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ELME vs UDR vs NHI
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
REIT - Residential
REIT - Healthcare Facilities
ELME vs UDR vs NHI — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | REIT - Office | REIT - Residential | REIT - Healthcare Facilities |
| Market Cap | $193M | $12.07B | $3.58B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $0.00 | $1.72B | $403M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-154M | $491M | $148M |
| Gross Margin | — | 46.0% | 61.3% |
| Operating Margin | — | 27.4% | 48.5% |
| Forward P/E | — | 66.2x | 21.8x |
| Total Debt | $520M | $6.19B | $1.16B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $1.33B | $37M | $20M |
ELME vs UDR vs NHI — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elme Communities (ELME) | 100 | 9.9 | -90.1% |
| UDR, Inc. (UDR) | 100 | 100.2 | +0.2% |
| National Health Inv… (NHI) | 100 | 133.1 | +33.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ELME vs UDR vs NHI
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
ELME is the clearest fit if your priority is dividends and momentum.
- 33.3% yield, vs UDR's 4.6%
- +8.4% vs UDR's -9.5%
UDR is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 15 yrs, beta 0.39, yield 4.6%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.39, current ratio 3.31x
- Beta 0.39, yield 4.6%, current ratio 3.31x
NHI carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 12.9%, EPS growth -3.5%, 3Y rev CAGR 10.8%
- 60.5% 10Y total return vs UDR's 40.3%
- 12.9% FFO/revenue growth vs ELME's -100.0%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 12.9% FFO/revenue growth vs ELME's -100.0% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (21.8x vs 66.2x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 36.8% margin vs ELME's -1.5% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.39 vs ELME's 0.47, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 33.3% yield, vs UDR's 4.6% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +8.4% vs UDR's -9.5% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 5.4% ROA vs ELME's -8.3%, ROIC 5.6% vs -15.3% |
ELME vs UDR vs NHI — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
ELME vs UDR vs NHI — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 3 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NHI leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
UDR and ELME operate at a comparable scale, with $1.7B and $0 in trailing revenue. NHI is the more profitable business, keeping 36.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to UDR's 28.6%. On growth, NHI holds the edge at +29.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $0 | $1.7B | $403M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$44M | $1.1B | $282M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$154M | $491M | $148M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $62M | $892M | $226M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | — | +46.0% | +61.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | — | +27.4% | +48.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | — | +28.6% | +36.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | — | +52.0% | +56.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -4.0% | +0.9% | +29.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -6.6% | +147.8% | +10.8% |
Valuation Metrics
ELME leads this category, winning 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 24.5x trailing earnings, NHI trades at a 25% valuation discount to UDR's 32.8x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, NHI's 17.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than UDR's 18.2x.
| Metric | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $193M | $12.1B | $3.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | -$619M | $18.2B | $4.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -1.24x | 32.78x | 24.46x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 66.24x | 21.82x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.79x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 18.18x | 16.96x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | — | 7.05x | 9.46x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.80x | 2.96x | 2.26x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 3.10x | 19.66x | 16.26x |
Profitability & Efficiency
NHI leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
UDR delivers a 12.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $12 in annual profit, vs $-19 for ELME. NHI carries lower financial leverage with a 0.76x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ELME's 2.18x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), UDR scores 7/9 vs ELME's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -18.9% | +12.4% | +9.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -8.3% | +4.7% | +5.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -15.3% | +2.3% | +5.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -10.1% | +3.1% | +8.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 7 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 2.18x | 1.49x | 0.76x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$812M | $6.2B | $1.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.3B | $37M | $20M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $520M | $6.2B | $1.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -3.82x | — | 3.45x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
NHI leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in NHI five years ago would be worth $12,946 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $8,570 for ELME. Over the past 12 months, ELME leads with a +8.4% total return vs UDR's -9.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NHI at 19.6% vs UDR's 0.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -3.9% | +3.3% | -2.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +8.4% | -9.5% | +1.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +13.6% | +2.1% | +71.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -14.3% | -1.5% | +29.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -10.7% | +40.3% | +60.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +4.3% | +0.7% | +19.6% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — UDR and NHI each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NHI is the less volatile stock with a -0.08 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ELME's 0.47 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. UDR currently trades 85.9% from its 52-week high vs ELME's 12.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.47x | 0.39x | -0.08x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $17.68 | $43.12 | $90.94 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $1.98 | $32.94 | $68.80 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +12.3% | +85.9% | +81.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 49.0 | 64.2 | 23.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.2M | 3.2M | 330K |
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — ELME and UDR each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: ELME as "Hold", UDR as "Buy", NHI as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 775.6% upside for ELME (target: $19) vs 8.7% for UDR (target: $40). For income investors, ELME offers the higher dividend yield at 33.33% vs UDR's 4.63%.
| Metric | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $19.00 | $40.25 | $85.40 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 8 | 38 | 18 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +33.3% | +4.6% | +4.9% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 15 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.72 | $1.72 | $3.61 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +1.0% | 0.0% |
NHI leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). ELME leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
ELME vs UDR vs NHI: Key Questions Answered
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ELME or UDR or NHI a better buy right now?
For growth investors, National Health Investors, Inc.
(NHI) is the stronger pick with 12. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -100. 0% for Elme Communities (ELME). National Health Investors, Inc. (NHI) offers the better valuation at 24. 5x trailing P/E (21. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate UDR, Inc. (UDR) a "Buy" — based on 38 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 — ELME or UDR or NHI?
On trailing P/E, National Health Investors, Inc.
(NHI) is the cheapest at 24. 5x versus UDR, Inc. at 32. 8x. On forward P/E, National Health Investors, Inc. is actually cheaper at 21. 8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ELME or UDR or NHI?
Over the past 5 years, National Health Investors, Inc.
(NHI) delivered a total return of +29. 5%, compared to -14. 3% for Elme Communities (ELME). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NHI returned +60. 5% versus ELME's -10. 7%. 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 — ELME or UDR or NHI?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), National Health Investors, Inc.
(NHI) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 08β versus Elme Communities's 0. 47β — meaning ELME is approximately -657% more volatile than NHI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, National Health Investors, Inc. (NHI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 76% versus 2% for Elme Communities — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ELME or UDR or NHI?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), National Health Investors, Inc.
(NHI) is pulling ahead at 12. 9% versus -100. 0% for Elme Communities (ELME). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: UDR, Inc. grew EPS 334. 6% year-over-year, compared to -1066. 7% for Elme Communities. Over a 3-year CAGR, NHI leads at 10. 8% 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 — ELME or UDR or NHI?
National Health Investors, Inc.
(NHI) is the more profitable company, earning 37. 6% net margin versus 0. 0% for Elme Communities — meaning it keeps 37. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NHI leads at 51. 5% versus 0. 0% for ELME. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NHI leads at 36. 7%, 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 ELME or UDR or NHI more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, National Health Investors, Inc.
(NHI) trades at 21. 8x forward P/E versus 66. 2x for UDR, Inc. — 44. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ELME: 775. 6% to $19. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — ELME or UDR or NHI?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Elme Communities (ELME) offers the highest yield at 33. 3%, versus 4. 6% for UDR, Inc. (UDR).
09Is ELME or UDR or NHI better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, National Health Investors, Inc.
(NHI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 08), 4. 9% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NHI: +60. 5%, ELME: -10. 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.
10What are the main differences between ELME and UDR and NHI?
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.
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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