Topic: How To Invest

Pat: Can you give me your opinion on Slate Office REIT? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

Slate Office REIT, $7.48, symbol SOT.UN on Toronto (Units outstanding: 15.0 million; Market cap: $112.2 million; www.slateofficereit.com), owns 35 retail, industrial and office properties, mostly in Toronto (61%) of square footage and Winnipeg (32%). Slate changed its name from FAM REIT in March 2015. In the three months ended March 31, 2015, acquisitions increased the trust’s revenue to $14.1 million from $8.2 million a year earlier. Overall cash flow jumped 73.5%, to $3.6 million from $2.1 million, while cash flow per unit rose 5.9%, to $0.18 from $0.17, as the trust issued more units to fund its recent acquisitions. Slate now plans to sell off its 12 retail and office properties and focus on the office market. It also aims to improve on its 91.7% occupancy rate, which is below the industry average. However, a seven-property, $190-million suburban Toronto office portfolio Slate acquired in late 2014, which had an average occupancy rate of just 86%, has dragged down that figure. The REIT just…