CSGP vs COMP vs HOUS vs RMR

For growth investors, Compass, Inc.

(COMP) is the stronger pick with 23. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -22. 0% for The RMR Group Inc. (RMR). The RMR Group Inc. (RMR) offers the better valuation at 18. 9x trailing P/E (26. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate CoStar Group, Inc. (CSGP) a "Buy" — based on 25 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, The RMR Group Inc.

(RMR) is the cheapest at 18. 9x versus CoStar Group, Inc. at 2102. 4x. On forward P/E, CoStar Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 25. 8x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Anywhere Real Estate Inc.

(HOUS) delivered a total return of +1. 1%, compared to -58. 2% for CoStar Group, Inc. (CSGP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CSGP returned +80. 5% versus COMP's -64. 0%. 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), The RMR Group Inc.

(RMR) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 65β versus Anywhere Real Estate Inc. 's 1. 86β — meaning HOUS is approximately 188% more volatile than RMR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, CoStar Group, Inc. (CSGP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 14% versus 195% for Anywhere Real Estate Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Compass, Inc.

(COMP) is pulling ahead at 23. 7% versus -22. 0% for The RMR Group Inc. (RMR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Compass, Inc. grew EPS 67. 7% year-over-year, compared to -95. 1% for CoStar Group, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CSGP leads at 14. 2% 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.

The RMR Group Inc.

(RMR) is the more profitable company, earning 2. 5% net margin versus -2. 2% for Anywhere Real Estate Inc. — meaning it keeps 2. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: RMR leads at 6. 0% versus -2. 2% for CSGP. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — RMR leads at 76. 9%, 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, CoStar Group, Inc.

(CSGP) trades at 25. 8x forward P/E versus 44. 4x for Compass, Inc. — 18. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for COMP: 96. 8% to $14. 29.

In this comparison, RMR (9.

4% yield), HOUS (0. 2% yield) pay a dividend. CSGP, COMP do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, The RMR Group Inc.

(RMR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 65), 9. 4% yield). Anywhere Real Estate Inc. (HOUS) carries a higher beta of 1. 86 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (RMR: +59. 6%, HOUS: -36. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (CSGP (Real Estate) and COMP (Technology) and HOUS (Real Estate) and RMR (Real Estate)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CSGP is a mid-cap high-growth stock; COMP is a small-cap high-growth stock; HOUS is a small-cap quality compounder stock; RMR is a small-cap income-oriented stock. RMR pays a dividend while CSGP, COMP, HOUS 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.