REITs are securities that trade like a stock and invest in real estate directly through property ownership or mortgages. Consequently, revenue are mainly generated through rents or interest on mortgage loans. To qualify for special tax considerations, the asset also distributes the majority of income, about 90% of taxable profits, to investors as dividends.
Additionally, REITs provide diversification benefits as the asset shows a lower correlation to stocks and bonds. However, the asset category has recently experienced heightened volatility due to interest rate risks. Some investors fear REITs will act negatively in rising interest rate environment. The high dividends in REITs are attractive in a low-rate environment but are less enticing once safer Treasuries show higher rates.
“In fact, the BofAML research team has found that overweighted stocks tend to outperform and underweighted to underperform; unsurprisingly, two of the three most under-owned stocks now are Realty Income Corp. and Federal Realty Investment Trust, they found,” according to CNBC.
Higher interest rates are seen as punitive to REITs’ cash flow, which can hinder the company’s ability to boost dividends, the primary allure of the asset for many investors.
For more information on real estate investment trusts, visit our REITs category.
