MAA vs PLD vs EXR vs CBRE

For growth investors, CBRE Group, Inc.

(CBRE) is the stronger pick with 13. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 0. 8% for Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. (MAA). Extra Space Storage Inc. (EXR) offers the better valuation at 31. 2x trailing P/E (30. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. (MAA) a "Buy" — based on 37 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, Extra Space Storage Inc.

(EXR) is the cheapest at 31. 2x 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. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: CBRE Group, Inc. wins at 1. 65x versus Extra Space Storage Inc. 's 7. 09x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, CBRE Group, Inc.

(CBRE) delivered a total return of +68. 8%, compared to +0. 4% for Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. (MAA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CBRE returned +405. 3% versus MAA's +71. 9%. 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), Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc.

(MAA) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 34β versus CBRE Group, Inc. 's 1. 12β — meaning CBRE is approximately 236% more volatile than MAA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Prologis, Inc. (PLD) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 54% versus 105% for Extra Space Storage 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 0. 8% for Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. (MAA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: CBRE Group, Inc. grew EPS 22. 6% year-over-year, compared to -15. 8% for Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, PLD leads at 19. 9% 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.

Prologis, Inc.

(PLD) is the more profitable company, earning 45. 5% net margin versus 2. 9% for CBRE Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 45. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PLD leads at 53. 8% versus 3. 2% for CBRE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PLD leads at 74. 9%, 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, CBRE Group, Inc. (CBRE) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 65x versus Extra Space Storage Inc. 's 7. 09x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, CBRE Group, Inc. (CBRE) trades at 19. 2x forward P/E versus 41. 4x for Prologis, Inc. — 22. 2x 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, MAA (4.

6% yield), EXR (4. 5% yield), PLD (2. 6% yield) pay a dividend. CBRE does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc.

(MAA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 34), 4. 6% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MAA: +71. 9%, 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: MAA is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; PLD is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; EXR is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; CBRE is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. MAA, PLD, EXR pay 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.