KW vs CWK

For growth investors, Cushman & Wakefield plc (CWK) is the stronger pick with 8.

9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 5% for Kennedy-Wilson Holdings, Inc. (KW). Cushman & Wakefield plc (CWK) offers the better valuation at 38. 2x trailing P/E (10. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Kennedy-Wilson Holdings, Inc. (KW) a "Buy" — based on 7 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.

Over the past 5 years, Cushman & Wakefield plc (CWK) delivered a total return of -17.

1%, compared to -28. 4% for Kennedy-Wilson Holdings, Inc. (KW). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KW returned -8. 0% versus CWK's -18. 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), Kennedy-Wilson Holdings, Inc.

(KW) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 73β versus Cushman & Wakefield plc's 1. 90β — meaning CWK is approximately 162% more volatile than KW relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Cushman & Wakefield plc (CWK) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 166% versus 3% for Kennedy-Wilson Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Cushman & Wakefield plc (CWK) is pulling ahead at 8.

9% versus -5. 5% for Kennedy-Wilson Holdings, Inc. (KW). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Kennedy-Wilson Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 77. 2% year-over-year, compared to -32. 1% for Cushman & Wakefield plc. Over a 3-year CAGR, KW leads at 5. 4% 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.

Cushman & Wakefield plc (CWK) is the more profitable company, earning 0.

9% net margin versus -6. 2% for Kennedy-Wilson Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 0. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: KW leads at 12. 9% versus 4. 5% for CWK. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — KW leads at 70. 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.

In this comparison, KW (6.

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

For long-horizon retirement investors, Kennedy-Wilson Holdings, Inc.

(KW) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 73), 6. 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 (KW: -8. 0%, CWK: -18. 4%), 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: KW is a small-cap income-oriented stock; CWK is a small-cap quality compounder stock. KW pays a dividend while CWK 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.