MFAO
MFA Financial, Inc. 9.000% Senior Notes
REIT - Mortgage
Market Cap$2.56B
5Y Perf.-0.0%
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Stock Comparison
MFAO vs MFA
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
MFA
MFA Financial, Inc.
REIT - Mortgage
Market Cap$997M
5Y Perf.-7.7%
MFAO vs MFA — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | MFAO | MFA |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | REIT - Mortgage | REIT - Mortgage |
| Market Cap | $2.56B | $997M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $650M | $650M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $135M | $135M |
| Gross Margin | 59.3% | 59.3% |
| Operating Margin | 41.0% | 41.0% |
| Forward P/E | 18.4x | 7.1x |
| Total Debt | $10.99B | $10.99B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $213M | $213M |
MFAO vs MFA — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
MFAO
MFA
| Stock | Apr 24 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| MFA Financial, Inc.… (MFAO) | 100 | 100.0 | -0.0% |
| MFA Financial, Inc. (MFA) | 100 | 92.3 | -7.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: MFAO vs MFA
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: MFAO leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. MFA Financial, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
MFAO
MFA Financial, Inc. 9.000% Senior Notes
The Real Estate Income Play
MFAO carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 0.60, yield 7.1%
- Rev growth 213.0%, EPS growth 104.9%
- 19.0% 10Y total return vs MFA's 9.0%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
MFA
MFA Financial, Inc.
The Real Estate Income Play
MFA is the clearest fit if your priority is value and dividends.
- Lower P/E (7.1x vs 18.4x)
- 18.3% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs MFAO's 7.1%
- +19.5% vs MFAO's +11.1%
Best for: value and dividends
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | MFAO | 213.0% FFO/revenue growth vs MFA's 213.0% |
| Value | MFA | Lower P/E (7.1x vs 18.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | MFAO | 20.7% margin vs MFA's 20.7% |
| Stability / Safety | MFAO | Beta 0.60 vs MFA's 0.77 |
| Dividends | MFA | 18.3% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs MFAO's 7.1% |
| Momentum (1Y) | MFA | +19.5% vs MFAO's +11.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | MFAO | 1.1% ROA vs MFA's 1.1%, ROIC 4.4% vs 4.4% |
MFAO vs MFA — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLMFALAGGINGMFAO
MFAOMFA Financial, Inc. 9…
1leads
MFAMFA Financial, Inc.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs MFAOMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
—
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
MFA6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
—
—
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
MFA4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
MFAO2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
MFA1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MFAO and MFA operate at a comparable scale, with $650M and $650M in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 20.7% (MFAO) to 20.7% (MFA).
| Metric | MFAOMFA Financial, In… | MFAMFA Financial, In… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $650M | $650M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $268M | $268M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $135M | $135M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $91M | $91M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +59.3% | +59.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +41.0% | +41.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +20.7% | +20.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +14.0% | +14.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +118.9% | +118.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -103.0% | -103.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Valuation Metrics
MFA leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 5.8x trailing earnings, MFA trades at a 61% valuation discount to MFAO's 15.0x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, MFA's 17.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than MFAO's 19.3x.
| Metric | MFAOMFA Financial, In… | MFAMFA Financial, In… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.6B | $997M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $13.3B | $11.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 15.02x | 5.82x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 18.40x | 7.12x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 19.34x | 17.07x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.93x | 1.14x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.45x | 0.56x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 33.63x | 13.08x |
MFA leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Profitability & Efficiency
MFAO delivers a 7.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $7 in annual profit, vs $7 for MFA. MFAO carries lower financial leverage with a 6.01x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to MFA's 6.01x.
| Metric | MFAOMFA Financial, In… | MFAMFA Financial, In… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +7.4% | +7.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.1% | +1.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +4.4% | +4.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +5.8% | +5.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 6.01x | 6.01x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $10.8B | $10.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $213M | $213M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $11.0B | $11.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.34x | 1.34x |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
MFA leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in MFAO five years ago would be worth $11,904 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $9,841 for MFA. Over the past 12 months, MFA leads with a +19.5% total return vs MFAO's +11.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors MFA at 10.3% vs MFAO's 6.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | MFAOMFA Financial, In… | MFAMFA Financial, In… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +3.4% | +6.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +11.1% | +19.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +19.0% | +34.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +19.0% | -1.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +19.0% | +9.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +6.0% | +10.3% |
MFA leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
MFAO leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
MFAO is the less volatile stock with a 0.60 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than MFA's 0.77 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. MFAO currently trades 98.0% from its 52-week high vs MFA's 92.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | MFAOMFA Financial, In… | MFAMFA Financial, In… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.60x | 0.77x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $25.75 | $10.57 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $8.52 | $8.78 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.0% | +92.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 58.0 | 37.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 21K | 1.4M |
MFAO leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
MFA leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
For income investors, MFA offers the higher dividend yield at 18.32% vs MFAO's 7.09%.
| Metric | MFAOMFA Financial, In… | MFAMFA Financial, In… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $10.25 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 22 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +7.1% | +18.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.79 | $1.79 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.6% | +1.5% |
MFA leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
MFA leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). MFAO leads in 1 (Risk & Volatility).
Best OverallMFA Financial, Inc. (MFA)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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MFAO vs MFA: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is MFAO or MFA a better buy right now?
For growth investors, MFA Financial, Inc.
9. 000% Senior Notes (MFAO) is the stronger pick with 213. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 213. 0% for MFA Financial, Inc. (MFA). MFA Financial, Inc. (MFA) offers the better valuation at 5. 8x trailing P/E (7. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate MFA Financial, Inc. (MFA) a "Hold" — based on 22 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 — MFAO or MFA?
On trailing P/E, MFA Financial, Inc.
(MFA) is the cheapest at 5. 8x versus MFA Financial, Inc. 9. 000% Senior Notes at 15. 0x. On forward P/E, MFA Financial, Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — MFAO or MFA?
Over the past 5 years, MFA Financial, Inc.
9. 000% Senior Notes (MFAO) delivered a total return of +19. 0%, compared to -1. 6% for MFA Financial, Inc. (MFA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MFAO returned +19. 0% versus MFA's +9. 0%. 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 — MFAO or MFA?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), MFA Financial, Inc.
9. 000% Senior Notes (MFAO) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 60β versus MFA Financial, Inc. 's 0. 77β — meaning MFA is approximately 29% more volatile than MFAO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, MFA Financial, Inc. 9. 000% Senior Notes (MFAO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 6% versus 6% for MFA Financial, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — MFAO or MFA?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), MFA Financial, Inc.
9. 000% Senior Notes (MFAO) is pulling ahead at 213. 0% versus 213. 0% for MFA Financial, Inc. (MFA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: MFA Financial, Inc. 9. 000% Senior Notes grew EPS 104. 9% year-over-year, compared to 104. 9% for MFA Financial, 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.
06Which has better profit margins — MFAO or MFA?
MFA Financial, Inc.
9. 000% Senior Notes (MFAO) is the more profitable company, earning 20. 2% net margin versus 20. 2% for MFA Financial, Inc. — meaning it keeps 20. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MFAO leads at 78. 8% versus 78. 8% for MFA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MFAO leads at 96. 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 MFAO or MFA more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, MFA Financial, Inc.
(MFA) trades at 7. 1x forward P/E versus 18. 4x for MFA Financial, Inc. 9. 000% Senior Notes — 11. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
08Which pays a better dividend — MFAO or MFA?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
MFA Financial, Inc. (MFA) offers the highest yield at 18. 3%, versus 7. 1% for MFA Financial, Inc. 9. 000% Senior Notes (MFAO).
09Is MFAO or MFA better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, MFA Financial, Inc.
9. 000% Senior Notes (MFAO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 60), 7. 1% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MFAO: +19. 0%, MFA: +9. 0%), 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 MFAO and MFA?
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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(MFAO: 118.9% · MFA: 118.9%)Net Margin>
%
(MFAO: 20.7% · MFA: 20.7%)P/E Ratio<
x
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