CSR vs ELME

For growth investors, Centerspace (CSR) is the stronger pick with 35.

3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -100. 0% for Elme Communities (ELME). Centerspace (CSR) offers the better valuation at 66. 3x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Centerspace (CSR) a "Buy" — based on 11 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.

Over the past 5 years, Centerspace (CSR) delivered a total return of +16.

4%, compared to -14. 3% for Elme Communities (ELME). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CSR returned +53. 8% versus ELME's -11. 7%. 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), Centerspace (CSR) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

27β versus Elme Communities's 0. 44β — meaning ELME is approximately 63% more volatile than CSR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Centerspace (CSR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 121% versus 2% for Elme Communities — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Centerspace (CSR) is pulling ahead at 35.

3% versus -100. 0% for Elme Communities (ELME). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Centerspace grew EPS 180. 3% year-over-year, compared to -1066. 7% for Elme Communities. 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.

Centerspace (CSR) is the more profitable company, earning 5.

0% net margin versus 0. 0% for Elme Communities — meaning it keeps 5. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CSR leads at 29. 2% versus 0. 0% for ELME. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CSR leads at 3. 0%, 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.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Elme Communities (ELME) offers the highest yield at 34. 4%, versus 4. 5% for Centerspace (CSR).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Centerspace (CSR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

27), 4. 5% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CSR: +53. 8%, ELME: -11. 7%), 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: CSR is a small-cap high-growth stock; ELME 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.