Spirit Halloween is expanding its seasonal retail presence by taking over abandoned storefronts from bankrupt retailers such as Big Lots, Bed Bath & Beyond, Rite Aid, Party City, JOANN, and Forever 21. The company targets locations with 5,000 to 50,000 square feet of sales floor space, visibility, and populations over 35,000 within a three to five-mile radius, with at least 25,000 daily vehicles. Spirit Halloween has secured spaces in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and New York, including former stores in towns like Lower Paxton, Carlisle, York, Lancaster, and Easton. The move follows the closures of these retailers due to financial difficulties. Spirit Halloween canceled its annual event in May due to supply chain disruptions but remains operational.

Regency Centers (NASDAQ:REG) reported strong Q2 results with 7.4% same-store NOI growth and 9.4% FFO/share growth, outpacing sector peers. The company's leasing performance, characterized by strong new lease signings, minimal tenant renewal options, and quicker lease commencements, has translated into real-time growth. Despite operating at 96%+ occupancy and a robust portfolio of over 57 million square feet across the U.S., REG trades at a premium to peers with a forward AFFO multiple of 18.9X and 95% of net asset value. Analysts note that while REG's leasing mechanics are superior—particularly due to the absence of onerous renewal options and lower Signed-Not-Occupied (SNO) leases—its stock has underperformed over the past decade, rising only 15% in 10 years. The sector-wide leasing challenges, especially from legacy leases with favorable renewal options, are slowing growth for other REITs like Brixmor (BRX), which has higher SNO leases and weaker same-store growth. Regency is seen as a bellwether for future sector performance, though investors are advised to prefer cheaper peers with similar long-term growth potential.

Deutsche Bank AG reduced its stake in Brixmor Property Group by 10.2%, now holding approximately 1.73% of the company valued at $140.3 million. Other major investors including Quarry LP, Blue Trust Inc., Avalon Trust Co, Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC, and UMB Bank n.a. also adjusted their holdings, with some increasing positions. Brixmor Property Group reported a quarterly earnings per share of $0.56, exceeding analysts' estimate of $0.55, and posted a 7.5% year-over-year revenue growth to $339.40 million. The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.2875 per share, resulting in an annualized dividend of $1.15 and a dividend yield of 4.5%. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.05, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.73. Analysts from Scotiabank, UBS, Goldman Sachs, Mizuho, and Stifel Nicolaus have issued various ratings and price targets, with a consensus average rating of 'Moderate Buy' and an average target price of $30.08. The stock traded up to $26.45 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, with a volume of 2,379,009 shares.

Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in Brixmor Property Group Inc. (BRX) by 3.8% in the first quarter, owning 5,141,430 shares worth $136.5 million as of the end of the quarter. Other major institutional investors, including the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Deutsche Bank AG, Invesco Ltd., Ameriprise Financial Inc., and Northern Trust Corp., also adjusted their holdings in the fourth quarter. Analysts from Mizuho, Stifel Nicolaus, Scotiabank, UBS, and The Goldman Sachs Group updated their ratings and price targets for BRX, with most setting a target price of $29.00. The company reported quarterly earnings of $0.56 per share, exceeding expectations, with a 7.5% year-over-year revenue increase. Brixmor announced a quarterly dividend of $0.2875, resulting in an annualized dividend of $1.15 and a 4.5% yield, though the payout ratio is 104.55%. The company has a market cap of $7.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.22, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.73. Brixmor Property Group is headquartered in New York, NY and operates as a real estate investment trust focused on grocery-anchored shopping centers.

The Zacks REIT and Equity Trust - Retail industry is showing resilience amid macroeconomic headwinds, driven by strong consumer spending, experiential retail trends, and limited new development. Key companies including Brixmor Property Group Inc., Phillips Edison & Company, Inc., and Urban Edge Properties are benefiting from strategic tenant mixes, omnichannel integration, and redevelopment efforts. Despite challenges from e-commerce growth, high interest rates, and tariff changes, the sector is experiencing a rebound in foot traffic and occupancy due to evolving consumer preferences and structural supply constraints. The industry trades at a forward 12-month price-to-FFO of 14.62X, below the S&P 500's P/E of 22.54X and the Finance sector's 16.71X. Analysts have revised FFO per share estimates upward for all three companies, reflecting confidence in near-term growth potential.