Topic: How To Invest

Pat: Is Morguard REIT okay to buy? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

Morguard Real Estate Investment Trust, $14.23, symbol MRT.UN on Toronto (Units outstanding: 56.9 million; Market cap: $809.0 million, www.morguardreit.com), owns 51 shopping centres, office buildings and industrial buildings. In all, these properties include about 8.3 million square feet of leasable space. The trust’s shopping centres account for 52.2% of its leasable space, followed by office (36.6%) and industrial (11.2%). Geographically, its leasable space breaks down as follows: Ontario (51.9%), Alberta (15.7%), Quebec (9.8%), B.C. (8.8%), Manitoba (7.9%), and Saskatchewan (5.9%). Morguard REIT’s properties have a 94% occupancy rate. Morguard REIT first sold units to the public in October 1997 at $10.00 each. Morguard Corp. (symbol MRC on Toronto) owns 45.5% of Morguard REIT. In May 2010, Morguard REIT paid $42.2 million for 50% of an enclosed shopping centre in Grande Prairie, Alberta. This mall is 97% occupied. That cuts the risk of this purchase. In July 2010, the trust paid $84.7 million for 50% of an office-building complex in Montreal, Quebec…