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Investment Q&A

Not investment advice or solicitation to buy/sell securities. Do your own due diligence and/or consult an advisor.

Q: Artis and RioCan are both trading at about a 50 % discount to their NAV. Both pay a good dividend. Would you invest in either one? Would you favour one over the other? Are their dividends "safe"? AX.UN is down nearly a dollar in the last two days. Is there a reason for that? Thanks for your insight.
Read Answer Asked by George on May 14, 2020
Q: I would like to reduce my exposure to REITs and reallocate to other sectors. Considering selling some of these 6. I have a long term focus - 5+ years, looking at total return over that time. May I have your opinion of these in order from best to worst for total return for a long term hold. I'm assuming all will get through this economic disruption OK. AP.UN, GRT.UN, HR.UN, PLZ.UN, REI.UN, SRU.UN. Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Dan on May 12, 2020
Q: Hello 5i Team
I am comparing the retail REITs and the two distinct groupings in the sector:
Group 1 - REITs majority owned by parent operating company and the majority source of the REIT's income. These would be Choice Properties REIT (CHP.UN), Crombie REIT (CRR.UN) and CT REIT (CRT.UN).
Group 2 - REITS with a large diverse portfolio. These would be First Capital REIT (FCR.UN), Riocan REIT (REI.UN) and SmartCentres REIT (SRU.UN).
The questions I have are:
1 - What would be your ranking of the REITs in Group 1 and your ranking of the REITs in Group 2?
2 - Which is the better Group to select from Group 1 or Group 2?
3 - Any other retail oriented REITs I should be looking at?
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on May 08, 2020
Q: I am underwater on these and would like to harvest the losses and re-buy after 30 days (or not). Can you suggest temporary replacements for each? Any of these names you would not buy after the 30 days and just add to others?
Please deduct as many questions as appropriate.
Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Carlos on May 08, 2020
Q: I own REI.UN and SRU.UN

Today I noted, from my broker's notes, that although FCR.UN was able to collect 70% of the gross rents for the month of April, REI.Un and SRU.UN collected much less at 54% and 64% respectively.
Is it advisable to sell REI.UN and SRU.UN and buy FCR.UN ? Will this reduce risks related to Covis 19?
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Terry on April 23, 2020
Q: To a recent question I asked, 5i responded: "Some REITs, if they distribute a large portion of income as return of capital, can still be attractive outside of registered plans. But this also relates to our preference for growth inside a TFSA (REITs are typically slower growth)." I checked my TFSA portfolio, and some of my REITs' distributions are comprised almost entirely of ROC (Allied [AP.UN], Chartwell [CSH.UN], Dream [D.UN]), whereas others' (Choice [CHP.UN], H&R [HR.UN], Riocan [REI.UN]) are almost all otherwise taxable income. So I gather from your previous answer that the former type of REITs (Allied, Chartwell, Dream) shouldn't, generally speaking, be held within a TFSA, is that your view/advice? Also, more generally, so I better understand this issue-- what is the main business/accounting reason(s) why some companies' distributions are primarily ROC? Generally speaking, is one versus the other type of REIT (with respect to proportion of ROC within the distribution) a "better" investment, all other factors being equal (i.e., is there any general investment "rule" here)?
Ted
Read Answer Asked by Ted on April 13, 2020
Q: Good Evening
NWC
It is my understanding that NWC is providing food like the supermarkets to the public. Therefore, is it a safe bet during this coronavirus environment? Have they ever cut their dividend ? Is their dividend safe?
As well, some analysts saw their acquisition of an airline as negative. What is your opinion?
Is it advisable to average down at this level?

REI.UN
I own both the stock and a couple of their bonds. What is your opinion with respect Rio Can surviving the coronavirus crisis?
Please deduct one credit for each company.
Thanks again for your insight.
Read Answer Asked by Terry on March 26, 2020
Q: These 4 have been beaten badly , way more than the TSX drop. What do you think about their prospects to go bankrupt ? Can you rank them from the lowest to highest risk ?
which ones will have their cash affected more ?
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Alejandro (Alex) on March 26, 2020
Q: Hi Peter and Staff

If we end up in a longer (say 1-2 year recession) can you provide any comments as to which of the following could suffer most or least from vacancies or unpaid rent based on their tenants ?

FCR.UN, SRU.UN,NWH.UN,HR.UN and REI.UN

I guess I am also asking which one (s) appear to have been beaten up too much in relation to the others and why

Thanks for all you do
Dennis
Read Answer Asked by Dennis on March 20, 2020
Q: Gentlemen,
I hold the above four REIT's. I plan to sell REI.UN. With the proceeds and new cash I would like to increase the HR.UN and BPY:US positions and add two additional REIT's. For these I am considering DIR.UN, FCR.UN, IIP.UN. or any of your suggestions. These 5 REIT's would represent 10% of my portfolio.
I appreciate you input.
Thank you,
Werner
Read Answer Asked by Werner on February 21, 2020
Q: I own positions in each of these companies and am wondering about the future prospects of each.
Regarding FCR, does the recent activity of a major shareholder (Gazit Globe) selling some of its shares and an intention to sell more, significantly reduce the future price of the shares? Another way of expressing this is the freedom from Gazit allowing the company to improve their prospects?
REI seems to be a company that has stalled over the last few years. I realize they have been suffering from their holdings in shopping centres but have expected a more positive improvement.
Please give me your opinion on the prospects for each over the next 2 years as I am considering selling both positions.
Read Answer Asked by DAVE on January 31, 2020
Q: In the Real Estate Investment Trust sector rank them from best first on down? Interrent, Riocan, Granite, Broadwalk, and H&R Also give some color why they would be better than the others?
Read Answer Asked by Herbert on October 29, 2019
Q: I am wondering how to evaluate a REIT once it has exhibited a run-up like CAR (and others) have done. The yield has dropped to 2.5% - what will make the distribution grow? Is it only via acquisitions and/or property value increases? As they are largely in the apartment space in rent-controlled Ontario can this be seen as a significant sustainable driver or are their recent foreign acquisitions enough to drive significant growth? Industrial based REITs don't have the same constraints so do they have a "better" long term future or does their susceptibility to market cycles put up a cautionary note? All of this makes me wonder why REI, which is in the midst of a property mix turnover hasn't done better given that it is providing additional value to their portfolio with all of their strategic initiatives of converting retail to mixed-used properties.

Appreciate your insight.

Paul F.
Read Answer Asked by Paul on October 15, 2019