Topic: How To Invest

What is your recommendation on Cominar REIT? Thank you.

Article Excerpt

Cominar REIT, $22.08, symbol CUF.UN on Toronto (Units outstanding: 60.4 million; Market cap: $1.4 billion; www.cominar.com), is the largest commercial property owner in Quebec. The company owns 263 properties, including 52 office buildings, 52 retail buildings and 159 industrial and mixed-use buildings. These properties contain leasable space of more than 20.8 million square feet located in Montreal (59.3%), Quebec City (32.8%), the Ottawa/Gatineau region (2.9%) and the Atlantic provinces (5.0%). Cominar’s occupancy rate is 93.9%. In the three months ended March 31, 2011, Cominar’s revenue rose 14.5%, to $79.7 million from $69.6 million a year earlier. Cash flow rose 10.2%, to $21.5 million from $19.5 million. Cash flow per unit fell 2.9%, to $0.34 from $0.35, on more units outstanding. Cominar continues to grow by acquisition. In March 2011, it bought office properties in Montreal that are 99% occupied, as well as properties in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Moncton, New Brunswick. The Halifax and Moncton properties were recently built, but are already…