MFAO
MFA Financial, Inc. 9.000% Senior Notes
REIT - Mortgage
Market Cap$2.56B
5Y Perf.-0.3%
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Stock Comparison
MFAO vs WELL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
WELL
Welltower Inc.
REIT - Healthcare Facilities
Market Cap$149.25B
5Y Perf.+123.6%
MFAO vs WELL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | MFAO | WELL |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | REIT - Mortgage | REIT - Healthcare Facilities |
| Market Cap | $2.56B | $149.25B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $650M | $11.63B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $135M | $1.43B |
| Gross Margin | 59.3% | 39.1% |
| Operating Margin | 41.0% | 4.4% |
| Forward P/E | 18.4x | 78.4x |
| Total Debt | $10.99B | $21.38B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $213M | $5.03B |
MFAO vs WELL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
MFAO
WELL
| Stock | Apr 24 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| MFA Financial, Inc.… (MFAO) | 100 | 99.7 | -0.3% |
| Welltower Inc. (WELL) | 100 | 223.6 | +123.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: MFAO vs WELL
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 valuation and capital efficiency. Welltower Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility and recent price momentum and sentiment. 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 growth exposure.
- Rev growth 213.0%, EPS growth 104.9%
- 213.0% FFO/revenue growth vs WELL's 35.8%
- Lower P/E (18.4x vs 78.4x)
Best for: growth exposure
WELL
Welltower Inc.
The Real Estate Income Play
WELL is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 0.13, yield 1.3%
- 223.1% 10Y total return vs MFAO's 18.8%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.13, Low D/E 49.5%, current ratio 5.34x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | MFAO | 213.0% FFO/revenue growth vs WELL's 35.8% |
| Value | MFAO | Lower P/E (18.4x vs 78.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | MFAO | 20.7% margin vs WELL's 12.3% |
| Stability / Safety | WELL | Beta 0.13 vs MFAO's 0.60, lower leverage |
| Dividends | MFAO | 7.1% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs WELL's 1.3% |
| Momentum (1Y) | WELL | +42.7% vs MFAO's +10.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | WELL | 2.3% ROA vs MFAO's 1.1%, ROIC 0.5% vs 4.4% |
MFAO vs WELL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
MFAO vs WELL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLMFAOLAGGINGWELL
WELLWelltower Inc.
1leads
MFAOMFA Financial, Inc. 9…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs WELLMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
MFAO4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
MFAO6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
MFAO6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
WELL6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MFAO leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
WELL is the larger business by revenue, generating $11.6B annually — 17.9x MFAO's $650M. MFAO is the more profitable business, keeping 20.7% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to WELL's 12.3%. On growth, MFAO holds the edge at +118.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | MFAOMFA Financial, In… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $650M | $11.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $268M | $2.8B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $135M | $1.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $91M | $2.5B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +59.3% | +39.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +41.0% | +4.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +20.7% | +12.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +14.0% | +21.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +118.9% | +40.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -103.0% | +22.5% |
MFAO leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
MFAO leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 15.0x trailing earnings, MFAO trades at a 90% valuation discount to WELL's 153.3x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, MFAO's 19.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than WELL's 66.4x.
| Metric | MFAOMFA Financial, In… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.6B | $149.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $13.3B | $165.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 14.99x | 153.25x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 18.36x | 78.42x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 19.33x | 66.40x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.92x | 13.99x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.45x | 3.35x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 33.55x | 52.41x |
MFAO leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MFAO leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MFAO delivers a 7.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $7 in annual profit, vs $3 for WELL. WELL carries lower financial leverage with a 0.49x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to MFAO's 6.01x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), WELL scores 7/9 vs MFAO's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | MFAOMFA Financial, In… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +7.4% | +3.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.1% | +2.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +4.4% | +0.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +5.8% | +0.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 6.01x | 0.49x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $10.8B | $16.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $213M | $5.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $11.0B | $21.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.34x | 0.26x |
MFAO leads this category, winning 6 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 $30,234 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,880 for MFAO. Over the past 12 months, WELL leads with a +42.7% total return vs MFAO's +10.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WELL at 42.5% vs MFAO's 5.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | MFAOMFA Financial, In… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +3.2% | +14.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +10.9% | +42.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +18.8% | +189.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +18.8% | +202.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +18.8% | +223.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +5.9% | +42.5% |
WELL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — MFAO and WELL each lead in 1 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 MFAO's 0.60 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | MFAOMFA Financial, In… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.60x | 0.13x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $25.75 | $219.59 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $8.52 | $142.65 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +97.8% | +97.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 60.6 | 60.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 21K | 2.6M |
Evenly matched — MFAO and WELL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — MFAO and WELL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
For income investors, MFAO offers the higher dividend yield at 7.11% vs WELL's 1.30%.
| Metric | MFAOMFA Financial, In… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $226.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 34 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +7.1% | +1.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.79 | $2.76 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.6% | 0.0% |
Evenly matched — MFAO and WELL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
MFAO leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). WELL leads in 1 (Total Returns). 2 tied.
Best OverallMFA Financial, Inc. 9.000% … (MFAO)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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MFAO vs WELL: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is MFAO or WELL 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 35. 8% for Welltower Inc. (WELL). MFA Financial, Inc. 9. 000% Senior Notes (MFAO) offers the better valuation at 15. 0x trailing P/E (18. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Welltower Inc. (WELL) a "Buy" — based on 34 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 WELL?
On trailing P/E, MFA Financial, Inc.
9. 000% Senior Notes (MFAO) is the cheapest at 15. 0x versus Welltower Inc. at 153. 3x. On forward P/E, MFA Financial, Inc. 9. 000% Senior Notes is actually cheaper at 18. 4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — MFAO or WELL?
Over the past 5 years, Welltower Inc.
(WELL) delivered a total return of +202. 3%, compared to +18. 8% for MFA Financial, Inc. 9. 000% Senior Notes (MFAO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WELL returned +223. 1% versus MFAO's +18. 8%. 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 WELL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Welltower Inc.
(WELL) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 13β versus MFA Financial, Inc. 9. 000% Senior Notes's 0. 60β — meaning MFAO is approximately 351% 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 6% for MFA Financial, Inc. 9. 000% Senior Notes — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — MFAO or WELL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), MFA Financial, Inc.
9. 000% Senior Notes (MFAO) is pulling ahead at 213. 0% versus 35. 8% for Welltower Inc. (WELL). 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 -11. 5% for Welltower 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 WELL?
MFA Financial, Inc.
9. 000% Senior Notes (MFAO) is the more profitable company, earning 20. 2% net margin versus 8. 8% for Welltower 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 3. 3% for WELL. 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 WELL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, MFA Financial, Inc.
9. 000% Senior Notes (MFAO) trades at 18. 4x forward P/E versus 78. 4x for Welltower Inc. — 60. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
08Which pays a better dividend — MFAO or WELL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
MFA Financial, Inc. 9. 000% Senior Notes (MFAO) offers the highest yield at 7. 1%, versus 1. 3% for Welltower Inc. (WELL).
09Is MFAO 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, +223. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WELL: +223. 1%, MFAO: +18. 8%), 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 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.
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% · WELL: 40.3%)Net Margin>
%
(MFAO: 20.7% · WELL: 12.3%)P/E Ratio<
x
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