These top REITs are poised for a rebound

Article Excerpt

RioCan and H&R continue to build new residential and industrial properties to cut their exposure to the retail industry. Their new properties—along with store reopenings as the pandemic eases—should help both REITs raise investor distributions in the next few years. All in all, each trust remains attractive thanks to high-quality properties and tenants. RIOCAN REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST, $20.92, is a buy. The REIT (Toronto symbol REI.UN; Units outstanding: 317.8 million; Market cap: $6.8 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Average; Dividend yield: 4.6%; www.riocan.com) offers you a stake in 210 shopping centres and other properties across Canada. They include 15 projects under development with a focus on the residential segment, including condos/townhouse and apartments. Its overall occupancy rate is a high 96.4%. RioCan’s rental revenue in the three months ended September 30, 2021 fell 2.3%, to $260.2 million from $266.4 million a year earlier. The decline was mostly due to the sale of non-core properties. Meanwhile, the trust collected 98.1% of rents in the quarter. Overall cash…