Powell Pivot Sparks REIT Rebound

U.S. equity markets notched another series of record highs this week, surging into the weekend after surprisingly dovish commentary from Federal Reserve Chair Powell, who hinted at imminent rate cuts. Powell used his final Jackson Hole speech as Fed Chair to deliver a clear policy pivot, an unexpected reversal after months of insistence that tariff-related inflation warranted a hawkish framework. Markets were equally relieved by the policy-focused nature of Powell's speech amid speculation that the address may be used instead as a potential defiant sermon on central bank independence.

Seeking Alpha • Aug 24, 2025

Behind The (Revised) Curve

U.S. equity markets fell sharply this week, while benchmark interest rates retreated to three-month lows, after revised employment data showed that job growth was far weaker than initially reported. The BLS payrolls report showed softer-than-expected hiring in July and the steepest two-month downward revisions to jobs growth since 2020, raising concern that the Fed may be "behind the curve." The downward revisions came days after Fed Chair Powell used it as the primary evidence for "solid" labor markets, which justified the FOMC's decision to keep rates in "restrictive" territory.

Seeking Alpha • Aug 3, 2025

State Of REITs: The 'Dark Age' Is Over

While the S&P 500 and other major benchmarks entered "correction territory" this month for the first time since 2023, U.S. REITs have meaningfully outperformed the broader equity market since mid-January. The rebound follows a truly forgettable three-year period for REITs dating back to the start of the Fed's rate hiking cycle in which REITs have accumulated 40 percentage-points of underperformance. REITs remain as unloved as ever: The number of publicly listed REITs declined for a fourth-straight year in 2024. As an asset class, REITs are the single-largest "underweight" among institutional investors.

Seeking Alpha • Mar 27, 2025

Canadian REITs: Higher Yield Up North

For income-focused investors willing to venture outside the United States, Canadian REITs offer appealing qualities as a potential portfolio diversifier alongside their larger and more established U.S. peers. Canadian REITs, on average, offer higher monthly dividend yields and trade at lower P/FFO multiples compared to their U.S. counterparts, but typically have weaker balance sheets with higher debt ratios. In this report, we take a quick look at 30 Canadian REITs and break down the industry on a sector-by-sector level. We also take a deep dive into H&R REIT.

Seeking Alpha • Sep 27, 2024

GQRE: Sophisticated Real Estate ETF, Not Better Than Simple Ones

FlexShares Global Quality Real Estate Index Fund ETF selects real estate companies based on quality, value and momentum. GQRE has a global strategy, but 65% of its assets are in the U.S. GQRE shows a more attractive valuation than the US-only ETF VNQ, but has underperformed it since its inception.

Seeking Alpha • Sep 8, 2024

Office REITs: The New Malls

The new pariah of the commercial real estate sector, Office REITs, have remained in free-fall in recent months, plunging another 30% this year following a plunge of nearly 40% last year. Just how bad is it? The surge in interest rates has turned a weak-but-manageable situation into a bleak one, but there is more nuance than what the prevailing narrative would suggest.

Seeking Alpha • May 19, 2023

Industrial REITs: We Love Logistics

No slowdown here. After the worst year of performance on record in 2022, Industrial REITs have rebounded this year after earnings results showed a surprising re-strengthening of property-level fundamentals. Recent earnings results showed that demand continues to substantially outpace available supply. Rent growth reaccelerated in early-2023, with rental spreads averaging over 40%, while occupancy rates climbed to fresh record.

Seeking Alpha • May 5, 2023

Storage Wars

Storage REITs are the best-performing property sector this year after lagging in late 2022, lifted by surprisingly solid earnings results and a thawing of the previously icy-cold housing market. Storage demand is driven largely by housing activity – specifically, home sales and rental market turnover - and the recent moderation in mortgage rates has eased concern of a deepening housing recession.

Seeking Alpha • Apr 14, 2023

Apartment REITs: Tracking For Soft Landing

Apartment REITs were the second-worst-performing property sector in 2022 - barely outperforming the troubled office sector - despite delivering a record year of operating performance highlighted by 20% FFO growth. Following two years of historic rent growth, there is little doubt that growth will moderate over the coming quarters. Market consensus sees a "hard landing" with rising vacancies and declining rents.

Seeking Alpha • Feb 23, 2023

Storage REITs: Downsized Demand

Despite delivering the strongest earnings growth of any property sector in 2022, Self-Storage REITs have stumbled of late amid a post-pandemic demand normalization and pressure from elevated supply growth. Storage demand is driven largely by housing activity – specifically home sales and rental market turnover. Rental market turnover finished 2022 near historic-lows while home sales also dipped to decade-lows.

Seeking Alpha • Jan 27, 2023