Topic: How To Invest

Dear Pat: Please provide me your comments on American Hotel Income Properties REIT. I have been given a recommendation to buy this REIT for growth and income. Thank you.

Article Excerpt

American Hotel Income Properties REIT, $10.85, symbol HOT.UN on Toronto (Units outstanding: 10.4 million; Market cap: $112.8 million, www.ahipreit.com), began trading in February 2013, after it sold 10.1 million units to the public at $10.00 each. The offering raised $101.1 million. The real estate investment trust used the proceeds to help pay for its first acquisition: 32 hotels, comprising 2,565 rooms, that mainly house railroad employees in 19 U.S. states. All of these hotels operate under the Oak Tree Inn brand, with the exception of one Best Western. The purchase price was $141 million. American Hotel believes this is a profitable niche market and plans to keep making similar acquisitions. The REIT feels that these hotels’ contracts with large railways will keep occupancy rates high relative to the overall hospitality industry. The hotels are close to large rail switching yards and hubs, and the railways guarantee to keep them about 74% occupied. The buildings are specially designed and feature crew shuttles,…