Retail REITs own and manage retail real estate and rent space in those properties to tenants. Retail REITs include REITs that focus on large regional malls, outlet centers, grocery-anchored shopping centers and power centers that feature big box retailers.

Net lease REITs own freestanding properties and structure their leases so that tenants pay both rent and the majority of operating expenses for a property. Well-known companies that utilize REIT-owned real estate include Whole Foods, Nordstrom, Krogers, and many more.

Who Invests in Retail REITs?

Many Americans may be unaware that they already have investments in REITs via their 401ks, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), or other investment vehicle geared towards retirement. Large institutional investors, including pension funds, endowments, foundations, insurance companies, and bank departments, also invest in REITs as a cost effective and efficient way to gain exposure to the real estate asset class.

How to Invest in Retail REITs

There are currently 32 retail REITs listed on the FTSE Nareit US Real Estate Indexes that individuals can invest in directly with the help of a broker or by purchasing shares in a participating REIT mutual fund of REIT exchange-traded fund (ETF).

Overview

8/31/2023, Source: FTSE
Number of REITs
31
Dividend Yield
5.37%
YTD Total Return
-2.56%
August Total Return
-6.19%
2022 Total Return
-13.29%

Quarterly Data

Source: Nareit T-Tracker
Q2 2023 2023
FFO ($M) $3,670 $7,325
NOI ($M) $4,654 $9,252
Dividends paid ($M) $2,426 $4,892
SS NOI 1.95%
Occupancy Rate 93.86%

Performance Details

As of Q2 2023, Source: CoStar Group, Inc
Net Absorption (sq. ft.)
56,436,859
Net Completions (sq. ft.)
34,482,587
Performance Occupancy Rate
95.81%
Rent Growth YoY
4.0%

List of Retail

1 Year Total Return Stock price
Acadia Realty Trust
AKR | Rye United States | Retail
6.60%
As of market close 09/22/2023
$14.94
Agree Realty Corporation
ADC | Bloomfield Hills United States | Retail
-15.77%
As of market close 09/22/2023
$57.14
Alpine Income Property Trust
PINE | Winter Park United States | Retail
-0.66%
As of market close 09/22/2023
$16.50
Brixmor Property Group Inc.
BRX | New York United States | Retail
12.57%
As of market close 09/22/2023
$21.68
Burroughs & Chapin Company, Inc.
N/A | Myrtle Beach United States | Retail
Not available
$0.00
CBL Properties
CBL | Chattanooga United States | Retail
-6.57%
As of market close 09/22/2023
$21.05