📊 CBL Key Takeaways
Is Cbl & Associates Properties Inc. (CBL) a Good Investment?
CBL faces critical financial distress with interest coverage of only 0.9x, meaning operating income cannot cover interest expenses—an unsustainable position requiring asset sales or additional borrowing. The company carries extreme leverage (5.22x debt-to-equity) and displays a suspicious disconnect between revenue growth (+3461% YoY) and earnings growth (+1.6% YoY), indicating accounting changes rather than organic fundamentals improvement.
CBL shows strong reported revenue growth, solid net profitability, and robust operating cash flow generation, with free cash flow equal to 43.2% of revenue. However, the balance sheet remains highly leveraged, interest coverage is weak at 0.9x, and the very large debt load limits the quality of the earnings recovery. The fundamentals suggest the business is operating profitably, but financial risk remains too elevated for a more constructive rating.
Cbl & Associates Properties Inc. Key Strengths (CBL)
- Strong operating margins of 69.0% demonstrate pricing power and operational efficiency in core operations
- Positive free cash flow of $52.9M with 36.3% FCF margin provides near-term liquidity
- Excellent net profit margins of 31.8% on reported earnings
- Strong operating cash flow of $249.68M supports internal liquidity
- Net margin of 23.5% and ROE of 36.3% indicate meaningful profitability
- Revenue and EPS growth were exceptionally strong year over year
CBL Stock Risks: Cbl & Associates Properties Inc. Investment Risks
- Critical interest coverage ratio of 0.9x indicates inability to service debt from operations—fundamental solvency risk
- Extreme leverage with 5.22x debt-to-equity ratio ($2.1B long-term debt vs $398M equity) creates acute default risk
- Massive revenue increase (+3461% YoY) disconnected from earnings growth (+1.6% YoY) suggests non-organic changes, acquisition, or consolidation changes rather than sustainable business growth
- Debt/Equity of 5.79x and $2.17B of long-term debt create major leverage risk
- Interest coverage of 0.9x suggests earnings only barely cover financing costs
- Low cash balance of $42.29M reduces flexibility if operating conditions weaken
Key Metrics to Watch
- Interest coverage ratio—must improve above 1.5x minimum for financial stability viability
- Debt-to-equity trajectory—need material deleveraging toward 3.0-4.0x range for REIT sustainability
- Operating cash flow quality and sustainability—verify whether recent improvements are durable or temporary
- Interest coverage trend and debt reduction progress
- Operating cash flow sustainability relative to net income
Cbl & Associates Properties Inc. (CBL) Financial Metrics & Key Ratios
💡 AI Analyst Insight
The 36.3% free cash flow margin provides substantial flexibility for dividends, buybacks, and strategic investments. The current ratio below 1.0x warrants monitoring of short-term liquidity.
CBL Profit Margin, ROE & Profitability Analysis
CBL vs Real Estate Sector: How Cbl & Associates Properties Inc. Compares
How Cbl & Associates Properties Inc. compares to Real Estate sector averages
Sector benchmarks are approximate industry averages. Actual sector performance may vary.
Is Cbl & Associates Properties Inc. Stock Overvalued? CBL Valuation Analysis 2026
Based on fundamental analysis, Cbl & Associates Properties Inc. has mixed fundamental signals relative to the Real Estate sector in 2026.
Note: This is a fundamental analysis based on SEC filings. For P/E ratio, price targets, and market-based valuation, consult financial data providers. This is not investment advice.
Cbl & Associates Properties Inc. Balance Sheet: CBL Debt, Cash & Liquidity
CBL Revenue & Earnings Growth: 5-Year Financial Trend
5-Year Trend Summary: Cbl & Associates Properties Inc.'s revenue has declined by 25% over the 5-year period, indicating business contraction. The most recent EPS of $0.17 reflects profitable operations.
CBL Revenue Growth, EPS Growth & YoY Performance
CBL Quarterly Earnings & Performance
| Quarter | Revenue | Net Income | EPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 2026 | $3.6M | $8.8M | $0.27 |
| Q3 2025 | $4.0M | $16.2M | $0.52 |
| Q2 2025 | $3.9M | $2.8M | $0.08 |
| Q1 2025 | $3.6M | $50.0K | $-0.01 |
| Q3 2024 | $4.0M | -$5.3M | $-0.19 |
| Q2 2024 | $4.3M | $4.7M | $0.14 |
| Q1 2024 | $4.6M | $50.0K | $-0.01 |
| Q3 2023 | $4.0M | -$5.3M | $-0.19 |
Data sourced from SEC EDGAR 10-Q quarterly filings. Figures may represent quarterly or cumulative values.
Cbl & Associates Properties Inc. Dividends, Buybacks & Capital Allocation
CBL SEC Filings: Latest 10-K & 10-Q Analysis
Access official SEC EDGAR filings for Cbl & Associates Properties Inc. (CIK: 0000910612)
📋 Recent SEC Filings
❓ Frequently Asked Questions about CBL
What is the AI rating for CBL?
Cbl & Associates Properties Inc. (CBL) has a Combined AI Grade of C from Claude (D) and ChatGPT (B) with 80% combined confidence, based on fundamental analysis of SEC EDGAR filings.
What are CBL's key strengths?
Claude: Strong operating margins of 69.0% demonstrate pricing power and operational efficiency in core operations. Positive free cash flow of $52.9M with 36.3% FCF margin provides near-term liquidity. ChatGPT: Strong operating cash flow of $249.68M supports internal liquidity. Net margin of 23.5% and ROE of 36.3% indicate meaningful profitability.
What are the risks of investing in CBL?
Claude: Critical interest coverage ratio of 0.9x indicates inability to service debt from operations—fundamental solvency risk. Extreme leverage with 5.22x debt-to-equity ratio ($2.1B long-term debt vs $398M equity) creates acute default risk. ChatGPT: Debt/Equity of 5.79x and $2.17B of long-term debt create major leverage risk. Interest coverage of 0.9x suggests earnings only barely cover financing costs.
What is CBL's revenue and growth?
Cbl & Associates Properties Inc. reported revenue of $146.0M.
Does CBL pay dividends?
Cbl & Associates Properties Inc. pays dividends, with $13.9M distributed to shareholders in the trailing twelve months.
Where can I find CBL SEC filings?
Official SEC filings for Cbl & Associates Properties Inc. (CIK: 0000910612) including 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K reports are available on SEC EDGAR.
What is CBL's EPS?
Cbl & Associates Properties Inc. has a diluted EPS of $1.48.
How is the AI analysis conducted?
Two independent AI systems — Claude (Anthropic) and ChatGPT (OpenAI) — analyze SEC EDGAR filings including 10-K annual reports and 10-Q quarterly reports. Each AI evaluates financial health, profitability ratios, balance sheet strength, and growth metrics. The combined grade reflects both perspectives for balanced insights.
What is CBL's fundamental grade?
Based on our AI fundamental analysis in June 2026, Cbl & Associates Properties Inc. has a C grade with 80% confidence. Review the strengths and risks sections above for full context. This is not investment advice.
Is CBL stock overvalued or undervalued?
Valuation metrics for CBL: ROE of 11.7% (sector avg: 8%), net margin of 31.8% (sector avg: 20%). Higher ROE suggests strong returns relative to peers.
What is CBL's AI grade for 2026?
Our dual AI analysis gives Cbl & Associates Properties Inc. a combined C grade for 2026. Revenue is data pending, with profitability above sector average. Always conduct your own research.
What is CBL's free cash flow?
Cbl & Associates Properties Inc.'s operating cash flow is $52.9M, with capital expenditures of N/A. FCF margin is 36.3%.
How does CBL compare to other Real Estate stocks?
Vs Real Estate sector averages: Net margin 31.8% (avg: 20%), ROE 11.7% (avg: 8%), current ratio N/A (avg: 1.5).
Is Cbl & Associates Properties Inc. carrying too much debt?
CBL has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.22x, which is above the Real Estate sector average of 1.5x. Combined with a current ratio below 1, this warrants careful monitoring of the balance sheet.