Topic: How To Invest

What is your opinion of the following investment: First Capital Realty? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

First Capital Realty Inc., $19.76, symbol FCR on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 220.9 million; Market cap: $4.4 billion; www.firstcapitalrealty.ca), owns, develops and operates shopping centres throughout Canada. It focuses on big cities, including Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Vancouver, Ottawa and Edmonton. First Capital owns interests in 157 properties. Supermarkets and drugstores account for 31% of its rental revenue, followed by national and discount retailers (15%), medical clinics, gyms and daycare facilities (14%), restaurants (13%) and banks and government offices (11%). Other retailers supply the remaining 16%. The company’s largest tenants include Sobeys, Loblaw, Metro, Canadian Tire, Wal-Mart and Dollarama. First Capital’s revenue rose 3.0% in 2014, to $661.4 million from $642.1 million in 2013. That’s mainly due to scheduled rent increases; the company also renewed leases at higher rates. Overall cash flow gained 4.6%, to $228.6 million from $218.5 million, while per-share cash flow rose 3.1%, to $1.00 from $0.97, on more shares outstanding. First Capital bought $226.9 million of properties in 2014, mainly lots next to…