A real estate investment trust or REIT is a type of income trust—an investment trust that holds income-producing assets. Their units trade on stock exchanges, but they flow much of their income through to unitholders as “distributions.”
REITs were first set up like mutual funds for real estate, created by the U.S. Congress in 1960. They’re usually publicly traded, and investors like REITs because REITS have a high dividend yield, based on at least 90% of their taxable income.
Canadian REITs must be a corporation that’s taxable, and follow all the rules of being a corporation. They must invest 75% or more of their total assets in real estate and make at least 75% of their gross income from their properties, including rent, financing and sales. Like most stocks that are publicly traded, they live by the rules of exchanges, and require no less than 100 shareholders.
Real estate investment trusts can be lower risk, because they invest in income-producing real estate such as office towers, shopping malls or hotels. Even so, real estate still has risks—its value rises and falls with changes in the economy, interest rates and occupancy levels. Investing in other types of income trusts can be risky as well, as the businesses that underpin them may have steady cash flow, but could stagnate as the economy changes.
Still, REITs are popular among investors seeking income. For you overall portfolio, follow TSI Network and use our three-part Successful Investor strategy:
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These two REITs own some of the best properties in Canada’s biggest cities. Despite the disruptions caused by the work from home and online shopping trends, those high-quality holdings should continue to attract tenants and let these REITs keep raising your distributions.
ALLIED PROPERTIES REAL ESTATE… Read More
LEON’S FURNITURE LTD. $18 is a buy for aggressive investors. The retailer (Toronto symbol LNF; Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 67.9 million; Market cap: $1.2 billion; Dividend yield: 3.6%; Takeover Target Rating: Lowest; www.leons.com) operates 304 stores that sell furniture and home appliances, mainly under the Leon’s, The Brick, and… Read More
RIOCAN REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST $18 (www.riocan.com) is a buy. The REIT owns all or part of 193 shopping centres and other properties across Canada, as well as 11 projects under development. RioCan plans to spend between $400 million and $450 million on new developments in 2023… Read More
H&R REIT spun off its retail properties to Primaris in 2022. The move lets both REITs better focus on their main businesses, and they have since raised your distributions.
H&R REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST $9.21 is a buy. The REIT (Toronto symbol HR.UN; Cyclical-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing… Read More
This country’s traditional retailers, like Canadian Tire, face rising competition from big U.S. chains, like Walmart and Costco, as they continue to expand in Canada. As well, consumers are now spending less on non-essential items as they adjust to high prices and interest rates.
We feel… Read More
These two REITs hold some of the best properties in Canada’s biggest cities. Those assets should let them keep raising your distributions.
ALLIED PROPERTIES REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST $21 is a buy. The REIT (Toronto symbol AP.UN; Cyclical-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing sector; Units outstanding: 139.8 million; Market… Read More
In the past few years, several big Canadian retailers, including Loblaw and Canadian Tire, have unlocked the hidden value of their real estate holdings by setting up publicly traded real estate investment trusts (REITs).
Shares of furniture retailer Leon’s rose 10% after it announced its own… Read More
LEON’S FURNITURE LTD. $21 is a buy for aggressive investors. The retailer (Toronto symbol LNF; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 67.9 million; Market cap: $1.4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.6; Dividend yield: 3.0%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.leons.ca) sells furniture and appliances through 303 stores, mainly under the… Read More
In October 2017, RioCan shifted its focus away from Big Box style suburban malls to properties in the downtown areas of six major cities: Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. Those cities now supply 92% of its rental revenue, up from 76% in 2017.
RioCan… Read More
The best way to cut your risk when investing in REITs is to focus on those with high-quality properties and tenants. Here are two of our favourites.
CHOICE PROPERTIES REIT $13 is a buy. Canada’s biggest REIT (Toronto symbol CHP.UN; Cyclical-Growth Payer Portfolio; Manufacturing & Industry sector; Units… Read More
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