The 10 REITs on SGX that report revenues to China have a combined market cap of nearly S$18 billion. S-REITs were among the best-performing sectors in the months of Nov, Dec and Jan. S-REITs was also the top net buy sector last month, garnering net institutional inflows of S$82.7 million.
Among these 10 China-related REITs, the 5 best performers in the YTD were: Mapletree North Asia (+10.5%), OUE Commercial (+10.4%), Ascott Residence (+9.2%), Mapletree Logistics (+8.8%), and EC World REIT (+8.0%). They averaged a total return of +9.4% in the YTD.
The 5 largest real estate developers on SGX that report more than one-third of total revenues to China have a combined market cap of about S$18 billion. In the YTD, the three best performers were: Yanlord Land (+14.8%), Ying Li (+7.8%), and CapitaLand (+7.1%).
There are 34 Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), 5 Stapled Trusts and 3 property trusts listed on SGX. The sector has a combined market capitalisation of close to S$90 billion, with Retail, Industrial and Office REITs making up the largest segments.
Amidst a challenging market environment, Singapore REITs were among the best-performing sectors on SGX for three consecutive months, registering total returns of 2.3%, 0.3% and 7.9% respectively in November, December and January. REITs was also the top net buy sector last month, garnering net institutional inflows of S$82.7 million, SGX data showed.
Analysts have noted revived investor interest in S-REITs since the fourth quarter of 2018, driven by a flight to safety amidst rising risk-aversion, as US-Sino trade tensions continued to simmer, and global equity markets remained volatile.
The relatively strong fundamentals of S-REITs – about 80% of the trusts across various segments have hedged at least 70% of their debt with fixed rates, while all are required by regulation to have a maximum gearing ratio of 45% – should also help mitigate the negative impact of a rising interest-rate environment.
There are 10 REITs listed on SGX that report revenues to China, and they have a combined market capitalisation of nearly S$18 billion. These 10 trusts have averaged a total return of +6.6% in the 2019 year-to-date and a dividend yield of 7.2%.
In the YTD, the five best-performing REITs with China revenues were: Mapletree North Asia Commercial Trust (+10.5%), OUE Commercial REIT (+10.4%), Ascott Residence Trust (+9.2%), Mapletree Logistics Trust (+8.8%), and EC World REIT (+8.0%). These 5 REITs have averaged a total return of +9.4% in the YTD, bringing their one-year and three-year total returns to +4.9% and +43.7% respectively.
The table below details the 10 REITs on SGX that report revenues to China, sorted by YTD total returns.
| Name | SGX Code |
Market Cap S$m |
2019 YTD Total Returns (%) |
1Y Total Return (%) |
3Y Total Return (%) |
Dividend Yield |
P/B (x) |
% Revenue from China |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mapletree North Asia Commercial Trust | RW0U | 3,926 | 10.5 | 13.0 | 90.8 | 5.8 | 1.0 | 30.7 |
| OUE Commercial REIT | TS0U | 1,415 | 10.4 | -16.1 | 16.2 | 7.5 | 0.7 | 18.1 |
| Ascott Residence Trust | A68U | 2,477 | 9.2 | 3.7 | 33.5 | 6.2 | 0.8 | 10.5 |
| Mapletree Logistics Trust | M44U | 4,847 | 8.8 | 16.7 | 78 | 6.4 | 1.1 | 6.6 |
| EC World REIT | BWCU | 590 | 8.0 | 7.4 | 0.0 | 7.0 | 0.9 | 100 |
| CapitaLand Retail China Trust | AU8U | 1,363 | 5.7 | -3.2 | 26.3 | 7.2 | 0.9 | 100 |
| Sasseur REIT | CRPU | 808 | 5.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | - | 0.9 | 100 |
| Starhill Global REIT | P40U | 1,505 | 3.1 | -0.6 | 13.6 | 8.2 | 0.8 | 2.3 |
| BHG Retail Trust | BMGU | 368 | 2.1 | 4.7 | 9.9 | 8.8 | 0.9 | 100 |
| Dasin Retail Trust | CEDU | 491 | 1.7 | 14.3 | 0.0 | 7.8 | 0.6 | 100 |
| Average | 6.5 | 4.0 | 26.8 | 7.2 | 0.8 |
Source: SGX StockFacts and Bloomberg (Data as of 13 February 2019)
Note:
Mapletree North Asia Commercial Trust, Starhill Global REIT, CapitaLand Retail China Trust, Sasseur REIT, Dasin Retail Trust and BHG Retail Trust are involved in the leasing and operation of retail property and infrastructure in China and HK.
OUE Commercial REIT owns an office and retail property in Shanghai.
Ascott Residence Trust owns seven serviced residences in cities across China.
Mapletree Logistics Trust and EC World REIT manage diversified portfolios focused on e-commerce, shipping, logistics and supply chain management.
As for real estate developers on SGX, the 5 largest that report more than one-third of their total revenues to China have a combined market capitalisation of S$17.7 billion. Among these 5 developers, the 3 best performers in the YTD were: Yanlord Land (+14.8%), Ying Li International (+7.8%), and CapitaLand (+7.1%). Note that Yanlord and Ying Li reported 100% of their revenues to China, while CapitaLand and First Sponsor reported 27.04% and 32.24% revenues to China respectively.
The table below details the five real estate developers that report revenues to China, sorted by YTD total returns.
| Name | SGX Code |
Market Cap S$m |
2019 YTD Total Returns (%) |
1Y Total Return (%) |
3Y Total Return (%) |
Dividend Yield |
P/E (x) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yanlord Land Group | Z25 | 2,704 | 14.8 | -9.5 | 41.9 | 4.7 | 2.8 |
| Ying Li Intl Real Estate | 5DM | 320 | 7.8 | -8.1 | -3.1 | - | 6.9 |
| CapitaLand * | C31 | 13,862 | 7.1 | -2.3 | 28.9 | 3.6 | 9.6 |
| First Sponsor Group ^ | ADN | 798 | -3.9 | -5.7 | 15.4 | 1.7 | 9.2 |
| Pan Hong Holdings | P36 | 36 | -12.5 | -16.8 | 50.5 | 20.3 | - |
| Average | 2.6 | -8.5 | 26.7 | 7.1 | 7.1 |
Source: SGX StockFacts and Bloomberg (Data as of 13 February 2019)
* Reported 27.0% revenue to China in last FY.
^ Reported 32.2% revenue to China in last FY.
China’s Growth Outlook
Earlier this week, China posted a surprise 9.1% YoY jump in its January exports, surpassing most economists’ forecasts of a contraction. This comes after its December exports unexpectedly shrank 4.4% YoY, the most in two years.
This year, the World Bank expects a further slowdown in the world’s second-largest economy, as headwinds increase amidst heightened trade tensions. The agency has forecast economic growth of 6.2% in 2019, slightly below previous projections as a result of weaker exports, and down from 6.5% expansion in 2018, it said in the January edition of its “Global Economic Prospects” report.
Between 1999 and 2014, China has averaged a significantly stronger annual economic growth rate of 9.6%, reaching as high as over 14% in 2007. In recent years, the moderation in its economic growth rates, which still remain above the developing-economy average, has coincided with the government’s policy of pursuing high-quality, rather than high-speed, growth.
