Tearsheet

Investment Highlights Why It Matters Which of these 2 stories sounds closer for this stock?

1. Generates cash flow

The stock generated 4% or more of the share price (called cash flow yield), and shows moderate 10-15% or more growth.

2. Riding a trend

Think Tesla during the pandemic of 2020 when EVs were riding a cultural high, or Nvidia in the current AI boom, or even Figma. These companies don’t have enough yield, or, enough growth, or both - however - they are riding a trend. They have momentum. These can be more volatile - they don’t have the floor of strong cash flow


0 Attractive yield
Total YieldTotal Yield = Earnings Yield + Dividend Yield, Earnings Yield = Net Income / Market Cap Dividend Yield = Total Dividends / Market Cap is 5.5%, Dividend Yield is 4.3%
Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -13%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -55%
Debt is significant
Net D/ENet Debt/Equity. Debt net of cash. Negative indicates net cash. Equity is taken as the Market Capitalization is 69%
1 Strong revenue growth
Rev Chg LTMRevenue Change % Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 16%
  Expensive valuation multiples
P/EPrice/Earnings or Price/(Net Income) is 84x
2 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 43%
  Not cash flow generative
FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -8.3%
3 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 25%
  
4 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Smart Buildings & Proptech, and Sustainable & Green Buildings. Themes include IoT for Buildings, ESG REITs, Show more.
  
0 Attractive yield
Total YieldTotal Yield = Earnings Yield + Dividend Yield, Earnings Yield = Net Income / Market Cap Dividend Yield = Total Dividends / Market Cap is 5.5%, Dividend Yield is 4.3%
1 Strong revenue growth
Rev Chg LTMRevenue Change % Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 16%
2 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 43%
3 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 25%
4 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Smart Buildings & Proptech, and Sustainable & Green Buildings. Themes include IoT for Buildings, ESG REITs, Show more.
5 Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -13%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -55%
6 Debt is significant
Net D/ENet Debt/Equity. Debt net of cash. Negative indicates net cash. Equity is taken as the Market Capitalization is 69%
7 Expensive valuation multiples
P/EPrice/Earnings or Price/(Net Income) is 84x
8 Not cash flow generative
FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -8.3%

Valuation, Metrics & Events

CUZ Stock


Why The Stock Moved


Qualitative Assessment

AI Generated Analysis | Feedback

Here are the key points explaining the approximate -12.3% movement in Cousins Properties (CUZ) stock from August 31, 2025, to December 4, 2025: **1. Cousins Properties reported a decrease in net income for the third quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in the prior year.** The company's net income available to common stockholders for Q3 2025 was $8.6 million, or $0.05 per share, a decline from $11.2 million, or $0.07 per share, in Q3 2024.

**2. Increased interest expenses and a decrease in weighted average occupancy impacted growth in both the second and third quarters of 2025.** Despite healthy leasing activity, these factors "marred the growth tempo" according to reports on the Q3 2025 results. Similarly, in Q2 2025, increased interest expenses and decreased weighted average occupancy were noted as hindering the growth rate.

**3. Multiple analyst downgrades and reductions in price targets occurred during the period.** Wells Fargo & Company cut its price target from $32.00 to $30.00 on November 11, 2025. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced its price target from $37.00 to $33.00 on November 25, 2025. Truist Financial dropped its target from $30.00 to $28.00 in early December 2025, and Jefferies Financial Group lowered its rating from "buy" to "hold" with a price target reduction from $34.00 to $27.00 in October 2025. Additionally, Wall Street Zen downgraded shares from "hold" to "sell" in early November 2025.

**4. The company's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio was notably high compared to industry averages, suggesting potential overvaluation.** As of November 26, 2025, Cousins Properties' P/E ratio stood at 74.5x, significantly exceeding the US Office REITs industry average of 22.4x and its peers' average of 17.9x. This elevated ratio could imply that investors were paying a premium for future expectations, making the stock susceptible to downward adjustments if growth prospects faced challenges.

**5. Cousins Properties exhibited an overall negative trend in its longer-term share price performance leading into and within the specified period.** As of November 26, 2025, while shares had seen some minor gains over the preceding four weeks, the year-to-date share price return remained negative, and the 1-year total shareholder return was -15.96%. This indicated a broader context of underperformance that could have contributed to investor caution and the stock's continued decline during the requested timeframe.

Show more

Stock Movement Drivers

Return vs. Risk


Price Returns Compared

 202020212022202320242025Total [1]
Returns
CUZ Return-15%23%-35%2%33%-13%-19%
Peers Return-11%37%-22%10%14%2%22%
S&P 500 Return16%27%-19%24%23%16%112%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
CUZ Win Rate50%58%42%50%67%40% 
Peers Win Rate43%69%43%52%57%40% 
S&P 500 Win Rate58%75%42%67%75%70% 

Max Drawdowns [4]
CUZ Max Drawdown-45%-6%-43%-26%-9%-16% 
Peers Max Drawdown-46%-4%-31%-19%-13%-13% 
S&P 500 Max Drawdown-31%-1%-25%-1%-2%-15% 


[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: EPRT, PECO, IRT, BXMT, BXP.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2025 data is for the year up to 12/3/2025 (YTD)

How Low Can It Go

Unique KeyEventCUZS&P 500
2022 Inflation Shock2022 Inflation Shock  
2022 Inflation Shock% Loss% Loss-58.2%-25.4%
2022 Inflation Shock% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven139.4%34.1%
2022 Inflation ShockTime to BreakevenTime to BreakevenNot Fully Recovered days464 days
2020 Covid Pandemic2020 Covid Pandemic  
2020 Covid Pandemic% Loss% Loss-46.9%-33.9%
2020 Covid Pandemic% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven88.4%51.3%
2020 Covid PandemicTime to BreakevenTime to BreakevenNot Fully Recovered days148 days
2018 Correction2018 Correction  
2018 Correction% Loss% Loss-23.1%-19.8%
2018 Correction% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven30.0%24.7%
2018 CorrectionTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven79 days120 days
2008 Global Financial Crisis2008 Global Financial Crisis  
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Loss% Loss-85.3%-56.8%
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven579.2%131.3%
2008 Global Financial CrisisTime to BreakevenTime to BreakevenNot Fully Recovered days1480 days

Compare to EPRT, PECO, IRT, BXMT, BXP


In The Past

Cousins Properties's stock fell -58.2% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 1/7/2022. A -58.2% loss requires a 139.4% gain to breakeven.

Preserve Wealth

Limiting losses and compounding gains is essential to preserving wealth over time.

Asset Allocation

Actively managed asset allocation strategies protect wealth. Learn more.

About Cousins Properties (CUZ)

Better Bets than Cousins Properties (CUZ)

Trade Ideas

Select past ideas related to CUZ. For more, see Trefis Trade Ideas.

Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
MPW_10312025_Short_Squeeze10312025MPWMedical Properties TrustSpecialShort Squeeze PotentialShort Squeeze Potential
Has potential for a short squeeze. High short interest, rising short interest and high debt.
8.5%8.5%-5.8%
CUZ_9302023_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield09302023CUZCousins PropertiesDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
21.5%52.2%-12.1%
CUZ_6302022_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield06302022CUZCousins PropertiesDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
-10.7%-17.8%-34.3%
CUZ_10312020_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield10312020CUZCousins PropertiesDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
46.5%60.8%0.0%
Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
MPW_10312025_Short_Squeeze10312025MPWMedical Properties TrustSpecialShort Squeeze PotentialShort Squeeze Potential
Has potential for a short squeeze. High short interest, rising short interest and high debt.
8.5%8.5%-5.8%
CUZ_9302023_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield09302023CUZCousins PropertiesDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
21.5%52.2%-12.1%
CUZ_6302022_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield06302022CUZCousins PropertiesDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
-10.7%-17.8%-34.3%
CUZ_10312020_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield10312020CUZCousins PropertiesDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
46.5%60.8%0.0%

Recent Active Movers

Recent Active Movers

More From Trefis

Peer Comparisons for Cousins Properties

Peers to compare with:

Financials

CUZEPRTPECOIRTBXMTBXPMedian
NameCousins .Essentia.Phillips.Independ.Blacksto.BXP  
Mkt Price25.5931.3334.8717.2519.7671.1528.46
Mkt Cap4.36.24.44.03.411.34.3
Rev LTM9645317126525083,464682
Op Inc LTM219338191122-1,022219
FCF LTM-803632011272241,221213
FCF 3Y Avg156298208693651,248253
CFO LTM4173633362852241,221350
CFO 3Y Avg3832983132673651,248339

Growth & Margins

CUZEPRTPECOIRTBXMTBXPMedian
NameCousins .Essentia.Phillips.Independ.Blacksto.BXP  
Rev Chg LTM16.4%24.2%10.7%0.8%-4.6%2.5%6.6%
Rev Chg 3Y Avg8.5%24.2%7.9%6.7%-4.5%4.3%7.3%
Rev Chg Q18.7%23.7%10.4%4.4%21.1%1.4%14.5%
QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM4.2%5.5%2.5%1.1%4.8%0.4%3.3%
Op Mgn LTM22.7%63.6%26.8%18.8%-29.5%26.8%
Op Mgn 3Y Avg22.4%62.5%25.6%20.7%-30.6%25.6%
QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM0.0%0.1%1.2%-0.4%--0.3%0.0%
CFO/Rev LTM43.2%68.4%47.2%43.8%44.1%35.3%44.0%
CFO/Rev 3Y Avg44.4%69.3%48.1%41.0%61.8%37.2%46.2%
FCF/Rev LTM-8.3%68.4%28.2%19.4%44.1%35.3%31.7%
FCF/Rev 3Y Avg19.8%69.3%32.0%10.6%61.8%37.2%34.6%

Valuation

CUZEPRTPECOIRTBXMTBXPMedian
NameCousins .Essentia.Phillips.Independ.Blacksto.BXP  
Mkt Cap4.36.24.44.03.411.34.3
P/S5.011.16.15.96.23.46.0
P/EBIT23.317.221.837.9-23.023.0
P/E84.424.552.7171.829.5-58.741.1
P/CFO11.716.212.813.414.19.613.1
Total Yield5.5%7.9%5.5%4.5%13.6%1.2%5.5%
Dividend Yield4.3%3.8%3.6%3.9%10.2%2.9%3.9%
FCF Yield 3Y Avg4.8%6.0%4.8%1.9%10.6%11.3%5.4%
D/E0.70.40.60.65.01.50.6
Net D/E0.70.40.60.64.91.40.6

Returns

CUZEPRTPECOIRTBXMTBXPMedian
NameCousins .Essentia.Phillips.Independ.Blacksto.BXP  
1M Rtn-0.6%4.1%3.2%7.8%6.5%0.8%3.7%
3M Rtn-11.3%2.3%-0.7%-1.1%4.3%-2.7%-0.9%
6M Rtn-8.4%-0.7%-0.3%-5.0%10.7%2.3%-0.5%
12M Rtn-13.4%-1.5%-7.6%-16.3%16.1%-6.5%-7.1%
3Y Rtn14.3%51.2%19.8%7.4%13.9%20.2%17.0%
1M Excs Rtn-0.6%4.2%3.3%7.8%6.6%0.8%3.7%
3M Excs Rtn-16.8%-2.4%-7.7%-7.3%-2.9%-10.0%-7.5%
6M Excs Rtn-23.1%-15.4%-15.0%-19.7%-4.0%-12.4%-15.2%
12M Excs Rtn-29.4%-18.1%-22.1%-31.7%0.1%-22.2%-22.1%
3Y Excs Rtn-55.1%-15.4%-49.4%-60.9%-60.2%-50.7%-52.9%

Financials

Segment Financials

Revenue by Segment

$ Mil20242023202220212020
Single Segment803    
Fee income 6161829
Non-Office 532 
Office 748736720 
Other 3000
Rental property revenues    629
Total803762755740658


Price Behavior

Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date11142025
Short Interest: Shares Quantity8,953,601
Short Interest: % Change Since 1031202514.1%
Average Daily Volume1,469,793
Days-to-Cover Short Interest6.09
Basic Shares Quantity167,967,000
Short % of Basic Shares5.3%

SEC Filings

Expand for More

Report DateFiling DateFiling
93020251030202510-Q 9/30/2025
6302025731202510-Q 6/30/2025
3312025501202510-Q 3/31/2025
12312024206202510-K 12/31/2024
93020241024202410-Q 9/30/2024
6302024725202410-Q 6/30/2024
3312024425202410-Q 3/31/2024
12312023207202410-K 12/31/2023
93020231026202310-Q 9/30/2023
6302023727202310-Q 6/30/2023
3312023427202310-Q 3/31/2023
12312022209202310-K 12/31/2022
93020221027202210-Q 9/30/2022
6302022728202210-Q 6/30/2022
3312022428202210-Q 3/31/2022
12312021203202210-K 12/31/2021