STRS vs GRBK vs DHI vs LEN vs PHM

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). Green Brick Partners, Inc. (GRBK) offers the better valuation at 9. 3x trailing P/E (11. 0x 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, Green Brick Partners, Inc.

(GRBK) is the cheapest at 9. 3x versus Stratus Properties Inc. at 124. 2x. On forward P/E, Green Brick Partners, Inc. is actually cheaper at 11. 0x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Green Brick Partners, Inc. wins at 0. 42x versus Lennar Corporation's 43. 27x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Green Brick Partners, Inc.

(GRBK) delivered a total return of +154. 1%, compared to -11. 1% for Lennar Corporation (LEN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GRBK returned +742. 1% 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 Green Brick Partners, Inc. 's 1. 06β — meaning GRBK is approximately 25% more volatile than DHI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Green Brick Partners, Inc. (GRBK) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 17% 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 -44. 2% for Lennar Corporation. 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.

Green Brick Partners, Inc.

(GRBK) is the more profitable company, earning 14. 9% net margin versus 3. 6% for Stratus Properties Inc. — meaning it keeps 14. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GRBK leads at 19. 5% versus -4. 0% for STRS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GRBK leads at 30. 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.

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, Green Brick Partners, Inc. (GRBK) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 42x versus Lennar Corporation's 43. 27x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Green Brick Partners, Inc. (GRBK) trades at 11. 0x forward P/E versus 14. 2x for Lennar Corporation — 3. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PHM: 20. 8% to $141. 22.

In this comparison, LEN (2.

3% yield), DHI (1. 1% yield), PHM (0. 8% yield), STRS (0. 2% yield) pay a dividend. GRBK does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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 GRBK (Consumer Cyclical) and DHI (Consumer Cyclical) and LEN (Consumer Cyclical) and PHM (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; GRBK is a small-cap deep-value stock; DHI is a mid-cap deep-value stock; LEN is a mid-cap deep-value stock; PHM is a mid-cap deep-value stock. DHI, LEN, PHM pay a dividend while STRS, GRBK 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.