Smart management sets it apart

Article Excerpt

Many investors look at real estate investment trusts (REITs) as proxies for bonds. Instead, we view REITs as companies that own and manage real estate. When you invest in a REIT, the most important thing to look at is the quality of its holdings. This includes locations, tenants and expansion opportunities. A sound mix of properties will continue to give a REIT steady or rising cash flows, even when the economy slows. RioCan is a top example. This well-managed REIT continues to add high-quality retail locations and tenants, which should lead to higher cash flows and distributions. It’s also taking advantage of low interest rates to expand in the U.S., and diversify into office and residential properties. RIOCAN REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST $25 (Toronto symbol REI.UN; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Units outstanding: 303.2 million; Market cap: $7.6 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 6.5; Dividend yield: 5.6%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.riocan.com) started up in 1993 and is now Canada’s largest…