FTHM vs EXPI vs HOUS vs RKT vs DOUG

For growth investors, Rocket Companies, Inc.

(RKT) is the stronger pick with 34. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 9% for Fathom Holdings Inc. (FTHM). 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 eXp World Holdings, Inc. (EXPI) a "Buy" — based on 5 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 Rocket Companies, Inc. at 67. 1x. On forward P/E, Rocket Companies, Inc. is actually cheaper at 19. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Anywhere Real Estate Inc.

(HOUS) delivered a total return of +1. 1%, compared to -97. 4% for Fathom Holdings Inc. (FTHM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: EXPI returned +662. 8% versus FTHM's -91. 3%. 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), eXp World Holdings, Inc.

(EXPI) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 57β versus Fathom Holdings Inc. 's 2. 42β — meaning FTHM is approximately 54% more volatile than EXPI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Fathom Holdings Inc. (FTHM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 42% versus 195% for Anywhere Real Estate Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Rocket Companies, Inc.

(RKT) is pulling ahead at 34. 8% versus -2. 9% for Fathom Holdings Inc. (FTHM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Douglas Elliman Inc. grew EPS 118. 7% year-over-year, compared to -30. 7% for Anywhere Real Estate Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, EXPI leads at 1. 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.

Douglas Elliman Inc.

(DOUG) is the more profitable company, earning 1. 5% net margin versus -6. 4% for Fathom Holdings Inc. — meaning it keeps 1. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: RKT leads at 12. 4% versus -7. 0% for FTHM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — RKT leads at 91. 3%, 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, Rocket Companies, Inc.

(RKT) trades at 19. 2x forward P/E versus 89. 7x for eXp World Holdings, Inc. — 70. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for EXPI: 75. 2% to $11. 00.

In this comparison, EXPI (3.

1% yield), HOUS (0. 2% yield) pay a dividend. FTHM, RKT, DOUG do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, eXp World Holdings, Inc.

(EXPI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (3. 1% yield, +662. 8% 10Y return). Fathom Holdings Inc. (FTHM) carries a higher beta of 2. 42 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (EXPI: +662. 8%, FTHM: -91. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (FTHM (Real Estate) and EXPI (Real Estate) and HOUS (Real Estate) and RKT (Financial Services) and DOUG (Real Estate)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: FTHM is a small-cap quality compounder stock; EXPI is a small-cap income-oriented stock; HOUS is a small-cap quality compounder stock; RKT is a small-cap high-growth stock; DOUG is a small-cap deep-value stock. EXPI pays a dividend while FTHM, HOUS, RKT, DOUG 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.