Welltower (WELL -0.46%) is the largest real estate company by market cap, followed by Prologis (PLD -0.09%) and American Tower Corporation (AMT +3.63%). Eight of the top 10 real estate companies are real estate investment trusts (REITs). These companies own and operate many different types of real estate, including industrial facilities, data centers, and shopping malls.
Largest companies by market cap in the real estate sector
(Editor's note: Rankings are as of Feb. 4, 2025.)
| Name and ticker | Market cap | Current price | Industry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welltower (NYSE:WELL) | $144.5 billion | $207.50 | Health Care REITs |
| Prologis (NYSE:PLD) | $132.5 billion | $142.54 | Industrial REITs |
| American Tower (NYSE:AMT) | $89.4 billion | $191.72 | Specialized REITs |
| Equinix (NASDAQ:EQIX) | $95.7 billion | $974.34 | Specialized REITs |
| Simon Property Group (NYSE:SPG) | $66.6 billion | $203.99 | Retail REITs |
| Digital Realty Trust (NYSE:DLR) | $60.9 billion | $177.12 | Specialized REITs |
| Realty Income (NYSE:O) | $61.6 billion | $67.12 | Retail REITs |
| Rocket Companies (NYSE:RKT) | $51.2 billion | $18.19 | Diversified Financial Services |
| Public Storage (NYSE:PSA) | $53.9 billion | $307.06 | Specialized REITs |
| CBRE Group (NYSE:CBRE) | $43.6 billion | $147.66 | Real Estate Management and Development |
1. Welltower
- Market cap: $127.30 billion (as of Feb. 4)
- Revenue (TTM): $9.8 billion
- Gross profit (TTM): $3.8 billion
- Five-year annualized return: 27.37%
- Year founded: 1970
NYSE: WELL
Key Data Points
Welltower (WELL -0.46%) is the first healthcare REIT; in fact, it was originally known as Health Care REIT, Inc. The trust invests in healthcare infrastructure and senior housing, including assisted living facilities and dementia care facilities.
The REIT operates in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. and operates more than 2,000 senior and wellness housing communities. In October 2025, Welltower announced $23 billion in transactions, including $14 billion of acquisitions and a greater focus on senior housing.
2. Prologis
- Market cap: $125.25 billion (as of Feb. 4)
- Revenue (TTM): $8.7 billion
- Gross profit (TTM): $6.6 billion
- Five-year annualized return: 7.35%
- Year founded: 1983
NYSE: PLD
Key Data Points
Prologis (PLD -0.09%) builds, owns, and operates logistics real estate, including manufacturing facilities, storage and distribution properties, and flex spaces that serve multiple purposes. This company is now focusing on data centers to meet the demand driven by artificial intelligence (AI).
As of 2025, Prologis had about 6,000 buildings across 20 countries and more than $200 billion in assets under management (AUM). It's also expanding into France, with multiple data center projects planned for the country. Prologis works with many of the world's top retailers. Customers that use its warehouses include Amazon (AMZN +1.00%) and Walmart (WMT +2.84%).
3. American Tower Corporation
- Market cap: $82.67 billion (as of Feb. 4)
- Revenue (TTM): $10.5 billion
- Gross profit (TTM): $7.8 billion
- Five-year annualized return: -2.58%
- Year founded: 1995
NYSE: AMT
Key Data Points
American Tower Corporation (AMT +3.63%) is a REIT that owns and operates wireless networks in 22 countries. Its communications real estate portfolio has about 150,000 sites, with more than 40,000 of those in the U.S. and Canada.
In addition to communications towers, American Tower's portfolio also includes data centers that businesses can use for cloud computing, AI technology, and other IT needs.
4. Equinix
- Market cap: $78.76 billion (as of Feb. 4)
- Revenue (TTM): $9.1 billion
- Gross profit (TTM): $4.6 billion
- Five-year annualized return: 3.21%
- Year founded: 1998
NASDAQ: EQIX
Key Data Points
Digital infrastructure company Equinix (EQIX +2.78%) converted to a REIT in 2015. It has a network of over 270 AI-ready data centers across more than 70 major metropolitan areas, with more than 10,000 customers. Companies that use Equinix include Amazon, Apple (AAPL -3.21%), and Meta Platforms (META -1.34%).
In recent years, Equinix has focused on AI and partnered with tech giant Nvidia (NVDA -4.17%) to offer a fully managed private cloud service to clients. It has also prioritized sustainability and set a goal to procure 100% renewable energy for its facilities by 2030.
5. Simon Property Group
- Market cap: $73.78 billion (as of Feb. 4)
- Revenue (TTM): $6.4 billion
- Gross profit (TTM): $5.3 billion
- Five-year annualized return: 21.03%
- Year founded: 1993
NYSE: SPG
Key Data Points
Simon Property Group (SPG +0.69%) is a REIT that owns, develops, and operates retail properties. It has a portfolio of more than 250 properties, which include shopping malls, retail outlets, and open-air shopping centers.
Brothers Melvin and Herbert Simon founded Simon Property Group in the 1960s, taking it public in 1993 after decades of developing and operating strip malls. Melvin's son, David Simon, has been the company's CEO since 1995.
6. Digital Realty
- Market cap: $58.33 billion (as of Feb. 4)
- Revenue (TTM): $5.9 billion
- Gross profit (TTM): $3.3 billion
- Five-year annualized return: 6.15%
- Year founded: 2004
NYSE: DLR
Key Data Points
Digital Realty Trust (DLR +0.43%) is a data center REIT with a global network of more than 300 data centers serving over 5,000 customers. It has one of the largest footprints on this list, operating data centers in six geographic regions: North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania.
This is also the youngest real estate company to have made the top 10 by market cap. GI Partners started Digital Realty in 2004 when it purchased 21 data centers through bankruptcy auctions.
7. Realty Income
- Market cap: $57.35 billion (as of Feb. 4)
- Revenue (TTM): $5.5 billion
- Gross profit (TTM): $5.1 billion
- Five-year annualized return: 6.03%
- Year founded: 1969
NYSE: O
Key Data Points
Realty Income (O +1.19%) is a REIT that invests in single-tenant commercial properties. Its portfolio had more than 15,000 properties located in the U.S., U.K., and several countries in the European Union as of 2025.
Instead of paying quarterly dividends like most REITs, Realty Income pays monthly dividends. It's even known as "The Monthly Dividend Company" for that reason, and it's one of the more popular real estate dividend stocks.
8. Rocket Companies
- Market cap: $56.32 billion (as of Feb. 4)
- Revenue (TTM): $5.5 billion
- Five-year annualized return: 2.34%
- Year founded: 1985
NYSE: RKT
Key Data Points
NYSE: PSA
Key Data Points
Public Storage (PSA +1.02%) is the largest owner and operator of self-storage facilities worldwide. This self-storage REIT has more than 3,300 facilities serving approximately 2 million customers in the U.S.
While most of Public Storage's business is in the U.S., it acquired Shurgard Self-Storage in 2006 to build its global reach. It now operates thousands of facilities across seven European Union nations.
10. CBRE Group
- Market cap: $49.37 billion (as of Feb. 4)
- Revenue (TTM): $39.3 billion
- Gross profit (TTM): $7.5 billion
- Five-year annualized return: 19.28%
- Year founded: 1906
NYSE: CBRE
Key Data Points
CBRE Group (CBRE -1.67%) is the largest commercial real estate services and investment company in the world. It has over $155 billion in AUM, operates in more than 100 countries, and serves almost 90 of the Fortune 100 companies as of 2025.
With more than a century of experience, CBRE Group is the oldest company on this list. It's also the only one that isn't structured as a REIT.
Real estate sector takeaways for investors
Real estate and the stock market are two of the most effective ways to build wealth. For investors who want to diversify their portfolios, real estate companies are a straightforward way to gain exposure to real estate through a brokerage account.
REITs, in particular, are a popular investment option. They make up eight out of 10 of the largest real estate companies by market cap. Not only is it easy to buy and sell REITs, but investors can also receive sizable dividends, since REITs are required to distribute at least 90% of taxable income as dividends.
REITs and other real estate companies also tend to be less volatile than the overall stock market. Whether you're looking for greater diversification or more stability in your portfolio, investing in real estate could help you achieve it.
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About the Author
Annie Dean, Chief Strategy Officer at CBRE, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Lyle Daly has positions in Meta Platforms and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, American Tower, Apple, Digital Realty Trust, Equinix, Meta Platforms, Nvidia, Prologis, Realty Income, Rocket Companies, Simon Property Group, and Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
