REITs – CIMB

Still interesting but could grow more risky

• Downgrade to Neutral from Overweight. The SREIT sector met our Overweight expectations since our upgrade in May. While valuations are not demanding and sustained low interest rates remain favourable for REITs, we downgrade the sector on increased risks expected from non-accretive potential acquisitions and possible cash calls as well as limited upside for the large caps. No changes to our earnings estimates or individual stock ratings. Our top pick is still Cache Logistics for its attractive 8.3% yields and undemanding valuations at book value. Among large-cap REITs, CCT as the cheapest is our preferred liquid REIT, provided it is able to make accretive acquisitions. Our top short is CMT, which has limited growth catalysts for the next two years in our view, significant capex needs and possibly increased interest costs if holders of its convertible bonds exercise their put options next year.

• REIT sector trading at book levels. The REIT sector has made a good recovery since its trough and now trades at book levels, above the last two years’ average P/BV of 0.8x. The largest-cap REITs, CMT and AREIT, trade at about 30% premiums to the sector, which is their historical mean premium. A review of the debt profiles of the 14 large- and mid-cap REITs shows healthy asset leverage at 31.6%, and interest cover ratio at 5x.

• Sponsor injections likely to take centre stage in 2011. We anticipate more sponsor injections in 2011 which could include Ion Orchard Shopping Mall (into CMT), Ocean Financial Centre (into KREIT), and Pantai Hospitals in Malaysia (into PLife REIT).

• We expect risk levels to increase as: 1) asset prices rise under intensifying competition from funds and other investors; 2) assets with limited operational histories are unlikely to be accretive in the short term without income support from vendors; 3) a lack of accretive assets locally could drive REITs to acquire more overseas assets, increasing forex uncertainties and tax leakages; 4) the possibility of more cash calls particularly for mega-acquisitions as most REIT managers are unlikely to go for long-term gearing ratios beyond 45%; and 5) an increasing preference for private placements over rights issuances in recent equity fundraising points to a less equitable position for minority REIT investors.