ARI vs. MFA

Last updated Jun 20, 2026

ARI (Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc.) and MFA (MFA Financial, Inc.) are both stocks. Both operate in the REIT - Mortgage industry within the Real Estate sector. Over the past 10 years, ARI returned 7.52%/yr vs 1.15%/yr for MFA. A 0.59 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.

Performance

ARI vs. MFA - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. (ARI) and MFA Financial, Inc. (MFA). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, ARI achieves a 14.60% return, which is significantly higher than MFA's 6.33% return. Over the past 10 years, ARI has outperformed MFA with an annualized return of 7.52%, while MFA has yielded a comparatively lower 1.15% annualized return.

ARI

• 1D: 1.03%
• 1M: -1.37%
• YTD: 14.60%
• 6M: 13.46%
• 1Y: 22.16%
• 3Y*: 10.54%
• 5Y*: 4.00%
• 10Y*: 7.52%

MFA

• 1D: 1.60%
• 1M: 0.21%
• YTD: 6.33%
• 6M: 5.69%
• 1Y: 17.48%
• 3Y*: 7.67%
• 5Y*: 0.22%
• 10Y*: 1.15%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

ARI vs. MFA - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
ARI Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc.	14.60%	23.83%	-16.51%	24.46%	-7.12%	29.66%	-29.03%	21.15%	-0.03%	22.51%
MFA MFA Financial, Inc.	6.33%	6.07%	2.63%	30.66%	-37.20%	27.71%	-40.87%	27.54%	-5.85%	14.30%

Correlation

The correlation between ARI and MFA is 0.64, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.64
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.70
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.72
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.68
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 24, 2009	0.59

The correlation between ARI and MFA shifts across timeframes, from 0.59 (all time) to 0.72 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Fundamentals

EPS ARI : $0.91 MFA : $1.70
PE Ratio ARI : 11.89 MFA : 5.60
PEG Ratio ARI : 0.00 MFA : 0.26
PS Ratio ARI : 2.54 MFA : 2.19
Total Revenue (TTM) ARI : $595.26M MFA : $343.42M
Gross Profit (TTM) ARI : $429.14M MFA : $413.35M
EBITDA (TTM) ARI : $372.79M MFA : $341.51M

Return for Risk

ARI vs. MFA — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

ARI

ARI Risk / Return Rank: 74
ARI Sharpe Ratio Rank: 76
ARI Sortino Ratio Rank: 73
ARI Omega Ratio Rank: 68
ARI Calmar Ratio Rank: 78
ARI Martin Ratio Rank: 76

MFA

MFA Risk / Return Rank: 64
MFA Sharpe Ratio Rank: 67
MFA Sortino Ratio Rank: 60
MFA Omega Ratio Rank: 58
MFA Calmar Ratio Rank: 69
MFA Martin Ratio Rank: 68

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

ARI vs. MFA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. (ARI) and MFA Financial, Inc. (MFA). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	ARI	MFA	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.17	0.78	+0.39
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.79	1.18	+0.61
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.21	1.15	+0.06
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.22	1.44	+0.78
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	4.97	3.15	+1.82

ARI vs. MFA - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current ARI Sharpe Ratio is 1.17, which is higher than the MFA Sharpe Ratio of 0.78. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of ARI and MFA, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

ARI vs. MFA - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum ARI drawdown since its inception was -77.39%, smaller than the maximum MFA drawdown of -95.52%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ARI and MFA.

Drawdown Indicators

	ARI	MFA	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-77.39%	-95.52%	+18.13%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-10.04%	-12.22%	+2.18%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-24.73%	-31.62%	+6.89%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-40.95%	-56.54%	+15.59%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-77.39%	-95.52%	+18.13%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-3.48%	-31.67%	+28.19%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-9.04%	-21.55%	+12.51%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.47%	5.56%	-1.09%

Volatility

ARI vs. MFA - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. (ARI) is 4.36%, while MFA Financial, Inc. (MFA) has a volatility of 6.62%. This indicates that ARI experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than MFA based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	ARI	MFA	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.36%	6.62%	-2.26%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	13.69%	17.24%	-3.55%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	19.06%	22.64%	-3.58%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	30.73%	31.59%	-0.86%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	43.99%	84.77%	-40.78%

Dividends

ARI vs. MFA - Dividend Comparison

ARI's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 9.23%, less than MFA's 15.11% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
ARI Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc.	9.23%	10.33%	13.86%	11.93%	13.01%	10.64%	12.98%	10.06%	11.04%	9.97%	11.07%	10.33%
MFA MFA Financial, Inc.	15.11%	15.47%	13.74%	12.42%	16.95%	8.44%	8.35%	10.46%	11.98%	10.10%	10.48%	12.12%

Financials

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both ARI and MFA in my portfolio?

ARI and MFA have a correlation of 0.64, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, ARI or MFA?

MFA has higher volatility (6.62%) compared to ARI (4.36%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ARI dropped -77.39% vs MFA's -95.52%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

ARI currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.17 vs 0.78), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.