Just How Dire Is the Retail Market?

Remember earlier this year when people thought commercial real estate was supposed to collapse? Well, if shopping-center REIT Federal Realty Investment Trust is any indication, that just hasn’t happened.

The stock is up 14% since February, when CEO Don Wood last appeared on Mad Money, and 46% since Cramer first recommended it on May 7, 2009. Put that side by side with the S&P 500’s mere 20% jump over the same period.

The outperformance continued on Aug. 4 when FRT reported a better-than-expected quarter, raised guidance for the second half of 2010 and boosted its dividend for the 43rd consecutive year. And on top of all this, Federal Realty announced not just an increase in occupancies from the quarter and year before, but increases in rent on new leases as well.

With 18.2 million square feet of property throughout the Northeast, mid-Atlantic region and California, few have the pulse on retail that FRT can boast. So who better to ask about the state of the cash-strapped consumer? How about the company that counts Bed, Bath & Beyond, Gap and Best Buy among its clients. That’s why Cramer invited CEO Wood back to Mad Money. Watch the video for the full interview.

Call Cramer: 1-800-743-CNBC

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