CTO
CTO Realty Growth, Inc.
REIT - Diversified
Market Cap$686M
5Y Perf.+17.7%
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Stock Comparison
CTO vs PECO
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
PECO
Phillips Edison & Company, Inc.
REIT - Retail
Market Cap$5.04B
5Y Perf.+596.5%
CTO vs PECO — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | CTO | PECO |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | REIT - Diversified | REIT - Retail |
| Market Cap | $686M | $5.04B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $155M | $739M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $12M | $115M |
| Gross Margin | -2.8% | 71.1% |
| Operating Margin | 22.9% | 37.6% |
| Forward P/E | 55.9x | 53.8x |
| Total Debt | $648M | $2.49B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $6M | $4M |
CTO vs PECO — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
CTO
PECO
| Stock | Feb 21 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| CTO Realty Growth, … (CTO) | 100 | 117.7 | +17.7% |
| Phillips Edison & C… (PECO) | 100 | 696.5 | +596.5% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CTO vs PECO
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: PECO leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. CTO Realty Growth, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
CTO
CTO Realty Growth, Inc.
The Real Estate Income Play
CTO is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 0.37, yield 8.6%
- Rev growth 20.1%, EPS growth 122.8%, 3Y rev CAGR 22.0%
- Beta 0.37, yield 8.6%, current ratio 2.33x
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
PECO
Phillips Edison & Company, Inc.
The Real Estate Income Play
PECO carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night.
- 6.9% 10Y total return vs CTO's 79.5%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.27, Low D/E 96.3%, current ratio 0.66x
- Lower P/E (53.8x vs 55.9x)
Best for: long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | CTO | 20.1% FFO/revenue growth vs PECO's 10.7% |
| Value | PECO | Lower P/E (53.8x vs 55.9x) |
| Quality / Margins | PECO | 15.6% margin vs CTO's 7.9% |
| Stability / Safety | PECO | Beta 0.27 vs CTO's 0.37, lower leverage |
| Dividends | CTO | 8.6% yield, 2-year raise streak, vs PECO's 2.8% |
| Momentum (1Y) | CTO | +22.8% vs PECO's +16.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | PECO | 2.0% ROA vs CTO's 1.0%, ROIC 3.0% vs 2.1% |
CTO vs PECO — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2017
CTO vs PECO — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLCTOLAGGINGPECO
PECOPhillips Edison & Com…
2leads
CTOCTO Realty Growth, In…
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs PECOMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
CTO4/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
PECO6/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
Tied
—
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
PECO2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
CTO2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — CTO and PECO each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PECO is the larger business by revenue, generating $739M annually — 4.8x CTO's $155M. PECO is the more profitable business, keeping 15.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CTO's 7.9%. On growth, CTO holds the edge at +15.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CTOCTO Realty Growth… | PECOPhillips Edison &… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $155M | $739M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $94M | $542M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $12M | $115M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $69M | $207M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | -2.8% | +71.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +22.9% | +37.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +7.9% | +15.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +44.5% | +28.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +15.0% | +7.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +9.7% | +14.3% |
Evenly matched — CTO and PECO each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
CTO leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 45.0x trailing earnings, PECO trades at a 82% valuation discount to CTO's 254.1x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, CTO's 14.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than PECO's 16.2x.
| Metric | CTOCTO Realty Growth… | PECOPhillips Edison &… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $686M | $5.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.3B | $7.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 254.07x | 45.00x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 55.88x | 53.84x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.57x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 14.26x | 16.20x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.59x | 6.89x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.16x | 2.15x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 13.87x | 23.80x |
CTO leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
PECO leads this category, winning 6 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
PECO delivers a 4.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $4 in annual profit, vs $2 for CTO. PECO carries lower financial leverage with a 0.96x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CTO's 1.14x.
| Metric | CTOCTO Realty Growth… | PECOPhillips Edison &… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +2.2% | +4.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.0% | +2.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +2.1% | +3.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.8% | +4.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.14x | 0.96x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $642M | $2.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $6M | $4M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $648M | $2.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.39x | 2.17x |
PECO leads this category, winning 6 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — CTO and PECO each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in PECO five years ago would be worth $74,018 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $15,802 for CTO. Over the past 12 months, CTO leads with a +22.8% total return vs PECO's +16.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CTO at 15.1% vs PECO's 12.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CTOCTO Realty Growth… | PECOPhillips Edison &… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +12.7% | +14.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +22.8% | +16.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +52.4% | +44.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +58.0% | +640.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +79.5% | +693.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +15.1% | +12.9% |
Evenly matched — CTO and PECO each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
PECO leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
PECO is the less volatile stock with a 0.27 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CTO's 0.37 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | CTOCTO Realty Growth… | PECOPhillips Edison &… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.37x | 0.27x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $20.67 | $40.71 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $15.07 | $32.84 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.2% | +98.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 65.1 | 63.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 239K | 822K |
PECO leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
CTO leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CTO as "Buy" and PECO as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 5.9% upside for CTO (target: $22) vs -1.1% for PECO (target: $40). For income investors, CTO offers the higher dividend yield at 8.63% vs PECO's 2.83%.
| Metric | CTOCTO Realty Growth… | PECOPhillips Edison &… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $21.50 | $39.60 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 10 | 14 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +8.6% | +2.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.75 | $1.13 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.5% | 0.0% |
CTO leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
CTO leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Analyst Outlook). PECO leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Risk & Volatility). 2 tied.
Best OverallCTO Realty Growth, Inc. (CTO)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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CTO vs PECO: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CTO or PECO a better buy right now?
For growth investors, CTO Realty Growth, Inc.
(CTO) is the stronger pick with 20. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 10. 7% for Phillips Edison & Company, Inc. (PECO). Phillips Edison & Company, Inc. (PECO) offers the better valuation at 45. 0x trailing P/E (53. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate CTO Realty Growth, Inc. (CTO) a "Buy" — based on 10 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 — CTO or PECO?
On trailing P/E, Phillips Edison & Company, Inc.
(PECO) is the cheapest at 45. 0x versus CTO Realty Growth, Inc. at 254. 1x. On forward P/E, Phillips Edison & Company, Inc. is actually cheaper at 53. 8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CTO or PECO?
Over the past 5 years, Phillips Edison & Company, Inc.
(PECO) delivered a total return of +640. 2%, compared to +58. 0% for CTO Realty Growth, Inc. (CTO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PECO returned +693. 0% versus CTO's +79. 5%. 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 — CTO or PECO?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Phillips Edison & Company, Inc.
(PECO) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 27β versus CTO Realty Growth, Inc. 's 0. 37β — meaning CTO is approximately 37% more volatile than PECO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Phillips Edison & Company, Inc. (PECO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 96% versus 114% for CTO Realty Growth, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — CTO or PECO?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), CTO Realty Growth, Inc.
(CTO) is pulling ahead at 20. 1% versus 10. 7% for Phillips Edison & Company, Inc. (PECO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: CTO Realty Growth, Inc. grew EPS 122. 8% year-over-year, compared to 74. 5% for Phillips Edison & Company, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CTO leads at 22. 0% 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 — CTO or PECO?
Phillips Edison & Company, Inc.
(PECO) is the more profitable company, earning 15. 2% net margin versus 6. 7% for CTO Realty Growth, Inc. — meaning it keeps 15. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PECO leads at 27. 2% versus 22. 1% for CTO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PECO leads at -1. 4%, 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 CTO or PECO more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Phillips Edison & Company, Inc.
(PECO) trades at 53. 8x forward P/E versus 55. 9x for CTO Realty Growth, Inc. — 2. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CTO: 5. 9% to $21. 50.
08Which pays a better dividend — CTO or PECO?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
CTO Realty Growth, Inc. (CTO) offers the highest yield at 8. 6%, versus 2. 8% for Phillips Edison & Company, Inc. (PECO).
09Is CTO or PECO better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Phillips Edison & Company, Inc.
(PECO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 27), 2. 8% yield, +693. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (PECO: +693. 0%, CTO: +79. 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.
10What are the main differences between CTO and PECO?
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: CTO is a small-cap high-growth stock; PECO is a small-cap quality compounder 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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Revenue Growth>
%
(CTO: 15.0% · PECO: 7.0%)Net Margin>
%
(CTO: 7.9% · PECO: 15.6%)P/E Ratio<
x
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