Here’s a convenient way to hold some of the top real estate investment trusts (REITs)

The federal government’s tax on income-trust distributions has now been in effect for a little more than six months, since January 1, 2011. However, Ottawa feels the income-trust business structure is still appropriate for real estate investment trusts (REITs), so it has exempted REITs from the new tax. That’s great news for Canadian income seekers. What’s more, as we predicted in our Canadian Wealth Advisor newsletter, most REITs have moved up in the past year—including our recommendations. That’s because REITs’ high yields have attracted a lot of investor attention as trusts converted to corporations, or cut their distributions in response to the new tax. (Real estate investment trusts resemble income trusts, but with a key difference: REITs invest in income-producing real estate, such as office buildings and hotels. We recommend a carefully selected group of REITs in Canadian Wealth Advisor.) [ofie_ad]

This exchange traded fund holds 13 real estate investment trusts

In the latest Canadian Wealth Advisor, we’ve updated our buy/sell/hold advice on the iShares Canadian REIT Sector Index Fund (symbol XRE on Toronto), an exchange traded fund that holds some of the leading Canadian REITs. This ETF has moved up over 20% for us in the past year. In Canadian Wealth Advisor, we look to see if it has even more gains ahead. iShares Canadian REIT Sector Index Fund holds the 13 Canadian REITs in the S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index. The weight of any one REIT is limited to 25% of iShares CDN REIT Sector Index Fund’s value. RioCan REIT is the fund’s largest holding, at 25.0%, followed by H&R REIT (12.7%), Calloway REIT (8.5%), Canadian REIT (8.4%), Boardwalk REIT (7.0%), Dundee REIT (6.3%), Canadian Apartment Properties REIT (5.6%), Primaris Retail REIT (5.4%), Cominar REIT (4.5%), Chartwell Seniors Housing REIT (4.5%), Allied Properties REIT (4.2%), Artis REIT (4.0%) and Extendicare REIT (3.2%). iShares CDN REIT’s expenses are just 0.55% of its assets. The fund yields 5.0%. You can get the latest issue of Canadian Wealth Advisor—which includes our full analysis and clear buy/sell/hold advice on the iShares Canadian REIT Sector Index Fund—absolutely FREE when you take a no-risk, 1-month FREE trial to Canadian Wealth Advisor today. Best of all, your FREE trial contains 5 in-depth Special Reports, access to our weekly Email/Telephone Hotlines and much more. Don’t wait! Click here start your 1-month FREE trial to Canadian Wealth Advisor now.

A professional investment analyst for more than 30 years, Pat has developed a stock-selection technique that has proven reliable in both bull and bear markets. His proprietary ValuVesting System™ focuses on stocks that provide exceptional quality at relatively low prices. Many savvy investors and industry leaders consider it the most powerful stock-picking method ever created.