OREANDA-NEWS. Investors can gain exposure to local and international real estate assets through Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and stapled securities listed on Singapore Exchange (SGX). Investing in these trusts allows investors to share the income generated by the tenants of the properties, at the same time bearing the risks associated with the value of the property assets and the costs of financing the property.

There are currently 28 Real Estate Investment Trusts and six stapled securities listed on Singapore Exchange (SGX), with a combined market capitalisation of S\$68.9 billion. As mentioned in a recent market update, the Singapore REITs and stapled trusts generated an average 2014 total return of 12.9% and maintain an average dividend indicative yield of 6.4%.

In the year thus far, these REITs generated an average 2015 year-to-date total return of 2.4% and year-to-date price gain of 2.3%. The first of these trusts to go ex-dividend in 2015 was SPH REIT which had a 1.33 cent per unit distribution that went ex-dividend on 16 January.

First REIT and Cambridge Investment Trust both had distributions go ex-dividend today.

Please note that to qualify for the First REIT and Cambridge Investment Trust distribution that went ex-dividend today – investors had to be holding the units as of yesterday’s close.

Mapletree Logistics Trust will go ex-dividend tomorrow while Keppel REIT will also have a pro-rata distribution for the remainder of the last quarter go ex-dividend tomorrow.

In terms of total return generated year-to-date, the five best performers were Fortune REIT (8.3%), CapitaCommercial Trust (8.3%), CapitaMall Trust (7.4%), Ascendas REIT (5.9%), and First REIT (5.6%). These five REITs maintain a combined market capitalisation of S\$22.6 billion which constitute more than 30% of the total market capitalisation of all the REITs. These five REITs averaged a 7.1% gain in year-to-date total return.

The table below details these 34 trusts, sorted according to market capitalisation.

Name

SGX

Code

Market

Cap S\$M

Px Chg

Pct YTD %

Total

Return YTD %

 Dvd Ind
Yld %
CAPITAMALL TRUST C38U 7,478.3 7.4 7.4 5.0
ASCENDAS REAL ESTATE INV TRUST A17U 6,062.4 5.9 5.9 5.8
CAPITACOMMERCIAL TRUST C61U 5,403.8 8.3 8.3 4.5
SUNTEC REIT T82U 5,004.5 1.8 1.8 4.7
KEPPEL REIT K71U 3,915.5 1.6 1.6 6.0*
MAPLETREE COMMERCIAL TRUST N2IU 3,092.6 4.6 4.6 5.4
MAPLETREE LOGISTICS TRUST M44U 3,048.9 4.6 4.6 6.0
MAPLETREE INDUSTRIAL TRUST ME8U 2,737.0 5.4 5.4 6.9
FORTUNE REIT F25U 2,688.3 8.3 8.3 5.0
MAPLETREE GREATER CHINA COMM RW0U 2,659.1 4.2 4.2 6.4
SPH REIT SK6U 2,656.4 0.5 1.7 5.0
ASCOTT RESIDENCE TRUST A68U 1,972.5 0.0 0.0 6.1
FRASERS CENTREPOINT TRUST J69U 1,840.7 4.5 4.5 5.6
CDL HOSPITALITY TRUSTS J85 1,735.8 2.0 2.0 5.9
STARHILL GLOBAL REIT P40U 1,733.3 1.2 1.2 6.3
FAR EAST HOSPITALITY TRUST Q5T 1,472.9 1.2 1.2 6.4
PARKWAYLIFE REAL ESTATE C2PU 1,433.9 -1.7 -1.7 4.9
CAPITARETAIL CHINA TRUST AU8U 1,387.1 3.4 3.4 6.0
OUE HOSPITALITY TRUST SK7 1,202.5 0.6 0.6 7.2
FRASERS HOSPITALITY TRUST ACV 1,049.5 0.0 0.0 N/A
FIRST REAL ESTATE INVT TRUST AW9U 985.3 5.6 5.6 6.1
FRASERS COMMERCIAL TRUST ND8U 961.0 1.8 1.8 6.2
CACHE LOGISTICS TRUST K2LU 921.1 1.3 1.3 7.2
AIMS AMP CAPITAL INDUSTRIAL O5RU 906.0 2.1 2.1 7.7
LIPPO MALLS INDONESIA RETAIL D5IU 905.1 0.0 0.0 8.1*
CAMBRIDGE INDUSTRIAL TRUST J91U 877.4 1.5 1.5 7.3
KEPPEL DC REIT AJBU 874.1 2.6 2.6 N/A
ASCENDAS HOSPITALITY TRUST Q1P 767.3 1.5 1.5 7.1
OUE COMMERCIAL REIT TS0U 704.9 0.6 0.6 3.0
SABANA SHARIAH COMP IND REIT M1GU 670.3 -1.6 -1.6 7.8
SOILBUILD BUSINESS SPACE REIT SV3U 638.2 0.0 0.0 7.8
VIVA INDUSTRIAL TRUST T8B 499.3 0.6 0.6 8.4*
IREIT GLOBAL UD1U 369.0 -1.1 -1.1 N/A
SAIZEN REIT T8JU 245.3 0.6 0.6 7.2

CapitaMall Trust

CapitaMall Trust owns and invests in real estate assets for retail purposes in Singapore. The trust has 16 shopping malls in the suburban areas and downtown core areas of Singapore.

The trust has a market capitalisation of S\$7.5 billion, which is the highest among the REITs and generated total return year-to-date of 7.4%. On 17 October 2014, the trust reported that the distributable income of S\$93.7 million for the quarter from 1 July 2014 to 30 September 2014 was 5.6% higher than the S\$88.8 million for the same period last year. The trust went ex-dividend on 24 October 2014, distributing S\$0.0272 per share in dividends.

Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust

Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust is a real estate investment trust launched and managed by Ascendas Funds Management (S) Limited. The fund invests in the real estate markets of Singapore and China. It invests in business and science Parks properties, Hi-Specs Industrial properties/Data Centres, Light Industrial properties/Flatted Factories, Logistics & Distribution Centres, and Warehouse Retail Facilities.

Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust has a market capitalisation of S\$6.1 billion and the stock generated total return year-to-date of 5.9%. On 23 October 2014, the trust reported their gross revenue from the period 1 April 2014 to 30 September 2014. Their revenue has increased by 8.4% to S\$328.0 million. The trust went ex-dividend on 29 October 2014, distributing S\$0.073 per share in dividends.

CapitaCommercial Trust

CapitaCommercial Trust invests in real estate and real estate-related assets which are primarily used for commercial purposes in Singapore. In addition, CapitaCommercial Trust has interests in Malaysia through a 30% stake in Quill Capita Trust (QCT), a commercial REIT listed on the Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad.

CapitaCommercial Trust has a market capitalisation of S\$5.4 billion and generated year-to-date total return of 8.3%. On 21 January 2015, CCT reported a gross revenue of S\$262.6 million for the financial year ended 31 December 2014, an increase of 4.4% from the preceding year. The trust went ex-dividend on 27 January 2015, distributing S\$0.0424 per share in dividends.

Suntec REIT

Suntec Real Estate Investment Trust is a real estate investment fund managed by ARA Trust Management (Suntec) Limited. The fund invests in real estate and real estate-related assets that are primarily used for retail or office purposes.

Suntec REIT has a market capitalization of S\$5.0 billion and generated year-to-date total return of 1.8%. On 21 Oct 2014, Suntec REIT reported a total distribution income of S\$58.3 million for the period 1 July to 30 September 2014 (“3Q FY14”) which is an increase of 12.4% year-on-year (“3Q FY13”). Suntec REIT went ex-dividend on 28 Oct 2014, distributing S\$0.02328 per share in dividends.

Keppel REIT

Keppel REIT is a real estate investment trust launched by and managed by Keppel REIT Management Limited. The fund invests in the real estate markets of the Singapore and across Asia, and it primarily makes investments in commercial properties.

Keppel REIT has a market capitalization of S\$3.9 billion and generated year-to-date total return of 1.6%. On 19 January 2015, Keppel REIT reported a net property income for the financial year ended 31 December 2014 of S\$151.4 million, an increase of 9.5% year-on-year. Keppel REIT went ex-dividend on 23 January 2015, distributing S\$0.0026 per share in dividends.