Stock fact sheet · data as of
Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. (ELS): fair value, margin of safety and Wheel Score
Real Estate · REIT - Residential · United States · Defensive
Is ELS undervalued?
Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. (ELS) closed at 60.25 on 16 Oct 2026, 108% above the GLS average fair value of 28.93. 9 of the 9 models that produced a number value the shares below the current price. A gap this wide usually means the market is paying for growth or a story the trailing numbers do not show yet; the models work from filed results, not forecasts, so they are conservative by design.
The 9 models disagree widely: GLS Growth gives 8.74 while DCF gives 47.86. A spread that wide means the average is sensitive to which methods you trust; the model table below shows where each one lands, and the Quote page lets you switch any of them off.
The nightly engine files ELS under Defensive: a low beta, a dividend and positive earnings.
Nine valuation models for ELS
Each model turns the latest filed numbers into a value per share; the GLS fair value is the simple average of the ones that produce a positive number. The last two rows are shown for reference and never enter the average. The Quote page lets you switch any model off and add your own margin of safety.
| Model | Value | vs price | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| DCF | 47.86 | -21% | Present value of the projected free cash flows, discounted at the cost of capital |
| Graham Number | 20.59 | -66% | The most a defensive investor pays for the earnings and book value per share |
| Graham Growth | 38.60 | -36% | Graham's growth formula: EPS × (8.5 + 2 × growth), adjusted for bond yields |
| Lynch | 10.92 | -82% | EPS × the earnings growth rate (PEG of 1), growth capped at 25% |
| GLS Growth | 8.74 | -85% | EPS compounded ten years at the blended growth rate, discounted back at 15% a year |
| 10 Cap | 42.96 | -29% | Owner's earnings (operating cash flow less maintenance capex) capitalised at 10% |
| Payback Time | 36.16 | -40% | Eight years of compounded free cash flow: the price at which the business pays for itself |
| DDM | 31.53 | -48% | Dividend discount model: next year's dividend ÷ (10% − 3% growth); needs a dividend |
| EPV | 23.05 | -62% | Earnings power value: current EPS capitalised at 9% with no growth |
| Zombie (liquidation) | -19.64 | -133% | Current assets less all liabilities, per share: the balance-sheet floor. Not in the average |
| Wall St target | 64.57 | +7% | Analysts' average 12-month price target. Not in the average |
Quality and financial health
On financial health ELS scores 7/9 (Piotroski): most of the nine tests - positive earnings and cash flow, falling debt, rising margins and turnover - are passed, which is the kind of balance sheet a wheel trader is happy to be assigned. The GLS Moat score is low at 4.5 out of 10, which says the ten-year record of revenue, earnings, margins and returns on capital has been inconsistent - growth and shocks rather than steady compounding.
Returns on capital are moderate - ROIC 7.5%, ROE 22.0%, ROA 6.7% - with debt at 1.92 times equity and a free-cash-flow yield of 3.0%.
The dividend yield is 3.56% at a payout ratio of 104%; for a wheel trader holding assigned shares the dividend adds to the covered-call premium, and the ex-dividend date is worth knowing before a call is sold. Revenue comes mainly from Home Sales, Brokered Resales And Ancill… 100% (quarter Q2 FY2026).
Institutional ownership scores 10/10, insider activity 1/10 and Congressional trading 5/10 on the GLS smart-money scales.
| Piotroski F-score | 7 / 9 | ROIC | 7.5% |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLS Moat | 4.5 / 10 | ROE | 22.0% |
| Debt / equity | 1.92 | ROA | 6.7% |
| Free-cash-flow yield | 3.0% | Payout ratio | 104% |
| Institutions | 10 / 10 | Insiders · Congress | 1 · 5 / 10 |
Wheel Score 58: Fair
ELS scores 58 out of 100 on the Wheel Score (Fair band, 50-64): a usable but unremarkable fit for the wheel strategy. The parts: Value 0/25, Health 16/20, Moat 7/15, Premium 16/20, Stability 20/20. Value (0/25) is where the points are missing.
Implied volatility is 31% on the near-the-money contracts 20-60 days out: some premium, but under the 35-60% range the Wheel Score pays full marks for (16 of 20 points). Chain open interest is thin - 386 contracts across every expiry - so fills at a fair price are not guaranteed; a 30-45-day put may not exist at a usable strike.
Volume runs at 1.7M shares a day on a market cap of $11.7B, with a beta of 0.64 - a low beta, so day-to-day moves are smaller than the market's; the Stability part of the Wheel Score gives that 20 of 20.
| Part | Points | From | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value | 0 / 25 | -108% margin of safety | |
| Health | 16 / 20 | Piotroski 7/9 | |
| Moat | 7 / 15 | moat 4.5/10 | |
| Premium | 16 / 20 | implied volatility 31% | |
| Stability | 20 / 20 | 1.7M shares/day, $11.7B cap, beta 0.64 |
The Wheel Score ranks ~7,400 US stocks for selling cash-secured puts and covered calls; it is updated nightly and is not a recommendation. The walkthrough lesson shows how the score fits into a trade, start to finish.
Upcoming events
Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. reports earnings on 20 Oct 2026 (after the close) - inside the 14-day window the Sunday Scan avoids, because a put sold now would carry the report's gap risk.
Earnings, dividend, IPO, split and economic calendars for the whole market, filterable to your watchlists.
Similar stocks in REIT - Residential
The 12 companies below are the closest to Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. by market cap within the REIT - Residential industry, each with its own fact sheet; the Compare page puts up to eight of them side by side.
| Stock | Close | Fair value | MoS | Wheel | Mkt cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMH American Homes 4 Rent | 30.97 | 30.76 | -1% | 80Prime | $11.1B |
| UDR UDR, Inc. | 33.96 | 30.05 | -13% | 63Fair | $10.9B |
| MAA Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. | 116.27 | 72.10 | -61% | 50Fair | $13.5B |
| CPT Camden Property Trust | 98.19 | 84.06 | -17% | 56Fair | $9.9B |
| SUI Sun Communities, Inc. | 114.24 | 90.77 | -26% | 45Weak | $13.9B |
| INVH Invitation Homes Inc. | 26.80 | 21.36 | -25% | 55Fair | $15.8B |
| ESS Essex Property Trust, Inc. | 269.66 | 230.97 | -17% | 58Fair | $17.3B |
| VMRK Vivmark Residential | 60.80 | 59.36 | -2% | 65Good | $22.8B |
| IRT Independence Realty Trust, Inc. | 14.70 | 7.98 | -84% | 54Fair | $3.5B |
| MRP Millrose Properties, Inc. | 22.22 | 156.58 | +86% | 82Prime | $3.4B |
| UMH UMH Properties, Inc. | 15.03 | 13.17 | -14% | 56Fair | $1.3B |
| CSR Centerspace | 55.88 | 74.14 | +25% | 71Good | $939M |
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Start free See the Sunday ScanQuestions about ELS
Is ELS undervalued right now?
No: at 60.25 the stock trades 108% above the GLS average fair value of 28.93 (data as of 16 Oct 2026), well beyond what trailing earnings, cash flow and book value support.
What is the Wheel Score of ELS and what does it mean?
ELS scores 58 out of 100 (Fair). The Wheel Score blends the margin of safety (25 points), Piotroski health (20), the GLS moat (15), the option premium on offer (20) and trading stability (20) into one number that ranks stocks for the wheel strategy - selling cash-secured puts, then covered calls if assigned. 80 and above is Prime, 65-79 Good, 50-64 Fair, under 50 Weak.
What is the GLS fair value for ELS?
28.93 per share as of 16 Oct 2026 - the simple average of the 9 valuation models (out of nine: DCF, Graham Number, Graham Growth, Lynch, GLS Growth, 10 Cap, Payback Time, DDM and EPV) that produced a positive value. The models run every night on the latest filings; the Quote page lets you switch any of them off and add a margin of safety of your own.
When does Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. report earnings next?
The next earnings report is due on 20 Oct 2026 (after the close), 4 days from the data date of 16 Oct 2026. The Calendars page lists every upcoming report with its time of day.
Does ELS have listed options, and how liquid are they?
Yes. The nightly snapshot found 128 listed contracts with 386 open interest across all expiries and implied volatility of 31% on the near-the-money contracts. The Options scanner lists the cash-secured put and covered call set-ups with premium and annualised yield worked out.