GET DAILY SIGNALSCDP, FRT, and KIM: REITs Delivering +22.9%, +16.7%, and +27.5% YTD Returns – A Closer Comparison
Key Takeaways
- All three are real estate investment trusts (REITs), but they occupy distinct niches: CDP is defense-focused office, FRT is premium mixed-use retail, and KIM is grocery-anchored shopping centers.
- KIM has posted the strongest recent momentum, with a roughly 27.5% year-to-date return versus about 22.9% for CDP and 16.7% for FRT.
- FRT commands a premium valuation and delivers the highest-quality, highest-density urban real estate, but its growth is steadier and slower.
- CDP offers differentiated exposure to U.S. defense and IT tenants, making it more sensitive to federal budget policy than the other two.
- Tickeron AI Verdict: KIM is the ticker of choice among the three, based on trend consistency, durable necessity-retail demand, and recent catalysts.
Introduction
Investors comparing CDP, FRT, and KIM are, at a glance, looking at three real estate investment trusts (REITs) that pay dependable dividends. Beneath the surface, however, each company is shaped by a very different demand driver: national-security leasing, affluent urban retail, and everyday grocery-anchored shopping. This stock comparison is most relevant for income-oriented investors and traders weighing sector exposure, relative performance, and market positioning in a period of shifting interest-rate expectations. Understanding how these names diverge in business model, momentum, and risk can help clarify which fits a given portfolio objective. I also checked this using Tickeron’s AI Screener to see how the stock compares to others in the industry.
A Closer Look at CDP
CDP, or COPT Defense Properties, is a self-managed REIT that owns and develops office and data-center properties near U.S. government defense installations. Its tenants are primarily federal agencies and defense contractors that require high-security, mission-critical space. As of its most recent disclosure, the Defense/IT portfolio spanned roughly 23 million square feet across more than 200 properties and was about 96% leased, underscoring unusually high occupancy for an office landlord.
In recent weeks, CDP shares have traded in the low-to-mid $30s, within a 52-week range of about $27 to $39. The stock has delivered a solid year-to-date return near 23%, though its relative performance has been uneven as investors weigh federal budget priorities and defense-spending uncertainty. Elevated interest rates also remain a consideration, given the company's debt load. Still, its specialized, sticky tenant base and strong occupancy support a resilient, if occasionally volatile, profile.
A Closer Look at FRT
FRT, or Federal Realty Investment Trust, is a retail-focused REIT that owns and redevelops high-quality shopping centers and mixed-use properties in densely populated, high-income coastal markets. Its portfolio includes well-known destinations such as Santana Row, Pike & Rose, and Assembly Row, where demand generally exceeds supply.
FRT shares have recently traded near $114, within a 52-week range of about $90 to $128, and have gained roughly 17% year-to-date. The company reported strong third-quarter results, with funds from operations (FFO, a key REIT earnings measure) per share rising about 6% year over year, and it raised full-year guidance. It also completed a roughly $508 million acquisition of The Summit retail hub in Alabama, advancing its capital-recycling strategy. FRT's premium valuation reflects its high-quality assets and demographic advantages, though slower growth and development-related execution risk temper its appeal.
A Closer Look at KIM
KIM, or Kimco Realty, is one of the largest owners of open-air, grocery-anchored shopping centers in the United States. Its portfolio, concentrated in first-ring suburbs of major metro markets, emphasizes necessity-based tenants that drive frequent, repeat shopping trips. As of its latest filing, the company owned interests in more than 560 centers totaling nearly 100 million square feet.
KIM shares have traded near $26, at the upper end of a 52-week range of roughly $20 to $27, and have risen about 27.5% year-to-date — the strongest relative performance of this group. Recent catalysts include a third-quarter FFO increase of nearly 7%, raised full-year guidance, a dividend increase, and a $295 million acquisition of two grocery-anchored centers in Louisville. This combination of durable demand, positive revisions, and favorable momentum has strengthened KIM's market positioning among retail REITs.
Head-to-Head Comparison
The clearest contrast among these three names is their exposure. CDP is effectively a specialized defense-and-IT office play, with near-full occupancy but heightened sensitivity to federal policy. FRT sits at the high end of the retail-REIT quality spectrum, offering affluent demographics and mixed-use growth at a premium valuation. KIM falls between the two in both valuation and breadth, anchored by recession-resistant grocery and daily-needs tenants.
On momentum, KIM has led the group in recent months, benefiting from dividend growth, guidance raises, and disciplined acquisitions. FRT has delivered steady, higher-quality but slower growth, while CDP's trajectory has been more sensitive to macro and budget headlines. From a risk standpoint, all three are interest-rate sensitive, but CDP carries the most idiosyncratic, policy-linked risk, whereas FRT and KIM face consumer-spending and retail fundamentals. Dividend yields cluster in the 4% range, making income broadly comparable even as growth profiles differ.
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FRT's RSI Oscillator recovers from oversold territory
The RSI Indicator for FRT moved out of oversold territory on October 15, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is shifting from a downward trend to an upward trend. Traders may want to buy the stock or call options. The A.I.dvisor looked at 28 similar instances when the indicator left oversold territory. In 18 of the 28 cases the stock moved higher. This puts the odds of a move higher at 64%.
Technical Analysis (Indicators)
Bullish Trend Analysis
The Momentum Indicator moved above the 0 level on October 20, 2026. You may want to consider a long position or call options on FRT as a result. In 55 of 102 past instances where the momentum indicator moved above 0, the stock continued to climb. The odds of a continued upward trend are 54%.
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) for FRT just turned positive on October 12, 2026. Looking at past instances where FRT's MACD turned positive, the stock continued to rise in 27 of 49 cases over the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 55%.
FRT moved above its 50-day moving average on November 02, 2026 date and that indicates a change from a downward trend to an upward trend.
Following a +1.32% 3-day Advance, the price is estimated to grow further. Considering data from situations where FRT advanced for three days, in 145 of 302 cases, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 48%.
Bearish Trend Analysis
The Stochastic Oscillator demonstrated that the ticker has stayed in the overbought zone for 8 days. The longer the ticker stays in the overbought zone, the sooner a price pull-back is expected.
The 50-day moving average for FRT moved below the 200-day moving average on October 26, 2026. This could be a long-term bearish signal for the stock as the stock shifts to an downward trend.
Following a 3-day decline, the stock is projected to fall further. Considering past instances where FRT declined for three days, the price rose further in 50 of 62 cases within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 51%.
FRT broke above its upper Bollinger Band on October 29, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to drop as the stock moves back below the upper band and toward the middle band. You may want to consider selling the stock or exploring put options.
The Aroon Indicator for FRT entered a downward trend on October 23, 2026. This could indicate a strong downward move is ahead for the stock. Traders may want to consider selling the stock or buying put options.
Fundamental Analysis (Ratings)
The Tickeron Price Growth Rating for this company is 49 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating steady price growth. FRT’s price grows at a higher rate over the last 12 months as compared to S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Seasonality Score of 50 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is fair valued in the industry. The Tickeron Seasonality score describes the variance of predictable price changes around the same period every calendar year. These changes can be tied to a specific month, quarter, holiday or vacation period, as well as a meteorological or growing season.
The Tickeron PE Growth Rating for this company is 57 (best 1 - 100 worst), pointing to consistent earnings growth. The PE Growth rating is based on a comparative analysis of stock PE ratio increase over the last 12 months compared against S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron SMR rating for this company is 59 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating strong sales and a profitable business model. SMR (Sales, Margin, Return on Equity) rating is based on comparative analysis of weighted Sales, Income Margin and Return on Equity values compared against S&P 500 index constituents. The weighted SMR value is a proprietary formula developed by Tickeron and represents an overall profitability measure for a stock.
The Tickeron Valuation Rating of 75 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is slightly overvalued in the industry. This rating compares market capitalization estimated by our proprietary formula with the current market capitalization. This rating is based on the following metrics, as compared to industry averages: P/B Ratio (3.027) is normal, around the industry mean (2.795). P/E Ratio (22.508) is within average values for comparable stocks, (35.806). Projected Growth (PEG Ratio) (3.591) is also within normal values, averaging (12.808). Dividend Yield (0.042) settles around the average of (216.960) among similar stocks. P/S Ratio (7.289) is also within normal values, averaging (6.739).
The Tickeron Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for this company is 76 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating that the returns do not compensate for the risks. FRT’s unstable profits reported over time resulted in significant Drawdowns within these last five years. A stable profit reduces stock drawdown and volatility. The average Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for the industry is 60, placing this stock worse than average.
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General Information
a real estate investment trust
Industry RealEstateInvestmentTrusts
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