NLY
Annaly Capital Management, Inc.
REIT - Mortgage
Market Cap$16.19B
5Y Perf.-8.5%
Compare Stocks
2 / 10Try these comparisons:
Stock Comparison
NLY vs WELL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
WELL
Welltower Inc.
REIT - Healthcare Facilities
Market Cap$151.66B
5Y Perf.+327.2%
NLY vs WELL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | NLY | WELL |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | REIT - Mortgage | REIT - Healthcare Facilities |
| Market Cap | $16.19B | $151.66B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $6.70B | $11.63B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $2.03B | $1.43B |
| Gross Margin | 99.2% | 39.1% |
| Operating Margin | 102.6% | 4.4% |
| Forward P/E | 7.5x | 79.7x |
| Total Debt | $111.86B | $21.38B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $2.04B | $5.03B |
NLY vs WELL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
NLY
WELL
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annaly Capital Mana… (NLY) | 100 | 91.5 | -8.5% |
| Welltower Inc. (WELL) | 100 | 427.2 | +327.2% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: NLY vs WELL
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: WELL leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and capital preservation and lower volatility. Annaly Capital Management, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
NLY
Annaly Capital Management, Inc.
The Real Estate Income Play
NLY is the clearest fit if your priority is value and quality.
- Lower P/E (7.5x vs 79.7x)
- 30.3% margin vs WELL's 12.3%
- 13.0% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs WELL's 1.3%
Best for: value and quality
WELL
Welltower Inc.
The Real Estate Income Play
WELL carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 0.13, yield 1.3%
- Rev growth 35.8%, EPS growth -11.5%, 3Y rev CAGR 22.7%
- 233.9% 10Y total return vs NLY's 36.7%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | WELL | 35.8% FFO/revenue growth vs NLY's 5.4% |
| Value | NLY | Lower P/E (7.5x vs 79.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | NLY | 30.3% margin vs WELL's 12.3% |
| Stability / Safety | WELL | Beta 0.13 vs NLY's 0.64, lower leverage |
| Dividends | NLY | 13.0% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs WELL's 1.3% |
| Momentum (1Y) | WELL | +45.8% vs NLY's +33.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | WELL | 2.3% ROA vs NLY's 1.7%, ROIC 0.5% vs 6.4% |
NLY vs WELL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2021
FY 2025
NLY vs WELL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLWELLLAGGINGNLY
NLYAnnaly Capital Manage…
2leads
WELLWelltower Inc.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs NLYMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
NLY4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
NLY5/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
WELL5/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
WELL6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
WELL2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NLY 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 — 1.7x NLY's $6.7B. NLY is the more profitable business, keeping 30.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to WELL's 12.3%. On growth, WELL holds the edge at +40.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | NLYAnnaly Capital Ma… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $6.7B | $11.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $6.9B | $2.8B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2.0B | $1.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$222M | $2.5B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +99.2% | +39.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +102.6% | +4.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +30.3% | +12.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -3.3% | +21.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -8.4% | +40.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +79.5% | +22.5% |
NLY leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
NLY leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 7.7x trailing earnings, NLY trades at a 95% valuation discount to WELL's 155.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, NLY's 18.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than WELL's 67.4x.
| Metric | NLYAnnaly Capital Ma… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $16.2B | $151.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $126.0B | $168.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 7.72x | 155.73x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 7.51x | 79.69x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 18.34x | 67.37x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.42x | 14.22x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.89x | 3.40x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 53.25x |
NLY leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
WELL leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NLY delivers a 14.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $14 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 NLY's 6.92x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), WELL scores 7/9 vs NLY's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | NLYAnnaly Capital Ma… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +14.1% | +3.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.7% | +2.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.4% | +0.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +19.7% | +0.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 6.92x | 0.49x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $109.8B | $16.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $2.0B | $5.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $111.9B | $21.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.42x | 0.26x |
WELL leads this category, winning 5 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 $31,193 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $10,219 for NLY. Over the past 12 months, WELL leads with a +45.8% total return vs NLY's +33.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WELL at 43.3% vs NLY's 17.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | NLYAnnaly Capital Ma… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +1.5% | +16.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +33.2% | +45.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +60.9% | +194.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +2.2% | +211.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +36.7% | +233.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +17.2% | +43.3% |
WELL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
WELL leads this category, winning 2 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 NLY's 0.64 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. WELL currently trades 98.6% from its 52-week high vs NLY's 91.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | NLYAnnaly Capital Ma… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.64x | 0.13x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $24.52 | $219.59 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $18.43 | $142.65 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +91.9% | +98.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 50.1 | 57.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 7.1M | 2.6M |
WELL leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — NLY and WELL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates NLY as "Buy" and WELL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 8.7% upside for NLY (target: $25) vs 4.6% for WELL (target: $227). For income investors, NLY offers the higher dividend yield at 13.03% vs WELL's 1.28%.
| Metric | NLYAnnaly Capital Ma… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $24.50 | $226.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 28 | 34 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +13.0% | +1.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.94 | $2.76 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.1% | 0.0% |
Evenly matched — NLY and WELL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
WELL leads in 3 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). NLY leads in 2 (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Best OverallWelltower Inc. (WELL)Leads 3 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
NLY vs WELL: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NLY or WELL a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Welltower Inc.
(WELL) is the stronger pick with 35. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 4% for Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (NLY). Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (NLY) offers the better valuation at 7. 7x trailing P/E (7. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (NLY) a "Buy" — based on 28 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 — NLY or WELL?
On trailing P/E, Annaly Capital Management, Inc.
(NLY) is the cheapest at 7. 7x versus Welltower Inc. at 155. 7x. On forward P/E, Annaly Capital Management, Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 5x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — NLY or WELL?
Over the past 5 years, Welltower Inc.
(WELL) delivered a total return of +211. 9%, compared to +2. 2% for Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (NLY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WELL returned +233. 9% versus NLY's +36. 7%. 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 — NLY or WELL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Welltower Inc.
(WELL) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 13β versus Annaly Capital Management, Inc. 's 0. 64β — meaning NLY is approximately 382% 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 7% for Annaly Capital Management, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — NLY or WELL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Welltower Inc.
(WELL) is pulling ahead at 35. 8% versus 5. 4% for Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (NLY). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Annaly Capital Management, Inc. grew EPS 80. 2% year-over-year, compared to -11. 5% for Welltower Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, WELL leads at 22. 7% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — NLY or WELL?
Annaly Capital Management, Inc.
(NLY) is the more profitable company, earning 30. 3% net margin versus 8. 8% for Welltower Inc. — meaning it keeps 30. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NLY leads at 102. 6% versus 3. 3% for WELL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NLY leads at 99. 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.
07Is NLY or WELL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Annaly Capital Management, Inc.
(NLY) trades at 7. 5x forward P/E versus 79. 7x for Welltower Inc. — 72. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NLY: 8. 7% to $24. 50.
08Which pays a better dividend — NLY or WELL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (NLY) offers the highest yield at 13. 0%, versus 1. 3% for Welltower Inc. (WELL).
09Is NLY 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, +233. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WELL: +233. 9%, NLY: +36. 7%), 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 NLY 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.
In terms of investment character: NLY is a mid-cap deep-value stock; WELL is a mid-cap high-growth stock. 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that outperform both.
Revenue Growth>
%
(NLY: -8.4% · WELL: 40.3%)Net Margin>
%
(NLY: 30.3% · WELL: 12.3%)P/E Ratio<
x
(NLY: 7.7x · WELL: 155.7x)You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.