SUNS vs KREF

For growth investors, Sunrise Realty Trust, Inc.

(SUNS) is the stronger pick with 148. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -22. 7% for KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. (KREF). Sunrise Realty Trust, Inc. (SUNS) offers the better valuation at 8. 1x trailing P/E (6. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. (KREF) a "Buy" — based on 12 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, Sunrise Realty Trust, Inc.

(SUNS) delivered a total return of -10. 5%, compared to -35. 6% for KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. (KREF). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KREF returned -9. 1% versus SUNS's -10. 5%. 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), Sunrise Realty Trust, Inc.

(SUNS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 86β versus KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. 's 0. 87β — meaning KREF is approximately 2% more volatile than SUNS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Sunrise Realty Trust, Inc. (SUNS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 67% versus 4% for KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Sunrise Realty Trust, Inc.

(SUNS) is pulling ahead at 148. 1% versus -22. 7% for KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. (KREF). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Sunrise Realty Trust, Inc. grew EPS -5. 0% year-over-year, compared to -652. 6% for KKR Real Estate Finance 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.

Sunrise Realty Trust, Inc.

(SUNS) is the more profitable company, earning 46. 0% net margin versus -10. 3% for KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. — meaning it keeps 46. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SUNS leads at 64. 2% versus 59. 3% for KREF. 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SUNS: 97.

8% to $15. 25.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Sunrise Realty Trust, Inc. (SUNS) offers the highest yield at 15. 3%, versus 15. 2% for KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. (KREF).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Sunrise Realty Trust, Inc.

(SUNS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 86), 15. 3% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SUNS: -10. 5%, KREF: -9. 1%), 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.

In terms of investment character: SUNS is a small-cap high-growth stock; KREF is a small-cap income-oriented 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.