Two stable payouts in the retail storm

Article Excerpt

More people are shopping online, forcing retailers to close stores and print fewer advertising flyers. This trend is weighing on mall operators, like RioCan, and printing firms, such as Transcontinental (see box). Both companies are diversifying beyond retail in response. That cuts their risk and supports their current payout rates. RIOCAN REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST $28 (Toronto symbol REI.UN; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Units outstanding: 317.9 million; Market cap: $8.9 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 6.9; Dividend yield: 5.0%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.riocan.com) owns all or part of 290 shopping centres in Canada, including 15 under development. These holdings account for 84% of the trust’s rental revenue. The remaining 16% comes from 48 malls in the U.S. Former tenant Target Canada recently abandoned 26 stores in RioCan’s malls, representing 1.9% of the trust’s annual rental revenue. So far, RioCan has found new tenants for eight former Target outlets. It hopes to fill the other 18 in the next few…