COPT Defense Properties (CDP) vs Highwoods Properties (HIW)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
COPT Defense Properties (CDP) has outperformed Highwoods Properties (HIW) over the past year, gaining 17.0% versus a loss of 7.4%. Over five years, CDP leads with a +17.4% price change compared with -36.9% for HIW. COPT Defense Properties is the larger company by market cap ($3.87 billion vs $3.30 billion), about 1.2 times the size.
On valuation, COPT Defense Properties trades at a lower forward P/E (22.9x vs 42.0x for Highwoods Properties). Highwoods Properties offers the higher dividend yield (6.81% vs 3.74%). COPT Defense Properties converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 20.9% versus 20.2%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | CDP | HIW |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $33.39 | $29.38 |
| Market cap | $3.87B | $3.30B |
| 1-day change | -0.86% | -0.88% |
| YTD return | +20.11% | +13.79% |
| 1-year return | +16.95% | -7.44% |
| 5-year return | +17.45% | -36.89% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 23.19 | 19.46 |
| Forward P/E | 22.87 | 41.97 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.44 | $1.51 |
| Dividend yield | 3.74% | 6.81% |
| Annual dividend | $1.25 | $2.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $763.92M | $806.11M |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +1.41% | -2.39% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $159.53M | $162.65M |
| Operating margin | — | 67.58% |
| Net margin | 20.88% | 20.18% |
| 52-week high | $38.90 | $35.44 |
| 52-week low | $27.06 | $20.45 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -14.16% | -17.10% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +20.93% | +10.04% |
| Average volume | 861.58K | 1.24M |
| Shares outstanding | 113.41M | 110.31M |
| Employees | 430 | 315 |
| Sector | Real Estate | Real Estate |
| Industry | Real Estate Investment Trusts | Real Estate Investment Trusts |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- CDP has outperformed HIW by 24.4 percentage points over the past year.
- Highwoods Properties offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (6.81% vs 3.74%).
About COPT Defense Properties
CDP stock →COPT Defense Properties, an S&P MidCap 400 Company, is a self-managed REIT focused on owning, operating and developing properties in locations proximate to, or sometimes containing, key U.S. Government defense installations and missions (referred to as its Defense/IT Portfolio).
Real Estate · Real Estate Investment Trusts · 430 employees
About Highwoods Properties
HIW stock →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.
Real Estate · Real Estate Investment Trusts · 315 employees
CDP vs HIW FAQ
Which is bigger, COPT Defense Properties or Highwoods Properties?
COPT Defense Properties (CDP) is larger, with a market capitalization of $3.87B compared with $3.30B for Highwoods Properties (HIW).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CDP or HIW?
CDP returned +16.95% over the past 12 months, compared with -7.44% for HIW (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CDP or HIW?
HIW has the lower trailing P/E at 19.5, versus 23.2 for CDP. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, COPT Defense Properties or Highwoods Properties?
Highwoods Properties has the higher yield at 6.81%, compared with 3.74% for COPT Defense Properties.
Are COPT Defense Properties and Highwoods Properties in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Real Estate Investment Trusts industry within the Real Estate sector.