Compare CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. (CBL) vs Kimco Realty Corporation (KIM) Stock

CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. (CBL) offers the better valuation at 8.7x trailing P/E (41.1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. (CBL) a "Hold" — based on 22 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. (CBL) is the cheapest at 8.7x versus Kimco Realty Corporation at 42.8x. On forward P/E, Kimco Realty Corporation is actually cheaper at 30.4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. (CBL) delivered a total return of +55.8%, compared to +51.2% for Kimco Realty Corporation (KIM). A $10,000 investment in CBL five years ago would be worth approximately $16K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CBL returned +55.8% versus KIM's +23.3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Kimco Realty Corporation (KIM) is the lower-risk stock at 0.70β versus CBL & Associates Properties, Inc.'s 0.85β — meaning CBL is approximately 23% more volatile than KIM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Kimco Realty Corporation (KIM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 79% versus 6% for CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. (CBL) is the more profitable company, earning 23.5% net margin versus 20.2% for Kimco Realty Corporation — meaning it keeps 23.5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: KIM leads at 30.9% versus 24.2% for CBL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — KIM leads at 68.7%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Kimco Realty Corporation (KIM) trades at 30.4x forward P/E versus 41.1x for CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. — 10.6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

In this comparison, KIM (4.3% yield) pays a dividend. CBL does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Kimco Realty Corporation (KIM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.70), 4.3% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (KIM: +23.3%, CBL: +55.8%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Real Estate sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. In terms of investment character: CBL is a small-cap deep-value stock; KIM is a mid-cap income-oriented stock. KIM pays a dividend while CBL does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.