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Highwoods Properties (HIW)
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Highwoods Properties (HIW) AI Stock Analysis

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HIW

Highwoods Properties

(NYSE:HIW)

Rating:72Outperform
Price Target:
$32.00
▲(10.54% Upside)
The overall score reflects positive earnings call sentiment and strong financial performance, offset by technical weakness and a relatively high valuation. The potential for growth in high-demand markets and the attractive dividend yield are key strengths, while the high P/E ratio and bearish momentum are risks.
Positive Factors
Asset Sales
Highwoods Properties has successfully completed the sale of non-core buildings in Raleigh and Tampa, generating $166.4 million in gross proceeds.
Leasing Activity
Leasing activity increased to 1.3mn SF from 0.9mn SF in the previous quarter.
Negative Factors
Earnings Guidance
The 25e guidance is below expectations driven by lower same-store NOI and would expect shares to be under pressure.
Earnings Impact
2025 is anticipated to be a transition year for Highwoods Properties, with large lease expirations and asset recycling potentially impacting earnings.
Occupancy
Occupancy is at 87.1%, showing a decline both quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year.

Highwoods Properties (HIW) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Highwoods Properties Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionHighwoods Properties, Inc., headquartered in Raleigh, is a publicly-traded (NYSE:HIW) real estate investment trust (REIT) and a member of the S&P MidCap 400 Index. Highwoods is a fully-integrated office REIT that owns, develops, acquires, leases and manages properties primarily in the best business districts (BBDs) of Atlanta, Charlotte, Nashville, Orlando, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, Richmond and Tampa.
How the Company Makes MoneyHighwoods Properties generates revenue primarily through leasing office and industrial spaces to a variety of tenants, including corporations, government agencies, and small businesses. The company's revenue model is centered around long-term leases, which provide a stable income stream. Additionally, Highwoods earns money through property management and development services, as well as ancillary income from parking facilities and other tenant services. Key revenue streams include rental income from leased properties, lease escalations, and any additional fees associated with property management. Partnerships with local governments and businesses can also enhance their earnings potential, particularly in terms of incentives for development and redevelopment projects.

Highwoods Properties Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jul 29, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: -4.30%|
Next Earnings Date:Oct 28, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call reflects a generally positive outlook for Highwoods Properties, driven by strong leasing activity, an increase in their FFO outlook, and growth potential in their development pipeline. The company's focus on high-growth Sunbelt markets is paying off, with these regions showing strong economic performance and demand for office spaces. However, challenges such as flat occupancy levels and elevated leasing CapEx remain. Overall, the highlights significantly outweigh the lowlights, indicating a positive sentiment.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Financial Performance and Upbeat Outlook
Highwoods Properties delivered FFO of $0.89 per share in Q2 and raised the mid-point of their 2025 FFO outlook by $0.02, to a range of $3.37 to $3.45 per share. The company has increased its FFO outlook by $0.06 at the midpoint since the beginning of the year, indicating nearly 2% growth.
Robust Leasing Activity
The company signed 923,000 square feet of second-gen leasing in Q2, including 371,000 square feet of new leasing. They have strong prospects for additional leasing, indicating future occupancy gains.
Growth Potential in Development Pipeline
Highwoods has over $55 million of annual NOI growth potential across their core four operating properties and development projects. They have already secured over 60% of this potential with signed leases.
Sunbelt Strategy and Market Strength
The company's Sunbelt BBD strategy is proving successful, with markets like Nashville, Charlotte, and Dallas showing strong leasing activity and economic growth. These markets continue to attract business and talent, supporting future growth.
Positive Outlook for Occupancy and Rent Growth
Highwoods expects occupancy levels to improve by the end of 2025, driven by strong leasing activity and limited new office supply. This is expected to drive rent growth, particularly in high-barrier-to-entry markets.
Negative Updates
Flat Occupancy Levels
Occupancy was roughly flat from Q1 at 85.6%, indicating challenges in quickly filling vacant spaces despite strong leasing efforts.
Slow Development Leasing
While the company signed 19,000 square feet during the quarter in their development pipeline, this is relatively low, and they remain confident but cautious about future leased rate increases.
Elevated Leasing CapEx
Despite strong financial performance, the company mentioned elevated leasing CapEx due to future occupancy build, which could impact cash flows.
Company Guidance
During the Highwoods Properties Q2 2025 earnings call, the company provided updated guidance, highlighting several key metrics. The firm reported strong financial results, delivering Funds From Operations (FFO) of $0.89 per share for the quarter and increasing the midpoint of its 2025 FFO outlook by $0.02 to a range of $3.37 to $3.45 per share. This reflects a $0.06 increase at the midpoint since the beginning of the year. The company's occupancy rate was flat from Q1 at 85.6%, with a leased rate up 80 basis points to 88.9%. Highwoods has forecasted a potential $25 million annual Net Operating Income (NOI) upside from stabilizing four core assets, with 50% of this upside secured through signed leases. The firm also noted over $10 million of NOI growth potential at its GlenLake III and Granite Park Six development properties, with $6 million of this already signed. Moreover, new developments 23Springs and Midtown East have over $20 million of NOI growth potential, with 59% of this leased and strong prospects for an additional 15%. The company remains optimistic about future growth, driven by a combination of leasing activity, development pipeline stabilization, and strategic portfolio improvements.

Highwoods Properties Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Highwoods Properties presents a mixed financial picture. The income statement indicates challenges with revenue and profitability, but the balance sheet and cash flow statements highlight financial stability and liquidity. The company's strong cash generation provides a safety net despite recent revenue declines, suggesting potential for stabilization and growth.
Income Statement
40
Negative
Highwoods Properties' income statement shows mixed results. The company has experienced a significant decline in total revenue for the latest annual report, leading to negative EBIT and a drastic reduction in net income. Despite these challenges, the company has maintained a positive EBITDA margin, indicating operational efficiency. However, the overall revenue growth rate appears stagnant over the years.
Balance Sheet
60
Neutral
The balance sheet of Highwoods Properties reveals moderate financial stability. The company has a solid equity ratio and no total debt reported in the most recent period, suggesting improved leverage. However, the return on equity has decreased due to the reduction in net income, potentially impacting future financial flexibility.
Cash Flow
75
Positive
Highwoods Properties shows strong cash flow metrics. The company has consistently generated positive operating cash flow, and the free cash flow has shown growth. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is favorable, indicating efficient cash generation relative to profits. This strong cash position supports the company's liquidity and operational resilience.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue611.63M830.02M834.00M828.93M768.01M736.90M
Gross Profit409.42M557.85M565.22M569.12M531.57M505.07M
EBITDA517.97M474.48M528.51M283.94M250.93M232.25M
Net Income128.41M102.25M148.72M58.57M222.18M261.61M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets6.06B6.03B6.00B6.06B5.70B5.21B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments21.19M22.41M25.12M21.36M23.15M109.32M
Total Debt0.003.29B3.21B3.20B2.79B2.47B
Total Liabilities3.62B3.60B3.52B3.50B3.08B2.74B
Stockholders Equity2.37B2.36B2.43B2.48B2.48B2.34B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow364.07M403.58M386.96M421.51M272.50M355.80M
Operating Cash Flow364.07M403.58M386.96M421.78M414.56M358.16M
Investing Cash Flow-328.63M-302.44M-169.69M-614.80M-287.68M110.68M
Financing Cash Flow-32.24M-99.04M-205.43M187.93M-284.93M-294.34M

Highwoods Properties Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price28.95
Price Trends
50DMA
30.55
Negative
100DMA
29.43
Negative
200DMA
29.50
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.58
Positive
RSI
41.88
Neutral
STOCH
38.16
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For HIW, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 28.95 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 29.60, below the 50-day MA of 30.55, and below the 200-day MA of 29.50, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.58 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 41.88 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 38.16 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for HIW.

Highwoods Properties Risk Analysis

Highwoods Properties disclosed 36 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Highwoods Properties reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Highwoods Properties Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (65)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
74
Outperform
$4.53B20.574.06%5.70%2.26%10.15%
72
Outperform
$3.13B24.725.39%6.91%-2.16%-16.41%
66
Neutral
$1.62B-2.52%0.56%-1.68%63.27%
65
Neutral
$2.02B17.324.04%5.11%1.08%-0.02%
63
Neutral
$4.64B74.761.30%4.64%13.07%-4.94%
59
Neutral
$2.96B67.331.74%5.22%-0.57%
58
Neutral
$3.95B663.10-0.37%5.69%15.25%79.18%
* Real Estate Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
HIW
Highwoods Properties
28.95
-0.33
-1.13%
CUZ
Cousins Properties
27.60
1.72
6.65%
DEI
Douglas Emmett
14.95
0.68
4.77%
KRC
Kilroy Realty
38.73
7.58
24.33%
SLG
SL Green Realty
55.53
-3.83
-6.45%
PGRE
Paramount Group
6.81
2.08
43.97%

Highwoods Properties Corporate Events

Shareholder MeetingsBusiness Operations and Strategy
Highwoods Properties Approves New Equity Incentive Plan
Neutral
May 13, 2025

On May 13, 2025, Highwoods Properties‘ stockholders approved a new long-term equity incentive plan, which aims to align the interests of directors, officers, and employees with those of the stockholders by granting them ownership stakes in the company. The plan allows for the issuance of up to 1,250,000 shares of common stock as restricted stock or restricted stock units, with specific limitations on the number of shares that can be granted annually to individuals. Key features include restrictions on share recycling, prohibitions on stock options, and specific vesting period requirements, ensuring that awards are aligned with long-term company success. Additionally, the company held its annual stockholders’ meeting on the same day, where various matters, including the election of directors and the ratification of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent auditor for 2025, were voted on.

The most recent analyst rating on (HIW) stock is a Hold with a $22.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Highwoods Properties stock, see the HIW Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Aug 01, 2025