Which Is a Better Investment, Highwoods Properties Inc or Kilroy Realty Corp Stock?

By AAII Staff
September 09, 2026
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Sifting through countless of stocks in the Office REITs industry can be tedious, and sometimes two stocks are just too similar to judge which is the better investment. If you’re on the fence about investing in Highwoods Properties, Inc. or Kilroy Realty Corporation because you’re not sure how they measure up, it’s important to compare them on a few factors before making your decision.

Read on to learn how Highwoods Properties, Inc. and Kilroy Realty Corporation compare based on key financial metrics to determine which better meets your investment needs.

About Highwoods Properties, Inc. and Kilroy Realty Corporation

Highwoods Properties, Inc. is a publicly traded fully integrated office real estate investment trust that owns, develops, acquires, leases and manages properties primarily in the best business districts (BBDs) of Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Nashville, Orlando, Raleigh, Richmond and Tampa. The firm’s vision is to be a leader in the evolution of commercial real estate for the benefit of customers, their communities and those who invest with them. Highwood Properties’ mission is to create environments and experiences that inspire their teammates and their customers to achieve more together. They are in the work-placemaking business and believe that by creating exceptional environments and experiences, they can deliver greater value to customers, their teammates and, in turn, their shareholders. Highwoods Properties, Inc., is headquarters in Raleigh. Highwoods Properties, Inc. was incorporated in 1978 in Maryland, USA.

Kilroy Realty Corporation is a leading U.S. landlord and developer, with operations in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Seattle, San Diego, and Austin. The Company has earned global recognition for sustainability, building operations, innovation, and design. As a pioneer and innovator in the creation of a more sustainable real estate industry, the Company’s approach to modern business environments helps drive creativity and productivity for some of the world’s leading technology, media, life science, and professional services companies. The Company is a publicly traded real estate investment trust and member of the S&P MidCap 400 Index with more than seven decades of experience managing, developing, and acquiring office, life science, and mixed-use projects. As of June 30, 2026, Kilroy’s stabilized portfolio totaled approximately 17.1 million square feet of primarily office and life science space that was 77.0% occupied and 81.5% leased. The Company also has 608 residential units in San Diego, with a quarterly average occupancy of 95.6%. Kilroy Realty Corporation was incorporated in 1947 in Maryland. Kilroy Realty Corporation is based in Los Angeles, California.

Latest Office REITs and Highwoods Properties, Inc., Kilroy Realty Corporation Stock News

As of September 8, 2026, Highwoods Properties, Inc. had a $3.4 billion market capitalization, compared to the Office REITs median of $955.7 million. Highwoods Properties, Inc.’s stock is up 16% in 2026, down 1.5% in the previous five trading days and down 4.24% in the past year.

Currently, Highwoods Properties, Inc.’s price-earnings ratio is 20.1. Highwoods Properties, Inc.’s trailing 12-month revenue is $838.9 million with a 20.1% net profit margin. Year-over-year quarterly sales growth most recently was 7.5%. Analysts expect adjusted earnings to reach $0.590 per share for the current fiscal year. Highwoods Properties, Inc. currently has a 6.6% dividend yield.

As of September 8, 2026, Kilroy Realty Corporation had a $4.2 billion market cap, putting it in the 64th percentile of all stocks. Kilroy Realty Corporation’s stock is down 5.4% in 2026, down 2.4% in the previous five trading days and down 15.34% in the past year.

Currently, Kilroy Realty Corporation’s price-earnings ratio is 25.2. Kilroy Realty Corporation’s trailing 12-month revenue is $1.1 billion with a 15.5% net profit margin. Year-over-year quarterly sales growth most recently was -6.0%. Analysts expect adjusted earnings to reach $0.260 per share for the current fiscal year. Kilroy Realty Corporation currently has a 6.0% dividend yield.

How We Compare Highwoods Properties, Inc. and Kilroy Realty Corporation Stock Grades

Stock evaluation requires access to huge amounts of data and the knowledge and time to sift through it all, make sense of financial ratios, read income statements and analyze recent stock movements. AAII created A+ Investor, a robust data suite that condenses data research in an actionable and customizable way suitable for investors of all knowledge levels, to help investors streamline and work through such data.

AAII’s proprietary stock grades come with A+ Investor. These offer intuitive A‐F grades for each of five key investing factors: value, growth, momentum, earnings estimate revisions and quality. Here, we’ll take a closer look at Highwoods Properties, Inc. and Kilroy Realty Corporation’s stock grades to see how they measure up against one another.

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Highwoods Properties, Inc. and Kilroy Realty Corporation’s Quality Grades

Company Ticker Quality
Highwoods Properties, Inc. HIW D
Kilroy Realty Corporation KRC C

Like the Value Grade, AAII’s A+ Investor Quality Grade comes from the percentile rank of key metrics. Specifically, the Quality Score is the percentile rank of the average of the percentile ranks of return on assets (ROA), return on invested capital (ROIC), gross profit relative to assets, buyback yield, change in total liabilities to assets, accruals, Z double prime bankruptcy risk (Z) score and the F-Score.

The score is variable, meaning it can consider all eight measures or, should any of the eight measures not be valid, the remaining measures that are valid. To be assigned a Quality Score, stocks must have a valid (non-null) measure and corresponding ranking for at least four of the eight quality measures.

The Quality Score is used to assess the underlying “quality” of a particular stock. A higher-quality stock possesses traits associated with upside potential and reduced downside risk. Backtesting of the Quality Grade shows that stocks with higher grades, on average, outperformed stocks with lower grades over the period of 1998 through 2019.

Stocks receive better grades (higher scores) for having higher scores for the quality subcomponents and worse grades (lower scores) for lower scores for the subcomponents.

Highwoods Properties, Inc. has a Quality Score of 37, which is Weak. Kilroy Realty Corporation has a Quality Score of 52, which is Average.

The Quality Stock Winner: No Clear Winner

Neither Highwoods Properties, Inc. or Kilroy Realty Corporation has a high enough Quality Grade to be considered a “winner.” Investors who are considering these companies should do additional due diligence and research to see if either could be a good addition to their portfolios. It’s important to look at a wide range of financial metrics in order to determine if Highwoods Properties, Inc. or Kilroy Realty Corporation is the better investment when it comes to quality.

Highwoods Properties, Inc. and Kilroy Realty Corporation’s Momentum Grades

Company Ticker Momentum
Highwoods Properties, Inc. HIW C
Kilroy Realty Corporation KRC D

Momentum grades help to uncover stocks experiencing anomalously high rates of return; research finds that stocks with high relative levels of momentum tend to outperform, whereas those with low levels of momentum tend to continue underperforming. Momentum is based on the price change of a stock over a specified period relative to all other stocks.

Typically, AAII looks at the weighted relative strength over the trailing four quarters. The weighted four-quarter relative strength rank is the relative price change for each of the past four quarters. The most recent quarterly price change is given a weight of 40% and each of the three previous quarters are given a weighting of 20%.

Highwoods Properties, Inc. has a Momentum Score of 42, which is Average. Kilroy Realty Corporation has a Momentum Score of 30, which is Weak.

The Momentum Stock Winner: No Clear Winner

Neither Highwoods Properties, Inc. or Kilroy Realty Corporation has a strong enough Momentum Grade to be considered a “winner.” Investors considering these companies should do additional due diligence and research to see if either could be a good addition to their portfolios. It’s important to look at a wide range of financial metrics in order to determine if Highwoods Properties, Inc. or Kilroy Realty Corporation is the better investment when it comes to momentum.

Highwoods Properties, Inc. and Kilroy Realty Corporation’s Estimate Revisions Grades

Company Ticker Earnings Estimate
Highwoods Properties, Inc. HIW D
Kilroy Realty Corporation KRC F

Earnings estimate revisions scores consider the magnitude of a company’s earnings surprise in its last two reported fiscal quarters. Often, positive surprises beget further positive surprises‐or at least continued sales growth (the exact opposite is generally true, too).

Estimate revisions offer an indication of what analysts are thinking about the short-term prospects of a firm. Estimate revisions are based on the statistical significance of a firm’s last two quarterly earnings surprises and the percentage change in its consensus estimate for the current fiscal year over the past month and past three months.

Highwoods Properties, Inc. has a Earnings Estimate Score of 31, which is Negative. Kilroy Realty Corporation has a Earnings Estimate Score of 20, which is Very Negative.

The Earnings Estimate Revisions Stock Winner: No Clear Winner

Neither Highwoods Properties, Inc. or Kilroy Realty Corporation has an Earnings Estimate Revisions Grade that could be considered a “winner.” Investors considering these companies should do additional due diligence and research to see if either could be a good addition to their portfolios. It’s important to look at a wide range of financial metrics in order to determine if Highwoods Properties, Inc. or Kilroy Realty Corporation is the better investment when it comes to estimate revisions.

Don’t Forget Your Free Special Report on How A+ Grades Can Help You Make Investment Decisions

Other Highwoods Properties, Inc. and Kilroy Realty Corporation Grades

In addition to Momentum, Quality and Estimate Revisions, A+ Investor also provides grades for Value and Growth.

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Growth investing builds on the idea that stocks of companies exhibiting strong, consistent and prolonged growth outperform those of slower-growth companies. AAII measures growth through consistency of annual sales growth, five-year sales growth rankings adjusted for extreme levels, and consistency of positive annual cash from operations.

Successful stock investing involves buying low and selling high, so stock valuation is an important consideration for stock selection. Buying stocks that are going to go up typically means buying stocks that are undervalued in the first place, although momentum investors may argue that point.

These 2 key factors, when combined with the above, provide a holistic view into a particular stock. Further, by joining A+ Investor you can see whether Highwoods Properties, Inc. and Kilroy Realty Corporation pass any of our 60+ stock screens that have outperformed the market since their creation.

So, Which Is the Better Investment, Highwoods Properties, Inc. or Kilroy Realty Corporation Stock?

Overall, Highwoods Properties, Inc. stock has a Momentum Score of 42, Estimate Revisions Score of 31 and Quality Score of 37.

Kilroy Realty Corporation stock has a Momentum Score of 30, Estimate Revisions Score of 20 and Quality Score of 52.

Comparing Highwoods Properties, Inc. and Kilroy Realty Corporation’s grades, scores and metrics can act as a solid basis to determine whether they may be a good investment or not. You’ll also want to look at your portfolio’s asset allocation as well as your risk tolerance and financial goals to see if either of these stocks would make a good fit for you. AAII can help you figure out which investments align with your individual needs and preferences.

Investors are encouraged to do their own due diligence and research. In this way, individuals can effectively become managers of their own assets‐without having to rely on others for financial independence. You can count on AAII for timeless articles on financial planning and stock-picking, unbiased research and actionable analysis.

A+ Investor adds to our qualitative teaching with a powerful data suite to help you whittle down investment choices to find stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or mutual funds that meet your needs.

Learn More About A+ Investor

AAII Disclaimer

We make no representations or warranties that any investor will, or is likely to, achieve profits similar to those shown, because past, hypothetical or simulated performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. Before making an investment decision, you should consider your circumstances and whether the information on our content is applicable to your situation. This information was prepared in good faith, and we accept no liability for any errors or omissions. The full disclaimer can be read here.



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