New York, February 11, 2026, 19:09 EST — After-hours
- CBRE shares dropped roughly 12% in after-hours trading following a steep selloff during the regular session.
- The decline reflects a broader “AI scare trade” hitting service firms burdened with high fees.
- Thursday morning brings the next big update as CBRE prepares to release its quarterly results.
Shares of CBRE Group plunged Wednesday, closing the regular session at $171.02 before diving as low as $144.39 in after-hours trading, finishing down 12.1% at $149.49. Competitors Jones Lang LaSalle and Cushman & Wakefield weren’t spared either, both dropping double digits. The stock briefly hit $171.51 earlier in the day before the sharp slide.
Timing is crucial. CBRE is set to report earnings on Thursday, and the recent sharp stock adjustment heightens the pressure on any insights into commercial-property deal activity ahead of that update.
The move comes amid growing pressure on companies seen as costly and reliant on heavy staffing. A note highlighted by Investing.com dubbed it the latest “AI scare trade” — investors offloading stocks they believe AI could automate. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods analyst Jade Rahmani was quoted, saying money is shifting away from “high-fee, labor-intensive” companies that seem exposed to AI disruption. Investing
Tension has been mounting for days. Reuters reported that when AI developer Anthropic rolled out plug-ins for its Claude Cowork agent last week, it shook markets hard—dragging the S&P 500 software and services index down nearly 17% over six sessions through last Thursday.
Tuesday saw a similar reaction in U.S. brokerage stocks following Altruist’s launch of AI-powered tax planning tools. “Traders sell first and ask questions later,” Dennis Dick, chief market strategist at Stock Trader Network, told Reuters. Reuters
CBRE’s concern isn’t so much about robots walking through office buildings as it is about software encroaching on marketing, research, and client services that traditionally generate commission fees. The firm also runs a sizable facilities management division, which typically offers more stable income compared to the ups and downs of brokerage transactions.
Thursday’s talk might upend that story fast. Investors will be tuned in for shifts in tone on capital markets and leasing trends, plus early clues about 2026 demand as corporate tenants and investors juggle rates, financing, and the patchy office market.
Consensus remains optimistic. According to Refinitiv’s forecast, reported by Kiplinger, earnings per share are expected to hit roughly $2.67 for the quarter. (Earnings per share represent the profit assigned to each share.)
The risk runs both ways. If management takes a cautious stance on hiring, pricing, or pipelines, the stock might remain under pressure—even without a clear earnings miss. On the flip side, if AI disruption takes longer to impact real-world deals, Wednesday’s sharp drop could end up as just a quick, sentiment-driven overreaction.
The next big moment is nearly here: CBRE’s Q4 2025 earnings call is set for 8:30 a.m. ET this Thursday. Following Wednesday’s sell-off, investors will zero in on updates about productivity tools, fee pressures, and the pace at which transaction volumes are bouncing back.
