DEI vs HIW

For growth investors, Douglas Emmett, Inc.

(DEI) is the stronger pick with 1. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 4% for Highwoods Properties, Inc. (HIW). Highwoods Properties, Inc. (HIW) offers the better valuation at 17. 8x trailing P/E (40. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Douglas Emmett, Inc. (DEI) a "Hold" — based on 33 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, Highwoods Properties, Inc.

(HIW) is the cheapest at 17. 8x versus Douglas Emmett, Inc. at 125. 2x.

Over the past 5 years, Highwoods Properties, Inc.

(HIW) delivered a total return of -19. 5%, compared to -48. 3% for Douglas Emmett, Inc. (DEI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HIW returned -5. 8% versus DEI's -35. 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), Highwoods Properties, Inc.

(HIW) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 76β versus Douglas Emmett, Inc. 's 0. 92β — meaning DEI is approximately 21% more volatile than HIW relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Highwoods Properties, Inc. (HIW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 149% versus 160% for Douglas Emmett, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Douglas Emmett, Inc.

(DEI) is pulling ahead at 1. 8% versus -2. 4% for Highwoods Properties, Inc. (HIW). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Highwoods Properties, Inc. grew EPS 54. 3% year-over-year, compared to -25. 2% for Douglas Emmett, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, DEI leads at 0. 3% 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.

Highwoods Properties, Inc.

(HIW) is the more profitable company, earning 19. 8% net margin versus 1. 6% for Douglas Emmett, Inc. — meaning it keeps 19. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HIW leads at 26. 0% versus 19. 0% for DEI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HIW leads at 67. 6%, 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HIW: 4.

6% to $27. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Highwoods Properties, Inc. (HIW) offers the highest yield at 7. 6%, versus 6. 2% for Douglas Emmett, Inc. (DEI).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Highwoods Properties, Inc.

(HIW) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 76), 7. 6% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HIW: -5. 8%, DEI: -35. 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: DEI is a small-cap income-oriented stock; HIW is a small-cap deep-value 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.