ELS
Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.
REIT - Residential
Market Cap$12.12B
5Y Perf.+0.3%
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Stock Comparison
ELS vs WELL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
WELL
Welltower Inc.
REIT - Healthcare Facilities
Market Cap$150.14B
5Y Perf.+322.9%
ELS vs WELL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ELS | WELL |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | REIT - Residential | REIT - Healthcare Facilities |
| Market Cap | $12.12B | $150.14B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.53B | $11.63B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $387M | $1.43B |
| Gross Margin | 37.6% | 39.1% |
| Operating Margin | 33.8% | 4.4% |
| Forward P/E | 30.7x | 78.9x |
| Total Debt | $3.37B | $21.38B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $26M | $5.03B |
ELS vs WELL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
ELS
WELL
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equity LifeStyle Pr… (ELS) | 100 | 100.3 | +0.3% |
| Welltower Inc. (WELL) | 100 | 422.9 | +322.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ELS vs WELL
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: ELS leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. Welltower Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
ELS
Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.
The Real Estate Income Play
ELS carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 12 yrs, beta 0.02, yield 3.2%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.02, current ratio 1.68x
- Beta 0.02, yield 3.2%, current ratio 1.68x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
WELL
Welltower Inc.
The Real Estate Income Play
WELL is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 35.8%, EPS growth -11.5%, 3Y rev CAGR 22.7%
- 230.2% 10Y total return vs ELS's 114.1%
- 35.8% FFO/revenue growth vs ELS's 6.8%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | WELL | 35.8% FFO/revenue growth vs ELS's 6.8% |
| Value | ELS | Lower P/E (30.7x vs 78.9x) |
| Quality / Margins | ELS | 25.2% margin vs WELL's 12.3% |
| Stability / Safety | ELS | Beta 0.02 vs WELL's 0.13 |
| Dividends | ELS | 3.2% yield, 12-year raise streak, vs WELL's 1.3% |
| Momentum (1Y) | WELL | +43.9% vs ELS's -0.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ELS | 6.8% ROA vs WELL's 2.3%, ROIC 7.6% vs 0.5% |
ELS vs WELL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
ELS vs WELL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLELSLAGGINGWELL
WELLWelltower Inc.
2leads
ELSEquity LifeStyle Prop…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs WELLMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
WELL4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
ELS5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
ELS7/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
WELL6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
ELS2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
WELL 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 — 7.6x ELS's $1.5B. ELS is the more profitable business, keeping 25.2% 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 | ELSEquity LifeStyle … | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.5B | $11.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $727M | $2.8B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $387M | $1.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $334M | $2.5B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +37.6% | +39.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +33.8% | +4.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +25.2% | +12.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +21.8% | +21.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +22.4% | +40.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -8.3% | +22.5% |
WELL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
ELS leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 32.4x trailing earnings, ELS trades at a 79% valuation discount to WELL's 154.2x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, ELS's 21.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than WELL's 66.8x.
| Metric | ELSEquity LifeStyle … | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $12.1B | $150.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $15.5B | $166.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 32.38x | 154.17x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 30.72x | 78.89x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 3.13x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 21.27x | 66.76x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 7.91x | 14.08x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 6.89x | 3.37x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 36.28x | 52.72x |
ELS leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ELS leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ELS delivers a 21.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $21 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 ELS's 1.85x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), WELL scores 7/9 vs ELS's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ELSEquity LifeStyle … | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +21.3% | +3.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.8% | +2.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +7.6% | +0.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +9.7% | +0.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.85x | 0.49x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3.3B | $16.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $26M | $5.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $3.4B | $21.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.98x | 0.26x |
ELS leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
WELL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in WELL five years ago would be worth $31,264 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $10,456 for ELS. Over the past 12 months, WELL leads with a +43.9% total return vs ELS's -0.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WELL at 41.3% vs ELS's -0.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ELSEquity LifeStyle … | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +5.4% | +15.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -0.6% | +43.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -1.2% | +182.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +4.6% | +212.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +114.1% | +230.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -0.4% | +41.3% |
WELL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — ELS and WELL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ELS is the less volatile stock with a 0.02 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than WELL's 0.13 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. WELL currently trades 97.6% from its 52-week high vs ELS's 90.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ELSEquity LifeStyle … | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.02x | 0.13x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $69.00 | $219.59 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $58.15 | $142.65 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +90.6% | +97.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 41.8 | 62.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.7M | 2.6M |
Evenly matched — ELS and WELL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
ELS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ELS as "Buy" and WELL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 12.9% upside for ELS (target: $71) vs 5.7% for WELL (target: $227). For income investors, ELS offers the higher dividend yield at 3.24% vs WELL's 1.29%.
| Metric | ELSEquity LifeStyle … | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $70.57 | $226.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 21 | 34 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.2% | +1.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 12 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.02 | $2.76 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
ELS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
ELS leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). WELL leads in 2 (Income & Cash Flow, Total Returns). 1 tied.
Best OverallEquity LifeStyle Properties… (ELS)Leads 3 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
ELS vs WELL: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ELS 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 6. 8% for Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. (ELS). Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. (ELS) offers the better valuation at 32. 4x trailing P/E (30. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. (ELS) a "Buy" — based on 21 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 — ELS or WELL?
On trailing P/E, Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.
(ELS) is the cheapest at 32. 4x versus Welltower Inc. at 154. 2x. On forward P/E, Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. is actually cheaper at 30. 7x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ELS or WELL?
Over the past 5 years, Welltower Inc.
(WELL) delivered a total return of +212. 6%, compared to +4. 6% for Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. (ELS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WELL returned +230. 2% versus ELS's +114. 1%. 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 — ELS or WELL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.
(ELS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 02β versus Welltower Inc. 's 0. 13β — meaning WELL is approximately 536% more volatile than ELS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Welltower Inc. (WELL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 49% versus 185% for Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ELS or WELL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Welltower Inc.
(WELL) is pulling ahead at 35. 8% versus 6. 8% for Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. (ELS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. grew EPS -1. 5% 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 — ELS or WELL?
Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.
(ELS) is the more profitable company, earning 25. 2% net margin versus 8. 8% for Welltower Inc. — meaning it keeps 25. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ELS leads at 33. 8% 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 ELS or WELL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.
(ELS) trades at 30. 7x forward P/E versus 78. 9x for Welltower Inc. — 48. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ELS: 12. 9% to $70. 57.
08Which pays a better dividend — ELS or WELL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. (ELS) offers the highest yield at 3. 2%, versus 1. 3% for Welltower Inc. (WELL).
09Is ELS or WELL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.
(ELS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 02), 3. 2% yield, +114. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ELS: +114. 1%, WELL: +230. 2%), 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 ELS 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: ELS is a mid-cap income-oriented 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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Revenue Growth>
%
(ELS: 22.4% · WELL: 40.3%)Net Margin>
%
(ELS: 25.2% · WELL: 12.3%)P/E Ratio<
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