Media brief

The stock exchange-listed U.S. REIT industry delivered double-digit increases in operating performance, measured by Funds From Operations (FFO) and Net Operating Income (NOI), as well as dividends paid to shareholders in calendar 2015 and the year’s fourth quarter compared to the same periods in 2014, according to NAREIT’s Total REIT Industry Tracker Series.

Investment real estate values grew by +0.44% percent during February 2016 according to the FTSE NAREIT PureProperty® Index Series, which provides the earliest measurement of changes in the market values of properties held by REITs for investment purposes.

Free-Standing Retail REITs were the top performing segment of the stock exchange-listed U.S. REIT industry in the first two months of 2016. The segment, which primarily consists of triple net lease REITs, delivered an 11.23 percent total return.

Total returns of stock exchange-listed U.S. REITs fell in the first two months of 2016, but still outperformed the broader equity market. The FTSE NAREIT All REITs Index, the broadest benchmark of the listed U.S. REIT industry, including both Equity and Mortgage REITs, declined 3.76 percent in the year through February 29. In comparison, the S&P 500 Index fell 5.09 percent in the same period, and the S&P Composite 1500 which, like the REIT market, includes large-, mid-, and small-cap stocks, fell 5.04 percent.

Stock exchange-listed REITs raised a total of $8.09 billion in public capital in January 2016, compared with $8.52 billion raised in January 2015. The bulk of that total was raised in 10 secondary debt offerings totaling $6.25 billion.

The Free-Standing Retail, Data Centers and Shopping Center property sectors led the overall REIT market in total returns in January. The six Free-Standing REITs delivered a 7.61 percent total return for the month; the six Data Center companies delivered a 3.79 percent total return; and the 18 Shopping Center REITs gained 2.99 percent.

REITs continued to reward income-seeking investors in the first month of 2016. At Jan. 31, the dividend yield of the FTSE NAREIT All REITs Index was 4.47 percent, and the dividend yield of the FTSE NAREIT All Equity REITs Index was 4.00 percent. The FTSE NAREIT Mortgage REITs Index posted a dividend yield of 12.78 percent in January. In comparison, the Jan. 31 dividend yield of the S&P 500 was 2.34 percent.

Stock exchange-listed REITs raised a total of $59.29 billion in public capital in 2015, compared with $63.64 billion raised in 2014.  The FTSE NAREIT All REITs Index grew to 223 REITs with a combined equity market capitalization of $939 billion at year end 2015, up from 216 REITs with a combined market capitalization of $907 billion at the end of 2014. 

The Self-Storage and Residential property sectors led the overall REIT market in total returns in 2015. Self-Storage sector delivered a 40.65 percent total return for the year; Manufactured Homes delivered a 25.65 percent total return; and Apartments gained 16.45 percent.

REITs continued to reward income-seeking investors in 2015.  At December 31, the dividend yield of the FTSE NAREIT All REITs Index was 4.30 percent, and the dividend yield of the FTSE NAREIT All Equity REITs Index was 3.85 percent.  The FTSE NAREIT Mortgage REITs Index posted a dividend yield of 12.15 percent at year-end.  

Stock exchange-listed REITs outperformed the broader U.S. equity market in 2015.  Additionally, in a year in which large-cap stocks outperformed mid- and small-caps, large-cap REITs outperformed other large-cap equities.  REITs also outperformed small-cap growth and value stocks, financials, utilities, global stocks and hedge funds.