ARE vs CTRE

For growth investors, CareTrust REIT, Inc.

(CTRE) is the stronger pick with 108. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 6% for Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (ARE). CareTrust REIT, Inc. (CTRE) offers the better valuation at 25. 1x trailing P/E (26. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate CareTrust REIT, Inc. (CTRE) a "Buy" — based on 19 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 forward P/E, CareTrust REIT, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 26. 6x.

Over the past 5 years, CareTrust REIT, Inc.

(CTRE) delivered a total return of +99. 1%, compared to -60. 6% for Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (ARE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CTRE returned +270. 6% versus ARE's -7. 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), CareTrust REIT, Inc.

(CTRE) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 14β versus Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. 's 0. 95β — meaning ARE is approximately 595% more volatile than CTRE relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), CareTrust REIT, Inc.

(CTRE) is pulling ahead at 108. 7% versus -2. 6% for Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (ARE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: CareTrust REIT, Inc. grew EPS 96. 3% year-over-year, compared to -568. 9% for Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CTRE leads at 36. 5% 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.

CareTrust REIT, Inc.

(CTRE) is the more profitable company, earning 67. 3% net margin versus -48. 2% for Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. — meaning it keeps 67. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CTRE leads at 98. 7% versus -40. 5% for ARE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CTRE leads at 98. 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.

On forward earnings alone, CareTrust REIT, Inc.

(CTRE) trades at 26. 6x forward P/E versus 79. 2x for Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. — 52. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ARE: 20. 0% to $55. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (ARE) offers the highest yield at 11. 7%, versus 3. 2% for CareTrust REIT, Inc. (CTRE).

For long-horizon retirement investors, CareTrust REIT, Inc.

(CTRE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 14), 3. 2% yield, +270. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CTRE: +270. 6%, ARE: -7. 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.

In terms of investment character: ARE is a small-cap income-oriented stock; CTRE is a small-cap high-growth 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.