A Multi-perspective View on Cap Rates | CBRE

Intelligent Investment

March 20, 20244 Minute Read

CBRE EA estimates cap rates at the sector level using four different methods and compares these with our CBRE EA cap rates.

There are several ways the industry looks at capitalization rates (cap rates) for commercial properties. Comparing them considering the current generational shift in cap rates is helpful for understanding pricing. In this Viewpoint, we estimate what cap rates should be at the sector level using four different methods and compare these with our CBRE Econometric Advisors (CBRE EA) cap rates. Our examination of cap rates reveals that some property types are appropriately valued while others will likely see additional cap rate expansion.

CBRE EA produces current cap rates through our investment performance model based on data and input from capital markets experts. These are the product of NCREIF cap rate data, macroeconomic fundamentals, deal level data, and the CBRE Cap Rate Survey, which includes CBRE professionals’ estimates on current cap rates. Our most current cap rates are 5.2% (industrial), 5.3% (multifamily), 6.4% (office), and 6.4% (retail). This reflects the average for all markets covered by CBRE EA.

We use the following methods in our comparison.

We report our current cap rate estimates as well as the four calculations per sector in Figure 1. The cap rates suggest that the office sector has the furthest cap rate expansion to reach appropriate pricing for trading volume to recover. The spread-implied cap rate, 7.0%, roughly 60 bps higher than our current estimate, is likely underestimated given the 2010-2020 average spread does not account for the structural change toward less demand for office space post-2020. Our current estimate also differs from the REIT implied cap rate of 7.7% by 130 bps.

The multifamily sector, with our current estimate of 5.3%, is substantially below the spread and REIT implied cap rates of 6.5% and 6.4%, respectively. However, it is slightly above the fair value and just below the DSCR implied cap rate.

Our current retail cap rate of 6.4% is below the DSCR implied rate of 6.9% and below the REIT and spread-implied cap rates. Our fair value estimate is significantly below our current cap rate at 5.4%.

Our current industrial estimate of 5.2% also is below the fair value estimate of 5.7% and above REIT implied rate of 4.7%. The spread-implied rate is significantly higher, although likely due to the average spread issue we discussed for the office sector, but in reverse, meaning investor demand for industrial has increased in recent years relative to 2010-2020.

In Figure 2, we compare the current cap rate against the median of our four calculated cap rates. We use those two cap rate estimates to value a property with a $10 million annual NOI. We then report the percentage difference in these values as an implied bid-ask spread. The office sector has the largest spread—over 18%—while multifamily sits at 11%. The industrial and retail sectors’ lower bid-ask spreads suggest pricing is more appropriate.

In conclusion, we believe the recent cap rate expansion is close to its end. However, the office and multifamily sectors seem to have more room for further expansion based on these estimates. Retail and industrial seem to have more appropriate pricing now. Using multiple perspectives to analyze cap rates can be helpful during these volatile times. In future work, we hope to compare these methods across time. There may be important signals hidden in the relationship between different pricing methods.

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Vice President, Head of U.S. Capital Markets Research, CBRE

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