AEI vs UHT vs HR vs SQFT vs STAG

For growth investors, STAG Industrial, Inc.

(STAG) is the stronger pick with 10. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -6. 9% for Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated (HR). STAG Industrial, Inc. (STAG) offers the better valuation at 26. 7x trailing P/E (38. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate STAG Industrial, Inc. (STAG) a "Buy" — based on 21 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, STAG Industrial, Inc.

(STAG) is the cheapest at 26. 7x versus Universal Health Realty Income Trust at 32. 0x. On forward P/E, Universal Health Realty Income Trust is actually cheaper at 23. 5x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, STAG Industrial, Inc.

(STAG) delivered a total return of +26. 5%, compared to -98. 6% for Alset Inc. (AEI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: STAG returned +149. 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), Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated (HR) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

19β versus Alset Inc. 's 2. 77β — meaning AEI is approximately 1341% more volatile than HR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Alset Inc. (AEI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 3% for Presidio Property Trust, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), STAG Industrial, Inc.

(STAG) is pulling ahead at 10. 1% versus -6. 9% for Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated (HR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Alset Inc. grew EPS 93. 4% year-over-year, compared to -430. 9% for Presidio Property Trust, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, STAG leads at 8. 7% 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.

STAG Industrial, Inc.

(STAG) is the more profitable company, earning 32. 4% net margin versus -135. 4% for Presidio Property Trust, Inc. — meaning it keeps 32. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: STAG leads at 37. 7% versus -19. 5% for AEI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — UHT leads at 94. 4%, 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, Universal Health Realty Income Trust (UHT) trades at 23.

5x forward P/E versus 38. 4x for STAG Industrial, Inc. — 14. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for STAG: 3. 3% to $40. 25.

In this comparison, UHT (7.

3% yield), HR (5. 5% yield), SQFT (5. 0% yield), STAG (3. 9% yield) pay a dividend. AEI does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated (HR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

19), 5. 5% yield). 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 (HR: +40. 1%, 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; UHT is a small-cap income-oriented stock; HR is a small-cap income-oriented stock; SQFT is a small-cap income-oriented stock; STAG is a small-cap income-oriented stock. UHT, HR, SQFT, STAG pay a dividend while AEI does 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.