Our top REIT continues to shine

Article Excerpt

RioCan’s units have steadily risen in the past year, mainly because its high, stable distributions continue to attract income-seeking investors. Even after this rise, we feel RioCan still has plenty of growth ahead. It continues to expand in the U.S., and it is diversifying into other real estate projects like office buildings and residential developments. Best of all, its high-quality properties and tenants give it the reliable cash flow it needs to invest in new growth projects and maintain—and raise—its distributions. RIOCAN REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST $27 (Toronto symbol REI.UN; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Units outstanding: 291.3 million; Market cap: $7.9 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 5.0; Dividend yield: 5.1%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.riocan.com) is Canada’s largest real estate investment trust (REIT). RioCan specializes in big-box-style outdoor malls. It owns 278 shopping centres in Canada, 10 of which are under development. Most are in suburban areas, where land is generally cheaper than in towns and cities. The trust often leaves room at…