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CBL vs WELL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
REIT - Healthcare Facilities
CBL vs WELL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | REIT - Retail | REIT - Healthcare Facilities |
| Market Cap | $1.37B | $151.66B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $578M | $11.63B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $136M | $1.43B |
| Gross Margin | 7.6% | 39.1% |
| Operating Margin | 24.2% | 4.4% |
| Forward P/E | 48.0x | 79.7x |
| Total Debt | $2.17B | $21.38B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $42M | $5.03B |
CBL vs WELL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Nov 21 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBL & Associates Pr… (CBL) | 100 | 142.5 | +42.5% |
| Welltower Inc. (WELL) | 100 | 271.9 | +171.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CBL vs WELL
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
CBL carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for value and quality.
- Lower P/E (48.0x vs 79.7x)
- 23.5% margin vs WELL's 12.3%
- 5.7% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs WELL's 1.3%
WELL is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 0.13, yield 1.3%
- Rev growth 35.8%, EPS growth -11.5%, 3Y rev CAGR 22.7%
- 233.9% 10Y total return vs CBL's 79.0%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 35.8% FFO/revenue growth vs CBL's 12.2% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (48.0x vs 79.7x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 23.5% margin vs WELL's 12.3% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.13 vs CBL's 0.68, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 5.7% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs WELL's 1.3% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +91.5% vs WELL's +45.8% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 5.1% ROA vs WELL's 2.3%, ROIC 4.2% vs 0.5% |
CBL vs WELL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
CBL vs WELL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CBL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
WELL is the larger business by revenue, generating $11.6B annually — 20.1x CBL's $578M. CBL is the more profitable business, keeping 23.5% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to WELL's 12.3%. On growth, WELL holds the edge at +40.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $578M | $11.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $305M | $2.8B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $136M | $1.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $255M | $2.5B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +7.6% | +39.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +24.2% | +4.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +23.5% | +12.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +44.1% | +21.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +18.8% | +40.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +27.9% | +22.5% |
Valuation Metrics
CBL leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 10.2x trailing earnings, CBL trades at a 93% valuation discount to WELL's 155.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, CBL's 11.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than WELL's 67.4x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.4B | $151.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3.5B | $168.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 10.17x | 155.73x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 47.98x | 79.69x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 11.46x | 67.37x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.36x | 14.22x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.73x | 3.40x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 19.03x | 53.25x |
Profitability & Efficiency
CBL leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CBL delivers a 42.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $43 in annual profit, vs $3 for WELL. WELL carries lower financial leverage with a 0.49x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CBL's 5.95x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +42.9% | +3.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.1% | +2.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +4.2% | +0.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +5.5% | +0.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 5.95x | 0.49x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.1B | $16.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $42M | $5.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.2B | $21.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.77x | 0.26x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
WELL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in WELL five years ago would be worth $31,193 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $17,905 for CBL. Over the past 12 months, CBL leads with a +91.5% total return vs WELL's +45.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WELL at 43.3% vs CBL's 30.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +21.2% | +16.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +91.5% | +45.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +124.4% | +194.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +79.1% | +211.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +79.0% | +233.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +30.9% | +43.3% |
Risk & Volatility
WELL leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
WELL is the less volatile stock with a 0.13 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CBL's 0.68 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.68x | 0.13x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $45.86 | $219.59 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $23.92 | $142.65 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +96.2% | +98.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 58.7 | 57.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 172K | 2.6M |
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — CBL and WELL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CBL as "Hold" and WELL as "Buy". For income investors, CBL offers the higher dividend yield at 5.66% vs WELL's 1.28%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $226.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 22 | 34 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +5.7% | +1.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.50 | $2.76 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.3% | 0.0% |
CBL leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). WELL leads in 2 (Total Returns, Risk & Volatility). 1 tied.
CBL vs WELL: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CBL or WELL a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Welltower Inc.
(WELL) is the stronger pick with 35. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 12. 2% for CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. (CBL). CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. (CBL) offers the better valuation at 10. 2x trailing P/E (48. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Welltower Inc. (WELL) a "Buy" — based on 34 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 — CBL or WELL?
On trailing P/E, CBL & Associates Properties, Inc.
(CBL) is the cheapest at 10. 2x versus Welltower Inc. at 155. 7x. On forward P/E, CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. is actually cheaper at 48. 0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CBL or WELL?
Over the past 5 years, Welltower Inc.
(WELL) delivered a total return of +211. 9%, compared to +79. 1% for CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. (CBL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WELL returned +233. 9% versus CBL's +79. 0%. 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 — CBL or WELL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Welltower Inc.
(WELL) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 13β versus CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. 's 0. 68β — meaning CBL is approximately 411% more volatile than WELL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Welltower Inc. (WELL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 49% versus 6% for CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — CBL or WELL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Welltower Inc.
(WELL) is pulling ahead at 35. 8% versus 12. 2% for CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. (CBL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. grew EPS 132. 1% year-over-year, compared to -11. 5% for Welltower Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, WELL leads at 22. 7% 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 — CBL or WELL?
CBL & Associates Properties, Inc.
(CBL) is the more profitable company, earning 23. 5% net margin versus 8. 8% for Welltower Inc. — meaning it keeps 23. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CBL leads at 24. 2% versus 3. 3% for WELL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — WELL leads at 39. 2%, 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 CBL or WELL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, CBL & Associates Properties, Inc.
(CBL) trades at 48. 0x forward P/E versus 79. 7x for Welltower Inc. — 31. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
08Which pays a better dividend — CBL or WELL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. (CBL) offers the highest yield at 5. 7%, versus 1. 3% for Welltower Inc. (WELL).
09Is CBL 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. 13), 1. 3% yield, +233. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WELL: +233. 9%, CBL: +79. 0%), 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 CBL 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: CBL is a small-cap deep-value stock; WELL is a mid-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.
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