SKT vs MAC

For growth investors, The Macerich Company (MAC) is the stronger pick with 10.

6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 10. 5% for Tanger Inc. (SKT). Tanger Inc. (SKT) offers the better valuation at 36. 9x trailing P/E (35. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Tanger Inc. (SKT) a "Hold" — based on 18 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, Tanger Inc.

(SKT) delivered a total return of +148. 8%, compared to +89. 4% for The Macerich Company (MAC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SKT returned +31. 8% versus MAC's -53. 8%. 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), Tanger Inc.

(SKT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 65β versus The Macerich Company's 1. 29β — meaning MAC is approximately 100% more volatile than SKT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, The Macerich Company (MAC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 2% for Tanger Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), The Macerich Company (MAC) is pulling ahead at 10.

6% versus 10. 5% for Tanger Inc. (SKT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Tanger Inc. grew EPS 13. 6% year-over-year, compared to 1. 3% for The Macerich Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, SKT leads at 9. 5% 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.

Tanger Inc.

(SKT) is the more profitable company, earning 19. 7% net margin versus -19. 4% for The Macerich Company — meaning it keeps 19. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SKT leads at 30. 2% versus 16. 5% for MAC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MAC leads at 38. 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SKT: -3.

2% to $35. 67.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Tanger Inc. (SKT) offers the highest yield at 3. 1%, versus 3. 0% for The Macerich Company (MAC).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Tanger Inc.

(SKT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 65), 3. 1% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SKT: +31. 8%, MAC: -53. 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.

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.