OREANDA-NEWS. The 10 largest Real Estate Plays consist of Real Estate Management & Development stocks as well as Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), and have a combined market capitalisation of S\\$86.5 billion.

From a performance perspective, the MSCI Asia ex Japan Index has outperformed the MSCI Asia ex Japan Real Estate Index over the past 5 years. As of yesterday, the MSCI Asia ex Japan Index experienced a 5-year price decline of 5.4%, while the MSCI Asia ex Japan Real Estate Index experienced a 14.4% price decline over the same period. The 5-year performances of the MSCI Asia ex Japan Index and  MSCI Asia ex Japan Real Estate Index are illustrated in the chart below.

13 October 2010 – 13 October 2015

Recent Performance of the Real Estate Plays

The 10 Real Estate plays trade at an average P/E and P/B  of 11.9 and 0.8, and average an indicative dividend yield of 3.5%. In the year thus far, these 10 plays have averaged a 3.7% decline in total return, taking the 12-month total return to 2.2%. In comparison, the MSCI Asia ex Japan Real Estate Index trades at a P/E and P/B of 7.1 and 0.8, and averages an indicative dividend yield of 3.3%. The Index has generated a 6.3% total return decline in the year-to-date, taking the 12-month total return to a 3.0% decline.

Correlation of the Real Estate Plays

Correlation is a  measure of how two variables move in relation to each other, and can range from -1 to +1. A correlation coefficient of +1 implies that the stock moves in perfect tandem with the index, and a coefficient of -1 implies that the stock moves in the opposition direction of the index.

As of yesterday, the average correlation of the 10 largest Real Estate plays  to the MSCI Asia ex Japan Real Estate Index was 0.46, whose coefficients range from 0.32 to 0.60. Of the 10 plays, the two that have recently moved in tandem with the regional real estate sector were UOL Group and Capitaland, while the two most independent movers were United Industrial Corporation and Capitaland Mall Trust.

These plays are tabled below and sorted according to current correlation. Please note that clicking on a play name will take you to its relevant page on StockFacts.