ABR vs BXMT

For growth investors, Arbor Realty Trust, Inc.

(ABR) is the stronger pick with -12. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -14. 0% for Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. (BXMT). Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. (ABR) offers the better valuation at 6. 9x trailing P/E (11. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. (ABR) a "Buy" — based on 12 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, Arbor Realty Trust, Inc.

(ABR) is the cheapest at 6. 9x versus Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. at 29. 9x. On forward P/E, Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. is actually cheaper at 11. 2x.

Over the past 5 years, Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc.

(BXMT) delivered a total return of -4. 1%, compared to -11. 3% for Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. (ABR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ABR returned +197. 3% versus BXMT's +50. 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), Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc.

(BXMT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 74β versus Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. 's 1. 03β — meaning ABR is approximately 38% more volatile than BXMT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. (ABR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 5% for Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Arbor Realty Trust, Inc.

(ABR) is pulling ahead at -12. 7% versus -14. 0% for Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. (BXMT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. grew EPS 154. 7% year-over-year, compared to -32. 6% for Arbor Realty Trust, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, BXMT leads at 4. 9% 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.

Arbor Realty Trust, Inc.

(ABR) is the more profitable company, earning 42. 2% net margin versus 7. 2% for Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. — meaning it keeps 42. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BXMT leads at 71. 6% versus 61. 1% for ABR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ABR leads at 90. 1%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, Arbor Realty Trust, Inc.

(ABR) trades at 11. 2x forward P/E versus 12. 0x for Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. — 0. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. (ABR) offers the highest yield at 23. 5%, versus 9. 9% for Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. (BXMT).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc.

(BXMT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 74), 9. 9% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (BXMT: +50. 5%, ABR: +197. 3%), 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.

In terms of investment character: ABR is a small-cap deep-value stock; BXMT is a small-cap income-oriented stock. 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.