Investment Q&A

Q: From your report on IIP.UN, it appears that the company is making money from acquiring properties in more urban (i.e. stable) areas and by doing so, it is able to increase the efficiency and profitability of its property management area. The trust is also making some money by raising rents after tenants on old cheaper leases leave and by applying for "above guideline increases for existing tenants" which I think is another way of saying it works to get around rent controls.

Does IIP.UN own individual condos and/or condo buildings? Do they develop any of their own projects or is entirely a growth by acquisition story?

Is the above approach much different than that of CAR.UN? The metrics for both are very similar. Is IIP.UN different in that it owns somewhat more expensive rental units? Or are the two companies pretty similar?

Back in January, you felt that CAR.UN should be owned if one is interested in yield and IIP.UN would appeal more to someone wanted growth. Is your answer the same today?

Appreciate the insight.

Paul F.

Q: Hi, what is your top pick in industrials and REITs at current prices. Thanks.

Q: Is there any particular reason for the choppiness of CSH.UN, why has CAR.UN performed so much better?

Q: Hi,
I was wondering if you could recommend some good value, "defensive" REITs with strong growth.
Thanks

Q: There is always the debate about investment in real estate versus the market. I lean towards the market. If one is to buy a rental property you get better leverage with a mortgage. Your income is from rental from which taxes and maintenance must be deducted. Liquidity is not as good as in the stock market. On the other hand you could buy a good REIT if you wish to stay with property and let someone else do the work and rely on capital gain and dividends and have liquidity. Can you suggest some REITs in which to invest.

The classic example of the thirty year track record Royal Bank where the price went from $3 to near $100 and a dividend of $3 so the stock appreciated by 33 times and the dividend is 100%. You can't touch that with real estate.

Your comment.

Q: I have a full position in my TFSA, in all of these except COV. They are all up except for ENB. I have $12,000 to invest, would you add to the existing stocks or can you suggest others. Thanks for your input, great site. thanks Dorothy

Q: Is CAR-UN suitable to own in a TFSA and is this an okay time to buy?

Q: I'm down 15 percent with ENB and 20 percent with RUF.UN. To maintain the same spaces for long term holding and for tax loss purpose, is it advisable to trade ENB for TRP and RUF.UN for CAR.UN?
Thanks.
Desiree

Q: Buy and hold Canadian dividend stocks, forever, is my core strategy, and I dislike reits as I regard them as inferior long term securities. That said I am considering CAR.U because I like the exposure to apartment real estate What is your very long term view of this security decades out. Could it potentially morph into a common stock many, many years out and do you view it as a worthwhile hold for that time frame.

Q: With interest rates on the rise, and box stores leaving malls, would it be prudent to shift REIT exposure towards residential, rather than commercial exposure? Thinking of Boardwalk in Alberta, or Northern Property.

Q: i currently own aqn as well as car. do u think these stocks will be heavily affected by rising rates would you hang on or sell?

Q: I'm looking to add a residential REIT in my portfolio and I'm trying to decide between CAR.UN or IIP.UN. Your insights would be appreciated. Thanks.

Q: I had felt very comfortable owning shares of Car.un - then, I read an article in the Globe written by David Milstead The gist of his article was that some REIT payouts are deliberately not accurate, they are manipulated to look healthier than they really are. He elaborates on I'll use the term "Doctoring" maintenance capex and growth capex and ultimately suggests that investors are being misled with what the company reports and what it does not report. His article concerned me. Car.un seems like a very good investment to me, but after reading his article, I ask myself, IS IT?" Please advise/comment. Thank you.

Q: Hi - I have an additional $50k to add to my real estate portion of my portfolio and would like the best reits in the following spaces: a) Low cost residential b) High end residential c) non-retail commercial d) Utilities and Heavy duty industrial e) Non-North American Commercial

What would be your top 5 picks for a long term hold (8 -10 yrs)

Q: In terms of portfolio sector allocation, is it legitimate to consider Canadian Apartment REIT to be a consumer staple; Pure Industrial REIT to be an industrial; and Chartwell to be healthcare? I have 5% in each of these equities -- is it a mistake to be over-concentrated in REITs ? I have a good gain and a good dividend in each of these holdings, but am interested in your perception of interest rate risk and diversification ? Thank you, Tim

Q: I understand that CAR.UN has better overall assets than MRG.UN, but the difference in valuation seems ridiculous. MRG is trading at 80 percent of NAV and 14 times 2018 AFFO, while CAR is 105 percent and 21.8 times , respectively (all per TD). It seems to me at this valuation, Morguard should just take over the chunk of MRG it doesn't own. Thoughts?
Thanks.

Q: are there any reits with good yields and low valuations? thanks

Q: I am a long retired (10 years plus) conservative investor with a portfolio largely based on your income portfolio with a few holdings from the balanced portfolio.
The somewhat unexpected capital gain in this security (CAR.UN) of about 30% in just less than 2 years and the consequent relatively low (for a REIT) yield of about 3.4%, has given me some concern that this security is over bought and due a significant correction. To-day, there is an article in the Globe and Mail that questions the validity of the AFFO calculations used by this company and in particular how capex and maintenance expenses are applied to the AFFO.

What are your views in this area and do my concerns that this security may be over bought have any validity?

Thanks

Q: Hi Peter and Staff
Always listed as one of your favoured REITS and I have done well on appreciation with lower yield than some and a touted low payout ratio.
Please comment on the Globe article yesterday regarding questionable ratios re: capital versus expense
They lumped it up there with Boardwalk with unsustainable payouts
Thanks for all you do
Dennis

Q: Hi - I am looking to invest in a real estste reit/etf that has income but low debt. - Any suggestions?