RioCan pauses projects

Article Excerpt

RIOCAN REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST, $17.43, is a buy. The REIT (Toronto symbol REI.UN; Units outstanding: 300.4 million; Market cap: $5.2 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Average; Dividend yield: 6.2%; www.riocan.com) owns all or part of 192 shopping centres and other properties (totalling 33.6 million square feet) across Canada, as well as 10 projects under development. Its overall occupancy rate is a high 97.5%. Due to higher interest rates, the REIT has announced that it will suspend several major new construction projects. RioCan will continue with 1.7 million square feet of space already under construction. However, it will suspend work on 1.5 million square feet of new projects until market conditions improve. In 2024, cash flow per unit is forecast at $1.81, and the units trade at an attractive 9.6 times that estimate. The $1.08 annual distribution rate yields a solid 6.2%. RioCan REIT is a buy. buy…