Why Are the Dividends of REITs So Risky?

By Brian Nelson, CFA Not all REIT dividends are safe. Many REITs remain capital-market dependent, and some office REITs, retail REITs, and healthcare REITs may be difficult places to generate dependable long-term income in the coming decades, in our view. Office REIT SL Green (SLG) recently cut its payout 13% on December 5, 2022, while another office REIT Vornado Realty Trust (VNO) cut its dividend 29% on January 18, 2023. These are just two of the latest high-profile REIT dividend cuts, and there may be more to come. Contrary to popular opinion, the REIT sector has not been a great source of dependable, reliable income, particularly during the COVID-19 crisis. Five REITs cut their dividends in 2019: Medalist Diversified REIT … Read more

CubeSmart Raises Dividend 14% But We’re Monitoring High Net Debt Load and Deteriorating Occupancy Rates

Image Source: CubeSmart By Brian Nelson, CFA On December 7, CubeSmart (CUBE) raised its quarterly dividend 14%, to $0.49 per share, which implies a forward estimated dividend yield of ~4.5% at the time of this writing. Though we’ve grown more cautious on REITs the past many months in light of rising interest rates, we include a number of REITs across our newsletter portfolios, and CubeSmart is included in the High Yield Dividend Newsletter portfolio. Image Source: CubeSmart The REIT has economic interests in self-storage properties across roughly two dozen US states and also operates a sizable management platform for self-storage properties owned by third parties. CubeSmart’s owned portfolio (properties it has a direct economic interest in) was comprised of ~610 … Read more

REITs May Continue to Face Pressure

Image: The Dividend Cushion ratio is one of the most powerful financial tools an income or dividend growth investor can use in conjunction with qualitative dividend analysis. The ratio is one-of-a-kind in that it is both free-cash-flow based and forward looking. Since its creation in 2012, the Dividend Cushion ratio has forewarned readers of approximately 50 dividend cuts. We estimate its efficacy at ~90%. By Brian Nelson, CFA Times are tough for equity REITs (VNQ) and mortgage REITs (REM), with the VNQ and REM down 25% and 30%, respectively, so far in 2022. This is against a backdrop of Valuentum’s simulated Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio and High Yield Dividend Newsletter portfolio that are doing far better. The lesson in 2022, … Read more

CubeSmart Is a Tremendous High Yielding Idea

Image Shown: CubeSmart is one of our favorite high yielding ideas. Image Source: CubeSmart – June 2022 IR Presentation By Callum Turcan CubeSmart (CUBE) reported second quarter 2022 earnings that missed consensus top-line estimates but beat consensus bottom-line estimates. Last quarter, the self-storage real estate investment trust (‘REIT’) posted strong same-store net operating income (‘NOI’) growth due to its high occupancy rates and substantial pricing increases seen of late. CubeSmart also raised its full-year guidance for 2022 in conjunction with its latest earnings report, and that comes on the heels of the firm previously raising its full-year guidance during its first quarter of 2022 earnings update in April 2022. We continue to be huge fans of CubeSmart and include shares … Read more

Public Storage Is One of Our Income Generation Favorite Ideas

Image Shown: Shares of Public Storage, one of our favorite income generation ideas, have boomed higher over the past five years with room for additional upside. By Callum Turcan Public Storage (PSA) reported second quarter 2022 earnings that missed consensus top-line estimates but beat consensus bottom-line estimates as the self-storge industry in the US continues to benefit from robust demand. Surging home prices have made many households turn to self-storage options as an economical way to maximize their living space. During its second quarter earnings update, Public Storage also moderately raised its full-year guidance for 2022 which we appreciate. We are huge fans of Public Storage as the real estate investment trust (‘REIT’) is able to generate sizable “excess” free … Read more

Public Storage Getting Ready To Report First Quarter 2022 Earnings

Image Shown: Public Storage, a longtime idea in our High Yield Dividend Newsletter portfolio, has seen its share price skyrocket over the past year with room for additional upside, in our view. By Callum Turcan After the market close on May 3, the self-storage real estate investment trust (‘REIT’) Public Storage (PSA) intends to report its first-quarter earnings for 2022, which will be followed up by an earnings conference call a day later. Shares of PSA have been a long-time idea in the High Yield Dividend Newsletter portfolio, and we continue to be enormous fans of the name. The high end of our fair value estimate range sits at $445 per share of Public Storage, indicating that shares of PSA have … Read more

High-Yield Idea CyrusOne Considers Selling Itself

Image Shown: Shares of CyrusOne, an idea included in our High Yield Dividend Newsletter portfolio, are on a modest upward climb of late. The data center real estate investment trust (‘REIT’) is reportedly considering putting itself up for sale, though we like the REIT’s income generation upside regardless of whether a sale does materialize as its outlook continues to improve after posting stellar performance during the first half of 2021. By Callum Turcan Reportedly, CyrusOne (CONE) is actively exploring a potential sale according to Reuters. We include shares of CONE as an idea in the High Yield Dividend Newsletter portfolio (more on that here). The data center real estate investment trust (‘REIT’) has experienced significant turnover in its top ranks … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week July 23

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending July 23. The dividend reports of covered firms on this list will be updated shortly with the new information. To access our dividend reports use the ‘Symbol’ search box in our website header. Firms Raising Their Dividends This Week 1st Source (SRCE): now $0.31 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.30. Applied UV Inc – 10.50% PRF PERPETUAL – Ser A (AUVIP): now $0.2188 per share quarterly dividend. Aquesta Financial (AQFH): now $0.14 per share annual dividend, was $0.12. Bank of Marin Bancorp (BMRC): now $0.24 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.23. BCB Bancorp (BCBP): now $0.16 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.14. Bryn Mawr Bank … Read more

Cigna Is An Intriguing Health Care Idea

Image Source: Cigna Corporation –2021 Investor Day Presentation Executive Summary: Health care giant Cigna Corporation has a stellar cash flow profile, pristine balance sheet, promising growth outlook, and remains committed to rewarding shareholders. The company initiated a quarterly dividend at the start of 2021 and intends to continue buying back a sizable amount of its stock going forward. Management recently issued favorable guidance that indicates Cigna’s growth story is expected to continue this year as the world emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic. Cigna’s telehealth ambitions are quite intriguing as well. Recent updates at Cigna have placed the health care company on our radar. By Callum Turcan Cigna Corporation (CI) offers various health care products and services including health insurance plans, behavioral … Read more

UnitedHealth Group Is a Rock-Solid Dividend Growth Opportunity

Image Shown: Shares of UnitedHealth Group Inc, which we added to our Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio back on November 27, continue to climb higher. The top end of our fair value estimate for UnitedHealth Group sits at $401 per share. By Callum Turcan On January 20, UnitedHealth Group (UNH) issued fourth quarter and full-year results for 2020 that beat both consensus top- and bottom-line estimates. The health care giant reported a 6% annual increase in its GAAP revenues in 2020, with its ‘Premiums,’ ‘Products’ and ‘Services’ sales all reporting meaningful increases. Its GAAP earnings from operations grew by 14% annually in 2020, though we caution there is some noise due to the deferral of certain medical procedures, a result of … Read more