04/21/2011

Global REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) markets showed major growth in 2007 capturing $900 billion of equities capitalization according to the stats of National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NARIET). Previously U.S and Australia were the major market but today REITs are adopted by many foreign countries. In fact a REIT portfolio should have a strong international flavor and as this gives you better diversification offering better risk adjusted returns.

These are the major country international REITS

 (Source: Ernst & young – Global Real investment trust report 2010)

In the recent recession where investors dumped their equity positions and unemployment accelerated, international REITS did not have such a sever shock. Even with the global economic crisis in the past years, we have only seen a few REIT bankruptcies. Recent development in Japan and U.S show the true growth prospect of REIT. Banks have worked with REITs to modify or extend maturities on existing loans rather than force sales in a demanding market.

We show a table of the leading international REIT ETF’s.

Most of the REITS have similar results except IFGL and WPS. RWX is the best with a one year yield of 20.47%, best of the three year returns (although not good) and the highest volume. RWX volumes are also very good but all these ETF are new and none them has 5 year yields.

Ernst and young research stats clearly shows the International REITS diversification

(Source: Ernst & young – Global Real investment trust report 2010)

Government also help REITs – for example, U.S REITs are given special tax status to avoid corporate taxes, the corporates will be exempt from taxes if they distribute their 90% of income by way of dividend to investors.

In the UK, the government encourages REITs to own residential property. In Germany government are rescinding their rules of prohibiting REITs from investing in residential property not only this they also provide an incentive of 50% exemption on capital gains tax for institutional and corporate property owners that sell assets to REITs.

In Japan the government also provides a facility for J-REITs to purchase or re?nance bonds coming due and has thereby shored up investor con?dence.

International REITs provides diversity in the real estate sector. By diversifying the portfolio with international REITs we can not only hedge the risk but we can increase our returns too. REITS are a necessary element of a portfolio. Without REITs ETF we lose a major growth opportunity as increasing world population and the demand for property. With the appropriate diversification from International REIT we can increase the potential for better risk adjusted returns.

Symbols: RWX, RWO, DRW, WPS, IFGL

Tickers: (NYSE: RWX), (NYSE: RWO), (NYSE: DRW), (NYSE: WPS), (NYSE: IFGL)

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03/22/2011

The recent slide in global stocks due to the triple disasters in Japan erased 2011 S&P gains. The MSCI world index has decline more than 6.77% this month all the tickers are flashing red.  The Fed pledges it will continue the second round of quantitative easing by buying back more treasuries and keeping the interest rates low. The recovery is on its way but still time is needed especially in light of recent events. In addition, escalating tension in the Middle East along with the recent downgrading of Spain and Portugal by Standard & Poor’s adding downward pressure to the market. Risk is very visible at the moment.

This is an excellent time to discuss US REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST ETF’s (US REITS). With equities domestically and internationally under pressure, having an asset class that is uncorrelated with equities, can help lower risk and provide a hedge. US REITS have a total return around 17-20%. over the last 52 weeks. Please see the table of US REITS.

The two top performers are:

Ø  iShares Cohen & Steers Realty (ICF) with  a return of around 20.25%

Ø  SPDR Dow Jones REIT (RWR) with return of around 17.83%

Although the 52 weeks returns are strong, the shorter term returns shows a slowing in the momentum of REITS. Reviewing returns over time show that the US REITS are competing the Internationals REITS making it more better place for investment internationally and the show the strong fundamentals of US REITS.

LONG TERM US REITS POSITIONING:

REIT’s have enjoyed two good years of 28% returns. The key question is, “Will the rally will continue in the US REIT’s?” As long as the FED keeps interest rate low US REITS will continue to enjoy good but lower returns.. The long term of US REIT is positive and we can see further rise in the upcoming days.

Investors looking for high dividend yields also favored the REIT sector. Solid dividend payouts are arguably the biggest enticement for REIT investors as U.S. law requires REITs to distribute 90% of their annual taxable income in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Conclusion

Over the past week, the world index has dropped 6.7%. At the same time, US REITs have dropped around 2.3%. With a disaster on such an unprecedented scale as Japan, almost everything is going to be hit but having an asset class uncorrelated with equities gives us an alternative path to provide a hedge.

The crisis, as disastrous as it is at a human and ecological level, will have reducing impact on financial markets over time and we will likely see REITS return back into positive territory.

Disclosure:

MyPlanIQ does not have any business relationship with the company or companies mentioned in this article. It does not set up their retirement plans. The performance data of portfolios mentioned above are obtained through historical simulation and are hypothetical.

Symbols:VNQ,RWR,IYR,ICF,RWO,RWX,IFGL,DRW,WPS,

Exchange Symbols: (NYSE: vnq), (NYSE: rwr), (NYSE: iyr), (NYSE: icf), (NYSE: rwo), (NYSE: rwx), (NYSE: IFGL), (NYSE: drw), (NYSE: wps)

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