Ares Commercial Real Estate (ACRE) vs Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance (REFI)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Ares Commercial Real Estate (ACRE) has outperformed Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance (REFI) over the past year, losing 20.3% versus a loss of 23.6%. Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance is the larger company by market cap ($246.2 million vs $202.5 million), about 1.2 times the size. On valuation, Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance trades at a lower forward P/E (5.0x vs 10.7x for Ares Commercial Real Estate).
Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance offers the higher dividend yield (19.56% vs 16.44%).
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | ACRE | REFI |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $3.65 | $9.61 |
| Market cap | $202.51M | $246.22M |
| 1-day change | -2.67% | -1.94% |
| YTD return | -23.64% | -21.62% |
| 1-year return | -20.31% | -23.61% |
| 5-year return | -76.47% | — |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 7.12 |
| Forward P/E | 10.66 | 5.01 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-0.08 | $1.35 |
| Dividend yield | 16.44% | 19.56% |
| Annual dividend | $0.60 | $1.88 |
| 52-week high | $5.89 | $13.49 |
| 52-week low | $3.61 | $9.61 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -38.03% | -28.76% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +45.21% | +57.44% |
| Average volume | 460.20K | 189.95K |
| Shares outstanding | 55.48M | 25.62M |
| Sector | Real Estate | Real Estate |
| Industry | REIT - Mortgage | REIT - Mortgage |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (19.56% vs 16.44%).
About Ares Commercial Real Estate
ACRE stock →Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation, a specialty finance company, engages in the originating and investing in commercial real estate (CRE) loans and related investments in the United States. The company provides loan opportunities for the owners, operators, and sponsors of CRE properties.
Real Estate · REIT - Mortgage
About Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance
REFI stock →Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. operates as a commercial mortgage real estate investment trust in the United States.
Real Estate · REIT - Mortgage
ACRE vs REFI FAQ
Which is bigger, Ares Commercial Real Estate or Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance?
Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance (REFI) is larger, with a market capitalization of $246.22M compared with $202.51M for Ares Commercial Real Estate (ACRE).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ACRE or REFI?
ACRE returned -20.31% over the past 12 months, compared with -23.61% for REFI (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Ares Commercial Real Estate or Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance?
Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance has the higher yield at 19.56%, compared with 16.44% for Ares Commercial Real Estate.
Are Ares Commercial Real Estate and Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the REIT - Mortgage industry within the Real Estate sector.