Yield Theory

Real Estate stock comparison

CBRE vs SPG: which business are you actually underwriting?

Compare CBRE Group, Inc. with Simon Property Group, Inc. using their business models, SEC classifications, fiscal calendars, current primary filings, and the research questions that matter. This is a thesis framework—not a price target or automatic winner.
Sector
Real
Industry
Different SIC
Shared themes
2
Updated
2026-02-25

CBRE vs SPG: quick comparison

Company factCBRESPG
CompanyCBRE Group, Inc.Simon Property Group, Inc.
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Headquarters—Indianapolis, Indiana
Founded—1993
SEC industryReal EstateReal Estate Investment Trusts
Fiscal year-endDecember 31December 31
Latest annual filing10-K · 2026-02-1210-K · 2026-02-25

CBRE vs SPG: audited financials

CBRE reported about 6.4× the revenue of SPG in the latest audited fiscal year. Scale and margin are starting facts for the thesis, not the verdict.

MetricCBRESPG
Revenue$40.5B$6.4B
Net income$1.2B—
Operating cash flow$1.6B$4.1B
Diluted EPS$3.85$14.17
Net margin2.9%—

CBRE: FY ending 2025-12-31 · SPG: FY ending 2025-12-31. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.

How the businesses differ

Why this pair belongs in the comparison set

CBRE and SPG have different SEC industry classifications, but both map to the maintained Rates & central banks and Economic trends research themes inside the Real Estate sector. A shared classification or theme makes the pair useful for a defined research question; it does not mean the companies have identical products, economics, or risks.

CBRE Group, Inc. (CBRE)

CBRE Group is a commercial real-estate services firm providing brokerage, leasing, and property management.

Simon Property Group, Inc. (SPG)

Simon Property Group is the largest US owner of shopping malls and premium outlet centers. It has focused its portfolio on top-tier properties and mixed-use redevelopment to counter pressure on traditional retail.

The useful starting point is not which ticker has performed better. It is whether the two companies convert the same economic forces into revenue and cash flow in the same way. CBRE is classified by the SEC as Real Estate, while SPG is classified as Real Estate Investment Trusts. The different industry codes are a warning against treating sector membership as proof of identical economics.

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The thesis, the numbers behind it, and what would break it. Full access is $15 a month.

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Which thesis does each company fit?

Use the distinction below to decide which filing deserves deeper work. It is a research routing rule, not a recommendation or prediction.

Study CBRE when…

  • Long-term interest rates and cap rates
  • Occupancy and rent growth by property type
  • Data-center demand from AI workloads
  • Refinancing walls and commercial credit

Study SPG when…

  • Long-term interest rates and cap rates
  • Occupancy and rent growth by property type
  • Data-center demand from AI workloads
  • Refinancing walls and commercial credit

Shared research themes

Rates & central banksEconomic trends

SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence

Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable.CBRE's fiscal year ends December 31, while SPG's ends December 31. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.

The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 0matched transaction rows for CBREand 7 for SPG. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.

What this comparison cannot tell you

This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.

A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.

CBRE vs SPG FAQs

Are CBRE and SPG direct competitors?

CBRE Group, Inc. and Simon Property Group, Inc. sit in the same Real Estate sector but have different SEC industry classifications. The comparison is most useful for portfolio role and sector exposure, not as a claim that every product competes directly.

Which is better, CBRE or SPG?

There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.

Does this CBRE vs SPG comparison include live prices?

No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. The financial figures on this page are the audited annual numbers CBRE Group, Inc. and Simon Property Group, Inc. tagged in their SEC XBRL filings. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices and valuation multiples.

Where does the company information come from?

Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-09-25. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.

Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-09-25. Independent educational research; not investment advice.

A comparison is the setup. The thesis is the call.

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