chronic conditions, ventilator care, dialysis, and cardiac management. The Standard Bearer segment owns real estate properties leased to skilled nursing and senior living operators across states such as Arizona, California, Texas, and Utah. Ensign Group also delivers ancillary services including digital x-ray, ultrasound, sub-acute services, and patient transportation.

Growth and profitability

Ensign Group expanded annual revenue from $2.63B in FY2021 to $5.06B in FY2025, reflecting a 5-year revenue CAGR of 16.1%. Over that timeframe, net income increased from $194.7M to $344.0M, with annual diluted EPS rising from $3.62 to $6.42. Gross margin moderated from 17.8% in FY2021 to 15.8% in FY2025, while operating margin went from 9.9% to 8.4%. Over the trailing twelve months, revenue reached $5.49B with a profit margin of 6.9%. For the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue increased 17.3% and quarterly earnings grew 16.7% year-over-year.

ENSG income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of June 30, 2026, Ensign Group held $320.8M in cash and short-term investments against total debt of $2.25B, resulting in net debt of $1.93B. The company recorded a current ratio of 1.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92, supported by shareholders' equity of $2.44B. In FY2025, operating cash flow reached $564.3M and free cash flow stood at $370.7M. Capital allocation in FY2025 included $193.6M in capital expenditures, $21.4M in share buybacks, and $14.4M in dividends paid.

ENSG balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

Ensign Group trades at a trailing P/E of 27.7x and a forward P/E of 20.7x, both above the median of its US-listed Healthcare peers at 24.6x and 17.3x, respectively. Its EV/EBITDA of 19.5x also trades above the peer median of 12.0x, though its price-to-sales ratio of 1.9x sits below the peer median of 4.1x. Over the past year, ENSG stock declined 1.4%, lagging the S&P 500 return of 16.8%. Over a 5-year period, however, the stock returned 145.0% compared to 83.0% for the S&P 500.

ENSG key metrics →

ENSG dividend

Ensign Group pays an annual forward dividend of $0.26 per share, providing a dividend yield of 0.15% with a payout ratio of 3.7%. The company distributes dividends quarterly and has paid dividends for 20 consecutive years. Its 5-year annualized dividend growth rate stands at 4.5%, with the most recent ex-dividend date on September 30, 2026.

ENSG dividend history →

What analysts expect

Wall Street analysts maintain 3 Strong Buy, 1 Buy, and 1 Hold ratings on ENSG, with zero Sell or Strong Sell ratings. The mean price target of $220.00 indicates a 24.6% premium over the last close of $176.63. Consensus estimates project FY2026 revenue of $5.90B and EPS of $7.81, followed by FY2027 revenue of $6.57B. Ensign Group has beaten earnings estimates in each of the last 4 quarters, with its next earnings date scheduled for November 2, 2026.

ENSG forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • Total debt of $2.25B creates net debt of $1.93B against $320.8M in cash and short-term investments.
  • Trailing twelve month operating margin of 9.0% remains lower than the US-listed Healthcare peer median of 14.0%.
  • The company's EV/EBITDA of 19.5x exceeds the peer median of 12.0x, leaving valuation vulnerable to multiple compression.

AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer

About this ENSG AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of The Ensign Group, Inc. (ENSG). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.

Related: ENSG income statement, ENSG balance sheet, ENSG key metrics, ENSG analyst forecast, ENSG chart. See the ENSG stock overview for the latest quote and news.

ENSG AI stock analysis FAQ

What does The Ensign Group do?

The Ensign Group provides skilled nursing, senior living, and rehabilitative services across multiple states, operating primarily through its Skilled Services and Standard Bearer real estate segments.

Does ENSG pay a dividend?

Yes, ENSG pays an annual forward dividend of $0.26 per share, yielding 0.15% with a payout ratio of 3.7% and a 20-year history of consecutive dividend payments.

How does ENSG's valuation compare to its healthcare peers?

ENSG trades at a trailing P/E of 27.7x and a forward P/E of 20.7x, compared to the US-listed Healthcare peer medians of 24.6x and 17.3x.

When does The Ensign Group report earnings next?

The Ensign Group is scheduled to report its next earnings on November 2, 2026.

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