Let me just put it out there and say that I am not the biggest fan of REITs at today’s prices.
Regular readers of Financial Horse will know my views on interest rates.
I think that interest rates will need to go higher, and stay there for longer – as a result of the Fed mistake by “pivotting” too early in Jan 2023.
Goldman Sachs just revised their base case for Fed Funds Rate to hit 5.25% – 5.5% by June 2023. I think there is a risk the Feds are forced to go even higher, potentially 6%.
Which means that a blue chip REIT priced at 5-6% yield, makes very little sense when the global risk free rate might go as high as 6% this cycle.
Price is everything in this new climate
Because of that, I think investors need to be much more discerning when buying REITs in this new regime.
Both in terms of what REITs you pick, and what price you buy at.
With the right REIT – you can treat it like an investment grade corporate bond.
If underlying cash flows are stable, you can keep receiving a stable dividend income every year, regardless of where the price may go.
The only problem of course, is that yield may get hit by higher financing costs (for the REIT).
Which is why price is also crucial, you want to build in a margin of safety into the dividend yield.
Rules for picking the Top 3 REITs to buy in 2023 (as a Singapore Investor)
A couple of ground rules to frame the discussion.
Why 6% Dividend Yield minimum?
Frankly 6% is a bit of an arbitrary number.
The current 10 year SGS trades at about 3.2%, so this is a 2.8% yield spread.
Call me a shallow horse, but I like the sound of 6% yield.
Why Top 3 REITs to buy?
I do want to stress that this list is very subjective.
I like these REITs, but that doesn’t mean every investor will like them. Nor does it mean that they are guaranteed to do well.
Please do your own research before buying any REIT on this list.
I decided to keep to 3 REITs so I can do a deeper dive into each.
But me being me, I couldn’t help but include a very honourable mention for a 4th REIT.
Top 3 REITs I will buy in 2023 – 6% Dividend yield minimum (as a Singapore Investor)
Lendlease Global Commercial REIT
Price: $0.69
Price / Book: 0.88x
Dividend Yield: 7.15%
I shared previously that I bought a position in Lendlease REIT last year, so I’m kind of talking my book here.
Simply put, I like Jem.
A lot.
In Jem I think Lendlease REIT has a best in class retail mall in the Jurong Lake District.
Which if the long term plans for the Jurong Lake District pan out, could see a lot of upside.
And Jem being 61% of revenue – is probably the reason you are buying Lendlease REIT.
The other 2 properties are not too shabby either.
313@Somerset is one of the better Orchard malls, having carved out an interesting niche catering to the younger crowd.
Sky Complex Italy is long term leased out to Sky Italia, which hopefully should remain stable for the foreseeable future.
Pipeline from Lendlease is very strong too – with Paya Lebar Quarter and Parkway Parade as potential future acquisitions.
Valuations of Lendlease REIT
Valuations wise, Jem is valued at a 4.5% cap rate (retail).
313 Somerset at a 4.25% cap rate.
And Sky Complex at a 5% cap rate
From the latest transactions – Jurong Point and Serangoon Nex were sold at a high 4% cap rate.
So realistically, I think Jem and 313 Somerset should probably trade at a high 4% cap rate too.
That said Lendlease REIT trades at a 0.88x book value today, so even if we adjust the book value down slightly you’re probably buying Lendlease REIT at book value.
At this price, dividend yield is about 7.15% (annualised), which is pretty decent.
Debt profile of Lendlease REIT
The bright side is that there is no debt due for refinancing in FY2023.
The not so bright side, is that there is a massive 285 million euro loan coming up for refinancing in FY2024.
Only 61% of borrowings hedged to fixed rates is on the slightly lower side too, as many of the big REITs these days have 80% fixed rate loans.
Weighted average cost of debt now is 2.35%, which you can bet is bound to go up in the years ahead.
What price would I buy Lendlease REIT at?
As a long term investor, I probably don’t mind picking up Lendlease REIT at current prices.
That being said, this is a less established REIT (compared to the behemoths from CapitaLand and Mapletree), which means the stock price can get volatile.
Just look at the massive 50% plunge during COVID.
I might get greedy and see if I can pick Lendlease REIT up at low to mid 60s, which would work out to a ~8% yield.
Don’t know if it will go there, but like I said this rate hike cycle is not over yet.
And I think investors are too sanguine on how higher interest rates will go, and how long they will stay there.
So let’s see.
Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust
Price: $1.68
Price / Book: 0.94x
Dividend Yield: 5.76% (trailing yield is 7.2%)
Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust is an interesting REIT.
What used to be a best in class Singapore commercial REIT under Mapletree Commercial Trust.
Was for lack of a pleasant word, butchered when they merged the Hong Kong assets from Mapletree North Asia Commercial Trust to create this new REIT.
I shared that I was not a biggest fan of the merger previously, and even after they revised the terms to benefit unitholders, I still wasn’t exactly in love with the deal.
But it is what it is.
Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust’s share price has languished for the past year, largely due to the Hong Kong exposure.
To put it in perspective, Hong Kong’s Festival Walk is 27% of the REIT’s AUM.
While only contributing 16% of net property income.
Long story short – the Hong Kong Festival Walk is underperforming, majorly.
Just look at the below – negative 12.7% rental reversion for Festival Walk.
Versus 7.9% rental reversion for Vivocity.
It’s very hard for share price to do well when one of the supposed crown jewels is performing this poorly.
I suppose the million dollar question is whether the worst is over for Hong Kong, and Festival Walk.
Initial signs look promising, especially with the broader China and Hong Kong reopen.
Valuations of Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust
At current prices Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust trades at 0.94x book value.
And an annualised dividend yield of 5.76% (trailing yield is 7.2%).
Of course the numbers are pulled down by Hong Kong’s poor performance, so if there is a meaningful recovery you could be looking at 6-ish yields at current price.
What price will I buy Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust?
For a REIT with exposure to best in class assets in Vivocity and Mapletree Business City, both of which are well positioned to benefit from the longer term Greater Southern Waterfront rejuvenation.
Not too shabby.
Although I might just get greedy and hold out for 1.5 – 1.6ish prices.
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Keppel REIT
Price: $0.91
Price / Book: 0.67x
Dividend Yield: 6.48%
Okay full disclosure that I have positions in all 3 REITs above, so I am talking my own book here.
Keppel REIT is one of the rare few pure play Singapore office REITs left.
The properties they own – Ocean Financial Centre, Marina Bay Financial Centre, One Raffles Quay, should be familiar to those who work in the CBD.
The tricky part is that Keppel REIT doesn’t own 100% of the buildings, it only owns a stake in them (which means less control).
The one office building it does own 100% of, is Keppel Bay Tower, which probably is a less amazing property.
Valuations of Keppel REIT
You can look at the cap rates used below.
About 3.5% across the board.
Does this really make sense in a climate where I’m already getting close to 4% on a risk free T-Bill?
Let’s say we adjust the cap rates to 4%+.
Keppel REIT would then be trading at about 0.8x adjusted book value.
Could be acceptable, especially in light of the 6.5% trailing dividend yield.
The market is not the biggest fan of this REIT though, as it’s been trading below book value for most of its life.
What price will I buy Keppel REIT?
That said, it all goes back to pricing.
If it drops back to the 0.8s range, that would work out to a 7%+ yield which could be attractive.
What I do want to say though, is that whether I buy Keppel REIT (or any of the other REITs on this list), depends very much on how the macro plays out in 2023.
Value is always relative you see.
Keppel REIT may look cheap today because all the solid blue chips from CapitaLand and Mapletree are very richly priced.
If that changes down the road, I may easily see better value in those REITs instead.
Very Honourable Mention: Frasers Centrepoint Trust
Price: 2.13
Price / Book: 0.92x
Dividend Yield: 5.77%
And finally, a very honourable mention for Frasers Centrepoint Trust.
I love Frasers Centrepoint Trust’s acquisition of Nex.
Nex to me, is a fantastic mall.
A best in class suburban mall.
Following the acquisition, Frasers Centrepoint will solidify its position as the premier suburban mall REIT in Singapore.
Holding 2 best in class assets in Punggol’s Waterway Point, and Serangoon’s Nex.
There’s a lot to like about that.
As shared on Twitter a while back (do follow me on Twitter if you haven’t already) – the icing on the cake is how Frasers Centrepoint REIT did the acquisition.
Unlike Link REIT which bought Jurong Point all at one go
Frasers Centrepoint REIT only bought 50% of Nex, and it further split that purchase with its Sponsor Frasers Property.
So effectively, Frasers Centrepoint REIT only bought 25.5% of Nex.
This is great because financing costs are expensive now, and the market will absolutely murder you if you try to do a big equity fundraise.
So I really like this strategy of buying a small stake, and slowly digesting the rest of the property over time.
Really nice of the Sponsor to lend its balance sheet to the REIT in this way too.
Frasers Centrepoint Trust is buying Nex at a high 4% cap rate too, which is in line with what Jurong Point was sold for, and I think is fair for current market conditions.
The problem with Frasers Centrepoint REIT though, is that I think the price is on the high side for now.
Much like all the other blue chip REITs like CICT and Ascendas, I think investors are slightly too sanguine on the path of interest rates going forward.
So I like this REIT, but not necessarily at this price.
Interesting though, this is the only REIT on this list that I do not have a position in.
Let’s see if 2023 gives me an opportunity to change that.
Why no Industrial REITs?
A notable exception from this list is industrial REITs.
Simply put, at these prices, I don’t think industrial REITs are sufficiently attractive.
You can see the REIT on my watchlist below – 5% – 6% dividend yield just doesn’t look very attractive given my anticipated path of interest rates.
With the Fed mistake in Jan 2023, I think you may see the Fed Funds Rate go as high at 6% this cycle.
That’s not exactly the climate I want to be loading up on REITs unless the prices are attractive.
In any case, the list above is not meant to be exhaustive.
The REITs I am interested to buy, and the price to buy at, will without a doubt change over time as 2023 plays out.
This article will not be updated going forward, so if you are keen do sign up as a Patreon for my latest REIT watchlist and macro views.
Closing Thoughts: This is no longer a rising tide lifts all boats macro environment
I sometimes sit in on discussions on REIT valuations, and I can’t help but think that many investors are missing the point.
Many people are still seeing REITs from the lens of the past decade.
A decade of low inflation, and secular low interest rates.
In my view – COVID has thrown that entire regime out of the window.
This new regime we are in, is one of more stubborn and sticky inflation.
And where interest rates are never going back to the zero bound.
And the implications for REITs – a highly levered investment in an interest rate sensitive asset class, are ground shattering.
I’ve said this above, and I’ll say it again.
Without a decade of low interest rates, this will no longer be a rising tide lifts all boats situation.
You’ll probably see the returns a lot more unevenly distributed across REITs.
This decade – You want to be more selective on what REITs you buy, and what price you buy at.
As always, this article is written on 17 Feb 2023 and will not be updated going forward.
If you are keen, my full REIT and stock watchlist (with price targets) is available on Patreon, together with weekly premium macro updates.. You can access my full personal portfolio to check out how I am positioned as well.
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Thanks for the article and the timely warnings in it. You state that REIT yields may get hit by higher financing costs. You do not mention the ability of REITs to raise rents on their tennants. Rising interest and rising rents are both correlated with inflation, so they should move up together at least in the mid- and long term. Do you not assign any value to REITs as an inflation hedge?
Yeah quite a few have asked me this question, perhaps I should do a more in depth article to answer this question.
Short answer I suppose is that I agree with you – in the mid and long term. Over a 3 – 5 year period, absolutely agree that rents will track inflation.
1 – 2 year period though, is where it gets tricky.
Look at how quickly interest rates are going up. And look at rental reversions of REITs, sitting at low single digit percentage. Don’t forget many of these leases are locked in for a few years, so you can only renew at higher rates at the end of the term.
Short term, I’m not sure REITs will be able to raise rents fast enough to keep pace with rising interest rates.
Residential market sure because of a unique confluence of supply/demand factors. But commercial property space looks a lot more balanced demand/supply wise, so you don’t see the same pace of rental increases.
Dear FH
Thanks. All these four except LL REIT are my holdings and in fact LLR is on my watchlist as well!
This is a risky but overall worth buy at circa 65-66c and a good one at around 60c, if at all it gets there
65c gives reasonable margin of safety and worth punting on. Let us see.
As regards KReit, I traded it in 2021 and exited. Restarted adding at 99c and last buy was last week at 90.5 c. Will add more under this and average down closer to 92c or so. Pure play office REIT with a good collection of grade A office properties. Unlike the US, our culture will be office-centric and WFH will be minimal. Back to old days! Further, these assets are good income generators and will appeal to big investors. Commercial real estate will recover fast with the Fed reversing course next year and I am nibbling at the XLRE as well!
FCT will do well and I added this with CICT in Oct. Will add more at 2.07/2.08 and 1.90 and below respectively for sure
High rates will end and capital gains plus distributions will ensure decent mid double digit returns if we can get in at these levels. FCT acquiring a foothold at NEX is a prudent move although at high prices. I live near NEX and it is extremely busy all the time. Their suburban mall portfolio plus adding stakes at Punggol etc will work out in the long run
MPACT is also in my portfolio. Added at 1.57 in Oct. Despite the HK drag, at 1.60 and below, I will be adding
Mean reversion is more of less certain and eventually HK will recover partially at least.
Let us hope that the ten year yield goes higher and the October sale comes back !
Best wishes
Garudadri
Great sharing as always Garudadri.
Agree on your target pricing for LLR, I would probably look for the same prices as well.
KREIT I don’t think is an amazing REIT, but at these prices looks like a decent buy. My previous buy for KREIT was in the 90s range as well.
XLRE is a very interesting play! Personally I thought it might be on the early side as I do think rates go potentially to 6% this cycle, so I wouldn’t want to be loading up on long duration so early this cycle. Could be wrong though!
Personal view – I think the 10Y will go higher before this cycle is over.
Which would open up another opportunity to buy REITs. I might get even more aggressive with the target prices for FCT though.
Starhill is another one I’ve been looking at for a while. Traded in and out of that counter in the past, I might pick it up if it goes into the 40s.
But let’s see. 😉