Cartera Health lands three companies on 2026 Inc. 5000

Cartera Health said all three of its operating companies made the 2026 Inc. 5000, a rare sweep that puts White Orchid Hospice, Sterling Physical Therapy & Wellness and Sterling Staffing Solutions on the national fast-growth list. The ranking highlights the portfolio’s growth momentum and gives the Houston-area healthcare group added visibility ahead of Inc.’s October conference in Dallas.

Why it matters: - Cartera Health’s three-for-three result on the 2026 Inc. 5000 is unusual and signals broad growth across hospice, outpatient rehab and staffing. - The ranking can boost credibility with patients, referral partners, recruits and investors in a competitive healthcare market. - Inc. 5000 also remains a widely watched barometer of private-company growth in the U.S.

What happened: - Cartera Health announced that White Orchid Hospice, Sterling Physical Therapy & Wellness and Sterling Staffing Solutions were all named to the 2026 Inc. 5000 list. - The announcement was made Aug. 26, 2026, from Houston. - The Inc. 5000 ranks the fastest-growing private companies in America.

The details: - White Orchid Hospice ranked No. 1,407 with 251% three-year revenue growth. - White Orchid Hospice also appeared on the 2025 list at No. 1,815, moving up more than 400 spots year over year. - Sterling Physical Therapy & Wellness ranked No. 4,109 with 56% three-year revenue growth. - Sterling Physical Therapy & Wellness was previously No. 128 on the 2025 Inc. Regionals: Southwest list. - Sterling Staffing Solutions ranked No. 4,300 with 49% three-year revenue growth. - Sterling Staffing Solutions is a repeat honoree and appeared on the Inc. 5000 in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2024 and 2025. - Cartera Health is based in Sugar Land, Texas, and operates across outpatient rehabilitation, hospice and palliative care, healthcare staffing and related services. - The 2026 Inc. 5000 list uses revenue growth from 2022 to 2025. - To qualify, companies had to be founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2022, be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit and independent as of Dec. 31, 2025. - The minimum revenue thresholds were $100,000 for 2022 and $2 million for 2025. - Among the 5,000 companies, the median three-year revenue growth rate was 130%. - The listed companies have collectively added more than 627,208 jobs over the past three years. - Inc. will honor the companies at its 2026 Inc. 5000 Conference & Gala in Dallas from Oct. 14-16. - The top 500 will appear in the Fall issue of Inc. Magazine. - The full list and searchable database are available at the Inc. 5000 site.

Between the lines: - Dr. Sterling Carter said the three-company sweep reflects operating discipline across the portfolio, not just strength in one business. - The result suggests Cartera Health’s business mix is resilient enough to produce growth in three different service lines at once. - Inc. framed this year’s honorees as companies shaping growth across healthcare, manufacturing, consumer products and professional services.

What's next: - Cartera Health’s companies will get added exposure as Inc. promotes the honorees ahead of the Dallas conference and magazine issue. - The ranking may help the businesses with hiring, referrals and brand building over the next year. - Cartera Health said the companies remain focused on patient care, workforce support and community service.

The bottom line: - Three portfolio companies landing on the same Inc. 5000 list is a rare validation of Cartera Health’s growth across multiple healthcare businesses.