Investors interested in REIT and Equity Trust - Other stocks are likely familiar with Cousins Properties (CUZ - Free Report) and National Health Investors (NHI - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks offers value investors a better bang for their buck right now? We'll need to take a closer look.
The best way to find great value stocks is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The proven Zacks Rank puts an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions, while our Style Scores work to identify stocks with specific traits.
Currently, Cousins Properties has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), while National Health Investors has a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell). This means that CUZ's earnings estimate revision activity has been more impressive, so investors should feel comfortable with its improving analyst outlook. But this is just one factor that value investors are interested in.
Value investors also try to analyze a wide range of traditional figures and metrics to help determine whether a company is undervalued at its current share price levels.
Our Value category grades stocks based on a number of key metrics, including the tried-and-true P/E ratio, the P/S ratio, earnings yield, and cash flow per share, as well as a variety of other fundamentals that value investors frequently use.
CUZ currently has a forward P/E ratio of 9.96, while NHI has a forward P/E of 15.07. We also note that CUZ has a PEG ratio of 1.94. This popular metric is similar to the widely-known P/E ratio, with the difference being that the PEG ratio also takes into account the company's expected earnings growth rate. NHI currently has a PEG ratio of 3.83.
Another notable valuation metric for CUZ is its P/B ratio of 1.08. The P/B is a method of comparing a stock's market value to its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. By comparison, NHI has a P/B of 2.21.
Based on these metrics and many more, CUZ holds a Value grade of B, while NHI has a Value grade of C.
CUZ stands above NHI thanks to its solid earnings outlook, and based on these valuation figures, we also feel that CUZ is the superior value option right now.
Cousins Properties Incorporated (CUZ) is reaffirmed as a buy, driven by Sunbelt-focused Class A office assets, strong leasing momentum, and low leverage risk. Q2 results highlight 920,000 square feet leased, portfolio occupancy at 92.8%, and YoY FFO growth, signaling post-pandemic demand recovery. Cousins Properties trades at a significant discount to sector medians on price/book and forward earnings, presenting an undervaluation opportunity with long-term upside.
Buy CUZ. Mizuho’s call is backed by Q2 beat and raised full-year guidance, plus clear Sunbelt leasing momentum (cash rent spreads up ~12% H1) and a 1M sq ft pipeline. The setup is a rebound story with improving fundamentals and a ~4.3% dividend while the market re-rates office landlords.
Key Risk: Sunbelt office leasing stalls again, forcing rent spreads and occupancy to roll over and making guidance lifts look temporary.
PECO (Phillips Edison)
Buy PECO. Grocery-anchored centers are the “need-to-have” retail REIT, and the thesis is supported by Q2 core FFO beat, raised guidance, ~97.5% occupancy, and limited new supply. Mizuho also expects above-average FFO growth through 2027, with a ~3.2% dividend as carry.
Key Risk: A wave of grocery-tenant weakness or lease losses (or a supply shock) drives occupancy/FFO down despite the “necessity” model.
Mizuho has refreshed its rolling conviction list of top real estate investment trusts (REITs) for the second half of 2026, pointing investors toward subsectors with proven earnings momentum.
The investment bank selected office landlord “Cousins Properties” and grocery-anchored owner “Phillips Edison & Company” as its standout picks across commercial property.
Both companies delivered Q2 earnings that topped Wall Street estimates, prompting management teams to lift full-year profit guidance.
Mizuho analysts have set price objectives for both REITs, implying meaningful upside from current levels, anchoring their thesis in strong operational execution.
These single-stock calls also arrive alongside broad tailwinds for real estate stocks, which continue to post better returns than the broader market this year.
A fundamental rebound across Sunbelt office markets underpins the case for Cousins Properties.
Analyst Vikram Malhotra maintains a $33 price target on the stock – implying about a 12% upside from recent trading levels, on top of significant year-to-date gains.
The Atlanta-based REIT manages some 20 million square feet of office space across high-growth hubs such as Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte.
Its Q2 funds from operations reached 75 cents per share on $268.5 million in revenue, exceeding estimates of 74 cents and $263.5 million – bringing enough confidence for the management to lift the lower end of its full-year guidance.
In its press release, CUZ said growth is being driven by leasing momentum, cash rent spreads up roughly 12% in first-half of this year, and a 1-million-square-foot pipeline.
Finally, balance sheet capacity supports opportunistic acquisitions, while Cousins Properties stock pays a rather lucrative 4.31% dividend yield as well.
Other Wall Street analysts also agree with Mizuho’s view on CUZ, given the consensus rating on it sits at Buy with price targets going as high as $35.
Phillips Edison stock rests on a necessity-based retail thesis: grocery-anchored centers hold demand through economic cycles.
Mizuho analyst Haendel St. Juste has a $43 price target, implying about 7% upside on top of nearly 14% rally since the start of this year.
PECO’s portfolio spans roughly 330 shopping centers anchored by grocers like Kroger and Publix, with occupancy near the sector-leading 97.5%.
Its Q2 core FFO reached 69 cents per share on $189.6 million in revenue, beating estimates of 68 cents and $187.5 million, prompting management to raise full-year guidance.
St. Juste expects above-average FFO growth through 2027 on acquisitions and limited new supply, with minimal watchlist tenant exposure. Plus, any bankruptcies would offer a chance to re-let space at higher rents,
PECO shares also currently pay a 3.2% dividend yield – while Wall Street more broadly rates the real estate investment trust at Overweight. The consensus $46 price target signals significant upside potential from here.
Cousins Properties (NYSE:CUZ – Get Free Report) and Franklin Street Properties (NYSE:FSP – Get Free Report) are both real estate companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, institutional ownership, profitability, analyst recommendations, risk, valuation and dividends.
Analyst Ratings This is a summary of current ratings and recommmendations for Cousins Properties and Franklin Street Properties, as reported by MarketBeat.
Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Cousins Properties 0 3 6 0 2.67 Franklin Street Properties 0 0 0 0 0.00 Cousins Properties presently has a consensus target price of $30.91, suggesting a potential upside of 4.85%. Given Cousins Properties’ stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, research analysts plainly believe Cousins Properties is more favorable than Franklin Street Properties.
Profitability This table compares Cousins Properties and Franklin Street Properties’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Cousins Properties 0.62% 0.14% 0.07% Franklin Street Properties -43.90% -7.79% -5.30% Risk and Volatility Cousins Properties has a beta of 1.18, indicating that its stock price is 18% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Franklin Street Properties has a beta of 0.85, indicating that its stock price is 15% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Insider & Institutional Ownership 94.4% of Cousins Properties shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 61.4% of Franklin Street Properties shares are held by institutional investors. 1.8% of Cousins Properties shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 4.9% of Franklin Street Properties shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.
Valuation & Earnings This table compares Cousins Properties and Franklin Street Properties”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Cousins Properties $993.82 million 4.88 $40.50 million $0.04 737.00 Franklin Street Properties $105.92 million 0.44 -$52.72 million ($0.40) -1.11 Cousins Properties has higher revenue and earnings than Franklin Street Properties. Franklin Street Properties is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Cousins Properties, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Dividends Cousins Properties pays an annual dividend of $1.28 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.3%. Franklin Street Properties pays an annual dividend of $0.04 per share and has a dividend yield of 9.0%. Cousins Properties pays out 3,200.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Franklin Street Properties pays out -10.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Franklin Street Properties is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.
Summary Cousins Properties beats Franklin Street Properties on 13 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Cousins Properties (Get Free Report)
Cousins Properties Incorporated ("Cousins") is a fully integrated, self-administered, and self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT). The Company, based in Atlanta and acting through its operating partnership, Cousins Properties LP, primarily invests in Class A office buildings located in high-growth Sun Belt markets. Founded in 1958, Cousins creates shareholder value through its extensive expertise in the development, acquisition, leasing, and management of high-quality real estate assets. The Company has a comprehensive strategy in place based on a simple platform, trophy assets, and opportunistic investments.
About Franklin Street Properties (Get Free Report)
Franklin Street Properties Corp., based in Wakefield, Massachusetts, is focused on infill and central business district (CBD) office properties in the U.S. Sunbelt and Mountain West, as well as select opportunistic markets. FSP seeks value-oriented investments with an eye towards long-term growth and appreciation, as well as current income. FSP is a Maryland corporation that operates in a manner intended to qualify as a real estate investment trust (REIT) for federal income tax purposes.
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Investors interested in stocks from the REIT and Equity Trust - Other sector have probably already heard of Cousins Properties (CUZ) and EastGroup Properties (EGP). But which of these two companies is the best option for those looking for undervalued stocks?
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What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
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Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.
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Momentum ScoreMomentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.
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How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.
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Stock to Watch: Cousins Properties (CUZ - Free Report) Founded in 1958, Cousins Properties Incorporated is a real estate investment trust (REIT) based in Atlanta, GA. The company engages in the acquisition, ownership, leasing, development and management of Class A office and mixed-use properties throughout the Sun Belt markets of the United States, with a focus on Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Phoenix, Houston, Tampa, Dallas and Nashville.
CUZ is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
Momentum investors should take note of this Finance stock. CUZ has a Momentum Style Score of A, and shares are up 2.5% over the past four weeks.
Three analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.02 to $2.95 per share. CUZ boasts an average earnings surprise of +1%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, CUZ should be on investors' short list.
It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.
The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.
It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.
Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreWhat if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.
Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
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Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Cousins Properties (CUZ - Free Report) Founded in 1958, Cousins Properties Incorporated is a real estate investment trust (REIT) based in Atlanta, GA. The company engages in the acquisition, ownership, leasing, development and management of Class A office and mixed-use properties throughout the Sun Belt markets of the United States, with a focus on Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Phoenix, Houston, Tampa, Dallas and Nashville.
CUZ is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 10.69; value investors should take notice.
Three analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.02 to $2.95 per share. CUZ also boasts an average earnings surprise of +1%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, CUZ should be on investors' short list.
The 3 Most Promising Real Estate Stocks to Watch this QuarterCousins Properties NYSE: CUZ reported second-quarter funds from operations of $0.75 per share and raised the midpoint of its full-year 2026 FFO outlook by $0.01 to $2.95 per share, representing projected growth of 3.9% from 2025.
Chief Executive Officer Colin Connolly said the revised outlook would mark the company’s third consecutive year of FFO growth. He attributed the increase primarily to stronger-than-expected leasing activity and recent property-level transactions.
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Leasing Volume Drives Higher Occupancy The office REIT completed 924,000 square feet of leases during the quarter, matching its first-quarter volume and bringing first-half leasing activity to 1.9 million square feet. Richard Hickson, executive vice president of operations, said the first-half total was roughly equivalent to the company’s average annual leasing volume over the past decade.
Technology and legal tenants each represented about 30% of second-quarter leasing volume. New and expansion leases accounted for 395,000 square feet, or 43% of completed leasing activity, while the company completed 19 renewals. Five renewals exceeded 50,000 square feet, and each of those tenants either retained or expanded its space, Hickson said.
Cousins ended the quarter 92.8% leased and 89.4% occupied on a weighted-average basis, with occupancy rising 50 basis points from the prior quarter. The company maintained its expectation to reach 90% occupancy by year-end, although Hickson said large expirations in Charlotte could produce a modest occupancy decline in the third quarter before new leases commence later in the year.
Second-generation cash rents rose 9.2% in the quarter, extending Cousins’ streak of positive cash rent roll-ups to 49 consecutive quarters. Average net effective rent increased 8.5% in the second quarter compared with the full-year 2025 level, while first-half net effective rent was up 16.8% from 2025.
Connolly said the company believes its markets are reaching an inflection point where tighter availability for large blocks of high-quality office space could support both higher rents and lower concessions. He said the company has historically emphasized occupancy growth but expects conditions to increasingly favor landlords in its targeted submarkets.
Market Activity Across the Sun Belt Atlanta was Cousins’ largest contributor to leasing growth during the quarter, with 404,000 square feet of signed leases. The market ended 91.6% leased in Cousins’ portfolio, including a 46,000-square-foot technology lease at 725 Ponce and three leases totaling 77,000 square feet at Terminus. Cash rents in Atlanta increased 14.3%.
In Austin, the company signed 74,000 square feet of new and expansion leases despite beginning the quarter nearly 96% leased. Technology tenants represented 42,000 square feet of that activity. After the quarter ended, Cousins completed a 76,000-square-foot renewal with a Fortune 10 technology company at Domain 7.
Cousins also signed 168,000 square feet in Tampa, including an 89,000-square-foot law-firm renewal and a 23,000-square-foot Deloitte renewal. In Phoenix, the company signed 139,000 square feet, including a 109,000-square-foot renewal with the same Fortune 10 technology company renewed in Austin.
Hickson said the company is seeing artificial-intelligence-related office demand in several markets, with Austin standing out as the most active. Connolly said Cousins views its portfolio as oriented toward knowledge workers and high-quality, amenity-rich office properties rather than back-office uses.
Portfolio Recycling and Development Activity During the quarter, Cousins sold Research Park Plaza 5 in Austin for $42 million, or $243 per square foot, and completed the previously announced sale of One Eleven Congress, a 519,000-square-foot Austin office tower, for $208 million, or $400 per square foot. Kennedy Hicks, chief investment officer, said the two properties were considered non-core and traded at a combined capitalization rate of about 9%.
The company also acquired its partner’s 10% interest in the 100 Mill office building in Tempe for $18.5 million, based on a property value of $158.7 million. The 2022-delivered building is more than 98% leased, and the transaction gives Cousins full ownership of its Tempe portfolio.
In Nashville, the company’s Neuhoff mixed-use project reached 96% leased in its office component after Oracle expanded its commitment to 161,000 square feet. The multifamily portion was more than 94% leased and 90% occupied. Cousins has future development capacity for more than 300,000 square feet of additional office space at the project and is pursuing early preleasing discussions for a second phase.
Cousins also entered a joint venture for the 5th and Walsh development in Austin’s Clarksville neighborhood. The planned 199,000-square-foot office and retail building is 58% preleased. Cousins’ preferred-equity investment may total up to $31.5 million and carries a 10% preferred return upon funding, which the company expects primarily in the second half of 2027. Cousins holds a right of first offer to acquire the building after completion.
Capital Position and Outlook The company recast its unsecured credit facility during the quarter, extending its term by five years and increasing capacity to $1.2 billion. Cousins also improved the facility’s borrowing spread by 15 basis points and added extension options to two term loans totaling $500 million.
Chief Financial Officer Gregg Adzema said same-property cash net operating income grew 5.9% year over year in the second quarter, following 5.5% growth in the first quarter. The updated FFO guidance range is $2.92 to $2.98 per share for 2026.
Adzema said the company’s guidance assumes settlement of 2.9 million previously issued forward shares during the third quarter. Cousins could delay that settlement if it completes further non-core asset sales, though its current forecast assumes all outstanding forward shares are settled in the third quarter.
About Cousins Properties (NYSE:CUZ)Cousins Properties Incorporated NYSE: CUZ is a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) specializing in the development, acquisition and management of high-quality office and mixed-use properties. Headquartered in Atlanta, the company focuses on urban infill and suburban markets across the Sun Belt, with a strong presence in metropolitan areas such as Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Nashville, Orlando and Tampa. Its core activities encompass full-service property leasing, asset management and construction oversight, serving a diverse mix of corporate and institutional tenants.
Founded in 1958 as a privately held real estate concern, Cousins Properties completed its initial public offering in 1992.
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Cousins Properties Incorporated (CUZ) Q2 2026 Earnings Call July 31, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Company Participants
Pamela Roper - Executive VP, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary
Michael Connolly - President, CEO & Director
Richard Hickson - Executive Vice President of Operations
Jane Kennedy Hicks
Gregg D. Adzema - Executive VP & CFO
Conference Call Participants
Anthony Paolone - JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division
Blaine Heck - Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Research Division
Andrew Berger - BofA Securities, Research Division
John Kim - BMO Capital Markets Equity Research
Nicholas Thillman - Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, Research Division
Vikram Malhotra - Mizuho Securities USA LLC, Research Division
Upal Rana - KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Research Division
Brendan Lynch - Barclays Bank PLC, Research Division
Dylan Burzinski
Presentation
Operator
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Cousins Properties Second Quarter Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] Also note that this call is being recorded on Friday, July 31, 2026. I would now like to turn the conference over to Pamela Roper, General Counsel.
Pamela Roper
Executive VP, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary
Thank you. Good morning, and welcome to Cousins Properties Second Quarter Earnings Conference Call. With me today are Colin Connolly, our President and Chief Executive Officer; Richard Hickson, our Executive Vice President of Operations; Kennedy Hicks, our Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer; and Gregg Adzema, our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
The press release and supplemental package were distributed yesterday afternoon as well as furnished on Form 8-K. In the supplemental package, the company has reconciled all non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures in accordance with Reg G requirements. If you did not receive a copy, these documents are available through the quarterly disclosures and supplemental SEC information links on the Investor Relations page of our website, cousins.com.
Key Takeaways Cousins Properties beat Q2 FFO estimates as rental revenues and same-property NOI increased.CUZ executed 924,000 square feet of leases, with occupancy and leasing levels reaching multi-year highs.Cousins Properties raised the low end of 2026 FFO guidance following stronger leasing and transactions. Cousins Properties Inc. (CUZ - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 funds from operations (FFO) of 75 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 74 cents. The metric rose 7.1% from the year-ago quarter.
The results reflected strong leasing momentum, higher rental revenues and solid same-property NOI growth. Cash-basis same-property NOI advanced 5.9%, while the office portfolio ended the quarter 92.8% leased.
Rental property revenues increased 11.8% year over year to $265.7 million and surpassed the consensus mark of $263.6 million.
CUZ's Leasing Activity Supports GrowthCousins executed 924,000 square feet of office leases during the quarter. New and expansion leases accounted for 395,000 square feet, or 43% of total leasing activity.
Pricing remained favorable. Cash-basis second-generation net rent per square foot increased 9.2%, while straight-line second-generation net rent rose 26.8%. Weighted average office occupancy improved to 89.4% from 88.9% in the prior quarter.
Period-end leased space reached its highest level since the first quarter of 2020. Management also highlighted a robust late-stage leasing pipeline as trophy office fundamentals in its Sun Belt markets tightened.
Cousins' Revenue Base ExpandsTotal revenues were $268.5 million, up from $240.1 million a year earlier. Fee income climbed to $2.3 million from $0.5 million, partly supporting the top-line increase.
Rental property operating expenses rose to $84.7 million from $74.2 million. General and administrative expenses increased to $12.1 million from $9.7 million, while interest expense advanced to $47.1 million from $38.5 million.
The operating portfolio comprised 39 properties and 22.27 million rentable square feet at quarter-end.
Cousins Advances Portfolio RecyclingDuring the quarter, Cousins purchased its joint venture partner's 10% interest in 100 Mill, a 287,000-square-foot Phoenix office property, for $18.5 million.
The company also sold Research Park Plaza V, a 173,000-square-foot Austin office asset, for $42.0 million, generating the quarterly gain. After quarter-end, it sold One Eleven Congress in Austin for $208.0 million.
Cousins also acquired a preferred equity interest in the 199,000-square-foot 5th & Walsh office development in Austin after quarter-end. Its $31.5 million funding commitment is expected to be invested in 2027.
CUZ Strengthens Its Financing ProfileCousins closed a new five-year $1.2 billion unsecured credit facility, replacing a $1.0 billion facility scheduled to mature in April 2027. It also extended existing $400 million and $100 million unsecured term loans and reduced borrowing spreads.
As of June 30, 2026, cash and cash equivalents were $6.7 million, up from $6.3 million at prior quarter-end. Net debt to annualized EBITDAre was 5.57, down from 5.66 in the prior quarter, while fixed-charge coverage declined to 3.39 from 3.45.
Cousins Raises 2026 FFO GuidanceCousins raised the lower end of its 2026 FFO guidance to $2.92 per share from $2.90 while maintaining the upper end at $2.98. The midpoint increased to $2.95 from $2.94. Management attributed the revision to leasing activity that exceeded its prior forecast and recent transaction activity. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is pinned at $2.95, in line with the midpoint guidance.
CUZ's Zacks RankCousins currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Performance of Other Office REITsBXP, Inc. (BXP - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 FFO of $1.78 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.71. FFO rose 4.1% from the year-ago period. Results reflected higher occupancy and same-property NOI growth, which supported the FFO beat. Total portfolio occupancy climbed 100 basis points sequentially to 88.4%.
SL Green Realty Corp. (SLG - Free Report) delivered second-quarter 2026 FFO of $1.43, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.19 by 20.17%. However, FFO declined 12.3% from $1.63 in the year-ago quarter. The results reflected stronger Manhattan leasing, higher occupancy and growth in same-store cash NOI.
Note: Anything related to earnings presented in this write-up represents funds from operations (FFO), a widely used metric to gauge the performance of REITs.
Cousins Properties (CUZ - Free Report) came out with quarterly funds from operations (FFO) of $0.75 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.74 per share. This compares to FFO of $0.7 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an FFO surprise of +1.35%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this real estate company would post FFO of $0.71 per share when it actually produced FFO of $0.73, delivering a surprise of +2.82%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus FFO estimates two times.
Cousins Properties, which belongs to the Zacks REIT and Equity Trust - Other industry, posted revenues of $265.71 million for the quarter ended June 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.82%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $237.71 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates four times over the last four quarters.
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future FFO expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
Cousins Properties shares have added about 25.3% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 6.9%.
What's Next for Cousins Properties?While Cousins Properties has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's FFO outlook. Not only does this include current consensus FFO expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Cousins Properties was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus FFO estimate is $0.74 on $262.74 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $2.95 on $1.05 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, REIT and Equity Trust - Other is currently in the top 26% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
Another stock from the same industry, Easterly Government Properties (DEA - Free Report) , has yet to report results for the quarter ended June 2026. The results are expected to be released on August 3.
This property management company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.79 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +6.8%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
Easterly Government Properties' revenues are expected to be $91.34 million, up 8.4% from the year-ago quarter.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Cousins Properties (NYSE: CUZ) has released its second quarter 2026 results. Please visit the Investors section of Cousins' website at www.cousins.com to access the Earnings Release and Supplemental Information.
Cousins will hold a conference call at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) on Friday, July 31, 2026 to discuss its results. The phone number for the conference call is (800) 836-8184. A replay of the conference call will be available for seven days at (888) 660-6345, passcode 33580#.
A webcast of the conference call can be accessed on Cousins' website through the "Cousins Properties Second Quarter Conference Call" link in the Investors section.
About Cousins Properties
Cousins Properties is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT). The Company, based in Atlanta, GA and acting through its operating partnership, Cousins Properties LP, primarily invests in Class A office buildings located in high-growth Sun Belt markets. Founded in 1958, Cousins creates shareholder value through its extensive expertise in the development, acquisition, leasing and management of high-quality real estate assets. The Company has a comprehensive strategy in place based on a simple platform, trophy assets and opportunistic investments. For more information, please visit www.cousins.com.
Investors interested in stocks from the REIT and Equity Trust - Other sector have probably already heard of Cousins Properties (CUZ - Free Report) and EastGroup Properties (EGP - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks is more attractive to value investors? We'll need to take a closer look to find out.
We have found that the best way to discover great value opportunities is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with a great grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The Zacks Rank is a proven strategy that targets companies with positive earnings estimate revision trends, while our Style Scores work to grade companies based on specific traits.
Right now, Cousins Properties is sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), while EastGroup Properties has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). The Zacks Rank favors stocks that have recently seen positive revisions to their earnings estimates, so investors should rest assured that CUZ has an improving earnings outlook. However, value investors will care about much more than just this.
Value investors are also interested in a number of tried-and-true valuation metrics that help show when a company is undervalued at its current share price levels.
Our Value category highlights undervalued companies by looking at a variety of key metrics, including the popular P/E ratio, as well as the P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a variety of other fundamentals that have been used by value investors for years.
CUZ currently has a forward P/E ratio of 10.43, while EGP has a forward P/E of 22.39. We also note that CUZ has a PEG ratio of 2.26. This popular figure is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also considers a company's expected EPS growth rate. EGP currently has a PEG ratio of 3.22.
Another notable valuation metric for CUZ is its P/B ratio of 1.12. Investors use the P/B ratio to look at a stock's market value versus its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. By comparison, EGP has a P/B of 3.23.
These are just a few of the metrics contributing to CUZ's Value grade of B and EGP's Value grade of D.
CUZ is currently sporting an improving earnings outlook, which makes it stick out in our Zacks Rank model. And, based on the above valuation metrics, we feel that CUZ is likely the superior value option right now.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Cousins Properties (NYSE: CUZ) announced today that it will release its second quarter 2026 earnings after the market closes on Thursday, July 30, 2026. Cousins will hold its second quarter 2026 earnings conference call on Friday, July 31, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time). The number for this call is (800) 836-8184. The live webcast of this call can be accessed on the Company's website, www.cousins.com, through the "Cousins Properties Second Quarter Conference Call" link on the Investors page.
A playback will be available shortly after the call on Friday, July 31, 2026 and run through Friday, August 7, 2026. The number for the playback is (888) 660-6345, passcode 33580#. The playback can also be accessed on the Company's website through the "Cousins Properties Second Quarter Conference Call" link on the Investors page.
Financial information will be placed on the Company's website promptly after the earnings release announcement. This information will be available in the "Featured Reports" section on the Investors page. This information will also be available through the "SEC Filings" and "Supplemental Information" links on the Investors page.
About Cousins Properties
Cousins Properties is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT). The Company, based in Atlanta, GA and acting through its operating partnership, Cousins Properties LP, primarily invests in Class A office buildings located in high-growth Sun Belt markets. Founded in 1958, Cousins creates shareholder value through its extensive expertise in the development, acquisition, leasing and management of high-quality real estate assets. The Company has a comprehensive strategy in place based on a simple platform, trophy assets and opportunistic investments. For more information, please visit www.cousins.com.
Investors interested in REIT and Equity Trust - Other stocks are likely familiar with Cousins Properties (CUZ - Free Report) and EastGroup Properties (EGP - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks presents investors with the better value opportunity right now? Let's take a closer look.
We have found that the best way to discover great value opportunities is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with a great grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The Zacks Rank is a proven strategy that targets companies with positive earnings estimate revision trends, while our Style Scores work to grade companies based on specific traits.
Cousins Properties and EastGroup Properties are sporting Zacks Ranks of #2 (Buy) and #3 (Hold), respectively, right now. This system places an emphasis on companies that have seen positive earnings estimate revisions, so investors should feel comfortable knowing that CUZ is likely seeing its earnings outlook improve to a greater extent. But this is just one piece of the puzzle for value investors.
Value investors analyze a variety of traditional, tried-and-true metrics to help find companies that they believe are undervalued at their current share price levels.
Our Value category grades stocks based on a number of key metrics, including the tried-and-true P/E ratio, the P/S ratio, earnings yield, and cash flow per share, as well as a variety of other fundamentals that value investors frequently use.
CUZ currently has a forward P/E ratio of 9.65, while EGP has a forward P/E of 20.87. We also note that CUZ has a PEG ratio of 2.09. This popular figure is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also considers a company's expected EPS growth rate. EGP currently has a PEG ratio of 3.00.
Another notable valuation metric for CUZ is its P/B ratio of 1.03. The P/B ratio pits a stock's market value against its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. For comparison, EGP has a P/B of 3.01.
These metrics, and several others, help CUZ earn a Value grade of B, while EGP has been given a Value grade of D.
CUZ sticks out from EGP in both our Zacks Rank and Style Scores models, so value investors will likely feel that CUZ is the better option right now.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Cousins Properties (NYSE: CUZ) announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.32 per common share for the second quarter of 2026. The second quarter dividend will be payable on July 16, 2026 to common shareholders of record on July 6, 2026.
About Cousins Properties
Cousins Properties is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT). The Company, based in Atlanta, GA and acting through its operating partnership, Cousins Properties LP, primarily invests in Class A office buildings located in high growth Sun Belt markets. Founded in 1958, Cousins creates shareholder value through its extensive expertise in the development, acquisition, leasing, and management of high-quality real estate assets. The Company has a comprehensive strategy in place based on a simple platform, trophy assets, and opportunistic investments. For more information, please visit www.cousins.com.
This press release does not constitute an offer of any securities for sale. Certain matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws and are subject to uncertainties and risk and actual results may differ materially from projections. Readers should carefully review Cousins' financial statements and notes thereto, as well as the risk factors described in Part I, Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and other documents Cousins files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and speak as of the date of such statements. Cousins undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of future events, new information or otherwise.
Whether you're a value, growth, or momentum investor, finding strong stocks becomes easier with the Zacks Style Scores, a top feature of the Zacks Premium research service.
On April 20, 2026, Cousins Properties Inc (CUZ) shares rose 3.1% to a current price of $24.83. The stock has experienced significant volatility over the past ye
ATLANTA, April 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cousins Properties (NYSE: CUZ) has released its first quarter 2026 results. Please visit the Investors section of Cousins' website at www.cousins.com to access the Earnings Release and Supplemental Information.
ATLANTA, April 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cousins Properties Incorporated (the "Company") (NYSE: CUZ) announced today that its Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to $500 million of its outstanding common stock under its share repurchase program, increasing the total authorization under the program by $250 million. Under its current share repurchase program, the Company has repurchased approximately 3.9 million shares of its outstanding common stock at an average price of $23.36 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $90 million.
Cousins Properties (CUZ) came out with quarterly funds from operations (FFO) of $0.73 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.71 per share. This compares to FFO of $0.74 per share a year ago.
Although the revenue and EPS for Cousins Properties (CUZ) give a sense of how its business performed in the quarter ended March 2026, it might be worth considering how some key metrics compare with Wall Street estimates and the year-ago numbers.
Technology-led demand gives the REIT and Equity Trust - Other industry a strong growth path. Data centers, communication infrastructure and quality assets across office, industrial, health care, life sciences and storage are gaining importance as tenants seek reliable, efficient and service-rich space. Better systems and stronger properties should support resilient demand. Amid this, Prologis, Inc. (PLD - Free Report) , Cousins Properties Incorporated (CUZ - Free Report) and Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. (SHO - Free Report) are well-poised to benefit.
Still, the industry faces pressure from higher construction costs, labor constraints, power limits, supply-chain delays and cautious lenders. Tenant demand can shift, so future gains will depend on disciplined funding, cost control and execution.
About the Industry The Zacks REIT and Equity Trust - Other sector comprises a diverse collection of REIT stocks representing various asset categories, including industrial, office, lodging, healthcare, self-storage, data centers, infrastructure and more. Equity REITs lease out space within these properties to tenants, generating income through rental payments. Economic growth assumes a central role within the real estate sector as economic expansion directly correlates with higher demand for real estate, increased occupancy rates and greater bargaining power for landlords to command higher rental rates. The performance of Equity REITs hinges on the specific dynamics of their underlying assets and the geographic location of their properties. As such, real estate is becoming more closely tied to how companies operate, how technology grows and how people use specialized spaces.
What's Shaping the Future of the REIT and Equity Trust - Other Industry? Technology-Led Demand Is Becoming a Major Growth Driver: A major positive is the growing need for real estate that supports technology and connectivity. Data centers and communication infrastructure are becoming more important as businesses rely more on cloud platforms, artificial intelligence, mobile traffic and secure digital operations. These assets are not optional for many tenants. They sit behind everyday business activity, from storing information to moving it quickly and safely. This creates a strong role for landlords that can offer reliable power, scale, technical know-how and locations that help tenants expand. As technology keeps moving deeper into business life, this part of real estate should remain one of the clearest growth engines.
Quality Space Is Gaining Share Across Several Property Types: Across office, industrial, health care, life sciences and storage-related assets, the stronger properties are standing out. Tenants are being more selective, but they are still willing to choose buildings that help them operate better. In offices, that means modern, well-located and service-rich workplaces that support in-person work and employee experience. In industrial, it means efficient facilities that help companies manage supply chains and automation. In health care and life sciences, demand is supported by long-term needs tied to care delivery, research and specialized operations. Even in storage, operators are using pricing tools, customer data and disciplined expansion to protect value. The common theme is that better assets, better systems and better service are becoming more important than simply owning more space.
Costs and Execution Risks Remain a Real Pressure Point: The outlook is not without strain. Many REITs are dealing with higher construction costs, labor pressure, power constraints, supply-chain delays and more careful lenders. Some tenants are still cautious, and in a few property types, demand can shift quickly depending on business confidence or customer activity. Development also requires more discipline because new projects need the right tenant interest, funding and timing to make sense. This means the industry’s future may favor owners that can control expenses, raise capital wisely and avoid chasing growth for its own sake. The opportunity is there, but it will reward careful execution rather than broad optimism.
Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Bright Prospects The Zacks REIT and Equity Trust - Other industry is housed within the broader Finance sector. It carries a Zacks Industry Rank #81, which places it in the top 33% of around 250 Zacks industries.
The group’s Zacks Industry Rank, which is basically the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates healthy near-term prospects. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
The industry’s positioning in the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries is a result of the northward revision of funds from operations (FFO) per share outlook for the constituent companies in aggregate. Looking at the aggregate FFO per share estimate revisions, it appears that analysts are gaining confidence in this group’s growth potential of late. Since February-end, the industry’s FFO per share estimates for 2026 have moved north.
Before we present a few stocks that you might want to consider for your portfolio, let’s take a look at the industry’s recent stock market performance and valuation picture.
Industry Lags Stock Market Performance The REIT and Equity Trust - Other Industry has underperformed the S&P 500 composite and the broader Zacks Finance sector in a year.
The industry has risen 8% during this period compared with the S&P 500’s growth of 29% and the broader Finance sector’s 9% increase.
One-Year Price Performance
Industry's Current Valuation On the basis of the forward 12-month price-to-FFO ratio, which is a commonly used multiple for valuing REIT - Others, we see that the industry is currently trading at 16.31 compared with the S&P 500’s forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) of 22.09. However, the industry is trading above the Finance sector’s forward 12-month P/E of 15.61. This is shown in the chart below.
Forward 12 Month Price-to-FFO (P/FFO) Ratio
Over the last five years, the industry has traded as high as 22.27X and as low as 12.86X, with a median of 15.81X.
3 REIT and Equity Trust - Other Stocks to Buy Sunstone Hotel Investors: This is a lodging REIT focused on owning, operating and improving a high-quality portfolio of 14 hotels with around 7,000 rooms. Its properties are largely affiliated with nationally recognized brands and positioned in attractive resort, urban and convention markets, giving the company a balanced platform for long-term value creation.
Sunstone’s investment case is supported by strong portfolio momentum, disciplined cost control and active capital allocation. The company reported a solid first quarter, raised its 2026 outlook, and continues to benefit from growth assets such as Andaz Miami Beach, recovering resort demand in Maui, and opportunistic share repurchases that support earnings and shareholder value.
SHO currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s 2026 revenues calls for a year-over-year increase of 4.49%. The stock has rallied 8.2% in the past three months. The consensus mark for 2026 FFO per share has been revised upward over the past month to 91 cents, suggesting a 5.81% increase year over year. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Price and Consensus: SHO
Prologis: This is a leading global industrial REIT focused on high-quality warehouses and supply chain infrastructure in key consumption markets. Its platform supports major customers across e-commerce, retail, transportation and manufacturing, with a portfolio designed around resilient demand and long-term customer relationships.
The company’s pitch is its scale, disciplined execution and expanding growth avenues. Prologis delivered strong leasing momentum in first-quarter 2026, maintained high occupancy and is investing in attractive areas such as data centers and energy. It recorded 64 million square feet of lease signings and 75.8% retention. It is also scaling data centers, with $1.3 billion of build-to-suit starts, while about $6.7 billion in liquidity supports disciplined expansion and capital flexibility. Its strong balance sheet and global customer base position it well for steady cash flow growth.
Prologis currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PLD’s 2026 revenues calls for 4.92% increase year over year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 FFO per share suggests a 6.20% rise. The stock has appreciated 14.8% in the past six months.
Price and Consensus: PLD
Cousins Properties: This is an Atlanta-based, fully integrated REIT focused on Class A office buildings in high-growth Sun Belt markets. Founded in 1958, the company builds value through development, acquisitions, leasing and management of high-quality real estate, with a strategy centered on a simple platform, trophy assets and opportunistic investments.
The investment case is built on improving office demand, limited new supply and Cousins’ strong positioning in lifestyle-oriented workplaces. Recent results show healthy leasing momentum, rising occupancy and confidence from management, while portfolio upgrades and selective capital recycling support future growth. First-quarter 2026 leasing totaled 932,000 square feet, and portfolio occupancy improved to 88.9%.
CUZ currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 FFO per share has been raised marginally over the past two months, suggesting 3.17% year over year increase. The stock has risen 6.7% over the past three months.
Price and Consensus: CUZ
Note: Anything related to earnings presented in this write-up represents funds from operations (FFO) — a widely used metric to gauge the performance of REITs.
Cousins Properties (CUZ) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), reflecting growing optimism about the company's earnings prospects. This might drive the stock higher in the near term.
Investors looking for stocks in the REIT and Equity Trust - Other sector might want to consider either Cousins Properties (CUZ) or NETSTREIT (NTST). But which of these two companies is the best option for those looking for undervalued stocks?
Key Takeaways CUZ signed 932,000 sq. ft. of Q1 leases, with more than half from new and expansion deals.Cousins' second-generation cash rents climbed 15.2% in Q1, signaling pricing power in top-tier space.CUZ is recycling assets, buying 300 South Tryon and selling properties, to sharpen its portfolio mix. Office real estate is still a tough sector, but not every office landlord is facing the same story. Older buildings in weaker locations remain under pressure, while newer, well-located and amenity-rich properties are getting a bigger share of tenant demand. Cousins Properties (CUZ - Free Report) sits on the stronger side of that divide.
The company focuses on high-quality office assets in Sun Belt markets such as Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Nashville, TN, Dallas and Phoenix. These cities continue to attract businesses and workers, helped by job growth, population gains and a lower-cost operating environment compared with many coastal markets.
This makes CUZ an interesting stock for investors who believe the best office properties can keep recovering. Its latest results showed stronger leasing, rising rents and steady portfolio upgrades. The stock has gained 13.2% over the past three months, while the industry has slipped 0.7%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Analysts also seem optimistic about this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for both its 2026 and 2027 FFO per share being revised marginally upward over the past 60 days. The figures also suggest an increase of 3.17% and 4.03%, respectively, year over year.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Here are five reasons to consider buying Cousins Properties stock.
Factors That Make CUZ Stock a Solid PickLeasing Momentum Is Strong: One of the foremost reasons to like Cousins is tenant demand. The company signed 932,000 square feet of office leases in the first quarter, one of its best leasing quarters in years. More than half of that activity came from new and expansion leases, which suggests demand is not just about holding on to existing tenants. Management also pointed to a healthy late-stage leasing pipeline, giving investors confidence that occupancy can keep moving higher.
Rents Are Moving in the Right Direction: Cousins is not filling buildings by cutting prices. Second-generation cash rents rose 15.2% in the quarter, extending a long streak of positive rent growth. This is important because it shows pricing power in a market where top-tier space is becoming harder to find. If supply stays tight, the company is expected to have room to keep pushing rents over time.
Sun Belt Strategy Holds Potential: Cousins owns Class A office properties in Sun Belt markets, which continue to benefit from population growth, job creation and corporate migration. Companies looking for talent, lower costs and better business climates are still expanding in these markets, and Cousins is positioned in the type of buildings those tenants want.
Balance Sheet Gives Management Flexibility: Cousins has an investment-grade profile, access to unsecured debt markets and a larger credit facility. The company has solid liquidity, helped by a new $1.2 billion unsecured credit facility and a $500 million bond issue that addresses its 2026 refinancing needs. Leverage was 5.66X in the first quarter, but management expects it to move back toward the low-5X range as planned asset sales are completed. This gives CUZ room to fund acquisitions, buy back shares and improve the portfolio without taking on too much financial risk.
Portfolio Upgrades Can Support Future Growth: The company is actively improving its asset mix. It bought 300 South Tryon in Charlotte, sold Harborview Plaza in Tampa and is under contract to sell One Eleven Congress in Austin. This steady recycling is expected to leave Cousins with a cleaner, higher-quality portfolio. For investors who believe the best office assets will keep separating from the rest, CUZ offers a focused way to play that trend.
Other Stocks to ConsiderSome other top-ranked stocks from the broader REIT sector are Prologis, Inc. (PLD - Free Report) and W. P. Carey Inc. (WPC - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Prologis’ 2026 FFO per share suggests a 6.37% increase year over year.
The consensus mark for W. P. Carey’s 2026 FFO per share has been revised six cents upward to $5.26 over the past month.
Note: Anything related to earnings presented in this write-up represents funds from operations (FFO), a widely used metric to gauge the performance of REITs.
Cousins Properties remains a buy, supported by Q1 earnings beat, Sunbelt-focused portfolio growth, and resilient 5-year revenue trends. Q1 saw new office leases executed, with 52% from new and expansion leases, highlighting strong leasing momentum. CUZ's acquisition of a 638,000-square-foot Charlotte property further strengthens its Sunbelt presence and portfolio optimization strategy.
