RioCan is safer than it appears

Article Excerpt

RIOCAN REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST $12 (Toronto symbol REI.UN; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Units outstanding: 222 million; Market cap: $2.7 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.7; SI Rating: Average) is Canada’s largest real estate investment trust (REIT). It owns 241 retail properties, including 16 under development. RioCan specializes in “Big Box” outdoor malls. Most are in suburban areas where land costs are generally lower than in more developed towns and cities. RioCan’s exposure to the retail industry increases its risk, particularly during a recession. However, its anchor tenants, like Wal-Mart, Cineplex and Metro, tend to do well when the economy is slow. In 2008, RioCan’s revenue rose 6.1%, to $763.8 million from $719.9 million in 2007. Earnings soared 354%, to $146.9 million from $32.4 million. However, this was mainly because RioCan’s 2007 earnings included a $144-million, non-cash charge related to a change in the way Ottawa taxes REITs. In April 2008, RioCan also issued $144 million of new units to pay…