Media Briefs Blog

Ten Equity REIT property segments exceeded the 6.32 percent total return of the FTSE NAREIT All Equity REITs Index in the first five months of 2016, with five segments delivering double-digit returns.

The U.S. REIT market outperformed the broader equity market in May and the first five months of the year. The FTSE NAREIT All REITs Index, the broadest measure of the U.S. REIT market including both Equity REITs and Mortgage REITs, delivered a total return of 2.34 percent in May and 6.53 percent for the year through May 31.

NAREIT today named the winners of its 2016 Investor CARE Awards at its investor forum, REITWeek, in New York. The annual awards honor NAREIT’s stock exchange-listed REIT and real estate operating company members that demonstrate superior shareholder communications and reporting excellence. All of NAREIT’s listed corporate members – approximately 200 companies – made up the field for this year’s awards. 

In an environment in which corporate earnings have been lagging in many industries, the stock exchange-listed U.S. Equity REIT industry continues to deliver solid increases in operating performance fueled by strong occupancies and rent growth.

At the end of April, the equity market capitalization of the 219 REITs in the FTSE NAREIT All REITs Index was $972 billion and the equity market capitalization of the 165 REITs in the FTSE NAREIT All Equity REITs Index was $914 billion.

Investment real estate values declined by -0.32 percent during April 2016 according to the FTSE NAREIT PureProperty® Index Series, which provides the earliest measurement of changes in the market values of properties held for investment purposes.

A number of analysts have noted that increasing construction and high property prices often presage a downturn in the sector, and have asked whether this market cycle may be approaching its 9th inning. NAREIT economists have examined data from several sources to shed further light on the question of whether the real estate sector may be approaching a correction.

Stock exchange-listed U.S. REITs continue to offer strong yields for dividend-seeking investors, outpacing the broader equity market. At the end of April, the dividend yield of the FTSE NAREIT All REITs Index was 4.28 percent, the dividend yield of the FTSE NAREIT All Equity REITs Index was 3.86 percent, and the yield of the FTSE NAREIT Mortgage REITs Index was 11.61 percent.

Eight Equity REIT property sectors and subsectors outperformed the 3.92 percent total return of the FTSE NAREIT All Equity REITs Index in the first four months of the year. Three property segments delivered double-digit total returns: Specialty REITs were up 16.77 percent; Free-standing Retail REITs were up 14.85 percent; and Data Centers gained 14.14 percent.

U.S. REITs continued to outperform the broader equity market through the first four months of 2016, the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT) reported. The FTSE NAREIT All REITs Index, the broadest measure of the U.S. REIT market including both Equity REITs and Mortgage REITs, delivered a 4.09 percent total return for the first four months of the year. 

The total economic contribution of U.S. REITs in 2014, the most recent year of complete information, was an estimated 1.8 million full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs and $107.5 billion of labor income.

REITs continued to offer strong dividend yields at the end of 2016’s first quarter. The dividend yield of the FTSE NAREIT All REITs Index was 4.19 percent on March 31, the yield of the FTSE NAREIT All Equity REITs Index was 3.76 percent, and the yield of the FTSE NAREIT Mortgage REITs Index was 11.83 percent.