STRS vs ALEX vs UE vs NXRT

For growth investors, Stratus Properties Inc.

(STRS) is the stronger pick with 213. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -12. 7% for Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. (ALEX). Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. (ALEX) offers the better valuation at 23. 4x trailing P/E (31. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Stratus Properties Inc. (STRS) a "Buy" — based on 1 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, Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.

(ALEX) is the cheapest at 23. 4x versus Stratus Properties Inc. at 124. 2x. On forward P/E, Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. is actually cheaper at 31. 1x.

Over the past 5 years, Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.

(ALEX) delivered a total return of +35. 4%, compared to -23. 0% for NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc. (NXRT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NXRT returned +211. 1% versus UE's +6. 1%. 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), Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.

(ALEX) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 27β versus Stratus Properties Inc. 's 0. 85β — meaning STRS is approximately 216% more volatile than ALEX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. (ALEX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 51% versus 5% for NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Stratus Properties Inc.

(STRS) is pulling ahead at 213. 7% versus -12. 7% for Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. (ALEX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Stratus Properties Inc. grew EPS 113. 0% year-over-year, compared to -30. 8% for NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, STRS leads at 24. 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.

Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.

(ALEX) is the more profitable company, earning 31. 3% net margin versus -12. 7% for NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc. — meaning it keeps 31. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ALEX leads at 32. 9% versus -4. 0% for STRS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NXRT leads at 84. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.

(ALEX) trades at 31. 1x forward P/E versus 47. 5x for Urban Edge Properties — 16. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ALEX: 0. 5% to $20. 95.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc. (NXRT) offers the highest yield at 7. 1%, versus 0. 2% for Stratus Properties Inc. (STRS).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.

(ALEX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 27), 4. 3% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ALEX: +75. 5%, STRS: +49. 0%), 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: STRS is a small-cap high-growth stock; ALEX is a small-cap income-oriented stock; UE is a small-cap income-oriented stock; NXRT is a small-cap income-oriented stock. ALEX, UE, NXRT pay a dividend while STRS 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.