HIW vs CBRE vs JLL vs CWK

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, Cushman & Wakefield plc is actually cheaper at 9. 6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. 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. 65x — 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 +68. 8%, compared to -26. 0% for Cushman & Wakefield plc (CWK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CBRE returned +405. 3% versus CWK's -22. 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), Highwoods Properties, Inc.

(HIW) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 76β versus Cushman & Wakefield plc's 1. 90β — meaning CWK is approximately 152% more volatile than HIW relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated (JLL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 44% versus 166% for Cushman & Wakefield plc — 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 -32. 1% for Cushman & Wakefield plc. 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 0. 9% for Cushman & Wakefield plc — 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 — 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. 65x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Cushman & Wakefield plc (CWK) trades at 9. 6x forward P/E versus 39. 6x for Highwoods Properties, Inc. — 30. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CWK: 35. 8% to $18. 80.

In this comparison, HIW (7.

7% yield) pays a dividend. CBRE, JLL, CWK do 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). Cushman & Wakefield plc (CWK) carries a higher beta of 1. 90 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (HIW: -6. 8%, CWK: -22. 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; JLL is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; CWK is a small-cap quality compounder stock. HIW pays a dividend while CBRE, JLL, CWK 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.