EQR vs. WPC: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison

Updated on November 20, 2025

Here’s a clear look at EQR and WPC, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.

Company Profile

Both EQR and WPC are Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). These entities are required to distribute the majority of their taxable income to shareholders, often resulting in higher dividend yields.

Symbol	EQR	WPC
Company Name	Equity Residential	W. P. Carey Inc.
Country	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Real Estate	Real Estate
GICS Industry	Residential REITs	Diversified REITs
Market Capitalization	23.33 billion USD	14.77 billion USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	August 12, 1993	January 21, 1998
Security Type	REIT	REIT

Historical Performance

This chart compares the performance of EQR and WPC by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.

EQR vs. WPC: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past one year.

Historical Performance at a Glance

Symbol	EQR	WPC
5-Day Price Return	-0.15%	1.17%
13-Week Price Return	-7.33%	3.85%
26-Week Price Return	-14.61%	12.70%
52-Week Price Return	-20.39%	22.07%
Month-to-Date Return	-0.03%	2.48%
Year-to-Date Return	-17.20%	24.16%
10-Day Avg. Volume	2.53M	1.33M
3-Month Avg. Volume	2.28M	1.22M
3-Month Volatility	20.20%	14.20%
Beta	0.76	0.82

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

EQR

10.48%

Residential REITs Industry

Max: 15.13%
Q3: 9.79%
Median: 6.73%
Q1: 5.85%
Min: 0.65%

In the upper quartile for the Residential REITs industry, EQR’s Return on Equity of 10.48% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.

WPC

4.40%

Diversified REITs Industry

Max: 8.70%
Q3: 7.90%
Median: 6.11%
Q1: 4.23%
Min: 0.75%

WPC’s Return on Equity of 4.40% is on par with the norm for the Diversified REITs industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.

EQR vs. WPC: A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against their respective Residential REITs and Diversified REITs industry benchmarks.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

EQR

37.58%

Residential REITs Industry

Max: 49.84%
Q3: 42.29%
Median: 25.23%
Q1: 17.15%
Min: -0.30%

In the Residential REITs industry, Net Profit Margin is often not the primary profitability metric.

WPC

21.75%

Diversified REITs Industry

Max: 78.52%
Q3: 47.50%
Median: 41.30%
Q1: 25.22%
Min: -1.06%

In the Diversified REITs industry, Net Profit Margin is often not the primary profitability metric.

EQR vs. WPC: A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Residential REITs and Diversified REITs industry benchmarks.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

EQR

49.81%

Residential REITs Industry

Max: 56.43%
Q3: 48.20%
Median: 28.02%
Q1: 18.72%
Min: -7.36%

In the Residential REITs industry, Operating Profit Margin is often not the primary measure of operational efficiency.

WPC

47.92%

Diversified REITs Industry

Max: 79.48%
Q3: 63.96%
Median: 49.29%
Q1: 41.21%
Min: 12.38%

In the Diversified REITs industry, Operating Profit Margin is often not the primary measure of operational efficiency.

EQR vs. WPC: A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Residential REITs and Diversified REITs industry benchmarks.

Profitability at a Glance

Symbol	EQR	WPC
Return on Equity (TTM)	10.48%	4.40%
Return on Assets (TTM)	5.54%	2.06%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)	37.58%	21.75%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)	49.81%	47.92%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)	63.01%	89.13%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

EQR

0.07

Residential REITs Industry

Max: 1.58
Q3: 0.72
Median: 0.19
Q1: 0.09
Min: 0.00

EQR’s Current Ratio of 0.07 falls into the lower quartile for the Residential REITs industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.

WPC

0.29

Diversified REITs Industry

Max: 2.76
Q3: 1.44
Median: 0.75
Q1: 0.42
Min: 0.16

WPC’s Current Ratio of 0.29 falls into the lower quartile for the Diversified REITs industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.

EQR vs. WPC: A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Residential REITs and Diversified REITs industry benchmarks.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

EQR

0.76

Residential REITs Industry

Max: 1.64
Q3: 1.11
Median: 0.82
Q1: 0.68
Min: 0.28

EQR’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.76 is typical for the Residential REITs industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.

WPC

1.06

Diversified REITs Industry

Max: 1.06
Q3: 0.83
Median: 0.70
Q1: 0.55
Min: 0.18

WPC’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Diversified REITs industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.06. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.

EQR vs. WPC: A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Residential REITs and Diversified REITs industry benchmarks.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

EQR

5.11

Residential REITs Industry

Max: 5.11
Q3: 4.01
Median: 2.53
Q1: 1.52
Min: 0.52

EQR’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 5.11 is in the upper quartile for the Residential REITs industry, signifying a strong and healthy capacity to meet its interest payments from operating profits.

WPC

3.30

Diversified REITs Industry

Max: 12.41
Q3: 7.79
Median: 3.45
Q1: 1.97
Min: 0.70

WPC’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 3.30 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Diversified REITs industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.

EQR vs. WPC: A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against their respective Residential REITs and Diversified REITs industry benchmarks.

Financial Strength at a Glance

Symbol	EQR	WPC
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.07	0.29
Quick Ratio (MRQ)	0.07	0.29
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)	0.76	1.06
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)	5.11	3.30

Growth

Revenue Growth

EQR vs. WPC: A side-by-side comparison of their Revenue Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

EPS Growth

EQR vs. WPC: A side-by-side comparison of their EPS Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

EQR

4.60%

Residential REITs Industry

Max: 5.50%
Q3: 4.61%
Median: 3.94%
Q1: 3.53%
Min: 2.40%

EQR’s Dividend Yield of 4.60% is consistent with its peers in the Residential REITs industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.

WPC

5.39%

Diversified REITs Industry

Max: 8.11%
Q3: 6.33%
Median: 4.69%
Q1: 3.91%
Min: 1.57%

WPC’s Dividend Yield of 5.39% is consistent with its peers in the Diversified REITs industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.

EQR vs. WPC: A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against their respective Residential REITs and Diversified REITs industry benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

EQR

89.88%

Residential REITs Industry

Max: 277.28%
Q3: 165.36%
Median: 103.47%
Q1: 84.26%
Min: 24.03%

EQR’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 89.88% is within the typical range for the Residential REITs industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.

WPC

214.24%

Diversified REITs Industry

Max: 149.20%
Q3: 111.60%
Median: 85.37%
Q1: 64.92%
Min: 22.99%

At 214.24%, WPC’s Dividend Payout Ratio is exceptionally high, exceeding the typical range for the Diversified REITs industry. While this provides a significant return to shareholders, it may limit funds for reinvestment and could be difficult to sustain.

EQR vs. WPC: A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against their respective Residential REITs and Diversified REITs industry benchmarks.

Dividend at a Glance

Symbol	EQR	WPC
Dividend Yield (TTM)	4.60%	5.39%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	89.88%	214.24%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

EQR

19.54

Residential REITs Industry

Max: 53.82
Q3: 37.09
Median: 28.15
Q1: 19.50
Min: 7.75

The P/E Ratio is often not the primary metric for valuation in the Residential REITs industry.

WPC

39.78

Diversified REITs Industry

Max: 45.79
Q3: 27.07
Median: 20.15
Q1: 11.12
Min: 7.05

The P/E Ratio is often not the primary metric for valuation in the Diversified REITs industry.

EQR vs. WPC: A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against their respective Residential REITs and Diversified REITs industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

EQR

7.34

Residential REITs Industry

Max: 9.23
Q3: 8.35
Median: 6.96
Q1: 6.23
Min: 4.99

EQR’s P/S Ratio of 7.34 aligns with the market consensus for the Residential REITs industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.

WPC

8.65

Diversified REITs Industry

Max: 15.00
Q3: 10.00
Median: 8.53
Q1: 4.60
Min: 1.59

WPC’s P/S Ratio of 8.65 aligns with the market consensus for the Diversified REITs industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.

EQR vs. WPC: A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against their respective Residential REITs and Diversified REITs industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

EQR

2.23

Residential REITs Industry

Max: 3.77
Q3: 2.52
Median: 2.04
Q1: 1.46
Min: 0.68

EQR’s P/B Ratio of 2.23 is within the conventional range for the Residential REITs industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.

WPC

1.81

Diversified REITs Industry

Max: 1.81
Q3: 1.22
Median: 0.85
Q1: 0.64
Min: 0.54

WPC’s P/B Ratio of 1.81 is in the upper tier for the Diversified REITs industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.

EQR vs. WPC: A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Residential REITs and Diversified REITs industry benchmarks.

Valuation at a Glance

Symbol	EQR	WPC
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)	19.54	39.78
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)	7.34	8.65
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)	2.23	1.81
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)	38.74	69.12