Advertisement
ELS vs SUI
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Equity LifeStyle Properties (ELS) vs. Sun Communities (SUI) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Both ELS and SUI are leading real estate investment trusts (REITs) focused on manufactured housing and RV communities, providing defensive exposure in volatile markets with dividend yields near 3.4%.
- ELS recently reported Q1 2026 normalized funds from operations (FFO) of $0.84 per share, matching guidance with core net operating income (NOI) growth of about 5%, supporting reaffirmed full-year outlook.
- SUI awaits Q1 2026 results on April 27, following 2026 guidance of core FFO per share at $6.83-$7.03, amid portfolio simplification efforts.
- Year-to-date returns are comparable at roughly 5.5% for both, outperforming broader REIT peers in recent market activity, with analyst targets implying 10% upside.
- ELS trades at a forward P/FFO multiple around 20x with a smaller market cap of $12.3B, while SUI ($16.6B) offers scale but recent negative EPS.
- Manufactured housing sector sentiment remains positive, positioning both as relative outperformers amid interest rate sensitivity.
Introduction
Equity LifeStyle Properties (ELS) and Sun Communities (SUI) stand out as premier REITs specializing in manufactured home communities and RV resorts, sectors known for demographic tailwinds and recession resistance. This stock comparison analyzes their recent performance, operational metrics, and market positioning to aid investors seeking income stability and growth in real estate. Traders focused on relative performance may appreciate contrasts in scale, valuation, and catalysts, especially as interest rates influence REIT sentiment. With both delivering steady dividends and analyst buy ratings, understanding their nuances supports informed portfolio decisions in the current environment.
ELS Overview and Recent Performance
Equity LifeStyle Properties (ELS) owns and operates approximately 450 properties with over 170,000 sites across 35 states, emphasizing MH communities and RV resorts. In recent weeks, shares traded around $63.50, within a 52-week range of $58.15-$69.00, reflecting resilience amid broader REIT pressures. Q1 2026 results showed normalized FFO of $0.84 per share, up slightly year-over-year, with core NOI growth near 5% driven by revenue gains and controlled expenses. The company reaffirmed 2026 guidance for normalized FFO of $3.12-$3.22 per share, bolstering investor confidence. Positive analyst updates, including price target hikes to $74, underscore operational strength, though stock dipped post-earnings before stabilizing. Sentiment benefits from sector tailwinds like housing affordability trends.
SUI Overview and Recent Performance
Sun Communities (SUI) manages a larger portfolio of about 670 communities spanning nearly 190,000 developed sites, targeting similar MH and RV markets with a focus on expansion. Shares hovered near $129.60 recently, in a 52-week band of $115.53-$137.85, supported by year-to-date gains around 5.5%. Upcoming Q1 2026 earnings on April 27 follow full-year 2025 momentum, with 2026 core FFO guidance at $6.83-$7.03 per share and a recent distribution increase. Investor reactions to an auditor change and portfolio simplification have been mixed, yet analyst targets near $143 signal optimism. Performance reflects steady occupancy and rate growth, tempered by leverage concerns in a rate-sensitive backdrop.
Trending AI Robots
Tickeron's Trending AI Robots page curates 25 elite performers from over 350 AI trading bots that analyze thousands of tickers across stocks, ETFs, and crypto. These bots employ machine learning for real-time signals, spanning day trading (e.g., 5-minute timeframes) to swing strategies (up to 55 days), with standout stats like annualized returns from +15% to +178%, win rates of 48%-88%, and profit factors up to 11.7. High performers target volatile sectors such as semiconductors and small caps, often outperforming the S&P 500 via multi-ticker portfolios. Diverse styles suit various risk appetites, making them adaptable to current conditions. Traders can explore copy trading options for automated execution—visit the page to discover bots fitting your strategy.
Head-to-Head Comparison
ELS and SUI share business models centered on recession-resistant manufactured housing, but SUI's larger scale drives higher revenue ($2.3B TTM vs. $1.54B) at the cost of elevated debt/equity (61%). Growth drivers include occupancy and rate hikes for both, though ELS edges in profitability (25% margin) and ROE (22%). Recent momentum favors ELS post-earnings stability versus SUI's pending results. Risk factors involve interest rate exposure, with ELS's lower beta (0.77) offering relative stability. Sector positioning is identical, but market sentiment tilts toward ELS for conservative valuation trade-offs.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron's AI currently leans toward ELS based on consistent trend execution, recent earnings alignment with guidance, and superior near-term stability metrics relative to SUI. While both exhibit strong sector catalysts and comparable upside potential, ELS's reaffirmed outlook and lower volatility position it probabilistically better for momentum in prevailing conditions.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is ELS is a StrongBuy and SUI is a StrongBuy.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
ELS’s FA Score shows that 0 FA rating(s) are green whileSUI’s FA Score has 0 green FA rating(s).
- ELS’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
- SUI’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
ELS’s TA Score shows that 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while SUI’s TA Score has 6 bullish TA indicator(s).
- ELS’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 4 bearish.
- SUI’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 3 bearish.
Price Growth
ELS (@Media Conglomerates) experienced а +3.84% price change this week, while SUI (@Media Conglomerates) price change was +2.64% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Media Conglomerates industry was +0.52%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +2.43%, and the average quarterly price growth was +5.11%.
Reported Earning Dates
ELS is expected to report earnings on Jul 20, 2026.
SUI is expected to report earnings on Jul 27, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Media Conglomerates (+0.52% weekly)Companies that operate in these three (or more) areas: broadcasting, cable TV, publishing and movies/entertainment. The companies usually have a large share in these markets. Walt Disney Co . is an example.
| ELS | SUI | ELS / SUI | |
| Capitalization | 12.6B | 15.6B | 81% |
| EBITDA | 745M | 674M | 111% |
| Gain YTD | 7.895 | 3.371 | 234% |
| P/E Ratio | 32.41 | 140.42 | 23% |
| Revenue | 1.46B | 2.29B | 64% |
| Total Cash | 18.8M | 497M | 4% |
| Total Debt | 3.29B | 4.25B | 77% |
ELS | SUI | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 17 | 22 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 65 Fair valued | 80 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 87 | 100 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 43 | 46 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 53 | 54 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 52 | 92 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 65 | n/a |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
ELS's Valuation (65) in the Real Estate Investment Trusts industry is in the same range as SUI (80). This means that ELS’s stock grew similarly to SUI’s over the last 12 months.
ELS's Profit vs Risk Rating (87) in the Real Estate Investment Trusts industry is in the same range as SUI (100). This means that ELS’s stock grew similarly to SUI’s over the last 12 months.
ELS's SMR Rating (43) in the Real Estate Investment Trusts industry is in the same range as SUI (46). This means that ELS’s stock grew similarly to SUI’s over the last 12 months.
ELS's Price Growth Rating (53) in the Real Estate Investment Trusts industry is in the same range as SUI (54). This means that ELS’s stock grew similarly to SUI’s over the last 12 months.
ELS's P/E Growth Rating (52) in the Real Estate Investment Trusts industry is somewhat better than the same rating for SUI (92). This means that ELS’s stock grew somewhat faster than SUI’s over the last 12 months.
| ELS | SUI | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 58% | 3 days ago 56% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 59% | 3 days ago 52% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 51% | 3 days ago 58% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 47% | 3 days ago 63% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 46% | 3 days ago 53% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 47% | 3 days ago 50% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 5 days ago 45% | 5 days ago 52% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 14 days ago 48% | 14 days ago 61% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 62% | 3 days ago 53% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 45% | 3 days ago 55% |
Advertisement
ELS and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, ELS has been closely correlated with SUI. These tickers have moved in lockstep 69% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if ELS jumps, then SUI could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To ELS | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELS | 100% | +1.39% | ||
| SUI - ELS | 69% Closely correlated | +0.87% | ||
| CUBE - ELS | 66% Loosely correlated | +0.41% | ||
| FCPT - ELS | 64% Loosely correlated | +1.77% | ||
| ADC - ELS | 63% Loosely correlated | +1.40% | ||
| DBRG - ELS | 62% Loosely correlated | +0.06% | ||
More | ||||
SUI and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, SUI has been closely correlated with ELS. These tickers have moved in lockstep 69% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if SUI jumps, then ELS could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To SUI | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUI | 100% | +0.87% | ||
| ELS - SUI | 69% Closely correlated | +1.39% | ||
| DBRG - SUI | 63% Loosely correlated | +0.06% | ||
| CUBE - SUI | 59% Loosely correlated | +0.41% | ||
| MAA - SUI | 55% Loosely correlated | +0.60% | ||
| STAG - SUI | 54% Loosely correlated | +2.05% | ||
More | ||||