CMCT Stock Rockets 32.48% in December’s Wild Volatility - Creative Media & Community Trust Defies Market Chaos

A single stock just cut through December's market noise like a hot knife.

The Numbers Don't Lie

While traditional portfolios get tossed around, Creative Media & Community Trust posted a staggering 32.48% surge. That's not a typo—it's a statement. The move highlights a brutal truth about December trading: volatility isn't a bug, it's a feature, and some assets are built to ride the wave.

Beyond the Tickertape

This isn't just about a price pop. It's about trust—the 'Community Trust' in its name—acting as a tangible asset when algorithmic traders panic-sell over a holiday retail figure. The surge suggests a cohort of investors sees value that quarterly reports and analyst downgrades missed entirely.

The Cynical Take

Let's be real—for every winner in a volatile month, a dozen funds are quietly explaining their 'defensive positioning' (aka losses) to nervous clients. CMCT's rally is a reminder that in modern markets, narrative and community can sometimes bypass traditional fundamentals altogether. Whether that's genius or a ticking clock depends on your faith in the crowd.

The close will be telling. Does this hold, or was it just another December flash in the pan? One thing's certain: in a market obsessed with macro fears, a 32.48% move screams that someone, somewhere, is betting on a very different story.

TLDRs;

• CMCT stock surges dramatically amid extreme microcap volatility in December trading.
• The lending division sale is drawing significant attention from investors.
• CMCT focuses increasingly on multifamily residential properties to strengthen its portfolio.
• High leverage and elevated short-interest continue to create substantial investor risks.

Creative Media & Community Trust (NASDAQ: CMCT) has become a headline-grabbing name in the REIT sector, with its stock surging 32.48% amid unusually volatile trading.

The spike comes after a series of daily price swings that have seen shares oscillate wildly, reflecting the microcap nature of CMCT’s equity base and heavy short-interest positioning.

Creative Media & Community Trust Corporation, CMCT

The company’s market capitalization remains tiny, estimated at just over $3 million earlier this month. On December 8, CMCT traded between roughly $4 and $8 per share, reflecting volatility levels more typical of meme stocks than traditional real estate investment trusts.

Traders have been quick to seize momentum opportunities, while longer-term investors face cautionary flags due to the stock’s erratic history and prior losses.

Strategic Sale of Lending Division

A key catalyst behind CMCT’s recent surge is its announced sale of the company’s SBA 7(a) lending division. The transaction, valued at approximately $44 million, is expected to generate around $31 million in net proceeds for CMCT after transaction costs and debt payoffs.

Management has framed the divestiture as a strategic MOVE to refocus the business on “premier multifamily” residential properties and creative office assets. Analysts highlight that while the sale could strengthen liquidity and reduce leverage, the benefits are contingent on regulatory approval and successful execution.

Changes in leadership accompany the sale, with longtime CFO Barry Berlin departing and Brandon Hill stepping into the CFO and Treasurer roles.

Pivot Toward Multifamily Assets

CMCT’s portfolio shift is exemplified by the recent completion of 1915 Park, a six-story, 36-unit apartment complex in Los Angeles’ Echo Park neighborhood. The project includes a mix of studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units, along with a rooftop deck, targeting lifestyle-oriented urban residents.

The property is designed to complement CMCT’s broader multifamily expansion strategy, with high occupancy rates anticipated to drive rental income. Analysts note that the success of this pivot will depend on lease-up speed, market rental rates, and ongoing demand in the Los Angeles residential sector.

Analysts Warn of Persistent Risks

Despite the surge, CMCT carries substantial financial risks. The company reported a net loss of $12.6 million in Q3 2025 and continues to generate negative funds from operations. Net debt exceeds $500 million, creating a heavy interest burden relative to its small equity base.

Technical and algorithmic analyses signal caution as well. AI-driven models suggest a “strong sell” stance due to longer-term bearish trends, even as short-term momentum fuels speculative gains. High short-interest levels, microcap dynamics, and past reverse stock splits further amplify risk for buy-and-hold investors.

Trading-focused outlets have treated CMCT as a momentum vehicle rather than a stable yield play. Experts consistently advise caution, noting that while sudden price spikes can generate short-term gains, the underlying fundamentals remain weak.

Bottom Line

CMCT stock represents a high-beta, turnaround-focused microcap REIT. Its recent 32.48% surge is fueled by strategic portfolio moves, momentum trading, and speculative interest. However, ongoing losses, heavy leverage, and extreme volatility make it a high-risk proposition.

Investors should closely monitor the completion of the lending-division sale, lease-up performance at 1915 Park, and any refinancing or restructuring efforts aimed at stabilizing the balance sheet in 2026.