Steady income & growth at moderate risk

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RIOCAN REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST $20 (Toronto symbol REI.UN; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Units outstanding: 243.2 million; Market cap: $4.9 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 6.2; Dividend yield: 6.9%; SI Rating: Average) is Canada’s largest real estate investment trust (REIT). RioCan has properties in all 10 provinces. The trust specializes in large outdoor malls, and owns 261 retail properties, 12 of which are under development. Most are in suburban areas, where land is generally cheaper than in towns and cities. Since it became a REIT in the early 1990s, RioCan has focused on developing and leasing retail space in Canada. However, it recently expanded to the U.S. through a new joint venture with Cedar Shopping Centers, Inc. (New York symbol CDR). RioCan paid $181 million U.S. for 80% of this joint venture, which will own seven shopping centres in the northeastern U.S. RioCan also received 14.3% of Cedar as part of the deal. More U.S. purchases seem likely Ottawa exempted REITs from…