Their lower distributions are more sustainable

Article Excerpt

These two REITs have had to cut their payouts to investors in the past few years. Still, as a result, their new distribution rates are much more stable—while continuing to offer you a high yield. DREAM OFFICE REIT $21 is a buy. The REIT (Toronto symbol D.UN; Cyclical-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio; Manufacturing sector; Units outstanding: 55.9 million; Market cap: $1.2 billion; Dividend yield: 4.8%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Average; www.dream.ca) launched a three-year strategic initiative in 2016. As part of that plan, it sold roughly 138 properties for $3.7 billion. It used $1.8 billion of the proceeds to pay down its high-interest debt. It also repurchased over $1.1 billion of its outstanding units. In July 2017, Dream also cut its monthly distribution by 50.6%, to $0.0833 a unit from $0.125. It has held that new rate—yielding a high 4.8%— steady since then. The trust now has 30 office properties, including one under development. These properties have a total of 5.5 million square feet of gross leasable area. Also,…