This REIT is poised for a rebound

Article Excerpt

RioCan’s units fell recently in response to the bankruptcy of retailer Hudson’s Bay Company. However, it looks like the REIT will be able to release these stores to new tenants on comparable or better terms. Meantime, RioCan continues to benefit from its focus on Canada’s biggest cities given their strong population growth (up 77% since 2017) and rising household income (up 45%). That should lift its cash flow and let RioCan keep raising your distributions. RIOCAN REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST $17 is a top pick for 2025. The REIT (Toronto symbol REI.UN; Cyclical-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing sector; Units outstanding: 297.2 million; Market cap: $5.1 billion; Distribution yield: 6.8%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Average; www.riocan.com) owns all or part of 177 shopping centres and mixed-use properties with a net leasable area of 32.0 million square feet. Its occupancy rate is a high 98.0%. RioCan cut its monthly distribution by 33.3% to $0.96 a unit (on an annual basis) in February 2021 as retailers shut down due to the…