AEI vs NXRT vs IRT vs SQFT vs CBRE

For growth investors, CBRE Group, Inc.

(CBRE) is the stronger pick with 13. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -4. 4% for Alset Inc. (AEI). CBRE Group, Inc. (CBRE) offers the better valuation at 38. 1x trailing P/E (19. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Independence Realty Trust, Inc. (IRT) a "Buy" — based on 27 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, CBRE Group, Inc.

(CBRE) is the cheapest at 38. 1x versus Independence Realty Trust, Inc. at 68. 2x. On forward P/E, CBRE Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 19. 1x.

Over the past 5 years, CBRE Group, Inc.

(CBRE) delivered a total return of +68. 8%, compared to -99. 0% for Alset Inc. (AEI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CBRE returned +404. 2% versus AEI's -98. 7%. 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), Independence Realty Trust, Inc.

(IRT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 46β versus Alset Inc. 's 2. 77β — meaning AEI is approximately 507% more volatile than IRT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Alset Inc. (AEI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 5% for NexPoint Residential 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 -4. 4% for Alset Inc. (AEI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Alset Inc. grew EPS 93. 4% year-over-year, compared to -30. 8% for NexPoint Residential 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.

Independence Realty Trust, Inc.

(IRT) is the more profitable company, earning 8. 6% net margin versus -135. 4% for Presidio Property Trust, Inc. — meaning it keeps 8. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: IRT leads at 18. 4% versus -19. 5% for AEI. 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.

On forward earnings alone, CBRE Group, Inc.

(CBRE) trades at 19. 1x forward P/E versus 99. 9x for Independence Realty Trust, Inc. — 80. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CBRE: 23. 0% to $180. 50.

In this comparison, NXRT (7.

1% yield), SQFT (5. 1% yield), IRT (4. 0% yield) pay a dividend. AEI, CBRE do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Independence Realty Trust, Inc.

(IRT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 46), 4. 0% yield, +192. 5% 10Y return). Alset Inc. (AEI) carries a higher beta of 2. 77 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (IRT: +192. 5%, AEI: -98. 7%), 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: AEI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; NXRT is a small-cap income-oriented stock; IRT is a small-cap income-oriented stock; SQFT is a small-cap income-oriented stock; CBRE is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. NXRT, IRT, SQFT pay a dividend while AEI, CBRE 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.