Topic: How To Invest

Hi Pat: Could I have your opinion about Morguard REIT? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

Morguard Real Estate Investment Trust, $13.48, symbol MRT.UN on Toronto (Units outstanding: 56.8 million; Market cap: $766.3 million), owns 50 shopping centres, office buildings and industrial buildings. In all, these properties include about 7.8 million square feet of leasable space. The trust’s shopping centres account for about 61% of its leasable space, followed by office (35%) and industrial (4%). Geographically, its leasable space breaks down as follows: Ontario (55.9%), Alberta (15.0%), B.C. (9.5%), Manitoba (8.5%), Saskatchewan (6.3%), and Quebec (4.8%). Morguard REIT’s properties have a 94% occupancy rate. Morguard REIT first sold units to the public in October 1997 at $10.00 each. Morguard Corp. (symbol MRC on Toronto) owns 45.5% of Morguard REIT. In the three months ended March 31, 2010, the trust’s revenue rose 3.4%, to $52.5 million from $50.8 million a year earlier. However, cash flow per unit fell 6.7%, to $0.28 from $0.30. Morguard REIT’s interest costs rose because it issued convertible debentures in 2009. Holders of these…