STRS vs DHI

For growth investors, Stratus Properties Inc.

(STRS) is the stronger pick with 213. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -6. 9% for D. R. Horton, Inc. (DHI). D. R. Horton, Inc. (DHI) offers the better valuation at 12. 6x trailing P/E (13. 7x 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, D.

R. Horton, Inc. (DHI) is the cheapest at 12. 6x versus Stratus Properties Inc. at 124. 2x.

Over the past 5 years, D.

R. Horton, Inc. (DHI) delivered a total return of +46. 7%, compared to +18. 1% for Stratus Properties Inc. (STRS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: DHI returned +424. 3% versus STRS's +49. 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), D.

R. Horton, Inc. (DHI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 85β versus Stratus Properties Inc. 's 0. 85β — meaning STRS is approximately 0% more volatile than DHI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, D. R. Horton, Inc. (DHI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 24% versus 71% for Stratus Properties 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 -6. 9% for D. R. Horton, Inc. (DHI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Stratus Properties Inc. grew EPS 113. 0% year-over-year, compared to -19. 3% for D. R. Horton, 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.

D.

R. Horton, Inc. (DHI) is the more profitable company, earning 10. 5% net margin versus 3. 6% for Stratus Properties Inc. — meaning it keeps 10. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DHI leads at 12. 9% versus -4. 0% for STRS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DHI leads at 23. 7%, 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.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

D. R. Horton, Inc. (DHI) offers the highest yield at 1. 1%, versus 0. 2% for Stratus Properties Inc. (STRS).

For long-horizon retirement investors, D.

R. Horton, Inc. (DHI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 85), 1. 1% yield, +424. 3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (DHI: +424. 3%, 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (STRS (Real Estate) and DHI (Consumer Cyclical)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: STRS is a small-cap high-growth stock; DHI is a mid-cap deep-value stock. DHI pays 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.