Two high-yield REITs focused on quality

Article Excerpt

These REITs own some of the best properties in Canada, with a concentration on its biggest cities. Both offer high yields as well as steady growth prospects. Each is a buy. ALLIED PROPERTIES REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST, $17.01, is a buy. The REIT (Toronto symbol AP.UN; Units outstanding: 128.0 million; Market cap: $2.4 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Average; Dividend yield: 10.6%; www.alliedreit.com) owns 188 office buildings and nine properties under development. All are in seven urban markets—Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Kitchener, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. The overall occupancy rate is 87.2%. Since the start of 2024, Allied has sold $75 million worth of its less-important properties. For the entire year, it expected to sell a total of $231 million in assets. That’s more than its $200 million target. This year, in 2025, it expects to sell an additional $170 million. Despite those sales, revenue in the quarter ended September 30, 2024, rose 5.9%, to $146.6 million from $138.5 million a year earlier. However, higher costs and interest expenses,…