CURB vs NXRT vs IRT vs EQR vs MAA

For growth investors, Curbline Properties Corp.

(CURB) is the stronger pick with 51. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 2% for NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc. (NXRT). Equity Residential (EQR) offers the better valuation at 22. 6x trailing P/E (50. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Curbline Properties Corp. (CURB) a "Buy" — based on 7 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, Equity Residential (EQR) is the cheapest at 22.

6x versus Curbline Properties Corp. at 74. 5x. On forward P/E, Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. is actually cheaper at 39. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. wins at 3. 38x versus Equity Residential's 9. 94x.

Over the past 5 years, Curbline Properties Corp.

(CURB) delivered a total return of +44. 4%, compared to -23. 0% for NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc. (NXRT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NXRT returned +211. 1% versus EQR's +29. 3%. 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), Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc.

(MAA) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 34β versus NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc. 's 0. 62β — meaning NXRT is approximately 86% more volatile than MAA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Curbline Properties Corp. (CURB) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 26% versus 5% for NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Curbline Properties Corp.

(CURB) is pulling ahead at 51. 3% versus -3. 2% for NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc. (NXRT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Curbline Properties Corp. grew EPS 289. 5% year-over-year, compared to -30. 8% for NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CURB leads at 35. 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.

Equity Residential (EQR) is the more profitable company, earning 36.

1% net margin versus -12. 7% for NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc. — meaning it keeps 36. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: EQR leads at 36. 3% 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.

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, Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. (MAA) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 3. 38x versus Equity Residential's 9. 94x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. (MAA) trades at 39. 0x forward P/E versus 126. 1x for Curbline Properties Corp. — 87. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for IRT: 22. 7% to $20. 08.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc. (NXRT) offers the highest yield at 7. 1%, versus 2. 7% for Curbline Properties Corp. (CURB).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc.

(MAA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 34), 4. 6% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MAA: +71. 9%, NXRT: +211. 1%), 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: CURB is a small-cap high-growth stock; NXRT is a small-cap income-oriented stock; IRT is a small-cap income-oriented stock; EQR is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; MAA is a mid-cap income-oriented stock. 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.