REITs are a popular and important part of the Singapore Exchange (SGX). There are close to 50 listed REITs, property-related business trust and REIT ETFs in Singapore. There are also numerous other unit trusts invested into Singapore and foreign listed REITs in Singapore. To get a better understanding of how well or badly Singapore REITs have performed, we dedicate significant time and resources to publish a report card each quarter. If you wish to catch up on previous quarters, you can refer to our regular REITs Report Card column. Read Also: Complete Guide To Investing In Singapore REITs How Has Singapore REITs Performed In The Year-To-Date 2019 To gauge how the Singapore REIT market has performed in the year-to-date (YTD) 2019, we can look at the iEdge S-REIT Index and the iEdge S-REIT

Technical Analysis of FTSE ST REIT Index (FSTAS8670) FTSE ST Real Estate Investment Trusts (FTSE ST REIT Index) broke down from a Symmetrial Triangle consolidation pattern but rebounded from 200D SMA support. The REIT index has changed from 929.69 (last post) to 906.82 (-2.52%). Previous chart on FTSE ST REIT index can be found in the last post Singapore REIT Fundamental Comparison Table on Oct 8, 2019. Based on the current chart pattern,  the sentiment is BULLISH in the long term but REIT index is currently going through a correction.  REIT Index has to go above the 20D & 50D SMA in order to continue the uptrend. The recent sell off could be a welcomed correction before REIT index can charge higher.   Fundamental Analysis of 40 Singapore REITs The following is the compila

When CapitaLand and City Development (CDL) teamed up to develop the 3.7 hectares residential site next to BuangKok MRT station in 2018, it promised to be a match made in heaven. Indeed, there was tremendous market hype as the two developers are the big boys in the real estate sector. The last time the two titans combined forces was in 2007 for the Botannia project in West Coast. Thus, it is not surprising that Sengkang Grand Residences became the best-selling integrated project in 2019. But what raised plenty of eyebrows was the strong response shown during the launch day of Sengkang Grand Residences. 216 of the 280 units had been sold at an average price of $1,700 per square feet (psf). Prices for the integrated project start from $798,000 for a one-bedroom plus study unit, $998,000 for a

Today, we are going to share with you how to invest your CPF investment money in a no-brainer way. The best part? You need not be financial savvy to do this. A beginner can do it! And I’ll reveal the exact step-by-step process, which you can follow easily. What is CPF Investment Scheme (CPFIS)? It is to provide option to CPF members to invest their CPF savings in your Ordinary Account (OA) and Special Account (SA) in various instruments such as insurance products, unit trusts, fixed deposits, bonds and shares in Singapore. The Average CPF Interest Rate is 2.5% to 4% for Ordinary Account. Check their latest CPF interest rate here. Below is the latest CPF rate (1st Oct to 31st Dec 2019).   Share this Infographic On Your Site </p><br /><br /><br /><br /&

There are total of 40 Singapore REITs, a popular investment option for retirement through passive income. By law, 90% of disposable income from Singapore REITs must be redistributed back to shareholders through dividends.  However, not all the Singapore REITs are profitable, an investor could lose money if choosing the wrong one, eg. pursuing the highest yield REIT.  REIT is an integrated investment between stock market and property market, knowledge of both markets are required to be successful. In general, a good REIT should have strong fundamentals and DPU (Distribution per Unit) should grow over the time.  At the same time, we could also profit from good REITs through capital appreciation of share price and net asset value of properties.  A good REIT investor

On 21 October 2019, through their handheld devices, shareholders from both sides gave their blessings to the marriage between Ascott Residence Trust (Ascott) and Ascendas Hospitality Trust (A-HTrust). With combined assets of S$7.6 billion, the new entity – Ascott REIT Business Trust (Ascott REIT-BT) — will form the largest hospitality trust in Asia Pacific and the eighth largest in the world. Ascott REIT-BT will be structured as a stapled security: a real estate investment trust and a business trust joined together. The news of the merger came on 3 July 2019 shortly after CapitaLand completed the acquisition of Ascendas-Singbridge on 1 July 2019. Source: Ascott REIT In an open letter to A-HTrust earlier this year, Quarz Capital Management wrote that the merger will sol

Those who invest in REITs usually go for consistent and stable income. While REITs are normally viewed as yield-related investments, the well-run ones can boast an element of growth as well, achieved through various methods such as asset enhancement initiatives and mergers and acquisitions. REITs with strong sponsors and a history of growing their distribution per unit (DPU) over time can provide investors with the best of both worlds: capital gains over the long term as well as regular, stable cash inflows. The bonus here is not just a gain in the share price of the REIT as it grows its portfolio, but you’ll also enjoy higher DPU over time due to rental appreciation and a higher appraised value of the underlying properties. Here are three REITs to consider if you’re looking f

Throngs of people swarming into a condominium show flat is a pretty common sight here in Singapore. Many locals are enamoured with physical real estate as the last 30 years of nation-building progress has seen the value of property rise at an impressive clip. As a result, many people have become very wealthy by investing in properties. However, I must caution you on two aspects. One is that the economic miracle Singapore went through in the last three decades may not be easily replicated in the next 20-30 years, as the economic, political, and social conditions that created the last miracle may not be present. The other factor is that real estate investments involve a heavy debt commitment on the part of the investor, as that person would have to borrow a significant sum of money in order

The REIT sector has been a surprise performer this year, with total returns of close to 20% year to date. This superb performance has been underpinned by a combination of low interest rates, ample liquidity, and continued strong operating performance for many REITs. Many investors have been surprised by this as the REIT sector is a mature one, with not many expecting it to outperform the benchmark index. However, another important question is, should investors start to trim their portfolios as REIT valuations head higher? After such a stellar performance this year, is there any upside left for investors? Perhaps the sector has run ahead of itself and is poised for a very painful and abrupt retreat. The above questions might be swirling in many investors’ minds, as several friends ha

With the wide variety of REITs available for investment, investors have a lot of options in terms of the types of properties and geographic exposure they’d like to have in their portfolios. Over the years, SGX has managed to attract REITs of all shapes and sizes to list here, creating a vibrant environment for REITs to thrive and be noticed. Of particular interest are REITs with non-Singaporean assets, as these provide investors exposure to property assets in different parts of the world. Though these REITs are listed in Singapore, their assets derive income from outside Singapore and are thus exposed to country and exchange-rate risks. Despite that, certain overseas REITs have managed admirable performances, reporting consistent and steady growth in distribution per unit (DPU). Her

After months of intensive research on the residential property sectors, my wife and I have decided to proceed with purchasing our second property here in Singapore.Just yesterday, we've submitted the cheque, went to the lawyer and signed everything that we needed to settle.We've never previously thought of the idea that we'd be buying a second home, especially in an expensive country like Singapore where private property was rated the second most expensive in the world according to a report from CBRE (source article here).Why Buy Now?But we were bounded by circumstances, in particular the fact that we rented out our bigger units a few months back and had to move in to our in-laws place in the interim. It was never the most ideal situation for the longer term because of many reasons and soo

Technical Analysis of FTSE ST REIT Index (FSTAS8670) FTSE ST Real Estate Investment Trusts (FTSE ST REIT Index) is currently trading in a Symmetrial Triangle consolidation pattern on an uptrend. The REIT index has little change from 927.94 to 929.69 (+0.19%). So far 50D SMA proves to be a good support.  Previous chart on FTSE ST REIT index can be found in the last post Singapore REIT Fundamental Comparison Table on Sep 6, 2019. Based on the current chart pattern and and momentum,  the sentiment is BULLISH and the trend for Singapore REIT direction is still UP. Breaking out from a symmetrical triangle will send the REIT index to march towards the minimum target of 970.   Fundamental Analysis of 41 Singapore REITs The following is the compilation of 41 REITs in Singapore with

It has been a lost decade for CapitaLand share price as the real estate developer endured crisis after crisis ranging from the Great Financial Crisis to the European sovereign debt problem to the slew of property cooling measures unleashed by Singapore government. For sure, investors of CapitaLand had a roller coaster ride and suffered plenty of sleepless nights. But the sluggish CapitaLand share price looks set for a turbo-charged spin in the next six months. Read on to find out why CapitaLand could possibly stage a “return of the king” in the coming months. Being one of the marquee assets of Temasek Holdings, CapitaLand is obviously one of the big boys in the real estate business. The company’s real estate and hospitality portfolio spans more than 120 cities in over 20 counties. In

CapitaLand Limited (SGX: C31) is one of Asia’s largest diversified property groups and owns and manages a global portfolio worth S$129.1 billion as of 30 June 2019. The group has a presence in more than 200 cities in over 30 countries, and its portfolio spans diversified real estate classes such as commercial, retail, and industrial. As with any investment, there are both positive and negative aspects. While CapitaLand is a strong conglomerate with diverse business divisions, I decided to look for aspects of the business that may not be so attractive in order to balance my view of the group. I believe it’s important to be able to view both sides of a potential investment in order to size up both its strengths and its risks. The good: Diversified asset base Source: CapitaLand&

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are hugely popular investments in Singapore. The reasons for this lie in two key characteristics – 1) its focus on property investments, which Singaporeans just cannot get enough of, and 2) its ability to pay a good annual distribution yield of typically between 5% and 8%. It should come as no surprise that when a new $1.5 billion REIT initial public offering (IPO) is announced, there will be plenty of interest. To guide you in your assessment of whether to invest in Lendlease Global Commercial REIT’s IPO, here are 10 things you should know. # 1 What Is Lendlease Global Commercial REIT? Lendlease Global Commercial REIT will own properties primarily in the retail and/or office space. The initial REIT portfolio comprises two properties – 313@So

For investors who are nearing retirement or looking to retire soon, one key characteristic they should look for in REITs is income stability. This means the REIT should have a track record of paying out a dependable and predictable distribution per unit (DPU) so as to provide investors with peace of mind and a good night’s sleep. The problem is that not every REIT makes a great investment, and investors need to be discerning when it comes to choosing a REIT they can hold on to for the long term. One factor to consider is the presence of a strong sponsor, as this can lower borrowing costs for the REIT and also provide it with a ready pipeline of properties for acquisition. You should also observe the track record of asset under management (AUM) growth and the stability of DPU over th

CapitaLand is synonymous with real estate in Singapore. As one of Asia’s largest diversified real estate group, most Singaporeans would already know of, and have interacted with the brand. Outside of Singapore, the group also holds large portfolio spanning across multiple countries in Asia and outside of Asia. Investing in CapitaLand may not always be as straightforward as it seems. That’s because the group has a total of eight stocks which are listed on the Singapore Exchange. Each of these stocks offer a different investment proposition to investors, though the common similarity (besides being part of the CapitaLand group) is that the stocks are all involved primarily in real estate. As observed by SGX Market Strategist Geoff Howie, the eight stocks account for close to 12% of the d

Frasers Centrepoint Trust (SGX: J69U), or FCT, is a REIT with property portfolio comprising of suburban retail properties in Singapore. Recently, I came across FCT’s latest investor presentation and found it to be highly informative. In particular, there are two simple charts that will be useful to demonstrate why FCT is a solid REIT. Financial track record Source: FCT’s Investor Presentation There are a few interesting things to note here. To start with, FCT grew its revenue and net property income (NPI) in almost every single year, with the exception of 2016 and 2017 (mainly due to asset enhancement in Northpoint City North Wing). In the last decade, NPI has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.3%. Such a growth rate is quite impressive for a REIT, e

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) are known to employ a variety of methods to fund mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and these include options involving debt and equity. The most straightforward method used by REITs would be to take on more debt, but this will increase its leverage ratio (i.e. total debt divided by total asset) and may offer it less room to take on debt in future. The maximum leverage that a REIT can take up is 45%, so many REITs tap on capital markets as an alternative source of funding. Secondary share placements are a common source of fundraising and involve the issuance of new shares to a new group of investors who take up a stake in the REIT. Such placements will increase the issued share capital base of the REIT and be dilutive to distribution per unit (DPU),

Here are some of the most popular articles that have appeared on The Motley Fool Singapore’s website over the past week. 3 Best Singapore Dividend Shares to Buy Now Through to 2020 We are less than four months away from a brand-new year. As cliché as it may sound, time really flies. If you are looking for high-quality income stocks to buy from now at regular intervals through to 2020, you have to check out this article. Investors Turned $100k Into $370k Investing in This Solid REIT “REITs are generally perceived as investments that give slow and steady returns to investors. In other words, they are “boring.” Yet, investing in REITs can generate significant long-term wealth for investors. Let’s look at one of those REITs that gave investors significant