DOUG vs CBRE

For growth investors, CBRE Group, Inc.

(CBRE) is the stronger pick with 13. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 8% for Douglas Elliman Inc. (DOUG). Douglas Elliman Inc. (DOUG) offers the better valuation at 11. 7x trailing P/E (19. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Douglas Elliman Inc. (DOUG) a "Buy" — based on 1 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, Douglas Elliman Inc.

(DOUG) is the cheapest at 11. 7x versus CBRE Group, Inc. at 37. 0x. On forward P/E, CBRE Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 18. 6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, CBRE Group, Inc.

(CBRE) delivered a total return of +67. 8%, compared to -80. 7% for Douglas Elliman Inc. (DOUG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CBRE returned +382. 3% versus DOUG's -80. 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), CBRE Group, Inc.

(CBRE) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 12β versus Douglas Elliman Inc. 's 1. 82β — meaning DOUG is approximately 62% more volatile than CBRE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Douglas Elliman Inc. (DOUG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 56% versus 104% for CBRE Group, 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 3. 8% for Douglas Elliman Inc. (DOUG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Douglas Elliman Inc. grew EPS 118. 7% year-over-year, compared to 22. 6% for CBRE Group, 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.

CBRE Group, Inc.

(CBRE) is the more profitable company, earning 2. 9% net margin versus 1. 5% for Douglas Elliman Inc. — meaning it keeps 2. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CBRE leads at 3. 2% versus -5. 9% for DOUG. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DOUG leads at 16. 8%, 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 18. 6x forward P/E versus 19. 9x for Douglas Elliman Inc. — 1. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, CBRE Group, Inc.

(CBRE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 12), +382. 3% 10Y return). Douglas Elliman Inc. (DOUG) carries a higher beta of 1. 82 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CBRE: +382. 3%, DOUG: -80. 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: DOUG is a small-cap deep-value stock; CBRE is a mid-cap quality compounder 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.