HST
Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.
REIT - Hotel & Motel
Market Cap$14.65B
5Y Perf.+81.6%
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Stock Comparison
HST 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.+328.9%
HST vs WELL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | HST | WELL |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | REIT - Hotel & Motel | REIT - Healthcare Facilities |
| Market Cap | $14.65B | $150.14B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $5.94B | $11.63B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $738M | $1.43B |
| Gross Margin | 53.3% | 39.1% |
| Operating Margin | 13.8% | 4.4% |
| Forward P/E | 19.8x | 78.9x |
| Total Debt | $5.64B | $21.38B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $554M | $5.03B |
HST vs WELL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
HST
WELL
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Host Hotels & Resor… (HST) | 100 | 181.6 | +81.6% |
| Welltower Inc. (WELL) | 100 | 428.9 | +328.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: HST vs WELL
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: HST 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 capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
HST
Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.
The Real Estate Income Play
HST carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 1.04, yield 4.9%
- Rev growth 7.0%, EPS growth -4.8%, 3Y rev CAGR 25.3%
- Lower P/E (19.8x vs 78.9x)
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
WELL
Welltower Inc.
The Real Estate Income Play
WELL is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night.
- 230.2% 10Y total return vs HST's 74.8%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.13, Low D/E 49.5%, current ratio 5.34x
- Beta 0.13, yield 1.3%, current ratio 5.34x
Best for: long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | WELL | 35.8% FFO/revenue growth vs HST's 7.0% |
| Value | HST | Lower P/E (19.8x vs 78.9x) |
| Quality / Margins | HST | 12.4% margin vs WELL's 12.3% |
| Stability / Safety | WELL | Beta 0.13 vs HST's 1.04, lower leverage |
| Dividends | HST | 4.9% yield, 2-year raise streak, vs WELL's 1.3% |
| Momentum (1Y) | HST | +50.9% vs WELL's +43.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | HST | 5.7% ROA vs WELL's 2.3%, ROIC 5.9% vs 0.5% |
HST vs WELL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2025
HST vs WELL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLHSTLAGGINGWELL
WELLWelltower Inc.
1leads
HSTHost Hotels & Resorts…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs WELLMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
HST4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
HST6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
HST7/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
WELL4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
HST1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
HST 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 — 2.0x HST's $5.9B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 12.4% (HST) to 12.3% (WELL). On growth, WELL holds the edge at +40.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | HSTHost Hotels & Res… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $5.9B | $11.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.6B | $2.8B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $738M | $1.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $671M | $2.5B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +53.3% | +39.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +13.8% | +4.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +12.4% | +12.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +11.3% | +21.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +0.9% | +40.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +91.7% | +22.5% |
HST leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
HST leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 21.5x trailing earnings, HST trades at a 86% valuation discount to WELL's 154.2x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, HST's 12.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than WELL's 66.8x.
| Metric | HSTHost Hotels & Res… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $14.7B | $150.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $19.7B | $166.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 21.53x | 154.17x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 19.77x | 78.89x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 12.06x | 66.76x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.58x | 14.08x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.22x | 3.37x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 15.43x | 52.72x |
HST leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
HST leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
HST delivers a 10.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $11 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 HST's 0.83x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), WELL scores 7/9 vs HST's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | HSTHost Hotels & Res… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +10.8% | +3.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.7% | +2.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.9% | +0.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +7.8% | +0.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.83x | 0.49x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $5.1B | $16.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $554M | $5.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $5.6B | $21.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 4.07x | 0.26x |
HST leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
WELL leads this category, winning 4 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 $14,199 for HST. Over the past 12 months, HST leads with a +50.9% total return vs WELL's +43.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WELL at 41.3% vs HST's 10.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | HSTHost Hotels & Res… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +18.4% | +15.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +50.9% | +43.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +36.5% | +182.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +42.0% | +212.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +74.8% | +230.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +10.9% | +41.3% |
WELL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — HST and WELL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
WELL is the less volatile stock with a 0.13 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than HST's 1.04 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | HSTHost Hotels & Res… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.04x | 0.13x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $21.54 | $219.59 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $14.37 | $142.65 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.9% | +97.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 57.8 | 62.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 8.1M | 2.6M |
Evenly matched — HST and WELL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
HST leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates HST as "Buy" and WELL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 5.7% upside for WELL (target: $227) vs -6.1% for HST (target: $20). For income investors, HST offers the higher dividend yield at 4.90% vs WELL's 1.29%.
| Metric | HSTHost Hotels & Res… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $20.00 | $226.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 42 | 34 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +4.9% | +1.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.04 | $2.76 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.7% | 0.0% |
HST leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
HST leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). WELL leads in 1 (Total Returns). 1 tied.
Best OverallHost Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (HST)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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HST vs WELL: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is HST 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 7. 0% for Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (HST). Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (HST) offers the better valuation at 21. 5x trailing P/E (19. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (HST) a "Buy" — based on 42 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 — HST or WELL?
On trailing P/E, Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.
(HST) is the cheapest at 21. 5x versus Welltower Inc. at 154. 2x. On forward P/E, Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. is actually cheaper at 19. 8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — HST or WELL?
Over the past 5 years, Welltower Inc.
(WELL) delivered a total return of +212. 6%, compared to +42. 0% for Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (HST). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WELL returned +230. 2% versus HST's +75. 2%. 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 — HST or WELL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Welltower Inc.
(WELL) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 13β versus Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. 's 1. 04β — meaning HST is approximately 684% more volatile than WELL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Welltower Inc. (WELL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 49% versus 83% for Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — HST or WELL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Welltower Inc.
(WELL) is pulling ahead at 35. 8% versus 7. 0% for Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (HST). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. grew EPS -4. 8% year-over-year, compared to -11. 5% for Welltower Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, HST leads at 25. 3% 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 — HST or WELL?
Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.
(HST) is the more profitable company, earning 12. 3% net margin versus 8. 8% for Welltower Inc. — meaning it keeps 12. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HST leads at 15. 4% versus 3. 3% for WELL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HST leads at 53. 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 HST or WELL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.
(HST) trades at 19. 8x forward P/E versus 78. 9x for Welltower Inc. — 59. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WELL: 5. 7% to $226. 50.
08Which pays a better dividend — HST or WELL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (HST) offers the highest yield at 4. 9%, versus 1. 3% for Welltower Inc. (WELL).
09Is HST or WELL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Welltower Inc.
(WELL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 13), 1. 3% yield, +230. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WELL: +230. 2%, HST: +75. 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 HST 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: HST 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>
%
(HST: 0.9% · WELL: 40.3%)Net Margin>
%
(HST: 12.4% · WELL: 12.3%)P/E Ratio<
x
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