ALEX vs NXRT

For growth investors, NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc.

(NXRT) is the stronger pick with -3. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -12. 7% for Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. (ALEX). Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. (ALEX) offers the better valuation at 23. 4x trailing P/E (31. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. (ALEX) a "Buy" — based on 8 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

Over the past 5 years, Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.

(ALEX) delivered a total return of +35. 5%, compared to -21. 7% for NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc. (NXRT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NXRT returned +211. 0% versus ALEX's +73. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.

(ALEX) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 27β versus NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc. 's 0. 62β — meaning NXRT is approximately 133% more volatile than ALEX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. (ALEX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 51% versus 5% for NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc.

(NXRT) is pulling ahead at -3. 2% versus -12. 7% for Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. (ALEX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. grew EPS 7. 2% year-over-year, compared to -30. 8% for NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NXRT leads at -1. 6% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.

(ALEX) is the more profitable company, earning 31. 3% net margin versus -12. 7% for NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc. — meaning it keeps 31. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ALEX leads at 32. 9% versus 11. 1% for NXRT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NXRT leads at 84. 3%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ALEX: 0.

5% to $20. 95.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc. (NXRT) offers the highest yield at 7. 1%, versus 4. 3% for Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. (ALEX).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.

(ALEX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 27), 4. 3% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ALEX: +73. 4%, NXRT: +211. 0%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Real Estate sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.