Topic: How To Invest

CANADIAN REIT $41.64 – Toronto symbol REF.UN

CANADIAN REIT $41.64 (Toronto symbol REF.UN; Units outstanding: 68.0 million; Market cap: $2.8 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk; Dividend yield: 3.6%; www.creit.ca) owns over 190 properties, including retail, industrial and office buildings, located across Canada and in Chicago. These properties contain over 19.6 million square feet of leasable area. The trust’s occupancy rate is 94.7%.

In the three months ended June 30, 2012, million from $80.3 million a year earlier. Cash flow per unit rose 12.1%, to $0.65 from $0.58.

Canadian REIT added $298.5 million of properties in the first half of this year, including two office buildings, a further investment in the Dartmouth Crossing (the largest unenclosed mall in Atlantic Canada) and the completion of several development projects. That total also included 50% of Calgary Place, a 575,000-square-foot office and retail complex it bought for $156.0 million in April 2012.

Canadian REIT raised its monthly distribution by 3.3% with the May 2012 payment, to $0.124 a unit from $0.12. That gives it a 3.6% yield.

The trust’s broad diversification cuts its risk. It has 37% of its assets in Alberta, followed by Ontario, 27%; Atlantic Canada, 12%; B.C., 11% Quebec, 9%; the Prairies, 2%; and the U.S., 2%. Shopping malls account for 52% of its properties, followed by office (25%) and industrial (23%).

Canadian REIT is still a buy.

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