Saul Centers (BFS) vs MFA Financial (MFA)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Saul Centers (BFS) has outperformed MFA Financial (MFA) over the past year, losing 4.1% versus a loss of 20.3%. Over five years, BFS leads with a -35.5% price change compared with -61.6% for MFA. Saul Centers is the larger company by market cap ($1.02 billion vs $710.1 million), about 1.4 times the size.
On valuation, MFA Financial trades at a lower trailing P/E (7.0x vs 29.9x for Saul Centers). MFA Financial offers the higher dividend yield (20.50% vs 8.05%).
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 | BFS | MFA |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $29.32 | $7.03 |
| Market cap | $1.02B | $710.14M |
| 1-day change | -0.88% | -1.75% |
| YTD return | -6.18% | -23.20% |
| 1-year return | -4.12% | -20.29% |
| 5-year return | -35.54% | -61.56% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 29.92 | 6.96 |
| Forward P/E | — | 5.08 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.98 | $1.01 |
| Dividend yield | 8.05% | 20.50% |
| Annual dividend | $2.36 | $1.44 |
| 52-week high | $38.42 | $10.43 |
| 52-week low | $29.16 | $7.03 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -23.69% | -32.65% |
| Analyst consensus | none | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +46.66% | +96.87% |
| Average volume | 112.77K | 1.64M |
| Shares outstanding | 24.72M | 101.09M |
| Employees | 156 | 307 |
| Sector | Real Estate | Real Estate |
| Industry | Real Estate Investment Trusts | Real Estate Investment Trusts |
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
- BFS has outperformed MFA by 16.2 percentage points over the past year.
- Saul Centers trades at a higher earnings multiple (29.9x vs 7.0x trailing P/E).
- MFA Financial offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (20.50% vs 8.05%).
About Saul Centers
BFS stock →Saul Centers, Inc. is a self-managed, self-administered equity REIT.
Real Estate · Real Estate Investment Trusts · 156 employees
About MFA Financial
MFA stock →MFA Financial, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a real estate investment trust in the United States. It operates through two segments: Mortgage-Related Assets and Lima One.
Real Estate · Real Estate Investment Trusts · 307 employees
BFS vs MFA FAQ
Which is bigger, Saul Centers or MFA Financial?
Saul Centers (BFS) is larger, with a market capitalization of $1.02B compared with $710.14M for MFA Financial (MFA).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BFS or MFA?
BFS returned -4.12% over the past 12 months, compared with -20.29% for MFA (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BFS or MFA?
MFA has the lower trailing P/E at 7.0, versus 29.9 for BFS. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Saul Centers or MFA Financial?
MFA Financial has the higher yield at 20.50%, compared with 8.05% for Saul Centers.
Are Saul Centers and MFA Financial in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Real Estate Investment Trusts industry within the Real Estate sector.