A Yield to Caution

Article Excerpt

PURE MULTI-FAMILY REIT LP $7.83 (Toronto Venture Exchange symbol RUF.UN; Units outstanding: 76.7 million; Market cap: $597.0 million; Dividend yield: 6.0%; www. puremultifamily.com) owns U.S. multi-family real estate assets. Pure Multi focuses on luxury resort-style apartment communities in sunbelt locations such as Dallas, Houston and Phoenix. Those markets rank high for both job and population growth. The REIT pays a monthly distribution of $0.03125 per unit for a high 6.0% yield. Pure Multi continues to grow by acquisition. It has just purchased the multi-family apartment community Farmers Market Apartments in Dallas, Texas. The REIT paid $66.4 million U.S. for the property. It brings the total suite count to 6,855 units, spread across 21 properties. Pure Multi aims for a diversified portfolio, with units in Texas, Arizona and other sunbelt states. Currently, however, the REIT is almost entirely concentrated in Texas. That state has one of the fastest-growing economies in the U.S., but that level of concentration adds considerable risk. Pure Multi’s growth by acquisition only adds…