STRS vs NXRT vs UDR vs EQR vs IRT

For growth investors, Stratus Properties Inc.

(STRS) is the stronger pick with 213. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 2% for NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc. (NXRT). Equity Residential (EQR) offers the better valuation at 22. 5x trailing P/E (47. 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, Equity Residential (EQR) is the cheapest at 22.

5x versus Stratus Properties Inc. at 124. 3x. On forward P/E, Equity Residential is actually cheaper at 47. 7x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: UDR, Inc. wins at 1. 50x versus Equity Residential's 9. 36x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Stratus Properties Inc.

(STRS) delivered a total return of +20. 6%, compared to -23. 0% for NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc. (NXRT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NXRT returned +212. 1% versus EQR's +28. 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), Equity Residential (EQR) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

37β versus Stratus Properties Inc. 's 0. 88β — meaning STRS is approximately 140% more volatile than EQR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Independence Realty Trust, Inc. (IRT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 64% 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 -3. 2% for NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc. (NXRT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: UDR, Inc. grew EPS 334. 6% 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.

Equity Residential (EQR) is the more profitable company, earning 36.

1% net margin versus -12. 7% for NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc. — meaning it keeps 36. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: EQR leads at 36. 3% 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.

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, UDR, Inc. (UDR) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 50x versus Equity Residential's 9. 36x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Equity Residential (EQR) trades at 47. 7x forward P/E versus 107. 6x for Independence Realty Trust, Inc. — 59. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for IRT: 22. 2% to $20. 08.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

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

For long-horizon retirement investors, Independence Realty Trust, Inc.

(IRT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 46), 4. 0% yield, +192. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (IRT: +192. 5%, STRS: +49. 2%), 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; NXRT is a small-cap income-oriented stock; UDR is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; EQR is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; IRT is a small-cap income-oriented stock. NXRT, UDR, EQR, IRT 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.