Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) In CapitaLand Retail China Trust

CAPITAMALL

CapitaLand Retail China Trust (CRCT) (SGX: (AU8U) is a Singapore-based real estate investment trust (“REIT”) which has a diversified portfolio of income-producing real estate used primarily for retail purposes and located in China. Share Invstment Some of the properties in its portfolio include CapitaMall Xizhimen, CapitaMall Wangjing, and CapitaMall Grand Canyon. CapitaLand Retail China Trust has a market capitalization of S$1.42 billion. Many investors like to invest in real estate investment trusts (REITs) as these investment vehicles produce regular income, often on a quarterly basis. 

Here are three reasons to like CapitaLand Retail China Trust: 
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1. Resilient portfolio:

 This REIT has the flexibility of its portfolio. A retail REIT is not easy in this day-and-age due to competition from e-commerce. CapitaLand Retail China Trust has managed to maintain a commendable portfolio occupancy rate of 94.9%, as of 31 March 2018. In 2017, another telling sign of shopper traffic to the REIT’s malls increased by 4.7%, while tenants’ sales inched up by 0.8%. It also achieved a rental reversion rate of 5.6% in 2017. For the first quarter of 2018, the REIT’s rental reversion rate did even better, increasing by 12.8%. All these are the testament to CapitaLand Retail China Trust’s resilient portfolio.

2. Strong financial health

 The REIT had a gearing ratio of 32.5%, which is way below the regulatory limit of 45%. It means that the REIT has a relatively low level of financial burden, and has room to increase its borrowings if needed for future acquisitions. CapitaLand Retail China Trust’s gearing ratio is also below the average ratio of 34.8% among the REITs. The interest coverage ratio measures how easily a REIT can pay the interest expenses on its outstanding loans. Singapore Stock Market News

3. Past and future growth

From 2007 to 2017, CapitaLand Retail China Trust is growing both with its net property income (NPI) and distribution per unit (DPU). During the period, its NPI had increased from S$46.5 million to S$149.2 million, while its DPU had climbed from 6.72 cents to 10.10 cents. These translate to annualized growth rates of 12.4% and 4.2%, respectively.

Since January 2018, CapitaLand Retail China Trust can go on to deliver stellar returns in the years ahead due to: (1) The rising disposable income of the middle-class population in China; (2) the rights of first refusal to purchase assets held by its sponsor, CapitaLand Limited (SGX: C31); and (3) the addition of Rock Square to the REIT’s portfolio which should drive its future performance.