LIEN vs SUNS

For growth investors, Chicago Atlantic BDC, Inc.

(LIEN) is the stronger pick with 202. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 148. 1% for Sunrise Realty Trust, Inc. (SUNS). Chicago Atlantic BDC, Inc. (LIEN) offers the better valuation at 6. 2x trailing P/E (6. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Sunrise Realty Trust, Inc. (SUNS) a "Hold" — based on 8 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, Chicago Atlantic BDC, Inc.

(LIEN) is the cheapest at 6. 2x versus Sunrise Realty Trust, Inc. at 8. 0x. On forward P/E, Chicago Atlantic BDC, Inc. is actually cheaper at 6. 2x.

Over the past 5 years, Chicago Atlantic BDC, Inc.

(LIEN) delivered a total return of -6. 2%, compared to -11. 3% for Sunrise Realty Trust, Inc. (SUNS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LIEN returned -6. 2% versus SUNS's -11. 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), Chicago Atlantic BDC, Inc.

(LIEN) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 12β versus Sunrise Realty Trust, Inc. 's 0. 84β — meaning SUNS is approximately 632% more volatile than LIEN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Chicago Atlantic BDC, Inc. (LIEN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 8% versus 67% for Sunrise Realty Trust, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Chicago Atlantic BDC, Inc.

(LIEN) is pulling ahead at 202. 2% versus 148. 1% for Sunrise Realty Trust, Inc. (SUNS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Chicago Atlantic BDC, Inc. grew EPS 57. 0% year-over-year, compared to -5. 0% for Sunrise Realty Trust, Inc.. 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.

Chicago Atlantic BDC, Inc.

(LIEN) is the more profitable company, earning 61. 3% net margin versus 46. 0% for Sunrise Realty Trust, Inc. — meaning it keeps 61. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SUNS leads at 64. 2% versus 63. 6% for LIEN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SUNS leads at 90. 7%, 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, Chicago Atlantic BDC, Inc.

(LIEN) trades at 6. 2x forward P/E versus 6. 5x for Sunrise Realty Trust, Inc. — 0. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Sunrise Realty Trust, Inc. (SUNS) offers the highest yield at 15. 4%, versus 1. 1% for Chicago Atlantic BDC, Inc. (LIEN).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Chicago Atlantic BDC, Inc.

(LIEN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 12), 1. 1% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LIEN: -6. 2%, SUNS: -11. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (LIEN (Financial Services) and SUNS (Real Estate)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

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.