Don’t overlook these top REITs for income

Article Excerpt

These REITs own some of the best properties in Canada with a focus on the country’s biggest cities. Both offer high yields as well as steady growth prospects. Each is a buy. ALLIED PROPERTIES REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST, $20.30, is a buy. The REIT (Toronto symbol AP.UN; Units o/s: 128.0 million; Market cap: $2.6 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Average; Divd. yield: 8.9%; www.alliedreit.com) owns 192 office buildings and 10 properties under development. All are in seven urban markets: Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Kitchener, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. The overall occupancy rate is 87.1%. On April 1, 2024, Allied acquired 90% ownership interest in 400 West Georgia Street in Vancouver and increased its ownership in 19 Duncan Street in Toronto to 95% from 50%. These acquisitions will add to cash flow once Allied leases out the vacant square footage in Vancouver (18% of the total) and the 464 rental-residential units in Toronto. In the quarter ended June 30, 2024, the REIT’s revenue rose 7.8%, to $146.8 million from $136.1…