investment trusts

CHOICE PROPERTIES REIT $12.22 (Toronto symbol CHP.UN; Units outstanding: 277.2 million; Market cap: $8.3 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk; Dividend yield: 6.1%; www.enbridge.com) acquired Canadian REIT (old symbol REF.UN), a recommendation of Canadian Wealth Advisor, on May 7, 2018.


The merger created Canada’s biggest real estate investment trust: 751 properties for a total of 66.8 million square feet of retail, industrial and office space.


In the quarter ended September 30, 2018, the REIT’s revenue jumped 52.5%, to $315.6 million from $207.0 million a year earlier....

Generally, robo-advisors offer a set number of investment portfolios largely composed of ETFs. They then use a client’s investment profile—factoring in their needs and risk tolerance—to determine which of those portfolios is best suited to the individual investor.


Robo-advisors claim that their exclusive algorithms take the emotion out of investing and lead to better returns for a lower cost than traditional financial advisors.


Typically, robo-advisors aim to build what they see as diversified portfolios covering all the main asset categories....

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) can play a useful role in well-balanced, income-seeking portfolios. Not only can they provide regular and stable income streams, but they can also deliver capital gains. In addition, they can add diversification, reducing the overall risk and volatility of the portfolio.


Many investors are reluctant to consider direct investments into commercial property for their portfolios....

The best real estate investment trusts (REITs) have good management and balance sheets strong enough to weather an economic downturn. They also have high-quality tenants. The best ones still do well despite economic slowdowns, and they have also taken advantage of low interest rates to refinance long-term mortgages on favourable terms.


Here are two ETFs focused on REITs: One invests in Canada; the other in the U.S....

Timeshares, a second home in the U.S., and small-town real estate investment trusts (REITs) can be some of the worst investments you’ll make in real estate

ISHARES CDN REIT INDEX FUND $17.70 (Toronto symbol XRE; buy or sell through brokers; ca.ishares.com) holds all 15 Canadian real estate investment trusts in the S&P/TSX REIT Index.


The fund has an MER of 0.61%, and it currently yields a high 4.7%.


The ETF’s top ten holdings are RioCan REIT (16.7% of holdings), Canadian Apartment Prop....

We feel the best way to cut your risk when investing in real estate investment trusts (REITs) is to focus on those with high-quality tenants that operate in a wide variety of industries. This could include office buildings or shopping centres.


That way, if a particular industry goes into a slump—like the oil and gas business did after 2014—it will only affect a small number of the REIT’s properties.


Likewise, it’s important to pick REITs that have broad exposure to many different regions.


Remember to look for REITs that don’t rely on a single tenant for more than, say, 10% of their rental income....

These real estate investing basics aim to give you the information you need on these topics: real estate investment trusts (REITs), second homes in the Sunbelt as investments, and investing in timeshares

Mining stocks are investments in companies that produce or explore for minerals. Some of these minerals include uranium, coal, molybdenum (which is used in steelmaking), copper, silver and gold. They are affected by fluctuating commodity prices in addition to their own business and operating risks.

Mining stocks can be strong performers when commodity prices move up....

ISHARES CDN REIT INDEX FUND $16.61 (Toronto symbol XRE; buy or sell through brokers; ca.ishares.com) holds all 15 Canadian real estate investment trusts in the S&P/TSX REIT Index.


The fund has an MER of 0.61%, and it currently yields a high 4.8%.


The ETF’s top ten holdings are RioCan REIT (16.5...