Highwoods Properties, Inc. (HIW) AI Stock Analysis

NYSE: HIWAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

HIW AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

Highwoods Properties, Inc. (HIW) is a fully-integrated office REIT operating in business districts across major metropolitan areas. In the trailing twelve months, the company generated revenue of $838.9M with a profit margin of 20.1%. For FY2025, Highwoods recorded net income of $159.6M while delivering an annual forward dividend yield of 6.82%.

Market cap
$3.30B
Revenue (TTM)
$838.9M
P/E
19.4x
fwd 65.8x
1Y return
6.4%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$31.89
8.7% vs last close

Bull case

  • Highwoods reported strong recent momentum with quarterly earnings growth of 400.2% year-over-year for the period ended June 30, 2026.
  • The stock offers an attractive income profile with an annual forward dividend yield of 6.82% supported by 33 consecutive years of dividend payments.
  • Its EV/EBITDA multiple of 10.6x trades at a discount to the US-listed Real Estate peer median of 14.7x.

Bear case

  • Revenue declined 2.4% in FY2025 to $806.1M, marking the second consecutive year of annual top-line contraction.
  • The balance sheet carries high leverage, with total debt of $3.52B and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.47 as of June 30, 2026.
  • Shares have underperformed broad markets over the long term, posting a 5-year return of -10.0% compared to an 83.0% gain for the S&P 500.

What Highwoods Properties does

Highwoods Properties, Inc., based in Raleigh, North Carolina, is a publicly traded real estate investment trust and constituent of the S&P MidCap 400 Index. Operating as a fully-integrated office REIT, the company owns, develops, acquires, leases, and manages properties located in premier business districts. Highwoods concentrates its footprint in major metropolitan hubs, including Atlanta, Charlotte, Nashville, Orlando, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, Richmond, and Tampa. The company integrates workplace solutions, modern amenities, and sustainable building practices to support corporate tenants across its economic centers.

Growth and profitability

Annual revenue expanded from $768.0M in FY2021 to $834.0M in FY2023 before contracting to $825.9M in FY2024 and $806.1M in FY2025, reflecting a 5-year revenue CAGR of 1.8%. Gross margin remained consistent, registering 69.2% in FY2021 and 67.6% in FY2025. Net income was $313.3M in FY2021, fell to $102.2M in FY2024, and rebounded to $159.6M in FY2025, yielding an operating margin of 26.0%. In the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue grew 7.5% year-over-year, while quarterly earnings expanded by 400.2%.

HIW income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of June 30, 2026, Highwoods held cash and short-term investments of $145.4M against total debt of $3.52B, resulting in net debt of $3.37B and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.47. Total assets stood at $6.47B with a current ratio of 1.78. In FY2025, operating cash flow reached $367.3M and free cash flow was $166.6M. Capital allocation in FY2025 prioritized capital expenditures of $200.8M and dividends paid of $219.1M, alongside share buybacks of $2.1M.

HIW balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

Highwoods trades at a trailing P/E of 19.4x, below the 21.6x median of its US-listed Real Estate peers. Its forward P/E stands at 65.8x compared to the peer median of 23.5x, while its EV/EBITDA of 10.6x sits below the peer median of 14.7x. The company's price-to-sales multiple is 3.9x, slightly above the peer median of 3.7x. Over the past year, Highwoods generated a 6.4% return, trailing the S&P 500 return of 16.8%, while its 5-year return of -10.0% lagged the benchmark return of 83.0%.

HIW key metrics →

HIW dividend

Highwoods offers a forward annual dividend of $2.00 per share, representing a dividend yield of 6.82%. The company pays dividends quarterly and has paid dividends for 33 consecutive years. Its 5-year annualized dividend growth rate is 0.8%, with the last ex-dividend date occurring on August 17, 2026.

HIW dividend history →

What analysts expect

Analyst coverage includes 1 Strong Buy and 9 Hold ratings. The mean price target of $31.89 suggests an upside of 8.7% compared to the last close of $29.34. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, consensus estimates project revenue of $864.6M and EPS of $0.54. Over the last four quarters, the company delivered 2 EPS beats. The next earnings date is scheduled for October 27, 2026.

HIW forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • Net debt of $3.37B relative to cash and short-term investments of $145.4M leaves the company exposed to refinancing pressures.
  • A forward P/E ratio of 65.8x trades well above the sector peer median of 23.5x, reflecting heightened valuation risk.
  • Short interest represents 16.6% of the float, pointing to elevated negative sentiment among market participants.

AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer

About this HIW AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of Highwoods Properties, Inc. (HIW). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.

Related: HIW income statement, HIW balance sheet, HIW key metrics, HIW analyst forecast, HIW chart. See the HIW stock overview for the latest quote and news.

HIW AI stock analysis FAQ

What is Highwoods Properties' dividend yield?

Highwoods Properties pays an annual forward dividend of $2.00 per share, which equates to a dividend yield of 6.82%.

When is Highwoods Properties' next earnings report?

The company's next earnings date is scheduled for October 27, 2026.

How much debt does Highwoods Properties carry?

As of June 30, 2026, Highwoods carried total debt of $3.52B and net debt of $3.37B against $145.4M in cash and short-term investments.

What is the analyst consensus price target for HIW?

Analysts maintain a mean price target of $31.89, which indicates an 8.7% premium over the last close of $29.34.

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