Topic: How To Invest

Hi Pat: What is your opinion on Cominar REIT?

Article Excerpt

A: Cominar REIT, $17.04, symbol CUF.UN on Toronto (Units outstanding: 168.2 million; Market cap: $2.9 billion; www.cominar.com), is Quebec’s largest owner of commercial buildings. In all, the trust holds 542 properties—134 office buildings, 173 shopping malls and 235 industrial and mixed-use buildings. These holdings contain a total of 45.0 million square feet of leasable space in Montreal (56% of the total), Quebec City (23%), Ontario (13%), the Atlantic provinces (6%) and Western Canada (2%). Cominar’s occupancy rate is 92.5%. The trust continues to grow by acquisition. Revenue jumped 179.8%, from $317.7 million in 2011 to $889.2 million in 2015. Cominar’s earnings rose from $2.74 a unit (or a total of $177.5 million) in 2011 to $3.13 a unit (or $342.2 million) in 2012. Due to higher depreciation charges and other costs, earnings then fell to $2.03 a unit (or $255.0 million) in 2013, and to $1.47 a unit (or $199.5 million) in 2014. However, earnings rebounded to $1.62 a share (or $272.4…