RMAX vs HOUS vs EXPI vs DOUG

For growth investors, eXp World Holdings, Inc.

(EXPI) is the stronger pick with 4. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 2% for RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. (RMAX). Douglas Elliman Inc. (DOUG) offers the better valuation at 12. 2x trailing P/E (20. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate eXp World Holdings, Inc. (EXPI) a "Buy" — based on 5 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, Douglas Elliman Inc.

(DOUG) is the cheapest at 12. 2x versus RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. at 27. 6x. On forward P/E, RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 8. 6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Anywhere Real Estate Inc.

(HOUS) delivered a total return of -1. 7%, compared to -80. 0% for Douglas Elliman Inc. (DOUG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: EXPI returned +703. 2% versus DOUG's -80. 0%. 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), RE/MAX Holdings, Inc.

(RMAX) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 39β versus Anywhere Real Estate Inc. 's 1. 86β — meaning HOUS is approximately 34% more volatile than RMAX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Douglas Elliman Inc. (DOUG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 56% versus 195% for Anywhere Real Estate Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), eXp World Holdings, Inc.

(EXPI) is pulling ahead at 4. 5% versus -5. 2% for RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. (RMAX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Douglas Elliman Inc. grew EPS 118. 7% year-over-year, compared to -30. 7% for Anywhere Real Estate Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, EXPI leads at 1. 3% 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.

RE/MAX Holdings, Inc.

(RMAX) is the more profitable company, earning 2. 8% net margin versus -2. 2% for Anywhere Real Estate Inc. — meaning it keeps 2. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: RMAX leads at 15. 6% versus -5. 9% for DOUG. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — RMAX leads at 57. 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, RE/MAX Holdings, Inc.

(RMAX) trades at 8. 6x forward P/E versus 96. 3x for eXp World Holdings, Inc. — 87. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for EXPI: 63. 2% to $11. 00.

In this comparison, EXPI (2.

9% yield), RMAX (0. 2% yield), HOUS (0. 2% yield) pay a dividend. DOUG does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, eXp World Holdings, Inc.

(EXPI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (2. 9% yield, +703. 2% 10Y return). Anywhere Real Estate Inc. (HOUS) carries a higher beta of 1. 86 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (EXPI: +703. 2%, HOUS: -33. 9%), 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: RMAX is a small-cap quality compounder stock; HOUS is a small-cap quality compounder stock; EXPI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; DOUG is a small-cap deep-value stock. EXPI pays a dividend while RMAX, HOUS, DOUG 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.