CTRE vs VTR Stock Comparison
CTRE currently leads VTR in this stock comparison, with AIQ scores of 52 vs 35. The clearest difference is quality, while VTR has the stronger momentum profile.
What is the main difference between CTRE and VTR?
CTRE leads the current stock comparison as CareTrust REIT, Inc., with the clearest separation coming from quality and the broader AIQ evidence mix.
AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison
CareTrust REIT, Inc. vs Ventas, Inc.
CTRE leads
CTRE leads by 17 AIQ points, primarily on Quality and Risk Resilience.
Competitive: 5 of 6 evidence groups support CTRE, and its current signal state is conflicted.
CareTrust REIT, Inc.
Ventas, Inc.
The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors CTRE over VTR, 52 versus 35 as of Oct 21, 2026. CTRE's advantage is driven primarily by stronger quality and risk resilience, while VTR holds the stronger momentum profile. CTRE also shows the weaker technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average. 5 of 6 covered evidence groups favor CTRE today, and the comparison is rated Competitive on stability: the leader is throwing conflicting signals. CTRE lead: Stable — the AIQ differential has held near 17 points over 30 sessions.
Compare CareTrust REIT, Inc. and Ventas, Inc. across the Algovestiq AIQ Score, valuation, quality, momentum, risk, technicals and analyst expectations.
Performance over time
Total return with distributions reinvested, from daily closes.
Total return comparison
Growth of $10,000, distributions reinvested
Split-adjusted closes; each distribution is reinvested at the close on its ex-dividend date. Taxes and trading costs are not modeled.
Compare CTRE and VTR against another ticker
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AIQ Factor Divergence
Where the two separate, on the four dimensions behind the AIQ Score. Bars read outward from a shared zero: further from the centre is a wider gap.
- Quality65 vs 18CTRE +47
- Risk Resilience67 vs 50CTRE +17
- Momentum41 vs 54VTR +13
- Value39 vs 29CTRE +10
5 of 6 evidence groups favor CTRE. CTRE’s edge is concentrated in quality and risk resilience; VTR keeps a meaningful momentum edge.
What changed since the last close
Latest scored session 2026-10-20, compared against the prior scored session 2026-10-19.
Largest factor move: Momentum +10
No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 4 active signals are unchanged.
Largest factor move: Momentum +17
No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 2 active signals are unchanged.
CTRE's lead narrowed by 1 AIQ point in the latest session.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — CTRE and VTR both carry a full feed there.
The central trade-off
CTRE (CareTrust REIT, Inc.): the stronger current systematic profile, led by quality and risk resilience.
VTR (Ventas, Inc.): the counter-case, on momentum, technicals — but at materially higher volatility, 23.4% against 17.9%.
Which one fits your objective
The same two names rank differently depending on what you are optimizing for. All six reads are shown at once — none of them is hidden behind a toggle.
Balanced
CTRECTRE on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value most heavily.
Growth
VTRVTR on combined revenue and EPS growth.
Value
CTRECTRE on the peer-relative Value factor, by 10 points.
Momentum
VTRVTR on the Momentum factor, by 13 points.
Lower downside
CTRECTRE on Risk Resilience, by 17 points.
Analyst upside
CTRECTRE on implied upside to the consensus price target.
AIQ vs Wall Street
Where the systematic read and the analyst consensus line up — and where they do not.
| Measure | CTRE | VTR | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implied upside to target | +24% | +15.8% | CTRE has more room |
| Target dispersion | +11.3% | +22.2% | Lower is tighter analyst agreement |
| Consensus | Buy | Buy | Context, not a primary driver |
| Analysts covering | 8 | 14 | Higher coverage generally improves confidence |
Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Dividend growth
| Dividend metric | CTRE | VTR |
|---|---|---|
| 5Y dividend CAGR | 6.03% | -2.17% |
| 2020 regular DPS | $1.000 | $2.143 |
| 2025 regular DPS | $1.340 | $1.920 |
| Years increased | 5 | 1 |
| No cut in window | Yes | No (1) |
| Cohort rank | #15 | not ranked |
CTRE grew its split-adjusted regular dividend faster over 2020–2025 — 6.03% a year against VTR's -2.17%. CTRE never reduced its regular dividend in the window; VTR did in 1 year.
Yield and payout ratio shown elsewhere on this page are current values, not part of the study window.
Split-adjusted regular dividends per share, 2020–2025, excluding special dividends. Research as of Sep 19, 2026.
AIQ Agreement Matrix
5 of 6 covered evidence groups favor CTRE. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.
| Evidence group | Favors | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ Score | CTRE | 52 vs 35 |
| Fundamentals | CTREon balance | revenue growth 13% vs 4.4%; EPS growth 5.6% vs 16.7%; TTM ROE 8.5% vs 2%; gross margin 78% vs -2.6%; operating margin 69.7% vs 12.9% — CTRE takes 4 of 5 decided legs, not all of them |
| Valuation | CTRE | Value 39 vs 29 |
| Technicals | VTR | Price vs 50-day -6.2% vs -3%; vs 200-day -6.6% vs 0.4% |
| Risk Resilience | CTRE | Risk Resilience 67 vs 50 |
| Analyst expectations | CTRE | Target upside 24% vs 15.8% |
✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of CTRE and VTR and are excluded from the count.
AIQ Decision Stability
The two are close enough that your objective, not the score, should decide.
- The AIQ gap is wide at 17 points. (supports the conclusion holding)
- 5 of 6 covered evidence groups point the same way. (supports the conclusion holding)
- The lead has been steady session to session. (supports the conclusion holding)
- The leader is throwing conflicting signals. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- Signal direction runs against the verdict: the leader is net-bearish while the laggard is net-bullish. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
Stability combines the score gap, how broadly the evidence agrees, how steady the lead has been across daily snapshots, the current signal state on both names, and analyst dispersion on CTRE.
How the comparison changed
120 daily snapshots · Jun 21 – Oct 20CTRE lead: Stable — the AIQ differential has held near 17 points over 30 sessions.
- Today
- CTRE +17
- 52 vs 35
- 7 sessions ago
- CTRE +19
- 50 vs 31
- 30 sessions ago
- CTRE +18
- 48 vs 30
- 90 sessions ago
- CTRE +13
- 46 vs 33
The lead has not changed hands in this window.
AIQ Signal Divergence
Only the signals that bear on the head-to-head. A conflicted name is carrying bullish and bearish rules at the same time — the technical evidence is not pointing one way.
1 bullish / 2 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted
Only CTRE
- Bollinger Band Squeeze — neutral, volatility, short horizon
- Death Cross Active — bearish, trend, long horizon (2.73%)
- Downtrend Structure Active — bearish, trend, long horizon
2 bullish / 0 bearish
Only VTR
- Golden Cross Active — bullish, trend, long horizon (2.16%)
Both carry 1 more signal that do not separate them: MACD Bullish Crossover.
CTRE leads the comparison while carrying a conflicted signal state, which is one reason the stability rating is not higher.
Price vs model alignment
Whether the latest session's price move confirms what the model did over the same session, or contradicts it.
Price is down while the AIQ Score moved up 3 points over the same session — price and model disagree (price -2.19%, AIQ +3 points).
Price is down while the AIQ Score moved up 4 points over the same session — price and model disagree (price -1.28%, AIQ +4 points).
What would flip this result
A state, not a forecast. These are the specific, observable changes that would reverse the verdict — not a price prediction.
- 1VTR closes the Quality gap — currently 47 points behind, the largest single contributor to CTRE's edge.
- 2VTR generates a confirmed bullish trend signal it does not currently carry, such as EMA Ribbon Expansion Bullish or Uptrend Structure Active.
- 3CTRE's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 1 bullish and 2 bearish rules at once.
- 4A regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
The full evidence
Every number behind the verdict. The leader is called above each group so you are not left to solve it from the table.
Fundamentals
CTRE leads on balance| Metric | CTRE | VTR |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth (YoY) | 13% | 4.4% |
| EPS growth (YoY) | 5.6% | 16.7% |
| Gross margin | 78% | -2.6% |
| Operating margin | 69.7% | 12.9% |
| Return on equity (TTM) | 8.5% | 2% |
| Debt to equity | 0.27 | 0.93 |
Performance
VTR leads 6 of 6 windows| Metric | CTRE | VTR |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week (5 sessions) | -0.3% | 3.1% |
| 1 month (20 sessions) | -2.6% | -0.4% |
| 3 months (63 sessions) | -14% | -11% |
| 6 months (126 sessions) | -5% | 5.3% |
| Year to date | 0.8% | 11.8% |
| 1 year (252 sessions) | 7.9% | 24.4% |
Technicals
VTR has the stronger structure| Metric | CTRE | VTR |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 48.7 | 54.7 |
| ADX (14) | 26.3 | 22.2 |
| Price vs 50-day | -6.2% | -3% |
| Price vs 200-day | -6.6% | 0.4% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 17.9% | 23.4% |
Risk
CTRE is the more resilient| Metric | CTRE | VTR |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | 0.01 | -0.24 |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.18 | 0.84 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.26 | 1.15 |
| Max drawdown | -17.5% | -20.4% |
| Current drawdown | -16% | -14% |
| Annualized volatility | 24.9% | 22.7% |
| Value at risk (95%) | -2.4% | -2.2% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better, CTRE or VTR?
On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, CTRE is the stronger of the two as of Oct 21, 2026, scoring 52 against VTR's 35. The edge comes from quality and risk resilience. VTR is not without a case — it holds the better momentum profile, which matters more if that is the objective you are optimizing for. This is a systematic score, not a recommendation: it ranks the two on the same evidence, it does not know your holding period or tax position.
Is CTRE or VTR the better buy right now?
CTRE carries the stronger systematic profile as of Oct 21, 2026, and the comparison is rated Competitive — 5 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. A Competitive rating means the two are close enough that your objective, not the score, should decide.
Why does the AIQ Score favor CTRE over VTR?
The composite weights Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience. CTRE leads Quality by 47 points; CTRE leads Risk Resilience by 17 points; VTR leads Momentum by 13 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.
Which has more analyst upside, CTRE or VTR?
Analyst price targets imply +24% upside for CTRE and +15.8% for VTR, so the Street currently favors CTRE. The model and the Street agree here, which is a broader base of evidence than either alone. Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions, and dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Which is better value, CTRE or VTR?
CTRE is the better-valued of the two on the peer-relative Value factor. CTRE on the peer-relative Value factor, by 10 points. The Value factor reads valuation relative to sector peers and to the company's own fundamental quality, so it is not the same as simply having the lower multiple.
Which has stronger growth, CTRE or VTR?
VTR on combined revenue and EPS growth. Growth here is measured on reported revenue and earnings, not on forward estimates — it describes what the businesses have delivered, not what the Street expects next.
Which has stronger momentum, CTRE or VTR?
VTR on the Momentum factor, by 13 points. Momentum is one of the four weighted factors in the AIQ composite. It has documented persistence over three- to twelve-month horizons, which makes it a timing input rather than a reason to hold something indefinitely.
Which is riskier, CTRE or VTR?
CTRE is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. CTRE on Risk Resilience, by 17 points. Risk Resilience is a weighted factor in the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.
Is CTRE more profitable than VTR?
CTRE leads on the comparable margin measures — gross margin 78% vs -2.6%; operating margin 69.7% vs 12.9%; ttm roe 8.5% vs 2%.
Is CTRE's lead over VTR getting stronger or weaker?
CTRE lead: Stable — the AIQ differential has held near 17 points over 30 sessions. This is measured from 120 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-06-21 and 2026-10-20. The lead has not changed hands in that window.
What would change the CTRE vs VTR verdict?
The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: VTR closes the Quality gap — currently 47 points behind, the largest single contributor to CTRE's edge; VTR generates a confirmed bullish trend signal it does not currently carry, such as EMA Ribbon Expansion Bullish or Uptrend Structure Active; CTRE's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 1 bullish and 2 bearish rules at once; a regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
What do the current signals say about CTRE and VTR?
CTRE: 1 bullish / 2 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted. VTR: 2 bullish / 0 bearish. A conflicted state means bullish and bearish rules are active on the same name at once — the technical evidence is not pointing one way, and a decision taken on it carries more timing risk. The most decision-relevant rule on CTRE is Death Cross Active (bearish, long horizon). On VTR it is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon).
Compare CTRE and VTR with others
Continue your research
This page answers which of the two. These answer the questions on either side of it.
How this comparison is scored
The Algovestiq AIQ Score composites four factors — Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk, each carrying a fixed weight. Sentiment is reported separately as SentimentPulse and is not folded into the composite. Scores refresh every trading day, and this page regenerates from the latest snapshot rather than being written once.
The verdict names a leader, states how broadly six independent evidence groups agree, and rates how durable that conclusion is given the score gap, its recent trajectory and the current signal state on both names.
How to use side-by-side comparison →This comparison is informational and educational, not investment advice. AIQ scores update daily; re-check after earnings, guidance or macro data that materially changes either name’s factor profile.