John Albright, president and CEO of CTO Realty Growth (NYSE: CTO), sat down for a video interview at Nareit's REITweek: 2026 Investor Conference in New York, June 1-4.
Albright discussed the company's investment strategy, the resurgence of power centers, and opportunities across the retail sector. CTO has transformed from a Florida land company into an owner of open-air shopping centers concentrated in high-growth Sun Belt markets, with 85% of its portfolio located in North Carolina, Georgia, Texas, and Florida.
Albright said the company is focused on expanding its presence in markets with strong population growth while remaining nimble enough to capitalize on opportunities that larger institutional investors may overlook.
"We try to act very fast on opportunities," he said. "It's actually worked out pretty well for us over the years trying to be a little bit go contra to what the crowd is doing."
He noted that competition for acquisitions remains intense, but CTO has found attractive investments in secondary markets such as McAllen, Texas, where institutional capital has been slower to enter.
Albright also highlighted the renewed appeal of power centers—large-format retail centers typically anchored by retailers such as Home Depot, Lowe's, or Walmart. While new development has largely stalled, he said demand is growing as grocers seek space in desirable markets where traditional grocery-anchored centers are scarce.