About CBL & ASSOCIATES PROPERTIES INC
Headquartered in Chattanooga, TN, CBL Properties owns and manages a national portfolio of market-dominant properties located in dynamic and growing communities. CBL's portfolio is comprised of 106 properties totaling 65.7 million square feet across 25 states, including 64 high quality enclosed, outlet and open-air retail centers and 8 properties managed for third parties.
CBL seeks to continuously strengthen its company and portfolio through active management, aggressive leasing and profitable reinvestment in its properties.
CBL operates in the Finance, Insurance, And Real Estate | Trading | headquartered in CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee | approximately 460 employees | led by CEO Stephen D. Lebovitz.
The $945.9M question: What happens when a company this good becomes this expensive?
On Wall Street, there are companies that move money, and then there are companies that are the money. CBL & ASSOCIATES PROPERTIES INC falls squarely into the latter category — a financial infrastructure so embedded in the global economy that to bet against it feels almost like betting against commerce itself.
At $945.9M in market capitalization, CBL & ASSOCIATES PROPERTIES INC (CBL) currently ranks #105 in our quantitative model, with a composite score of 78.1/100. That places it firmly in "Strong Buy" territory — our highest conviction rating.
But here's the thing about stocks priced for perfection: They leave no room for error.
The Numbers That Matter
Let's start with what's undeniably true. Our 6-factor model gives CBL the following scores:
| Factor | Score | Weight | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality | 98/100 | 30% | Exceptional |
| Value | 74/100 | 15% | Fair |
| Momentum | 87/100 | 25% | Accelerating |
| Investment | 38/100 | 10% | Low |
| Stability | 36/100 | 10% | Volatile |
| Short Interest | 49/100 | 10% | Normal |
The quality score of 98/100 is the headline here. It reflects profitability metrics that would make most CFOs weep with envy:
- ROE: 51.3%
- Net Margin: 53.9%
- Gross Margin: 1.0%
These aren't just good numbers. They're the kind of numbers that make CBL a "must-own" stock for institutional portfolios.
The Bull Case
"If you could design a business in a laboratory, it would look something like CBL."
The bull case writes itself:
- Quality is persistent. Academic research shows high-quality stocks outperform by 4-6% annually over long periods. CBL is quality defined.
- Momentum is real. With a momentum score of 87/100, the stock has been recognized by the market — and momentum tends to persist.
- The moat is deep. Companies with these margins don't lose them easily. The competitive position is entrenched.
The Bear Case
But here's what keeps value investors up at night:
- Valuation compression risk. At current levels, the stock is priced for continued perfection. Any stumble — a missed quarter, a competitive threat, a macro slowdown — could compress the multiple from 7.7x to the low 20s. That's a 20-30% decline without anything fundamentally "wrong."
- The crowded trade problem. When everyone owns a stock, who's left to buy? Momentum works until it doesn't.
- Mean reversion. Trees don't grow to the sky. At some point, growth decelerates.
The Valuation Framework
| Scenario | Assumption | Fair Value | Upside/Downside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bear | Multiple compression to 20x | -20% | Downside |
| Base | Current trajectory continues | +10-15% | Modest upside |
| Bull | Momentum accelerates | +30-40% | Significant upside |
The risk-reward is ... fine. Not exceptional. Not terrible. Just fine.
The Bottom Line
CBL & ASSOCIATES PROPERTIES INC is exactly what it appears to be: a high-quality business with strong momentum trading at a premium price. Whether that's attractive depends entirely on what kind of investor you are.
For long-term, buy-and-hold investors, CBL is a core holding. For value investors or short-term traders, look elsewhere.
The company is priced for perfection — and in markets, as in life, perfection is a fragile thing.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 5-Star Strong Buy
Score: 78.1/100 | Rank: #105 of 3,571 stocks
Sector: Financials
This analysis reflects the views of Blank Capital Research as of February 16, 2026. It is not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results.