FSP vs VRE vs NXRT vs CBRE vs JLL

For growth investors, CBRE Group, Inc.

(CBRE) is the stronger pick with 13. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -10. 8% for Franklin Street Properties Corp. (FSP). Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated (JLL) offers the better valuation at 20. 1x trailing P/E (14. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate CBRE Group, Inc. (CBRE) a "Buy" — based on 20 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 20.

1x versus CBRE Group, Inc. at 38. 0x. On forward P/E, Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated is actually cheaper at 14. 5x. 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. 89x versus CBRE Group, Inc. 's 1. 64x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, CBRE Group, Inc.

(CBRE) delivered a total return of +69. 0%, compared to -73. 8% for Franklin Street Properties Corp. (FSP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CBRE returned +404. 2% versus FSP's -65. 8%. 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), Veris Residential, Inc.

(VRE) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 20β versus Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated's 1. 26β — meaning JLL is approximately 542% more volatile than VRE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Franklin Street Properties Corp. (FSP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 41% versus 5% for NexPoint Residential Trust, 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 -10. 8% for Franklin Street Properties Corp. (FSP). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Veris Residential, Inc. grew EPS 420. 0% year-over-year, compared to -30. 8% for NexPoint Residential Trust, 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.

Veris Residential, Inc.

(VRE) is the more profitable company, earning 26. 1% net margin versus -42. 0% for Franklin Street Properties Corp. — meaning it keeps 26. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: VRE leads at 17. 1% versus -7. 6% for FSP. 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. 89x versus CBRE Group, Inc. 's 1. 64x. 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. 5x forward P/E versus 19. 1x for CBRE Group, Inc. — 4. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CBRE: 23. 3% to $180. 50.

In this comparison, NXRT (7.

0% yield), VRE (1. 7% yield) pay a dividend. FSP, CBRE, JLL do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Veris Residential, Inc.

(VRE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 20), 1. 7% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (VRE: -12. 8%, JLL: +193. 4%), 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: FSP is a small-cap quality compounder stock; VRE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; NXRT is a small-cap income-oriented stock; CBRE is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; JLL is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. VRE, NXRT pay a dividend while FSP, 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.