Is now a good time to invest in a REIT?
With rate cuts on the horizon, many publicly traded REITs have rebounded, and the industry as a whole seems well-poised for a recovery in the coming year. Ultimately, the decision on whether or not to buy REITs will depend on the specific circ*mstances and risk tolerance of each investor.
In case inflation is brought under control, there is a good chance for bond yields to move lower in 2024, making quality real estate investment trusts (REITs) the top investment choices right now. Here are two high-yield REITs you can consider buying to benefit from outsized gains over time.
REITs' average return
Return a minimum of 90% of taxable income in the form of shareholder dividends each year. This is a big draw for investor interest in REITs. Invest at least 75% of total assets in real estate or cash.
REIT Stock Performance and the Interest Rate Environment
Over longer periods, there has generally been a positive association between periods of rising rates and REIT returns. This is because rising rates generally reflect improvement in the underlying fundamentals.
The financial health and growth prospects of MPW, demonstrate its potential to outperform the market. It currently has a Growth Score of D. Recent price changes and earnings estimate revisions indicate this would not be a good stock for momentum investors with a Momentum Score of F.
Interest Rate Risk
The value of a REIT is based on the real estate market, so if interest rates increase and the demand for properties goes down as a result, it could lead to lower property values, negatively impacting the value of your investment.
- CrowdStrike. CrowdStrike (NASDAQ: CRWD) is a cybersecurity company that offers an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven platform to spot cyber threats and boost its clients' online security. ...
- Workday. ...
- Netflix.
He says: “Our analysis shows REITs perform very well historically in periods of high inflation. I could easily see global REIT returns in the low double-digits over the next 12 months – and if the economic situation turns out to be more positive it could be considerably more than that.”
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) have been hammered since 2022 with interest rate increases. At the last Federal Open Markets Committee (FOMC) meeting, the Federal Reserve promised another hike in 2023 and spooked the markets by stating that higher rates may have to continue for a longer time.
But since REITs are invested in property, there's more protection against the horror show of having shares crash to $0. By law, 75% of a REITs asset must be invested in real estate. The market value of the property owned by the REIT offers a bit of protection, as long as the value of the property doesn't go to zero.
Is MPW in financial trouble?
Indeed, MPW's financial performance was quite weak in 2023, as the company's asset sales to raise cash and manage debt maturities, plus its struggling tenants, led to annual revenues of only $872 million, representing an annual decline of 43% YoY.
Last year was rough for Medical Properties Trust (NYSE: MPW). The real estate investment trust's (REIT) stock tumbled over 50%. Several factors weighed on the hospital owner, including rising interest rates, tenant issues, and a dividend reduction.
Steward Healthcare, a key tenant, is one of the top reasons why MPW is in trouble as it has struggled to pay rent in the past few months. In a statement earlier this month, MPW entered into an agreement that saw it extend some financing to Steward.
A lot of REIT investors focus too way much on the dividend yield. They think that a high dividend yield implies that a REIT is cheap and a good investment opportunity. In reality, it is often the opposite, and the dividend does not say much, if anything, about the valuation of a REIT.
Risks of investing in REITs include higher dividend taxes, sensitivity to interest rates, and exposure to specific property trends.
According to the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (Nareit), non-traded REITs typically require a minimum investment of $1,000 to $2,500.
REITs allow investors to pool their money and purchase real estate properties. By law, a REIT must pay at least 90% of its income to its shareholders, providing investors with a passive income option that can be helpful during recessions.
Can You Lose Money on a REIT? As with any investment, there is always a risk of loss. Publicly traded REITs have the particular risk of losing value as interest rates rise, which typically sends investment capital into bonds.
REITs also tend to borrow heavily so the prospect of higher rates for longer puts pressure on their profit outlook. While the Fed decided not to hike interest rates after its meeting on Wednesday, it indicated that rates could stay at elevated levels for longer than investors had expected.
Wayfair Inc. (NYSE:W), Match Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:MTCH), and Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:PLTR) are some of the stocks that will double in 2024, besides StoneCo Ltd.
What are Motley Fool's top 5 growth stocks?
The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, BYD, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft.
For now at least, analysts are anticipating S&P 500 earnings growth will continue to accelerate in the first half of 2024. Analysts project S&P 500 earnings will grow 3.9% year-over-year in the first quarter and another 9% in the second quarter.
Therefore, if rates begin to rise then REIT cash flows will decline at a time when discount rates are rising. They fear the end result will be capital losses that offset the higher distribution yield and result in negative total returns.
Compared to other investments such as stocks and bonds, REITs are subject to various risk factors that affect the investor's returns. Some of the main risk factors associated with REITs include leverage risk, liquidity risk, and market risk.
During inflationary periods, experts suggest making the most of your returns by investing in assets that have historically delivered returns that outpace the rate of inflation. Examples include diversified index funds, as well as carefully investing in things like gold, real estate, Series I savings bonds and TIPS.
