RioCan to exit residential

Article Excerpt

RIOCAN REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST, $17.19, is a buy. The REIT (Toronto symbol REI.UN; Units outstanding: 296.7 million; Market cap: $5.1 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Average; Dividend yield: 6.7%; www.riocan.com) owns all or part of 177 shopping centres and other properties across Canada, including eight under development. Its occupancy rate is a high 98.0%. RioCan is now selling its 50% stake in four properties held by its RioCan Living business. That unit owns 13 residential rental buildings and two projects under development. The REIT will receive $197.3 million when it completes the transaction in the third quarter of 2025. The trust will apply the proceeds to pay down its debt. RioCan also aims to sell its remaining residential properties over the next two years. That will let it better focus on its main retail properties and keep raising your monthly distributions. The current annual rate of $1.158 a unit yields a high 6.7%. RioCan REIT is still a buy. buy. …