UMH
UMH Properties, Inc.
REIT - Residential
Market Cap$1.35B
5Y Perf.+27.2%
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Stock Comparison
UMH vs ELS
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
ELS
Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.
REIT - Residential
Market Cap$12.27B
5Y Perf.+1.6%
UMH vs ELS — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | UMH | ELS |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | REIT - Residential | REIT - Residential |
| Market Cap | $1.35B | $12.27B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $201M | $1.53B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $22M | $387M |
| Gross Margin | 37.2% | 37.6% |
| Operating Margin | 18.0% | 33.8% |
| Forward P/E | 149.8x | 31.1x |
| Total Debt | $761M | $3.37B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $72M | $26M |
UMH vs ELS — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
UMH
ELS
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| UMH Properties, Inc. (UMH) | 100 | 127.2 | +27.2% |
| Equity LifeStyle Pr… (ELS) | 100 | 101.6 | +1.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: UMH vs ELS
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: ELS leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. UMH Properties, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
UMH
UMH Properties, Inc.
The Real Estate Income Play
UMH is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 8.8%, EPS growth 112.1%, 3Y rev CAGR 10.2%
- 139.1% 10Y total return vs ELS's 106.7%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.36, Low D/E 83.9%, current ratio 12.28x
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
ELS
Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.
The Real Estate Income Play
ELS carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability.
- Dividend streak 12 yrs, beta 0.02, yield 3.2%
- Lower P/E (31.1x vs 149.8x)
- 25.2% margin vs UMH's 10.8%
Best for: income & stability
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | UMH | 8.8% FFO/revenue growth vs ELS's 6.8% |
| Value | ELS | Lower P/E (31.1x vs 149.8x) |
| Quality / Margins | ELS | 25.2% margin vs UMH's 10.8% |
| Stability / Safety | ELS | Beta 0.02 vs UMH's 0.36 |
| Dividends | UMH | 5.2% yield, 6-year raise streak, vs ELS's 3.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | ELS | +1.6% vs UMH's -3.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ELS | 6.8% ROA vs UMH's 1.7%, ROIC 7.6% vs 2.3% |
UMH vs ELS — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
UMH vs ELS — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLELSLAGGINGUMH
UMHUMH Properties, Inc.
1leads
ELSEquity LifeStyle Prop…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs UMHMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
ELS4/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
UMH4/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
ELS5/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
Tied
—
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
ELS2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ELS leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ELS is the larger business by revenue, generating $1.5B annually — 7.6x UMH's $201M. ELS is the more profitable business, keeping 25.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to UMH's 10.8%. On growth, ELS holds the edge at +22.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | UMHUMH Properties, I… | ELSEquity LifeStyle … |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $201M | $1.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $86M | $727M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $22M | $387M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $87M | $334M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +37.2% | +37.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +18.0% | +33.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +10.8% | +25.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +43.2% | +21.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -100.0% | +22.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | -8.3% |
ELS leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
UMH leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 32.8x trailing earnings, ELS trades at a 86% valuation discount to UMH's 226.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, UMH's 18.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than ELS's 21.5x.
| Metric | UMHUMH Properties, I… | ELSEquity LifeStyle … |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.4B | $12.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.0B | $15.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 226.86x | 32.79x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 149.81x | 31.11x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 3.17x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 18.22x | 21.48x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 5.17x | 8.01x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.50x | 6.98x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 16.51x | 36.74x |
UMH leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ELS leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ELS delivers a 21.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $21 in annual profit, vs $2 for UMH. UMH carries lower financial leverage with a 0.84x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ELS's 1.85x.
| Metric | UMHUMH Properties, I… | ELSEquity LifeStyle … |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +2.4% | +21.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.7% | +6.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +2.3% | +7.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.8% | +9.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.84x | 1.85x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $689M | $3.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $72M | $26M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $761M | $3.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.89x | 2.98x |
ELS leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — UMH and ELS each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ELS five years ago would be worth $10,348 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $9,053 for UMH. Over the past 12 months, ELS leads with a +1.6% total return vs UMH's -3.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors UMH at 6.0% vs ELS's 0.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | UMHUMH Properties, I… | ELSEquity LifeStyle … |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +1.3% | +6.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -3.0% | +1.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +19.0% | +0.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -9.5% | +3.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +139.1% | +106.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +6.0% | +0.1% |
Evenly matched — UMH and ELS each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ELS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ELS is the less volatile stock with a 0.02 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than UMH's 0.36 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | UMHUMH Properties, I… | ELSEquity LifeStyle … |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.36x | 0.02x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $17.49 | $69.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $13.93 | $58.15 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +90.8% | +91.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 58.9 | 47.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 621K | 1.7M |
ELS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — UMH and ELS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates UMH as "Buy" and ELS as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 11.5% upside for ELS (target: $71) vs 3.9% for UMH (target: $17). For income investors, UMH offers the higher dividend yield at 5.25% vs ELS's 3.20%.
| Metric | UMHUMH Properties, I… | ELSEquity LifeStyle … |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $16.50 | $70.57 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 15 | 21 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +5.2% | +3.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 6 | 12 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.83 | $2.02 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.4% | 0.0% |
Evenly matched — UMH and ELS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
ELS leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). UMH leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Best OverallEquity LifeStyle Properties… (ELS)Leads 3 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
UMH vs ELS: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is UMH or ELS a better buy right now?
For growth investors, UMH Properties, Inc.
(UMH) is the stronger pick with 8. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 6. 8% for Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. (ELS). Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. (ELS) offers the better valuation at 32. 8x trailing P/E (31. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate UMH Properties, Inc. (UMH) a "Buy" — based on 15 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.
02Which has the better valuation — UMH or ELS?
On trailing P/E, Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.
(ELS) is the cheapest at 32. 8x versus UMH Properties, Inc. at 226. 9x. On forward P/E, Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. is actually cheaper at 31. 1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — UMH or ELS?
Over the past 5 years, Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.
(ELS) delivered a total return of +3. 5%, compared to -9. 5% for UMH Properties, Inc. (UMH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: UMH returned +139. 1% versus ELS's +106. 7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — UMH or ELS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.
(ELS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 02β versus UMH Properties, Inc. 's 0. 36β — meaning UMH is approximately 1625% more volatile than ELS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, UMH Properties, Inc. (UMH) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 84% versus 185% for Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — UMH or ELS?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), UMH Properties, Inc.
(UMH) is pulling ahead at 8. 8% versus 6. 8% for Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. (ELS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: UMH Properties, Inc. grew EPS 112. 1% year-over-year, compared to -1. 5% for Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, UMH leads at 10. 2% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — UMH or ELS?
Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.
(ELS) is the more profitable company, earning 25. 2% net margin versus 10. 1% for UMH Properties, Inc. — meaning it keeps 25. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ELS leads at 33. 8% versus 17. 4% for UMH. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ELS leads at 37. 6%, 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.
07Is UMH or ELS more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.
(ELS) trades at 31. 1x forward P/E versus 149. 8x for UMH Properties, Inc. — 118. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ELS: 11. 5% to $70. 57.
08Which pays a better dividend — UMH or ELS?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
UMH Properties, Inc. (UMH) offers the highest yield at 5. 2%, versus 3. 2% for Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. (ELS).
09Is UMH or ELS better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.
(ELS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 02), 3. 2% yield, +106. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ELS: +106. 7%, UMH: +139. 1%), 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.
10What are the main differences between UMH and ELS?
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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(UMH: -100.0% · ELS: 22.4%)Net Margin>
%
(UMH: 10.8% · ELS: 25.2%)P/E Ratio<
x
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