Analyzing InvenTrust Properties (NYSE:IVT) & Equity LifeStyle Properties (NYSE:ELS)

Equity LifeStyle Properties (NYSE:ELS) and InvenTrust Properties (NYSE:IVT) are both finance companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, profitability, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, risk, earnings and dividends.

Profitability

This table compares Equity LifeStyle Properties and InvenTrust Properties’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Equity LifeStyle Properties	23.97%	24.10%	6.44%
InvenTrust Properties	2.52%	0.42%	0.27%

Risk & Volatility

Equity LifeStyle Properties has a beta of 0.79, suggesting that its share price is 21% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, InvenTrust Properties has a beta of 0.97, suggesting that its share price is 3% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

97.2% of Equity LifeStyle Properties shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 61.7% of InvenTrust Properties shares are held by institutional investors. 1.4% of Equity LifeStyle Properties shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 0.5% of InvenTrust Properties shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Equity LifeStyle Properties and InvenTrust Properties, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Equity LifeStyle Properties	0	4	6	1	2.73
InvenTrust Properties	0	1	3	0	2.75

Equity LifeStyle Properties currently has a consensus price target of $73.30, indicating a potential upside of 10.20%. InvenTrust Properties has a consensus price target of $32.00, indicating a potential upside of 10.47%. Given InvenTrust Properties’ stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe InvenTrust Properties is more favorable than Equity LifeStyle Properties.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Equity LifeStyle Properties and InvenTrust Properties”s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Equity LifeStyle Properties	$1.43 billion	8.87	$314.21 million	$1.94	34.29
InvenTrust Properties	$258.68 million	8.64	$5.27 million	$0.09	321.90

Equity LifeStyle Properties has higher revenue and earnings than InvenTrust Properties. Equity LifeStyle Properties is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than InvenTrust Properties, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Dividends

Equity LifeStyle Properties pays an annual dividend of $1.91 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.9%. InvenTrust Properties pays an annual dividend of $0.91 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.1%. Equity LifeStyle Properties pays out 98.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. InvenTrust Properties pays out 1,011.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Equity LifeStyle Properties has increased its dividend for 20 consecutive years.

Summary

Equity LifeStyle Properties beats InvenTrust Properties on 13 of the 18 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Equity LifeStyle Properties

Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. is a real estate investment trust, which engages in the ownership and operation of lifestyle-oriented properties consisting primarily of manufactured home, and recreational vehicle communities. It operates through the following segments: Property Operations and Home Sales and Rentals Operations. The Property Operations segment owns and operates land lease properties. The Home Sales and Rentals Operations segment purchases, sells, and leases homes. The company was founded by James M. Hankins in December 1992 and is headquartered in Chicago, IL.

About InvenTrust Properties

InvenTrust Properties Corp. (the “Company,” “IVT,” or “InvenTrust”) is a premier Sun Belt, multi-tenant essential retail REIT that owns, leases, redevelops, acquires and manages grocery-anchored neighborhood and community centers as well as high-quality power centers that often have a grocery component. Management pursues the Company’s business strategy by acquiring retail properties in Sun Belt markets, opportunistically disposing of retail properties, maintaining a flexible capital structure, and enhancing environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) practices and standards. A trusted, local operator bringing real estate expertise to its tenant relationships, IVT has built a strong reputation with market participants across its portfolio. IVT is committed to leadership in ESG practices and has been a Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (“GRESB”) member since 2013.