LADR vs KREF

For growth investors, KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc.

(KREF) is the stronger pick with -22. 7% 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.

Over the past 5 years, Ladder Capital Corp (LADR) delivered a total return of +24.

3%, compared to -35. 6% for KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. (KREF). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LADR returned +77. 4% versus KREF's -9. 1%. 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 KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. 's 0. 87β — meaning KREF is approximately 35% 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 4% for KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc.

(KREF) is pulling ahead at -22. 7% versus -23. 3% for Ladder Capital Corp (LADR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Ladder Capital Corp grew EPS -40. 7% year-over-year, compared to -652. 6% for KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, KREF leads at 1. 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.

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

4% net margin versus -10. 3% for KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. — meaning it keeps 16. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LADR leads at 62. 0% versus 59. 3% for KREF. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — KREF leads at 88. 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LADR: 26.

8% to $13. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. (KREF) offers the highest yield at 15. 2%, 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: +77. 4%, KREF: -9. 1%), 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.