ABR vs CBRE vs JLL vs BXMT vs KREF

For growth investors, CBRE Group, Inc.

(CBRE) is the stronger pick with 13. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -22. 7% for KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. (KREF). Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. (ABR) offers the better valuation at 6. 9x trailing P/E (11. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. (ABR) a "Buy" — based on 12 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.

On trailing P/E, Arbor Realty Trust, Inc.

(ABR) is the cheapest at 6. 9x versus CBRE Group, Inc. at 38. 1x. On forward P/E, Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. is actually cheaper at 11. 2x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated wins at 0. 89x versus CBRE Group, Inc. 's 1. 65x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, CBRE Group, Inc.

(CBRE) delivered a total return of +68. 8%, compared to -35. 6% for KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. (KREF). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CBRE returned +405. 3% versus KREF's -9. 1%. 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), Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc.

(BXMT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 74β versus Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated's 1. 26β — meaning JLL is approximately 69% more volatile than BXMT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated (JLL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 44% versus 5% for Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), CBRE Group, Inc.

(CBRE) is pulling ahead at 13. 4% versus -22. 7% for KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. (KREF). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. grew EPS 154. 7% year-over-year, compared to -652. 6% for KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CBRE leads at 9. 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.

Arbor Realty Trust, Inc.

(ABR) is the more profitable company, earning 42. 2% net margin versus -10. 3% for KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. — meaning it keeps 42. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BXMT leads at 71. 6% versus 3. 2% for CBRE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — JLL leads at 99. 0%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated (JLL) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 89x versus CBRE Group, Inc. 's 1. 65x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. (ABR) trades at 11. 2x forward P/E versus 19. 2x for CBRE Group, Inc. — 7. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CBRE: 22. 5% to $179. 75.

In this comparison, ABR (23.

5% yield), KREF (15. 2% yield), BXMT (9. 9% yield) pay a dividend. CBRE, JLL do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc.

(BXMT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 74), 9. 9% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (BXMT: +50. 5%, JLL: +191. 8%), 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.

In terms of investment character: ABR is a small-cap deep-value stock; CBRE is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; JLL is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; BXMT is a small-cap income-oriented stock; KREF is a small-cap income-oriented stock. ABR, BXMT, KREF pay a dividend while CBRE, JLL do not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.