Data as of the October 19, 2026 close. Every figure on this page is checked against at least two independent sources, or two separate SEC filings, before it is published. How we verify data.
Equity LifeStyle Properties (ELS) and Sun Communities (SUI) are both residential REITs, with Equity LifeStyle Properties classed as Manufactured Housing & RV and Sun Communities as Manufactured Housing & Marinas. Here is how they compare on verified numbers as of the October 19, 2026 close, from dividends and debt to rate sensitivity and returns this year.
| Measure | Equity LifeStyle Properties (ELS) | Sun Communities (SUI) |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $61.02 | $117.55 |
| Market cap | $11.8B | $14.5B |
| Dividend yield | 3.56% | 3.81% |
| Annual dividend per share | $2.17 | $4.48 |
| Pays | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Consecutive years of dividend increases | 21 | 9 |
| Dividend increase in 2026 (confirmed in filings) | +5.4% | +7.7% |
| Liabilities to assets | 68.7% (June 30) | 46.8% (June 30) |
| Revenue growth, latest quarter vs a year earlier | +5.6% | n/a |
| Price change year to date | +0.7% | -5.1% |
| Price change since Sept. 15 | -0.4% | +0.4% |
| 52-week range (closing) | $57.62 to $68.37 | $110.00 to $137.18 |
| Typical move per 0.25-point rise in the 10-year yield | -3.2% | -3.3% |
| REIT Rankings grade | B 80 | B 76 |
| Third-quarter 2026 results | Not yet filed; page updates when it is | Not yet filed; page updates when it is |
Who Leads on Each Measure
| Measure | Leader |
|---|---|
| Higher dividend yield | Sun Communities |
| Longer dividend growth streak | Equity LifeStyle Properties |
| Lower leverage | Sun Communities |
| Less sensitive to rising rates | Equity LifeStyle Properties |
| Better price change this year | Equity LifeStyle Properties |
| Higher REIT Rankings grade | Equity LifeStyle Properties |
Where They Differ
Sun Communities pays the higher yield, 3.81% against 3.56% for Equity LifeStyle Properties. Equity LifeStyle Properties has the longer record of raising its dividend, 21 straight years against 9. Equity LifeStyle Properties carries more leverage, with liabilities equal to 68.7% of assets against 46.8%. This year Equity LifeStyle Properties shares have moved +0.7% and Sun Communities shares -5.1%.
Read the full profiles for portfolio, tenant and balance sheet detail: Equity LifeStyle Properties and Sun Communities.
How These Numbers Are Checked
Prices, returns and 52-week ranges are computed separately from Nasdaq and Cboe records and must agree. Dividend rates are checked against the per-share dividends in each company’s latest 10-Q, growth streaks against their 10-K filings, and leverage and revenue come from the balance sheets and income statements filed with the SEC. Third-quarter results replace the latest-quarter figures as soon as each company files. How we verify data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which pays a higher dividend, ELS or SUI?
Equity LifeStyle Properties yields 3.56% and pays $2.17 a share a year (quarterly); Sun Communities yields 3.81% and pays $4.48 (quarterly), as of October 19, 2026.
Which has raised its dividend longer, ELS or SUI?
Equity LifeStyle Properties: 21 consecutive years of increases; Sun Communities: 9 consecutive years of increases.
Which has more debt, ELS or SUI?
On the latest balance sheets, Equity LifeStyle Properties’s liabilities equal 68.7% of total assets and Sun Communities’s equal 46.8%. Book leverage is one measure; debt maturities and interest coverage matter too.
Which is more sensitive to interest rates, ELS or SUI?
Over the past year, Equity LifeStyle Properties has typically moved -3.2% and Sun Communities -3.3% for each 0.25-point rise in the 10-year Treasury yield. Since September 15, 2026, Equity LifeStyle Properties has moved -0.4% and Sun Communities +0.4%.
Is ELS or SUI the better investment?
REIT Rankings does not make buy, sell or hold calls. On our grades, which measure dividend safety, balance sheet, portfolio, growth and valuation, Equity LifeStyle Properties scores 80 and Sun Communities scores 76, so Equity LifeStyle Properties rates higher on business quality. Which suits you depends on whether you value current yield, dividend growth or lower rate risk more.
Related Pages
Best Residential REITs · All REIT comparisons
REIT Rankings publishes data and grades, not investment advice. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security. Do your own research or consult a licensed advisor.