EPR vs SAFE

For growth investors, EPR Properties (EPR) is the stronger pick with 12.

1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 4% for Safehold Inc. (SAFE). Safehold Inc. (SAFE) offers the better valuation at 9. 7x trailing P/E (9. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Safehold Inc. (SAFE) a "Buy" — based on 17 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.

On trailing P/E, Safehold Inc.

(SAFE) is the cheapest at 9. 7x versus EPR Properties at 17. 6x. On forward P/E, Safehold Inc. is actually cheaper at 9. 1x.

Over the past 5 years, EPR Properties (EPR) delivered a total return of +49.

6%, compared to -71. 0% for Safehold Inc. (SAFE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: EPR returned +28. 4% versus SAFE's -50. 3%. 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), EPR Properties (EPR) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

35β versus Safehold Inc. 's 0. 96β — meaning SAFE is approximately 178% more volatile than EPR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, EPR Properties (EPR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 135% versus 184% for Safehold Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), EPR Properties (EPR) is pulling ahead at 12.

1% versus 5. 4% for Safehold Inc. (SAFE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: EPR Properties grew EPS 105. 0% year-over-year, compared to 7. 4% for Safehold Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, SAFE leads at 12. 6% 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.

EPR Properties (EPR) is the more profitable company, earning 38.

3% net margin versus 29. 7% for Safehold Inc. — meaning it keeps 38. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SAFE leads at 79. 8% versus 52. 5% for EPR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SAFE leads at 94. 3%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, Safehold Inc.

(SAFE) trades at 9. 1x forward P/E versus 19. 2x for EPR Properties — 10. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for EPR: 2. 2% to $59. 13.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

EPR Properties (EPR) offers the highest yield at 6. 6%, versus 4. 6% for Safehold Inc. (SAFE).

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

35), 6. 6% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (EPR: +28. 4%, SAFE: -50. 3%), 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.

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.