HIW vs CBRE

For growth investors, CBRE Group, Inc.

(CBRE) is the stronger pick with 13. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 4% for Highwoods Properties, Inc. (HIW). Highwoods Properties, Inc. (HIW) offers the better valuation at 17. 6x trailing P/E (39. 6x 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, Highwoods Properties, Inc.

(HIW) is the cheapest at 17. 6x versus CBRE Group, Inc. at 38. 1x. On forward P/E, CBRE Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 19. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, CBRE Group, Inc.

(CBRE) delivered a total return of +68. 8%, compared to -20. 1% for Highwoods Properties, Inc. (HIW). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CBRE returned +405. 3% versus HIW's -6. 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), Highwoods Properties, Inc.

(HIW) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 76β versus CBRE Group, Inc. 's 1. 12β — meaning CBRE is approximately 49% more volatile than HIW relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, CBRE Group, Inc. (CBRE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 104% versus 149% for Highwoods Properties, 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. 4% for Highwoods Properties, Inc. (HIW). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Highwoods Properties, Inc. grew EPS 54. 3% 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.

Highwoods Properties, Inc.

(HIW) is the more profitable company, earning 19. 8% net margin versus 2. 9% for CBRE Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 19. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HIW leads at 26. 0% versus 3. 2% for CBRE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HIW leads at 67. 6%, 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 19. 2x forward P/E versus 39. 6x for Highwoods Properties, Inc. — 20. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CBRE: 22. 5% to $179. 75.

In this comparison, HIW (7.

7% yield) pays a dividend. CBRE does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Highwoods Properties, Inc.

(HIW) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 76), 7. 7% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HIW: -6. 8%, CBRE: +405. 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.

In terms of investment character: HIW is a small-cap deep-value stock; CBRE is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. HIW 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.