Missionomics Back to app

Real Estate

Highwoods Properties, Inc. (HIW)

Real Estate $3.7B market cap

Data as of July 17, 2026

Environment
65.00
People
82.00
Leadership
80.00

Environment story

Highwoods Properties, a fully-integrated office REIT, discloses minimal direct environmental data in its 10-K filing. No Scope 1, 2, or 3 emissions figures, renewable energy percentage, or net-zero target year are stated. The company mentions a revolving credit facility with sustainability-linked pricing (2.5 bps adjustment for greenhouse gas emission-reduction targets), but provides no actual emissions baseline, reduction pathways, or third-party verification. No major environmental controversies, toxic-waste litigation, or water-consumption disputes are disclosed. The company operates an office portfolio across Raleigh, Nashville, Atlanta, Charlotte, Tampa, and Orlando with 26.8 million rentable square feet, but environmental impact quantification is absent. Absence of disclosed emissions data and net-zero commitments significantly constrains the environmental score.

Criticisms on file

No material criticisms on file for this pillar.

Disclosed initiatives

  • Sustainability-Linked Revolving Credit Facility
    The $750 million unsecured revolving credit facility includes a 2.5 basis-point interest-rate adjustment (upward or downward) based on achievement of pre-determined sustainability goals regarding ongoing reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Term loan modified in Q3 2025 with same sustainability-linked adjustment.
    Demonstrates commitment to GHG reduction incentive structure, but no baseline emissions, target levels, or verification mechanism disclosed in this filing.

Social story

Highwoods demonstrates robust social and human-capital practices. As of December 31, 2025, the company employed 315 full-time employees with a 3-year average turnover rate of 16%, significantly lower than the national industry average of 22%. Employee tenure averages 10 years; average age is 49. No union suppression activities, strikes, or NLRB complaints are disclosed. The company emphasizes competitive compensation (minimum $15/hour), comprehensive benefits (including up to 25 vacation days, 93% 401(k) participation, 15% stock purchase discount), and health/safety training including OSHA compliance and emergency response protocols. Diversity metrics show 35% female employees and 32% persons of color (new hires: 46% female, 46% persons of color). Leadership diversity data is not explicitly quantified but the company has established a "Heart of Highwoods" diversity and inclusion program with supplier-diversity initiatives and employee resource groups ("DIG"). CEO-to-median-worker pay ratio is not disclosed, preventing exact calculation but no red flags noted. Supply chain is domestic office-property management; no cobalt, lithium, or conflict-mineral exposure identified.

Criticisms on file

No material criticisms on file for this pillar.

Disclosed initiatives

  • Total Rewards Program
    Competitive compensation with minimum $15/hour floor; 50% of employees eligible for 5-20% annual bonus; 40-70% receive discretionary bonuses ($500-$2,000); comprehensive health, PTO (up to 25 days), 401(k) match (93% participation), 15% stock purchase plan (30% participation), parental leave for all caregivers.
    Supports retention and employee satisfaction; turnover 16% avg vs. 22% industry average.
  • Equity Incentive Compensation
    ~9% of employees (including officers) receive long-term equity awards; non-officer awards are time-based restricted stock vesting over 4 years; development incentive cash pool ($1,000-$10,000+) for non-executive employees; leasing commissions for in-house professionals.
    Aligns employee and shareholder interests; retention mechanism for skilled workforce.
  • Health & Safety Programs
    Regulatory OSHA training; fire/life-safety systems training; emergency response and business-continuity simulations; pandemic safety training; robust protocols for maintenance engineers and technicians (35% of workforce are skilled trade professionals).
    Proactive workplace safety; critical for portfolio maintenance operations.
  • Well-being Initiatives
    "HIW Well-being" program with wellness committees in each location; health benefit plans designed to improve access and reduce costs; focus on holistic health for on-job and personal life.
    Employee health and retention support.
  • Career Development & Empowerment
    Periodic career conversations and goal-setting at least annually; nearly 50% of current employees have experienced significant career advancement; engagement surveys every two years; succession planning across management levels.
    Internal promotion culture; long average tenure (10 years) and reduced turnover.
  • Apprenticeship & Trade-Professional Pipeline
    Partnerships with local trade schools to implement apprenticeship programs encouraging younger workers into HVAC, maintenance engineering, and technical trades; addresses aging trade-professional workforce (avg age 52 vs. overall 49).
    Proactive mitigation of future skilled-labor shortage; workforce pipeline sustainability.
  • Heart of Highwoods Diversity & Inclusion Program
    Company-wide diversity and inclusion program targeting authentic, meaningful inclusion. Includes supplier-diversity opportunities for small/minority vendors; paid volunteer time and MLK Jr. Day service; employee resource group ("DIG") advocating diversity, community partnerships, and vendor expansion.
    Documented commitment to vendor diversity and employee resource representation.

Governance story

Highwoods exhibits strong governance structures overall. The company has a single-class share structure with no disclosed dual-class voting, antitakeover provisions are standard (9.8% ownership limit, control-share exemption, Maryland business-combination exemption in charter) and do not appear to entrench a controlling shareholder. Board independence percentage is not explicitly stated in this filing, but executive officer titles (CEO Theodore Klinck, COO Brian Leary, CFO Brendan Maiorana, General Counsel Jeffrey Miller) and the existence of an Audit Committee overseeing cybersecurity and risk management suggest governance oversight. No major antitrust proceedings, SEC enforcement actions, consumer-safety fines, or active litigation challenging shareholder proposals are disclosed. Lobbying expenditures are not itemized in this 10-K. The company has not experienced material cybersecurity incidents and implements NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0 best practices. Anti-takeover provisions (charter, Maryland law exemptions, operating partnership restrictions) are documented but not excessive. No disclosed PAC or political-contribution activity. Governance score is supported by cybersecurity maturity, risk-oversight delegation to Audit Committee, and absence of major regulatory or fraud proceedings.

Criticisms on file

No material criticisms on file for this pillar.

Disclosed initiatives

  • Cybersecurity Risk Management Framework
    Adopted NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0; IT steering committee led by CIO; incident response plan; quarterly employee cybersecurity training (mandatory); independent third-party penetration testing and audits; cyber risk insurance policy; real-time threat detection partnership with third-party provider.
    Proactive risk mitigation; no material cybersecurity incidents to date; audit-committee quarterly briefings.
  • Enterprise Risk Management Assessment
    Annual company-wide enterprise risk management assessment; business impact analysis linking critical business operations to IT systems; audit-committee oversight of risk management processes.
    Structured risk identification and monitoring across operations.
  • Audit Committee Oversight
    Audit Committee responsible for overseeing IT steering committee, cybersecurity risk assessment, and risk-management processes. Quarterly briefings on cybersecurity; disclosure-committee coordination on material incidents.
    Board-level accountability for risk and disclosure compliance.
  • Sustainability-Linked Debt Instruments
    Revolving credit facility and term loan include 2.5 bps interest-rate adjustment based on achievement of pre-determined GHG emission-reduction targets; links cost of capital to environmental performance metrics.
    Incentivizes management to pursue GHG reduction; ties governance to ESG accountability.

These are Missionomics' own editorial scores — directional signals built from disclosed facts under a published method, not certifications or definitive ratings of Highwoods Properties, Inc.. Coverage and confidence vary by data point, and figures can lag real-world changes. Read the full Methodology for sourcing, scoring, and correction details — or open Highwoods Properties, Inc. in the app for interactive charts and portfolio building.

Open Highwoods Properties, Inc. in Missionomics

More in Real Estate

Welltower Inc. (WELL) Prologis, Inc. (PLD) Equinix, Inc. (EQIX) American Tower Corporation (AMT) Simon Property Group Inc. (SPG) Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (DLR)

Browse Companies · Methodology · Terms of Service · Privacy Policy · Back to Missionomics