Energy Efficiency Specialist Says REITs “Ripe” for Lowering Carbon Emissions

Joshua Kagan, senior fellow with the Carbon War Room and director of business development at the Clean Fund, joined REIT.com for a video interview at NAREIT’s 2015 Leader in the Light Working Forum in Reston, Va.

The Carbon War Room is an entrepreneurial non-profit organization intended to use market forces to tackle climate change. The Clean Fund, meanwhile, provides financing that allows energy efficiency, water efficiency and renewable energy projects to be repaid through a voluntary property assessment.

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Analysts See Solid Returns for REITs in 2015

Although unlikely to match the returns of 2014, positive fundamentals have REITs in position to sustain a solid performance in 2015, according to market observers.

The FTSE NAREIT All REITs Index had a total return of 27.2 percent for 2014, compared to a return of 13.7 percent for the S&P 500 Index.

“It was a pretty sensational year for REITs,” said Rich Moore, managing director at RBC Capital Markets. “Going forward, you’re going to have a positive year on the fundamentals side, no question about it.”

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Quick Study: REITs Post Above-Average Historical Returns in 2014

In the latest edition of Quick Study, Brad Case, NAREIT’s senior vice president for research and industry information, highlighted the REIT market’s outperformance of the broader stock market during 2014. He also suggested that investors pay close attention to supply conditions in 2015.

The FTSE NAREIT All REITs Index had a total return of 27.2 percent for 2014, compared to a return of 13.7 percent for the S&P 500 Index.

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Neuberger Berman Fund Manager Says Higher Interest Rates Should be Good Sign for REITs

Steve Shigekawa, managing director at Neuberger Berman, joined REIT.com for a video interview at REITWorld 2014: NAREIT’s Annual Convention for All Things REIT at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis.

Shigekawa noted that the biggest surprise for the REIT industry during 2014 has been the decline in interest rates.

“At the beginning of the year, the 10-year Treasury note was 3 percent. At the time, the consensus view was that interest rates would go higher, which would be a headwind for the REIT market. What we’ve actually seen is the opposite,” he observed.

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Fitch Analyst Says Stock Buybacks at Low Level Among REITs

Steven Marks, managing director with Fitch Ratings, joined REIT.com for a video interview at REITWorld 2014: NAREIT’s Annual Convention for All Things REIT at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis.

Marks has been monitoring REITs’ stock buybacks in the second half of the year, and he noted that activity has been limited. He attributed the lack of buybacks to the performance of REIT stocks in 2014, as most are trading at prices about their net asset values (NAV).

“Thus, [the stocks] are less economic from a buyback standpoint; they’re not as accretive,” Marks said.

Steven Marks

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BMO Analyst Says Diminishing Interest Rate Concerns Boosted REITs in 2014

Paul Adornato, managing director with BMO Capital Markets, joined REIT.com for a video interview at REITWorld 2014: NAREIT’s Annual Convention for All Things REIT at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis.

According to Adornato, the big story for REITs during 2014 was their “tremendous performance” compared with the overall market. Although concerns about interest rate increases did impact REITs earlier in the year, REITs “sailed away” once investors determined that those increases were not imminent, he said.

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Chilton Capital Fund Manager Says REITs Should be Trading at Higher Premiums to NAV

Matt Werner, portfolio manager and analyst at Chilton Capital Management, joined REIT.com for a video interview at REITWorld 2014: NAREIT’s Annual Convention for All Things REIT at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis.

Given the outperformance of the REIT market compared with broader market indices in 2014, Werner commented on REIT valuation levels.

“Any time the market goes up by almost 30 percent, you’re going to have questions about valuation,” Werner said.

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Green Street Consultant Says New REITs Unlocking Value of Real Estate Assets

Matt Wokasch, vice president for advisory and consulting with Green Street Advisors, joined REIT.com for a video interview at REITWorld 2014: NAREIT’s Annual Convention for All Things REIT at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis.

Wokasch offered his opinion on the most influential trends affecting the REIT market in 2014. He noted that management teams of C corporations have been trying to monetize the value of their real estate holdings.

Matt Wokasch

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