Real estate stocks saw minor declines in a week marked by weaker-than-expected earnings, despite the broader S&P 500 posting significant gains. The S&P 500 Real Estate Index and related ETFs declined slightly, with technology-related REITs experiencing volatility due to U.S. trade policy announcements. Notable company updates included Realty Income reporting stronger-than-expected revenue, Four Corners Property Trust acquiring a property in Mississippi, and several REITs issuing senior notes. Key performance highlights included Iron Mountain's significant weekly drop due to foreign exchange impacts, while Simon Property Group and Regency Centers outperformed with strong earnings and dividend increases. Elme Communities announced a voluntary liquidation plan, and other REITs like Global Net Lease and Kilroy Realty completed refinancing or note offerings. Office and Specialized REITs were the top weekly losers, while Retail and Health Care REITs led gains.

Swire Properties reported an attributable loss of $153.1 million for the first half of 2025 due to markdowns on its Hong Kong office properties, reversing a previous year's profit. The company recorded a fair value loss of HK$4.7 billion on investment properties, driven by weak demand, high vacancy, and new building debuts in the Hong Kong office market. Despite this, underlying profit rose to HK$4.4 billion due to divestments, including the sale of its stake in Brickell City Centre in Miami and an adjacent site. Rental income declined at key properties like Pacific Place and Taikoo Place, with occupancy dropping slightly. The company sold three Miami assets—first a 2.83-acre parcel to Melo Group for $211.5 million, then its 75% stake in Brickell City Centre to Simon Property Group for $548.7 million, and later a site adjacent to the mall to Kerzner International for $45 million—raising funds to reinvest in high-growth markets. Swire Properties announced that CFO Fanny Lung Ngan-yee will retire in May 2026, with Roy George Shearer, currently group director of finance at HAECO, set to take over.

The article identifies five commercial real estate investment trusts (REITs) as strong investment opportunities in 2025, following expectations of potential interest rate cuts. These REITs are highlighted for their strong fundamentals, reliable dividends, undervaluation, or growth potential. The companies discussed include Agree Realty Corp., Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc., Federal Realty Investment Trust, Realty Income Corp., and Simon Property Group. Each is described in terms of its portfolio, geographic presence, key tenants, and investment ratings from top Wall Street firms. The article suggests that lower interest rates will boost commercial real estate demand and enhance REIT performance, offering investors a balance of passive income and growth amid inflation.

The article examines the aftermath of Elon Musk's controversial office lease cuts in Washington, D.C., following his DOGE-fueled actions at the beginning of the year. Despite initial fears of widespread market collapse, vacancy rates remain high at 22.6%, with 5.6 million square feet of office space labeled as 'zombie' space. However, vacancy in newer office buildings has reached record lows. The U.S. Department of Labor's lease at 2 Massachusetts Avenue NE was canceled, but claims of $7.1 million in savings were later retracted, with no actual savings realized. The article also highlights positive real estate earnings reports from major firms like Starwood, JLL, Cushman & Wakefield, and Brookfield, which reported strong revenue and income growth. Additional real estate activity includes CoreWeave's $322 million purchase in New Jersey, Namdar Group's $358 million financing in Jersey City, and Elme Communities' $1.6 billion acquisition of 19 multifamily properties in the D.C. area. Activity continues in New York, with deals involving KKR, TF Cornerstone, and the NYC Housing Authority. Political sentiment around mayoral candidate Zorhan Mamdani is noted, with analysts suggesting REITs may slow office and multifamily acquisitions in New York if he wins. The piece concludes with a mention of TruAmerica's Matt Ferrari climbing Mount Everest.

Simon Property Group (SPG) has announced executive leadership changes, promoting Eli Simon to Chief Operating Officer and appointing Jonathan Murphy and Eric Sadi as Co-Presidents for North American Real Estate. The moves are part of a broader strategy to focus on urban redevelopment and mixed-use retail projects, aiming to drive rent growth and long-term earnings through strategic initiatives. SPG reported strong long-term performance with a total return of 232.02% over five years and outperformed the Retail REITs industry despite underperforming the broader US market. The company's share price of $166.35 is below the consensus price target of $182.25, indicating potential upside based on analyst expectations.