Focus on major Canadian cities cuts risk

Article Excerpt

RIOCAN REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST $27.37 (Toronto symbol REI.UN; Units outstanding: 323.7 million; Market cap: $8.9 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Average; Dividend yield: 5.2%; www.riocan.com) is Canada’s largest real estate investment trust. In the three months ended March 31, 2016, RioCan’s cash flow rose 7.0%, to $147.8 million from $138.0 million a year earlier. Per-unit cash flow gained 4.5%, to $0.46 from $0.44, on more units outstanding. The trust has now completed the sale of its 49 U.S. malls for $1.9 billion U.S. The value of the properties had risen with the U.S. dollar and the country’s recovering economy. RioCan will use $510 million of the proceeds toward acquiring 100% ownership of 22 Canadian malls. Currently, it owns 50% of those properties. Its joint-venture partner, U.S.-based Kimco Realty (New York symbol KIM), holds the remaining share. It has agreed to sell its interest for $715 million. The partners have 13 other properties across six provinces. They will together sell ten of…