These top REITs are poised for a rebound

Article Excerpt

The market plunge at the start of the COVID-19 crisis lowered prices for most REITs. That’s because the pandemic forced many businesses to temporarily close. However, vaccines should see the economy normalize in the next several months. That will let these two REITs maintain their current distributions, or even raise them. ALLIED PROPERTIES REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST $43.30, is a buy. The REIT (Toronto symbol AP.UN; Units outstanding: 127.3 million; Market cap: $5.5 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk; Dividend yield: 3.9%; www.alliedreit.com) creates value for investors through its 194 office buildings and 10 properties under development, mainly in major Canadian cities. The overall occupancy rate is a high 91.1%. Most of the REIT’s buildings are classified as Class I buildings, and together they comprise over 14.1 million square feet of leasable area. Class I refers to 19th- and early-20th-century industrial buildings that are now used as office space. In addition to hardwood floors, they often have exposed beams and brick walls. Revenue increased…