Narrower focus will spur RioCan higher

Article Excerpt

RIOCAN REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST $25 (Toronto symbol REI.UN; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Units o/s: 312.7 million; Market cap: $7.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 6.5; Dividend yield: 5.8%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.riocan.com) owns all or part of 267 shopping centres and other rental properties in Canada. That includes 17 projects in development. The overall occupancy rate is a high 96.8%. RioCan’s revenue fell 9.9%, from $1.14 billion in 2013 to $1.03 billion in 2014. That’s mainly because it sold its U.S. malls. Revenue then improved to $1.09 billion in 2015, and climbed to $1.16 billion in 2017. The trust’s overall cash flow rose 32.2%, from $470.8 million in 2013 to $622.4 million in 2015. Due to more units outstanding, cash flow per unit rose at a slower rate of 24.4%, from $1.56 to $1.94. Cash flow then declined to $1.68 a unit (or a total of $547.9 million) in 2016, but recovered to $1.79 a unit (or $584.6 million) in 2017. Mixed-use properties…