EQR vs PLD vs CBRE vs JLL

For growth investors, CBRE Group, Inc.

(CBRE) is the stronger pick with 13. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 2% for Prologis, Inc. (PLD). Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated (JLL) offers the better valuation at 19. 4x trailing P/E (14. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Prologis, Inc. (PLD) a "Buy" — based on 42 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, Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated (JLL) is the cheapest at 19.

4x versus CBRE Group, Inc. at 37. 0x. On forward P/E, Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated is actually cheaper at 14. 1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated wins at 0. 86x versus Equity Residential's 10. 00x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated (JLL) delivered a total return of +69.

2%, compared to +10. 4% for Equity Residential (EQR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CBRE returned +382. 3% versus EQR's +32. 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), Equity Residential (EQR) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

38β versus Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated's 1. 26β — meaning JLL is approximately 234% more volatile than EQR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated (JLL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 44% 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 2. 2% for Prologis, Inc. (PLD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated grew EPS 45. 1% year-over-year, compared to 7. 0% for Equity Residential. Over a 3-year CAGR, PLD leads at 19. 9% 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.

Prologis, Inc.

(PLD) is the more profitable company, earning 45. 5% net margin versus 2. 9% for CBRE Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 45. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PLD leads at 53. 8% versus 3. 2% for CBRE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — JLL leads at 99. 0%, 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, Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated (JLL) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 86x versus Equity Residential's 10. 00x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated (JLL) trades at 14. 1x forward P/E versus 50. 9x for Equity Residential — 36. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CBRE: 26. 1% to $179. 75.

In this comparison, EQR (4.

1% yield), PLD (2. 7% yield) pay a dividend. CBRE, JLL do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Equity Residential (EQR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

38), 4. 1% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (EQR: +32. 0%, JLL: +181. 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: EQR is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; PLD is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; CBRE is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; JLL is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. EQR, PLD pay a dividend while CBRE, JLL 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.