FSV vs CBRE

For growth investors, CBRE Group, Inc.

(CBRE) is the stronger pick with 13. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 8% for FirstService Corporation (FSV). CBRE Group, Inc. (CBRE) offers the better valuation at 37. 0x trailing P/E (18. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate FirstService Corporation (FSV) a "Buy" — based on 9 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, CBRE Group, Inc.

(CBRE) is the cheapest at 37. 0x versus FirstService Corporation at 39. 8x. On forward P/E, CBRE Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 18. 6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: CBRE Group, Inc. wins at 1. 60x versus FirstService Corporation's 2. 19x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, CBRE Group, Inc.

(CBRE) delivered a total return of +67. 8%, compared to -20. 0% for FirstService Corporation (FSV). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CBRE returned +382. 3% versus FSV's +196. 4%. 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), FirstService Corporation (FSV) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

64β versus CBRE Group, Inc. 's 1. 12β — meaning CBRE is approximately 77% more volatile than FSV relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, FirstService Corporation (FSV) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 87% 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 5. 8% for FirstService Corporation (FSV). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: CBRE Group, Inc. grew EPS 22. 6% year-over-year, compared to 6. 4% for FirstService Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, FSV leads at 13. 8% 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 2. 6% for FirstService Corporation — meaning it keeps 2. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FSV leads at 6. 1% versus 3. 2% for CBRE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FSV leads at 31. 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.

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, CBRE Group, Inc. (CBRE) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 60x versus FirstService Corporation's 2. 19x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, CBRE Group, Inc. (CBRE) trades at 18. 6x forward P/E versus 20. 5x for FirstService Corporation — 1. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FSV: 61. 5% to $203. 00.

In this comparison, FSV (0.

8% yield) pays a dividend. CBRE does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

64), 0. 8% yield, +196. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (FSV: +196. 4%, CBRE: +382. 3%), 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.

FSV pays a dividend while CBRE does 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.