Have you considered investing in Real Estate Investment Trusts? Better known as REITs, these uniquely organized businesses can offer a reliable income stream for your portfolio that can also provide defensive appeal and growth.
Curious? Here’s a trio of options that you will regret not owning.
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Option 1: RioCan Real Estate
One of the long-standing ways that investors have built reliable income streams over the years was by investing in real estate – more specifically, owning a rental property.
Unfortunately, that comes with a host of issues. Finding a tenant, completing maintenance, paying the mortgage, coming up with a down payment, and paying property taxes. (And that is just the tip of the iceberg.
That is where RioCan Real Estate (TSX: REI.UN) can help.
RioCan is one of the largest REITs in Canada. The company offers a portfolio of primarily commercial retail sites as well as a growing number of mixed-use residential properties.
The properties are located along high-traffic transit routes and comprise residential towers sitting atop several floors of retail.
In short, those mixed-use properties allow would-be landlords to live out that rental property dream for a fraction of the cost and risk.
As of writing, RioCan offers a monthly distribution that pays out a juicy 6.1% yield. This means that a $30,000 investment will provide a monthly income of just over $150.
Keep in mind that’s without a mortgage, property taxes, or chasing down tenants. Even at $30,000, that’s still considerably less than the average recommended down payment on a property.
A steady, mortgage-free, reliable income stream — no tenants, no taxes, just monthly cash flow.
Option 2: Slate Grocery REIT
Some of the best investments are those that we interact with daily. I like to call these ‘everyday stocks’ as they represent necessities that generate reliable revenue streams and often provide generous distributions.
An example of this is grocers, and Slate Grocery REIT (TSX: SGR.UN) is a perfect example of that reliable income generation that investors crave.
Slate is a U.S.-anchored grocery REIT with 110 properties that are located across metro markets. Slate’s tenant list comprises some of the largest names in the retail sector, and that stability adds yet another defensive notch to the company’s appeal.
Adding to that appeal are the adjoining properties. Slate’s retail properties often include not only the anchor grocery tenant, but also smaller retail properties. That includes banks, restaurants, and doctors’ offices, to name just a few.
What really pushes Slate into position as one of the reliable income generators is the company’s monthly distribution. As of the time of writing, that works out to a juicy 8.1% yield.
Using that same $30,000 example from above, that works out to just over $200 per month.
All from buying groceries. That is a reliable income worth investing in.
Option 3: Canadian Apartment Properties REIT
One final option from the universe of REITs for investors seeking reliable income to consider is Canadian Apartment Properties REIT (TSX: CAR.UN).
As the name suggests, this REIT is focused on residential properties, which makes it appealing for would-be landlords.
Canadian Apartment Properties is one of the largest residential landlords in Canada. Its portfolio of properties includes apartments and townhomes located across metro markets in Canada, as well as in selected markets in Europe.
As of the time of writing, Canadian Apartment Properties trades down nearly 9% year-to-date, offering a potential value entry point. That’s in addition to its appeal as a unique source for reliable income.
In terms of distributions, the REIT offers a monthly distribution that carries a yield of 3.9%. That is lower than the other REITs on this list, but it is using that lower yield to pay down debt and fund new acquisitions in Canada.
In short, Canadian Apartment Properties offers long-term upside through disciplined debt management and strategic acquisitions.
Final thoughts
No stock is without risk. Fortunately, the trio of REITs mentioned above can offer investors a tasty, reliable income, plenty of growth, and a defensive core for any well-diversified, long-term portfolio.
