U.S. Real Estate Securities Investment Commentary - December 2011
Cohen & Steers
By Team
January 24, 2012
We would like to share with you our review and outlook for the U.S. real estate securities market as of December 31, 2011. The FTSE NAREIT Equity REIT Index had a total return of +15.2% for the fourth quarter and +8.3% for the year. By comparison, the S&P 500 Index returned +11.8% and +2.1%, respectively, over the same periods.
Investment Review
U.S. real estate securities overcame macro headwinds in 2011 to advance and significantly outperform the broader U.S. equity market. REITs trended upward through July, aided by a steady improvement in real estate fundamentals and low and declining financing costs. However, August brought severe volatility to REITs and broader global capital markets as investors reacted to unsettling developments; the U.S. economy suddenly appeared vulnerable to recession, Standard & Poor’s issued its first U.S. credit rating downgrade, Europe’s sovereign debt crisis began to spread to the so-called “core” and China’s growth trajectory was beginning to slow.
While REITs struggled into September, the group generated fourth-quarter returns large enough to end the year with a gain. Fears of recession eased as late-period U.S. economic data stabilized and demonstrated moderate improvement; in Europe, fiscal and monetary authorities seemed to get a temporary handle on the region’s formidable debt problems. Meanwhile, REITs reported third quarter earnings that generally met or exceeded expectations. They also continued to demonstrate ready access to capital, via equity and bond offerings and the refinancing of bank lines with improved terms.
Performance by property type varied widely. The self storage sector (total return of +35.2% in the index) was a standout, benefiting from accelerating cash flow growth driven by improving broader fundamentals, coupled with taking market share from smaller private operators. Apartment owners (+15.1%) also outperformed; fundamentals were aided by improving employment trends among a younger demographic that typically has a higher-than-average propensity to rent.
The gain in regional malls (+22.0%) was driven by a strong return from Simon Property Group, which owns high-quality malls and outlet centers in desirable locations. Certain lower-quality mall owners struggled; this performance reflected a wider sector trend in which companies with the better assets and stronger balance sheets outperformed their peers.
Shopping center REITs (–0.7%) were among the underperformers. Compared with mall owners, who focus on higher income demographics, shopping centers tend to be susceptible to the broader issues of limited job and wage growth. The office sector (–0.8%) was restrained by declines in companies focused on suburban properties, where demand has been lackluster. Good performers included companies with office properties concentrated on the east and west coasts. Industrial property companies (–5.2%) declined as ProLogis, which is 80% of the sector, was hindered by slowing global growth. The company’s large presence in Europe was also a liability.
Investment Outlook
We expect GDP growth of between 1% and 2% in 2012, with modest but steady gains in employment. This should support continued gradual improvement in real estate fundamentals, given low new supply in most sectors. In this environment, we seek to identity markets with above-average employment (and income) trends. And in an election year that should present opportunities and risks, we will monitor how the results might affect employment in the financial and health care industries, and the Washington, D.C. market generally.
In terms of sector positioning, we like high-quality retail owners with portfolios able to thrive despite disintermediation from e-commerce or the potential loss of major tenants (e.g., Sears). We favor urban office owners that we believe should benefit from the growth of the technology, media and life science employment in markets such as San Francisco, Boston and New York. We expect that apartment companies will continue to benefit from positive demographic trends—the key 20-30 year old population group is expanding twice as fast as other segments. We remain underweight suburban offices, secondary retail and health care properties.
(c) Cohen & Steers
