Ross Cooper on transaction market
From Kimco Realty Corp ($KIM) Q3 2025 Earnings Call · · Castify Earnings Call
“The competition for quality open-air retail has continued to strengthen and Kimco has proven its ability to invest capital in an accretive manner. Even in an environment with a substantial amount of capital chasing our product type, our ability to recycle capital at higher yields and with a higher growth profile is a strong differentiator.”
On , Ross Cooper, President, Chief Investment Officer & Director at Kimco Realty, spoke about transaction market during Kimco Realty Corp ($KIM) Q3 2025 Earnings Call on Castify Earnings Call.
About Ross Cooper
Ross Cooper, president and chief investment officer of Kimco Realty, has been active on earnings calls and in media appearances discussing the company's performance and the broader open-air retail sector. On the company's Q1 2026 earnings call, Cooper stated that Kimco trades at a roughly 15% discount to its peer set and a discount to net asset value, and he described the company as a "compelling investment to the generalist." He noted that private capital formation is strong for grocery-anchored shopping centers, citing the acquisition of Whitestone REIT by Ares Management as evidence of a disconnect between private market valuations and public market pricing. Cooper also highlighted that Kimco achieved north of 5% and then north of 6% earnings growth without a cost of capital advantage, attributing this to organic internal growth. On the Q2 2025 earnings call, Cooper described the quarter as marked by uncertainty and volatility but said it presented opportunities for Kimco due to its investment strategy, balance sheet, and industry relationships. He reported an increase in deal flow after a slowdown in April and early May, with aggressively priced assets transacting and a competitive landscape for debt and equity. Cooper emphasized Kimco's use of ROFOs and ROFRs on its structured investment and joint venture programs, giving the company an "inside track" on a large volume of real estate. In a podcast interview, Cooper discussed Kimco's history, including an investment in the Albertsons supermarket chain that was monetized for over a billion dollars, and the company's stated goal of strengthening its balance sheet, which led to achieving an A- credit rating from all three agencies.