CTO Realty Growth (CTO) vs Empire State Realty (ESRT)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
CTO Realty Growth (CTO) has outperformed Empire State Realty (ESRT) over the past year, gaining 32.6% versus a loss of 42.4%. Over five years, CTO leads with a +14.1% price change compared with -59.1% for ESRT. Empire State Realty is the larger company by market cap ($1.37 billion vs $762.8 million), about 1.8 times the size.
On valuation, CTO Realty Growth trades at a lower forward P/E (32.8x vs 74.5x for Empire State Realty). CTO Realty Growth offers the higher dividend yield (7.47% vs 3.13%).
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 | CTO | ESRT |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $20.35 | $4.47 |
| Market cap | $762.83M | $1.37B |
| 1-day change | -0.88% | +0.90% |
| YTD return | +10.54% | -31.44% |
| 1-year return | +32.57% | -42.40% |
| 5-year return | +14.09% | -59.07% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 14.85 | 223.50 |
| Forward P/E | 32.82 | 74.50 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.37 | $0.02 |
| Dividend yield | 7.47% | 3.13% |
| Annual dividend | $1.52 | $0.14 |
| 52-week high | $22.71 | $8.04 |
| 52-week low | $15.25 | $3.93 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -10.39% | -44.40% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +20.88% | +20.81% |
| Average volume | 368.30K | 3.10M |
| Shares outstanding | 37.49M | 172.17M |
| Employees | 42 | 642 |
| 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
- CTO has outperformed ESRT by 75.0 percentage points over the past year.
- Empire State Realty trades at a higher earnings multiple (223.5x vs 14.9x trailing P/E).
- CTO Realty Growth offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (7.47% vs 3.13%).
About CTO Realty Growth
CTO stock →CTO Realty Growth, Inc. is a publicly traded real estate investment trust.
Real Estate · Real Estate Investment Trusts · 42 employees
About Empire State Realty
ESRT stock →Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. is a NYC-focused REIT that owns and operates a portfolio of well-leased, top of tier, modernized, amenitized, and well-located office, retail, and multifamily assets.
Real Estate · Real Estate Investment Trusts · 642 employees
CTO vs ESRT FAQ
Which is bigger, CTO Realty Growth or Empire State Realty?
Empire State Realty (ESRT) is larger, with a market capitalization of $1.37B compared with $762.83M for CTO Realty Growth (CTO).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CTO or ESRT?
CTO returned +32.57% over the past 12 months, compared with -42.40% for ESRT (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CTO or ESRT?
CTO has the lower trailing P/E at 14.9, versus 223.5 for ESRT. 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, CTO Realty Growth or Empire State Realty?
CTO Realty Growth has the higher yield at 7.47%, compared with 3.13% for Empire State Realty.
Are CTO Realty Growth and Empire State Realty in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Real Estate Investment Trusts industry within the Real Estate sector.