New properties add to their appeal

Article Excerpt

CANADIAN REIT $34.99 (Toronto symbol REF.UN; Units outstanding: 67.0 million; Market cap: $2.4 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk; Dividend yield: 4.1%; www.creit.ca) owns over 160 properties, including retail, industrial and office buildings, located across Canada and in the Chicago area. These properties contain over 22 million square feet of leasable area. Its occupancy rate is 93.3%. In the three months ended June 30, 2011, the real estate investment trust’s revenue rose slightly, to $80.3 million from $79.9 million a year earlier. Cash flow per unit rose 1.8%, to $0.58 from $0.57. In June 2011, Canadian REIT bought two fully leased malls in Mississauga, Ontario, for $174.4 million. Tenants include Future Shop, Famous Players, Chapters, Rona and National Sports. Earlier this year, the REIT raised its annual distribution by 2.1%, to $1.44 a unit from $1.41. It now yields 4.1%. Canadian REIT’s broad diversification also cuts its risk. Its geographic breakdown is as follows: Alberta, 36%; Ontario, 27%; Atlantic Canada, 14%; B.C., 10%; Quebec,…