CPT vs MAA vs UDR

For growth investors, UDR, Inc.

(UDR) is the stronger pick with 2. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 0. 8% for Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. (MAA). Camden Property Trust (CPT) offers the better valuation at 29. 6x trailing P/E (68. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. (MAA) a "Buy" — based on 37 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Camden Property Trust (CPT) is the cheapest at 29.

6x versus Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. at 34. 4x. On forward P/E, Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. is actually cheaper at 39. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: UDR, Inc. wins at 1. 60x versus Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. 's 3. 38x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Camden Property Trust (CPT) delivered a total return of +5.

4%, compared to +0. 2% for UDR, Inc. (UDR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MAA returned +75. 2% versus UDR's +41. 5%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc.

(MAA) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 34β versus UDR, Inc. 's 0. 39β — meaning UDR is approximately 16% more volatile than MAA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Camden Property Trust (CPT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 88% versus 149% for UDR, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), UDR, Inc.

(UDR) is pulling ahead at 2. 4% versus 0. 8% for Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. (MAA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: UDR, Inc. grew EPS 334. 6% year-over-year, compared to -15. 8% for Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, UDR leads at 4. 1% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Camden Property Trust (CPT) is the more profitable company, earning 24.

4% net margin versus 20. 2% for Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. — meaning it keeps 24. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MAA leads at 28. 0% versus 18. 4% for CPT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CPT leads at 61. 4%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, UDR, Inc. (UDR) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 60x versus Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. 's 3. 38x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. (MAA) trades at 39. 0x forward P/E versus 68. 4x for Camden Property Trust — 29. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MAA: 10. 4% to $143. 71.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. (MAA) offers the highest yield at 4. 7%, versus 4. 1% for Camden Property Trust (CPT).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc.

(MAA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 34), 4. 7% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MAA: +75. 2%, UDR: +41. 5%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Real Estate sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.