IRT
Independence Realty Trust, Inc.
REIT - Residential
Market Cap$3.87B
5Y Perf.+66.0%
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Stock Comparison
IRT vs WELL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
WELL
Welltower Inc.
REIT - Healthcare Facilities
Market Cap$151.66B
5Y Perf.+327.2%
IRT vs WELL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | IRT | WELL |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | REIT - Residential | REIT - Healthcare Facilities |
| Market Cap | $3.87B | $151.66B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $662M | $11.63B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $48M | $1.43B |
| Gross Margin | 20.2% | 39.1% |
| Operating Margin | 17.5% | 4.4% |
| Forward P/E | 100.2x | 79.7x |
| Total Debt | $2.28B | $21.38B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $48M | $5.03B |
IRT vs WELL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
IRT
WELL
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independence Realty… (IRT) | 100 | 166.0 | +66.0% |
| Welltower Inc. (WELL) | 100 | 427.2 | +327.2% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: IRT vs WELL
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: WELL leads in 6 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Independence Realty Trust, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
IRT
Independence Realty Trust, Inc.
The Real Estate Income Play
IRT is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability.
- Dividend streak 4 yrs, beta 0.48, yield 4.0%
- 4.0% yield, 4-year raise streak, vs WELL's 1.3%
Best for: income & stability
WELL
Welltower Inc.
The Real Estate Income Play
WELL carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 35.8%, EPS growth -11.5%, 3Y rev CAGR 22.7%
- 233.9% 10Y total return vs IRT's 198.6%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.13, Low D/E 49.5%, current ratio 5.34x
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | WELL | 35.8% FFO/revenue growth vs IRT's 2.8% |
| Value | WELL | Lower P/E (79.7x vs 100.2x) |
| Quality / Margins | WELL | 12.3% margin vs IRT's 7.3% |
| Stability / Safety | WELL | Beta 0.13 vs IRT's 0.48, lower leverage |
| Dividends | IRT | 4.0% yield, 4-year raise streak, vs WELL's 1.3% |
| Momentum (1Y) | WELL | +45.8% vs IRT's -11.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | WELL | 2.3% ROA vs IRT's 0.8%, ROIC 0.5% vs 1.6% |
IRT vs WELL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2018
FY 2025
IRT vs WELL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLIRTLAGGINGWELL
WELLWelltower Inc.
3leads
IRTIndependence Realty T…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs WELLMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
WELL5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
IRT5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
IRT5/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
WELL6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
WELL2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
IRT2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
WELL leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
WELL is the larger business by revenue, generating $11.6B annually — 17.6x IRT's $662M. WELL is the more profitable business, keeping 12.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to IRT's 7.3%. On growth, WELL holds the edge at +40.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | IRTIndependence Real… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $662M | $11.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $365M | $2.8B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $48M | $1.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $139M | $2.5B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +20.2% | +39.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +17.5% | +4.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +7.3% | +12.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +21.1% | +21.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +2.5% | +40.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -101.4% | +22.5% |
WELL leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
IRT leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 68.4x trailing earnings, IRT trades at a 56% valuation discount to WELL's 155.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, IRT's 16.7x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than WELL's 67.4x.
| Metric | IRTIndependence Real… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.9B | $151.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $6.1B | $168.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 68.42x | 155.73x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 100.18x | 79.69x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 16.75x | 67.37x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 5.88x | 14.22x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.07x | 3.40x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 26.41x | 53.25x |
IRT leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
IRT leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
WELL delivers a 3.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $3 in annual profit, vs $1 for IRT. WELL carries lower financial leverage with a 0.49x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to IRT's 0.64x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), WELL scores 7/9 vs IRT's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | IRTIndependence Real… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +1.3% | +3.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.8% | +2.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +1.6% | +0.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.4% | +0.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.64x | 0.49x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.2B | $16.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $48M | $5.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.3B | $21.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.73x | 0.26x |
IRT leads this category, winning 5 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 $31,193 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $12,002 for IRT. Over the past 12 months, WELL leads with a +45.8% total return vs IRT's -11.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WELL at 43.3% vs IRT's 2.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | IRTIndependence Real… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -5.7% | +16.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -11.8% | +45.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +7.7% | +194.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +20.0% | +211.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +198.6% | +233.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +2.5% | +43.3% |
WELL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
WELL leads this category, winning 2 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 IRT's 0.48 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. WELL currently trades 98.6% from its 52-week high vs IRT's 83.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | IRTIndependence Real… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.48x | 0.13x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $19.61 | $219.59 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $14.60 | $142.65 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +83.7% | +98.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 65.0 | 57.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.2M | 2.6M |
WELL leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
IRT leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates IRT as "Buy" and WELL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 22.3% upside for IRT (target: $20) vs 4.6% for WELL (target: $227). For income investors, IRT offers the higher dividend yield at 4.01% vs WELL's 1.28%.
| Metric | IRTIndependence Real… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $20.08 | $226.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 27 | 34 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +4.0% | +1.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 4 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.66 | $2.76 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.8% | 0.0% |
IRT leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
WELL leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Total Returns). IRT leads in 3 (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency).
Best OverallIndependence Realty Trust, … (IRT)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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IRT vs WELL: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is IRT 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 2. 8% for Independence Realty Trust, Inc. (IRT). Independence Realty Trust, Inc. (IRT) offers the better valuation at 68. 4x trailing P/E (100. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Independence Realty Trust, Inc. (IRT) a "Buy" — based on 27 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 — IRT or WELL?
On trailing P/E, Independence Realty Trust, Inc.
(IRT) is the cheapest at 68. 4x versus Welltower Inc. at 155. 7x. On forward P/E, Welltower Inc. is actually cheaper at 79. 7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — IRT or WELL?
Over the past 5 years, Welltower Inc.
(WELL) delivered a total return of +211. 9%, compared to +20. 0% for Independence Realty Trust, Inc. (IRT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WELL returned +233. 9% versus IRT's +198. 6%. 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 — IRT or WELL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Welltower Inc.
(WELL) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 13β versus Independence Realty Trust, Inc. 's 0. 48β — meaning IRT is approximately 264% 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 64% for Independence Realty Trust, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — IRT or WELL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Welltower Inc.
(WELL) is pulling ahead at 35. 8% versus 2. 8% for Independence Realty Trust, Inc. (IRT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Independence Realty Trust, Inc. grew EPS 41. 2% 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 — IRT or WELL?
Welltower Inc.
(WELL) is the more profitable company, earning 8. 8% net margin versus 8. 6% for Independence Realty Trust, Inc. — meaning it keeps 8. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: IRT leads at 18. 4% 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 IRT or WELL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Welltower Inc.
(WELL) trades at 79. 7x forward P/E versus 100. 2x for Independence Realty Trust, Inc. — 20. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for IRT: 22. 3% to $20. 08.
08Which pays a better dividend — IRT or WELL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Independence Realty Trust, Inc. (IRT) offers the highest yield at 4. 0%, versus 1. 3% for Welltower Inc. (WELL).
09Is IRT 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, +233. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WELL: +233. 9%, IRT: +198. 6%), 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 IRT 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: IRT is a small-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>
%
(IRT: 2.5% · WELL: 40.3%)Net Margin>
%
(IRT: 7.3% · WELL: 12.3%)P/E Ratio<
x
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