HIW
Highwoods Properties, Inc.
REIT - Office
Market Cap$2.85B
5Y Perf.-32.5%
Compare Stocks
2 / 10Try these comparisons:
Stock Comparison
HIW vs WELL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
WELL
Welltower Inc.
REIT - Healthcare Facilities
Market Cap$151.66B
5Y Perf.+327.2%
HIW vs WELL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | HIW | WELL |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | REIT - Office | REIT - Healthcare Facilities |
| Market Cap | $2.85B | $151.66B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $820M | $11.63B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $93M | $1.43B |
| Gross Margin | 67.4% | 39.1% |
| Operating Margin | 25.6% | 4.4% |
| Forward P/E | 40.0x | 79.7x |
| Total Debt | $3.64B | $21.38B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $27M | $5.03B |
HIW vs WELL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
HIW
WELL
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highwoods Propertie… (HIW) | 100 | 67.5 | -32.5% |
| Welltower Inc. (WELL) | 100 | 427.2 | +327.2% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: HIW vs WELL
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: WELL leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Highwoods Properties, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
HIW
Highwoods Properties, Inc.
The Real Estate Income Play
HIW is the clearest fit if your priority is defensive.
- Beta 0.76, yield 7.6%, current ratio 42.45x
- Lower P/E (40.0x vs 79.7x)
- 7.6% yield, vs WELL's 1.3%
Best for: defensive
WELL
Welltower Inc.
The Real Estate Income Play
WELL carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 0.13, yield 1.3%
- Rev growth 35.8%, EPS growth -11.5%, 3Y rev CAGR 22.7%
- 233.9% 10Y total return vs HIW's -5.8%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | WELL | 35.8% FFO/revenue growth vs HIW's -2.4% |
| Value | HIW | Lower P/E (40.0x vs 79.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | WELL | 12.3% margin vs HIW's 11.4% |
| Stability / Safety | WELL | Beta 0.13 vs HIW's 0.76, lower leverage |
| Dividends | HIW | 7.6% yield, vs WELL's 1.3% |
| Momentum (1Y) | WELL | +45.8% vs HIW's -4.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | WELL | 2.3% ROA vs HIW's 1.5%, ROIC 0.5% vs 2.7% |
HIW vs WELL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
HIW vs WELL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLHIWLAGGINGWELL
WELLWelltower Inc.
2leads
HIWHighwoods Properties,…
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs WELLMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
HIW6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
HIW6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
WELL6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
WELL2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — HIW and WELL each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
WELL is the larger business by revenue, generating $11.6B annually — 14.2x HIW's $820M. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 12.3% (WELL) to 11.4% (HIW). On growth, WELL holds the edge at +40.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | HIWHighwoods Propert… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $820M | $11.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $511M | $2.8B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $93M | $1.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $318M | $2.5B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +67.4% | +39.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +25.6% | +4.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +11.4% | +12.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +38.7% | +21.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +6.8% | +40.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -67.8% | +22.5% |
Evenly matched — HIW and WELL each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
HIW leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 17.8x trailing earnings, HIW trades at a 89% valuation discount to WELL's 155.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, HIW's 12.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than WELL's 67.4x.
| Metric | HIWHighwoods Propert… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.8B | $151.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $6.5B | $168.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 17.81x | 155.73x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 39.98x | 79.69x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 12.80x | 67.37x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.53x | 14.22x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.17x | 3.40x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 17.09x | 53.25x |
HIW leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
HIW leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
HIW delivers a 3.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $4 in annual profit, vs $3 for WELL. WELL carries lower financial leverage with a 0.49x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to HIW's 1.49x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), WELL scores 7/9 vs HIW's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | HIWHighwoods Propert… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +3.8% | +3.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.5% | +2.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +2.7% | +0.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +3.5% | +0.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.49x | 0.49x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3.6B | $16.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $27M | $5.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $3.6B | $21.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.07x | 0.26x |
HIW leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
WELL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in WELL five years ago would be worth $31,193 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $8,050 for HIW. Over the past 12 months, WELL leads with a +45.8% total return vs HIW's -4.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WELL at 43.3% vs HIW's 13.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | HIWHighwoods Propert… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +1.7% | +16.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -4.7% | +45.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +45.5% | +194.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -19.5% | +211.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -5.8% | +233.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +13.3% | +43.3% |
WELL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
WELL leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
WELL is the less volatile stock with a 0.13 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than HIW's 0.76 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. WELL currently trades 98.6% from its 52-week high vs HIW's 78.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | HIWHighwoods Propert… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.76x | 0.13x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $32.76 | $219.59 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $20.45 | $142.65 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +78.8% | +98.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 65.5 | 57.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.3M | 2.6M |
WELL leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — HIW and WELL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates HIW as "Hold" and WELL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 4.6% upside for WELL (target: $227) vs 4.6% for HIW (target: $27). For income investors, HIW offers the higher dividend yield at 7.59% vs WELL's 1.28%.
| Metric | HIWHighwoods Propert… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $27.00 | $226.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 22 | 34 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +7.6% | +1.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.96 | $2.76 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.1% | 0.0% |
Evenly matched — HIW and WELL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
HIW leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). WELL leads in 2 (Total Returns, Risk & Volatility). 2 tied.
Best OverallHighwoods Properties, Inc. (HIW)Leads 2 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
HIW vs WELL: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is HIW or WELL a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Welltower Inc.
(WELL) is the stronger pick with 35. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 4% for Highwoods Properties, Inc. (HIW). Highwoods Properties, Inc. (HIW) offers the better valuation at 17. 8x trailing P/E (40. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Welltower Inc. (WELL) a "Buy" — based on 34 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.
02Which has the better valuation — HIW or WELL?
On trailing P/E, Highwoods Properties, Inc.
(HIW) is the cheapest at 17. 8x versus Welltower Inc. at 155. 7x. On forward P/E, Highwoods Properties, Inc. is actually cheaper at 40. 0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — HIW or WELL?
Over the past 5 years, Welltower Inc.
(WELL) delivered a total return of +211. 9%, compared to -19. 5% for Highwoods Properties, Inc. (HIW). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WELL returned +233. 9% versus HIW's -5. 8%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — HIW or WELL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Welltower Inc.
(WELL) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 13β versus Highwoods Properties, Inc. 's 0. 76β — meaning HIW is approximately 468% more volatile than WELL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Welltower Inc. (WELL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 49% versus 149% for Highwoods Properties, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — HIW or WELL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Welltower Inc.
(WELL) is pulling ahead at 35. 8% 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 -11. 5% for Welltower Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, WELL leads at 22. 7% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — HIW or WELL?
Highwoods Properties, Inc.
(HIW) is the more profitable company, earning 19. 8% net margin versus 8. 8% for Welltower 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. 3% for WELL. 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.
07Is HIW or WELL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Highwoods Properties, Inc.
(HIW) trades at 40. 0x forward P/E versus 79. 7x for Welltower Inc. — 39. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WELL: 4. 6% to $226. 50.
08Which pays a better dividend — HIW or WELL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Highwoods Properties, Inc. (HIW) offers the highest yield at 7. 6%, versus 1. 3% for Welltower Inc. (WELL).
09Is HIW or WELL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Welltower Inc.
(WELL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 13), 1. 3% yield, +233. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WELL: +233. 9%, HIW: -5. 8%), 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.
10What are the main differences between HIW and WELL?
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; WELL is a mid-cap high-growth stock. 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that outperform both.
Revenue Growth>
%
(HIW: 6.8% · WELL: 40.3%)Net Margin>
%
(HIW: 11.4% · WELL: 12.3%)P/E Ratio<
x
(HIW: 17.8x · WELL: 155.7x)You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.