Safehold Management
Management criteria checks 3/4
Safehold's CEO is Jay Sugarman, appointed in Oct 2016, has a tenure of 9.75 years. total yearly compensation is $2.63M, comprised of 22.8% salary and 77.2% bonuses, including company stock and options. directly owns 2.94% of the company’s shares, worth $34.54M. The average tenure of the management team and the board of directors is 3.5 years and 9.1 years respectively.
Key information
Jay Sugarman
Chief executive officer
US$2.6m
Total compensation
| CEO salary percentage | 22.84% |
| CEO tenure | 9.8yrs |
| CEO ownership | 2.9% |
| Management average tenure | 3.5yrs |
| Board average tenure | 9.1yrs |
Recent management updates
Recent updates
Narrative Update • Jun 16
SAFE: Joint Venture And Debt Moves Will Limit Future Upside Potential
Analysts now maintain their $14.00 price target for Safehold, citing relatively stable long term assumptions for revenue growth, profit margin, and future P/E in their updated models. What’s in the News for Safehold Safehold formed a joint venture with a Brookfield affiliate on a diversified U.S. ground lease portfolio valued at approximately $348 million, with Brookfield acquiring a non controlling 49% interest while Safehold keeps management control and call options to repurchase the stake after seven years.Narrative Update • Jun 02
SAFE: Affordable Housing Ground Leases And Buybacks Will Shape Steady Outlook
Analysts kept their $14.00 price target for Safehold unchanged, citing only modest adjustments to revenue growth, profit margin expectations, and future P/E assumptions as reasons to maintain their prior view. What's in the News Safehold closed on ground leases for two Affordable Housing communities in Santa Cruz and Santa Clarita, California, with CRP Affordable Housing & Community Development as a new customer, adding 211 Low-Income Tax Credit units expected to be delivered in 2028.Seeking Alpha • May 08
Safehold: Return-Free-Risk Comes To Haunt Investors
Summary Safehold (SAFE) reported a 13% revenue increase in Q1-2026, but earnings per share declined year over year. EPS deterioration was driven by SAFE taking over two hotel assets, where expenses outpaced revenues. Ground lease defaults, though rare, can materially impact SAFE due to its weak cash flow profile. Despite trading opportunities, SAFE remains disappointing for buy-and-hold investors since August 2021. Read the full article on Seeking Alpha
Narrative Update • May 06
SAFE: Affordable Housing Ground Leases And Buybacks Will Support Future Upside
Analysts have trimmed their price target on Safehold slightly from $28.00 to about $27.91, reflecting updated assumptions for discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin, and future P/E that result in a marginally lower fair value estimate. What's in the News From January 1, 2026 to May 1, 2026, Safehold repurchased 436,328 shares, representing 0.61% of its stock for US$7 million under the buyback announced on February 5, 2025 (Key Developments).Narrative Update • Apr 18
SAFE: Affordable Housing Ground Leases Will Drive Long-Term Upside
Analysts have reaffirmed a $28.00 price target for Safehold, citing slightly adjusted expectations for revenue growth, profit margins, and forward P/E as the basis for this unchanged view. What's in the News Safehold closed on a ground lease for an Affordable Housing community development in Southeast Austin, Texas, planned to deliver 348 units in 2028 and developed by The NRP Group (Key Developments).
Narrative Update • Apr 04
SAFE: Affordable Housing Ground Leases Will Drive Outperformance Through Austin And Los Angeles
Analysts now see slightly higher upside for Safehold, nudging their price target from about $20.00 to roughly $20.09. This reflects fine tuned assumptions on fair value and future P/E, without major shifts in growth or margin expectations.Narrative Update • Mar 21
SAFE: Affordable Housing Ground Leases Will Support Long-Term Upside
Analysts have revised their $28.00 price target on Safehold, reflecting updated assumptions for revenue growth, profit margins, and a higher future P/E multiple. They have also applied a slightly lower discount rate to their cash flow outlook.Narrative Update • Mar 07
SAFE: Affordable Housing Ground Leases Will Drive Outperformance Through 2028
Analysts have adjusted their price target on Safehold to $20.00, reflecting updated assumptions around slightly lower revenue growth, a modestly narrower profit margin, and a higher future P/E multiple. What's in the News From October 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025, Safehold reported no share repurchases under its buyback program, with 0 shares repurchased for $0 million, and the company stated that the buyback announced on February 5, 2025 is now complete (Key Developments).Narrative Update • Feb 21
SAFE: Affordable Housing Ground Leases Will Signal Cautious Outlook
Analysts have reaffirmed a $14.00 price target for Safehold, citing slightly lower assumed revenue growth, a small improvement in profit margin, and a modestly reduced discount rate that together leave their overall valuation view essentially unchanged. What's in the News From October 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025, Safehold reported no share repurchases under its buyback program, with 0 shares repurchased for $0 million, and stated that this completed the repurchase activity under the buyback announced on February 5, 2025 (Key Developments).Narrative Update • Feb 06
SAFE: Affordable Housing Ground Lease Expansion Will Drive Outperformance By 2027
Analysts have trimmed their price target on Safehold to about US$19.64 from roughly US$20.27. This reflects adjustments to their fair value work that now uses a slightly lower discount rate, modestly higher revenue growth and profit margin assumptions, and a somewhat lower future P/E multiple.Narrative Update • Jan 23
SAFE: Affordable Housing Ground Leases Will Shape Balanced Outlook
Analysts have trimmed their price target for Safehold from US$16.00 to US$14.00, citing updated assumptions that include a 12.5% discount rate, revenue growth of about 3.72%, a profit margin near 30.74% and a future P/E of roughly 10.49x. What's in the News Closed a ground lease for an Affordable Housing community in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, targeting 207 units by 2028.Narrative Update • Jan 09
SAFE: Affordable Housing Expansion In Los Angeles Will Drive Long-Term Upside
Analysts have trimmed their price target on Safehold to US$28.00, citing updated assumptions that reflect slightly higher revenue growth and profit margin expectations, along with a lower future P/E multiple. What's in the News Safehold closed a ground lease for an Affordable Housing community in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, targeting 207 units scheduled for delivery in 2028, in partnership with Meta Housing, an Affordable Housing developer based in Los Angeles (Key Developments).Narrative Update • Dec 15
SAFE: Affordable Housing Ground Leases Will Support Positive Long-Term Upside
Analysts have modestly raised their price target on Safehold to $28.00, citing a slightly higher assumed future earnings multiple that more than offsets marginally softer long term growth and profitability expectations. What's in the News Safehold reports that, between July 1 and September 30, 2025, it repurchased 0 shares for $0 million, completing a previously announced buyback program without execution (Key Developments).Narrative Update • Nov 30
SAFE: Expanding Los Angeles Housing Will Drive Outperformance By 2027
Analysts have modestly raised their price target for Safehold from $20.00 to $20.27. This change reflects increased revenue growth expectations, even though there is a slightly lower profit margin outlook.Narrative Update • Nov 16
SAFE: Revenue Slowdown Will Be Offset By Expanding Affordable Housing Portfolio
Analysts have lowered their price target for Safehold from $20.64 to $20.00, citing a slowdown in expected revenue growth. This change in expectations outweighs improvements in profit margin and valuation metrics.Narrative Update • Nov 01
SAFE: Ground Lease Expansion Will Drive Affordable Housing Delivery By 2029
Analysts have maintained their price target for Safehold at $20.64 per share. This reflects stable expectations based on unchanged fundamentals and updated forecasts.Narrative Update • Oct 17
Ground Lease Adoption Will Expand Multifamily Housing Options
Analysts have slightly reduced their price target for Safehold, lowering it by $0.05 per share. This adjustment is due to modestly slower projected revenue growth and a marginal dip in profit margin expectations.Narrative Update • Oct 03
Ground Lease Adoption Will Expand Multifamily Housing Options
Analysts have lowered their price target for Safehold from $21.40 to $20.64 per share, citing modest increases in projected revenue growth and profit margins, along with a reduced future price-to-earnings multiple. What's in the News Safehold Inc.
New Narrative • Feb 13
Expanding Into Affordable Multifamily Sector Will Unlock New Opportunities
Safehold's expansion into the Multifamily market's affordable sector aims to boost revenue with stable cash flows and high occupancy rates.Seeking Alpha • Feb 03
Safehold & Star Holdings: The Cookie At The End Of The Rainbow
Summary SAFE's bubble was evident due to three easy to see problems. Treasuries were an obvious bubble as well. Both bubbles have come undone. We tell you why we are buying Treasuries, but not SAFE. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaSeeking Alpha • Jan 15
Safehold Vs. Treasuries
Summary Safehold's stock price is highly correlated with the 30-year Treasury bond rate. SAFE's business model involves secure, long-term ground leases, often compared to long-term bonds, providing stable cash flows and high credit ratings. SAFE is a leveraged play on long-term interest rates; its price movements are largely driven by changes in Treasury rates, not operational factors. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaSeeking Alpha • Nov 04
Safehold: Time To Cover This High-Beta Bond Proxy
Summary We had initiated a short position in Safehold as part of a paired trade. We closed that one out. We go over the rationale behind that and explain why the REIT still remains a poor choice for a long term investment. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaSeeking Alpha • Sep 23
Safehold To Star Holdings: A Paired Trade
Summary Star Holdings' primary asset is its stake in Safehold Inc. The unwinding of its secondary assets should likely be done in another two and a half years. Star Holdings likely doubles if Safehold stays static at the current price. Alternatively, Safehold needs to fall by 50% to justify the current price for Star Holdings. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaSeeking Alpha • Jul 15
Safehold: Two Requirements To Make It To $30
Summary We had previously suggested that Safehold would make it over the $20 mark. The recent rally has accomplished that, and the bulls are licking their chops ahead of the expected rate cuts. We go over the recent results and tell you what needs to happen to see $30. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaSeeking Alpha • Apr 26
Are The 6.6% Yielding A Rated Bonds A Safehold?
Summary In our previous coverage we had suggested that Safehold bonds were a better bet than the common shares. That thesis has played out quite well over time, despite the pressures of rising interest rates. We look at the latest bonds from Safehold, which sport the highest yield in its stack. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaSeeking Alpha • Feb 14
After Q4 Results And Share Price Drop, Safehold Is Still A Buy
Summary Safehold's stock performance has not met my expectations in 2024, with losses of over 11% to date. The market repricing its expectations on interest rate cuts has been the key driver behind this drop. Despite this, Q4 2023 results show that Safehold continues to deliver stable financial performance and has strengthened its risk profile. In this article, I review Q4 2023 results and outline my stance on the buy thesis for SAFE. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaSeeking Alpha • Jan 23
Safehold: All Eyes On Yields
Summary Safehold's business model generates a very steady cash flow. But the valuation is very sensitive to interest rates, despite virtually all debt fixed-rate. I share my outlook for the REIT. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaSeeking Alpha • Dec 12
Safehold: Greatly Positioned For An Outperformance (Rating Upgrade)
Summary Safehold has seen strong performance, outperforming the broader REIT market with a 24.8% total return. Q3 2023 results showed stable operating results and minor investment activity, indicating an unchanged situation in the market. Over the quarter, Safehold achieved an upper investment-grade credit rating from Moody's and made notable steps in deleveraging its balance sheet. Despite the recent run-up in the share price, SAFE is still ~68% below its peak when the Fed started to increase rates. Once the Company has improved its capital structure even further and the interest rates seem to assume a declining trajectory, SAFE has become an even more attractive investment. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaCEO Compensation Analysis
| Date | Total Compensation | Salary | Company Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 31 2026 | n/a | n/a | US$114m |
| Dec 31 2025 | US$3m | US$600k | US$114m |
| Sep 30 2025 | n/a | n/a | US$113m |
| Jun 30 2025 | n/a | n/a | US$103m |
| Mar 31 2025 | n/a | n/a | US$104m |
| Dec 31 2024 | US$645k | US$600k | US$106m |
| Sep 30 2024 | n/a | n/a | US$121m |
| Jun 30 2024 | n/a | n/a | -US$21m |
| Mar 31 2024 | n/a | n/a | -US$29m |
| Dec 31 2023 | US$8m | US$600k | -US$55m |
| Sep 30 2023 | n/a | n/a | -US$74m |
| Jun 30 2023 | n/a | n/a | US$115m |
| Mar 31 2023 | n/a | n/a | US$115m |
| Dec 31 2022 | US$693k | US$600k | US$135m |
| Sep 30 2022 | n/a | n/a | US$135m |
| Jun 30 2022 | n/a | n/a | US$89m |
| Mar 31 2022 | n/a | n/a | US$81m |
| Dec 31 2021 | US$2m | US$600k | US$73m |
| Sep 30 2021 | n/a | n/a | US$67m |
| Jun 30 2021 | n/a | n/a | US$61m |
| Mar 31 2021 | n/a | n/a | US$59m |
| Dec 31 2020 | US$936k | US$600k | US$59m |
Compensation vs Market: Jay's total compensation ($USD2.63M) is about average for companies of similar size in the US market ($USD3.54M).
Compensation vs Earnings: Jay's compensation has increased by more than 20% in the past year.
CEO
Jay Sugarman (63 yo)
9.8yrs
Tenure
US$2,627,089
Compensation
Mr. Jay S. Sugarman has been the Executive Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of iStar Inc. since founded in 1997. He serves as Chief Executive Officer at Star Holdings and serves as Chairma...
Leadership Team
| Name | Position | Tenure | Compensation | Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO & Chairman | 9.8yrs | US$2.63m | 2.94% $ 34.5m | |
| President | less than a year | US$10.87m | no data | |
| Chief Financial Officer | 4.4yrs | US$1.88m | 0.20% $ 2.3m | |
| Executive VP & Head of Investments | no data | no data | no data | |
| Chief Accounting Officer | 1yr | no data | no data | |
| Senior Vice President of Capital Markets & Investor Relations | 3.5yrs | no data | no data | |
| General Counsel | no data | no data | no data | |
| Chief People Officer | no data | no data | no data | |
| Executive VP & Head of Portfolio Management | no data | no data | no data | |
| Senior Vice President of Tax | no data | no data | no data | |
| Senior VP & Head of Business Solutions | no data | no data | no data | |
| Senior Vice President of CRE Transaction Services | no data | no data | no data |
3.5yrs
Average Tenure
42yo
Average Age
Experienced Management: SAFE's management team is considered experienced (3.5 years average tenure).
Board Members
| Name | Position | Tenure | Compensation | Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO & Chairman | 9.8yrs | US$2.63m | 2.94% $ 34.5m | |
| Independent Director | 15.5yrs | US$306.29k | 0.098% $ 1.1m | |
| Independent Director | 9.1yrs | US$325.53k | 0.23% $ 2.7m | |
| Independent Director | 9.1yrs | US$278.41k | 0.084% $ 980.0k | |
| Lead Independent Director | 9.1yrs | US$351.86k | 0.15% $ 1.7m |
9.1yrs
Average Tenure
63yo
Average Age
Experienced Board: SAFE's board of directors are considered experienced (9.1 years average tenure).
Company Analysis and Financial Data Status
| Data | Last Updated (UTC time) |
|---|---|
| Company Analysis | 2026/07/06 22:17 |
| End of Day Share Price | 2026/07/06 00:00 |
| Earnings | 2026/03/31 |
| Annual Earnings | 2025/12/31 |
Data Sources
The data used in our company analysis is from S&P Global Market Intelligence LLC. The following data is used in our analysis model to generate this report. Data is normalised which can introduce a delay from the source being available.
| Package | Data | Timeframe | Example US Source * |
|---|---|---|---|
| Company Financials | 10 years |
| |
| Analyst Consensus Estimates | +3 years |
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| Market Prices | 30 years |
| |
| Ownership | 10 years |
| |
| Management | 10 years |
| |
| Key Developments | 10 years |
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* Example for US securities, for non-US equivalent regulatory forms and sources are used.
Unless specified all financial data is based on a yearly period but updated quarterly. This is known as Trailing Twelve Month (TTM) or Last Twelve Month (LTM) Data. Learn more.
Analysis Model and Snowflake
Details of the analysis model used to generate this report is available on our Github page, we also have guides on how to use our reports and tutorials on Youtube.
Learn about the world class team who designed and built the Simply Wall St analysis model.
Industry and Sector Metrics
Our industry and section metrics are calculated every 6 hours by Simply Wall St, details of our process are available on Github.
Analyst Sources
Safehold Inc. is covered by 15 analysts. 8 of those analysts submitted the estimates of revenue or earnings used as inputs to our report. Analysts submissions are updated throughout the day.
| Analyst | Institution |
|---|---|
| Nathan Crossett | Berenberg |
| Nathan Crossett | BNP Paribas |
| Derek Hewett | BofA Global Research |