Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Acadia Realty Trust (AKR) vs Welltower Inc. (WELL) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
Selected Stocks
Add up to 10 tickers. Use presets or search to get started.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | WELL | 38.0% revenue growth vs AKR's 14.2% |
| Value | WELL | Lower P/E (73.3x vs 73.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | WELL | 8.6% net margin vs AKR's 4.4% |
| Stability / Safety | WELL | Beta 0.29 vs AKR's 0.77, lower leverage |
| Dividends | AKR | 3.8% yield; 1-year raise streak; WELL pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | WELL | +36.8% vs AKR's -5.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | WELL | 1.4% ROA vs AKR's 0.4%, ROIC 0.9% vs 1.5% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Acadia Realty Trust is a retail-focused real estate investment trust that owns and operates shopping centers and urban retail properties primarily in high-density, affluent metropolitan areas. It generates revenue through rental income from its Core Portfolio — which contributes about 70% of earnings — and through management fees and carried interest from its series of institutional real estate funds. The company's competitive advantage lies in its strategic focus on high-barrier-to-entry urban retail locations and its dual-platform structure that provides both stable income and opportunistic growth potential.
Welltower is a healthcare-focused real estate investment trust that owns and invests in seniors housing communities, post-acute care facilities, and outpatient medical properties. It generates revenue primarily through rental income from its healthcare real estate portfolio — with seniors housing contributing roughly 60% of net operating income, outpatient medical properties about 25%, and post-acute care facilities the remainder. The company's competitive advantage lies in its scale and strategic partnerships with leading healthcare operators, creating a diversified portfolio concentrated in high-growth markets across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
WELL leads in 2 of 6 categories (Total Returns, Risk & Volatility). AKR leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
WELL is the larger business by revenue, generating $10.8B annually — 27.1x AKR's $399M. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 8.6% (WELL) to 4.4% (AKR). On growth, WELL holds the edge at +46.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | AKRAcadia Realty Tru… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $399M | $10.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $198M | $2.6B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $18M | $934M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $104M | $2.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +69.9% | +20.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +11.3% | +4.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +4.4% | +8.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +26.1% | +19.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +15.1% | +46.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -50.4% | -26.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 149.0x trailing earnings, WELL trades at a 29% valuation discount to AKR's 209.2x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, AKR's 19.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than WELL's 54.4x.
| Metric | AKRAcadia Realty Tru… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.7B | $144.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $4.6B | $142.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 209.20x | 149.01x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 73.40x | 73.28x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 19.04x | 54.40x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 6.67x | 13.31x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.03x | 3.26x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 16.42x | 50.06x |
Profitability & Efficiency
WELL delivers a 2.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $2 in annual profit, vs $1 for AKR. WELL carries lower financial leverage with a 0.07x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AKR's 0.73x.
| Metric | AKRAcadia Realty Tru… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +0.7% | +2.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.4% | +1.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +1.5% | +0.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +1.8% | +0.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.73x | 0.07x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.9B | -$2.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $57M | $5.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.9B | $2.8B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.88x | 0.81x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in WELL five years ago would be worth $32,119 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $12,800 for AKR. Over the past 12 months, WELL leads with a +36.8% total return vs AKR's -5.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WELL at 42.6% vs AKR's 16.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | AKRAcadia Realty Tru… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +1.4% | +11.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -5.8% | +36.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +59.1% | +190.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +28.0% | +221.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -11.6% | +270.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +16.7% | +42.6% |
Risk & Volatility
WELL is the less volatile stock with a 0.29 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AKR's 0.77 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. WELL currently trades 96.1% from its 52-week high vs AKR's 89.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | AKRAcadia Realty Tru… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.77x | 0.29x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $23.46 | $215.56 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $16.98 | $130.29 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +89.2% | +96.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 54.6 | 69.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.1M | 2.5M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates AKR as "Buy" and WELL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 6.9% upside for WELL (target: $221) vs -2.0% for AKR (target: $21). AKR is the only dividend payer here at 3.76% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | AKRAcadia Realty Tru… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $20.50 | $221.45 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 12 | 34 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.8% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.79 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Feb 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acadia Realty Trust (AKR) | 100 | 87 | -13.0% |
| Welltower Inc. (WELL) | 100 | 250.51 | +150.5% |
Welltower Inc. (WELL) returned +221% over 5 years vs Acadia Realty Trust (AKR)'s +28%. A $10,000 investment in WELL 5 years ago would be worth $32,119 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acadia Realty Trust (AKR) | $190M | $411M | +116.3% |
| Welltower Inc. (WELL) | $4.3B | $10.8B | +154.9% |
Acadia Realty Trust's revenue grew from $190M (2016) to $411M (2025) — a 8.9% CAGR. Welltower Inc.'s revenue grew from $4.3B (2016) to $10.8B (2025) — a 11.0% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acadia Realty Trust (AKR) | 38.3% | 4.1% | -89.3% |
| Welltower Inc. (WELL) | 25.4% | 8.6% | -65.9% |
Acadia Realty Trust's net margin went from 38% (2016) to 4% (2025). Welltower Inc.'s net margin went from 25% (2016) to 9% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acadia Realty Trust (AKR) | 37.5 | 205.4 | +447.7% |
| Welltower Inc. (WELL) | 50.6 | 133.5 | +163.8% |
Acadia Realty Trust has traded in a 38x–205x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~209x. Welltower Inc. has traded in a 27x–219x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~149x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acadia Realty Trust (AKR) | 0.94 | 0.1 | -89.4% |
| Welltower Inc. (WELL) | 2.81 | 1.39 | -50.5% |
Acadia Realty Trust's EPS grew from $0.94 (2016) to $0.10 (2025) — a -22% CAGR. Welltower Inc.'s EPS grew from $2.81 (2016) to $1.39 (2025) — a -8% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Acadia Realty Trust generated $167M FCF in 2025 (+181% vs 2021). Welltower Inc. generated $3B FCF in 2025 (+129% vs 2021).
AKR vs WELL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is AKR or WELL a better buy right now?
Welltower Inc. (WELL) offers the better valuation at 149.0x trailing P/E (73.3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Acadia Realty Trust (AKR) 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.
02Which has the better valuation — AKR or WELL?
On trailing P/E, Welltower Inc. (WELL) is the cheapest at 149.0x versus Acadia Realty Trust at 209.2x. On forward P/E, Welltower Inc. is actually cheaper at 73.3x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — AKR or WELL?
Over the past 5 years, Welltower Inc. (WELL) delivered a total return of +221.2%, compared to +28.0% for Acadia Realty Trust (AKR). A $10,000 investment in WELL five years ago would be worth approximately $32K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WELL returned +270.5% versus AKR's -11.6%. 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 — AKR or WELL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Welltower Inc. (WELL) is the lower-risk stock at 0.29β versus Acadia Realty Trust's 0.77β — meaning AKR is approximately 165% more volatile than WELL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Welltower Inc. (WELL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 7% versus 73% for Acadia Realty Trust — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — AKR or WELL?
Welltower Inc. (WELL) is the more profitable company, earning 8.6% net margin versus 4.1% for Acadia Realty Trust — meaning it keeps 8.6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AKR leads at 20.5% versus 4.9% for WELL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AKR leads at 69.9%, 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.
06Is AKR or WELL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Welltower Inc. (WELL) trades at 73.3x forward P/E versus 73.4x for Acadia Realty Trust — 0.1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WELL: 6.9% to $221.45.
07Which pays a better dividend — AKR or WELL?
In this comparison, AKR (3.8% yield) pays a dividend. WELL does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is AKR or WELL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Welltower Inc. (WELL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.29), +270.5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WELL: +270.5%, AKR: -11.6%), 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.
09What are the main differences between AKR and WELL?
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: AKR is a small-cap income-oriented stock; WELL is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. AKR pays a dividend while WELL does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that beat both.