CoStar Group, Inc. (CSGP) vs Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. (MAA)
A side-by-side comparison of CoStar Group, Inc. and Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of September 13, 2026. Differences are shown without an overall score or investment verdict.
Total return — CSGP vs MAA
growth of $100 · dividends reinvested · last 10yCSGP vs MAA: by the numbers
- •MAA is the larger company ($13.65B vs $11.29B market cap).
- •MAA converts more revenue to profit (18.17% vs 2.08% net margin).
- •CSGP grew revenue faster over the past five years (14.49% vs 5.36% CAGR).
- •MAA pays a dividend (4.89% yield), while CSGP has no payments in the available dividend history.
Metrics side by side
Valuation
| Metric | CSGP | MAA |
|---|---|---|
| P/E ratio | 151.72 | 34.29 |
| Forward P/E | N/A | 31.81 |
| P/S ratio | 3.17 | 6.15 |
| P/B ratio | 1.42 | 2.51 |
| EV / EBITDA | 28.18 | 15.59 |
| FCF yield | N/A | 4.17% |
For REITs like CoStar Group, Inc., GAAP P/E is distorted: heavy non-cash property depreciation depresses reported earnings and overstates the multiple. Real-estate companies are valued on funds from operations (FFO / AFFO) and price-to-FFO — see the Funds From Operations section. The P/E is shown for reference only.
For REITs like Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc., GAAP P/E is distorted: heavy non-cash property depreciation depresses reported earnings and overstates the multiple. Real-estate companies are valued on funds from operations (FFO / AFFO) and price-to-FFO — see the Funds From Operations section. The P/E is shown for reference only.
Profitability
| Metric | CSGP | MAA |
|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 76.48% | 31.83% |
| Operating margin | 2.18% | 26.88% |
| Net margin | 2.08% | 18.17% |
| ROE | 0.93% | 7.42% |
| ROIC | 0.60% | 5.17% |
Dividends
| Metric | CSGP | MAA |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield | N/A | 4.89% |
| Payout ratio | N/A | 178.51% |
CoStar Group, Inc.'s payout ratio is measured against GAAP earnings, which non-cash depreciation depresses for REITs — the dividend is conventionally assessed against funds from operations (FFO / AFFO) instead, so the GAAP figure overstates the payout burden.
Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc.'s payout ratio is measured against GAAP earnings, which non-cash depreciation depresses for REITs — the dividend is conventionally assessed against funds from operations (FFO / AFFO) instead, so the GAAP figure overstates the payout burden.
Growth (annualized)
| Metric | CSGP | MAA |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue CAGR (5Y) | 14.49% | 5.36% |
| EPS CAGR (5Y) | -51.09% | 11.49% |
| FCF CAGR (5Y) | -5.28% | 3.97% |
| Total return CAGR (5Y) | -19.50% | -4.49% |
Frequently asked
- Which has grown faster, CSGP or MAA?
- Over the past five years, CSGP grew revenue faster — CSGP at a 14.49% CAGR versus MAA at 5.36%.
- Does CSGP or MAA pay a bigger dividend?
- MAA pays a dividend (4.89% yield), while CSGP has no payments in the available dividend history.
- Is CSGP or MAA more profitable?
- MAA runs the higher net margin — CSGP at 2.08% versus MAA at 18.17%.
- How have CSGP and MAA total returns compared?
- Over the past 10 years, CSGP delivered 4.00% and MAA delivered 6.87% annualized total return. Past performance doesn't predict future results.
Go deeper
Dig into the metrics
CoStar & Mid-America Apartment Communities appear in these rankings
Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified September 13, 2026.