Primaris adds a solid asset

Article Excerpt

PRIMARIS REIT, $16.28, is a buy. The trust (Toronto symbol PMZ.UN; Units outstanding: 100.2 million; Market cap: $1.6 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Average; Yield: 5.2%; www.primarisreit.com) owns 38 enclosed and open air shopping malls in Canada, totalling 13.4 million square feet. The occupancy rate is 94.8%. Primaris’s properties include its recently acquired Les Galeries de la Capitale, in Quebec City. The purchase price was $325 million. The shopping centre is the leading shopping destination in its market. In the quarter ended September 30, 2024, Primaris’ revenue rose 14.0%, to $119.5 million from $104.8 million a year earlier. That was mostly due to its recent acquisitions. Cash flow per unit also climbed slightly, to $0.304 from $0.296. The trust raised its monthly distribution by 2.4%; the new annual rate of $0.86 yields a high 5.2% for investors. The REIT aims to pay out 45% to 50% of its cash flow as distributions. Primaris REIT is a buy. buy…