LADR vs BXMT

For growth investors, Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc.

(BXMT) is the stronger pick with -14. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -23. 3% for Ladder Capital Corp (LADR). Ladder Capital Corp (LADR) offers the better valuation at 20. 1x trailing P/E (10. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Ladder Capital Corp (LADR) 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, Ladder Capital Corp (LADR) is the cheapest at 20.

1x versus Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. at 29. 9x. On forward P/E, Ladder Capital Corp is actually cheaper at 10. 2x.

Over the past 5 years, Ladder Capital Corp (LADR) delivered a total return of +28.

3%, compared to -3. 3% for Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. (BXMT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LADR returned +84. 6% versus BXMT's +53. 4%. 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), Ladder Capital Corp (LADR) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

65β versus Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. 's 0. 74β — meaning BXMT is approximately 15% more volatile than LADR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Ladder Capital Corp (LADR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 5% for Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc.

(BXMT) is pulling ahead at -14. 0% versus -23. 3% for Ladder Capital Corp (LADR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. grew EPS 154. 7% year-over-year, compared to -40. 7% for Ladder Capital Corp. Over a 3-year CAGR, BXMT leads at 4. 9% 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.

Ladder Capital Corp (LADR) is the more profitable company, earning 16.

4% net margin versus 7. 2% for Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. — meaning it keeps 16. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BXMT leads at 71. 6% versus 62. 0% for LADR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BXMT leads at 76. 9%, 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, Ladder Capital Corp (LADR) trades at 10.

2x forward P/E versus 12. 0x for Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. — 1. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. (BXMT) offers the highest yield at 9. 9%, versus 9. 1% for Ladder Capital Corp (LADR).

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

65), 9. 1% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LADR: +84. 6%, BXMT: +53. 4%), 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.