
Actual Property Funding Trusts (REITs) supply traders a possibility to achieve publicity to the true property market with out proudly owning bodily properties. As with every funding, it is essential to know tips on how to consider and worth REITs successfully. On this complete information, we’ll discover the important thing strategies and issues for valuing a REIT.
Earlier than we dive deeper into the topic, I invite you to examine my newest e-book, The Artwork of Investing. There, you will discover many worthwhile insights to enhance your investing efficiency.
Understanding REITs
Earlier than diving into valuation, let’s briefly recap what a REIT is. A REIT is an organization that owns, operates, or funds income-producing actual property belongings, comparable to residential and business properties, inns, procuring facilities, and extra. REITs are required by regulation to distribute at least 90% of their taxable revenue to shareholders within the type of dividends. Buyers are interested in REITs for his or her potential for regular revenue, portfolio diversification, and long-term development.
For a greater understanding of the strategies described beneath, we’ll take the instance of the Realty Revenue inventory (O) and stroll it by means of the steps. All the pieces that’s notably associated to Realty Revenue will probably be written in Italics.
4 Strategies for Valuing a REIT
Valuing a REIT includes assessing its monetary efficiency, the standard of its actual property portfolio, and its development potential. A number of strategies can be utilized to worth a REIT, and a mixture of those approaches can present a extra correct image of its intrinsic price. Listed here are the important thing strategies:
1. Web Asset Worth (NAV) Methodology
The Web Asset Worth technique is a basic method to valuing a REIT. It calculates the worth of the REIT’s belongings (actual property properties) minus its liabilities. The ensuing determine represents the intrinsic worth of the REIT primarily based on its actual property holdings.
This technique is particularly helpful when evaluating REITs with important actual property holdings as a result of it gives perception into the core worth of these holdings. Here is a breakdown of the parts and issues throughout the NAV technique:
Whole Belongings: Step one is to find out the full worth of the REIT’s belongings. These belongings embrace all the actual property properties owned by the REIT, in addition to every other belongings it could maintain, comparable to money, securities, or different investments. The worth of actual property belongings needs to be primarily based on their present market values, which can require periodic value determinations.
Whole Liabilities: Subsequent, it is advisable establish and sum up all the REIT’s liabilities. Liabilities embrace issues like mortgages, loans, and different excellent money owed. It is important to think about each short-term and long-term liabilities when calculating the full.
Web Asset Worth (NAV) Calculation: With the full belongings and complete liabilities in hand, calculating the NAV is easy:
NAV = Whole Belongings – Whole Liabilities
The NAV represents the estimated intrinsic worth of the REIT, assuming that it liquidated its belongings and paid off all money owed. It is necessary to do not forget that NAV represents a snapshot in time and will not absolutely seize the longer term development potential or income-generating capability of the REIT.
Let’s examine the NAV for Realty Revenue Inventory. We will simply get this data out of their Stability Sheet accessible within the Financials part on SeekingAlpha:

Realty Revenue Belongings and Liabilities. Supply: SeekingAlpha
To calculate the present NAV, is straight ahead:
NAV = 53,980 – 22,669 = 31,331, i.e. about $31 Billion.
If you happen to compute the NAV values over time, you’ll discover a pleasant optimistic development.
It could even be helpful to calculate how a lot NAV we get per share. For this, we have to divide the NAV by the variety of shares excellent (708.8M, as per their Stability Sheet).
NAV / Share = 31,331 / 708.8 = $44.2
On the present buying and selling worth of ~$48, this implies for each inventory we purchase we nearly get the identical asset worth.
The Web Asset Worth (NAV) technique is a foundational software for assessing the intrinsic worth of a Actual Property Funding Belief. It gives traders with insights into the core price of the REIT’s actual property holdings, serving to them make extra knowledgeable funding selections.
Nevertheless, it is necessary to make use of the NAV technique at the side of different valuation strategies and to think about the broader financial and market circumstances that may impression a REIT’s worth.
So, let’s have a look at what comes subsequent.
2. Value-to-Funds from Operations (P/FFO) Ratio
Funds From Operations (FFO) is one other important metric for evaluating REITs. FFO represents a REIT’s core earnings, typically thought-about a extra correct measure of its monetary efficiency in comparison with conventional earnings per share (EPS), which can not account for the distinctive traits of actual property investments.
The P/FFO ratio is calculated by dividing the market worth per share of a REIT by its FFO per share. This ratio gives traders with a worthwhile software for assessing a REIT’s relative valuation inside its sector or business.
A decrease P/FFO ratio means that the REIT could also be undervalued relative to its earnings potential, making it a pretty funding alternative. Conversely, the next P/FFO ratio may point out that the market has priced the REIT at a premium, probably signaling overvaluation.
Components for P/FFO:
P/FFO Ratio = Inventory Value / FFO per Share
Within the case of Realty Revenue, the indicator is at 12.04 which is kind of consistent with the sector common of 11.29, as denoted by SeekingAlpha:

Realty Revenue P/FFO. Supply: SeekingAlpha.com
Subsequent, issues are getting a bit bit extra difficult.
3. Dividend Low cost Mannequin (DDM)
The Dividend Low cost Mannequin (DDM) is a valuation technique used to estimate the intrinsic worth of a Actual Property Funding Belief (REIT) primarily based on its future dividend funds. Whereas DDM is extra generally utilized to dividend-paying shares, it can be used for REITs, that are identified for his or her constant dividend distributions.
Here is how the Dividend Low cost Mannequin works within the context of REITs:
Forecast Future Dividends: Step one in making use of DDM to a REIT is to forecast its future dividend funds. Within the case of REITs, these dividends typically come within the type of common distributions to shareholders. To forecast future dividends, analysts sometimes take into account the REIT’s historic dividend development price, its monetary efficiency, and financial circumstances.
Decide the Required Fee of Return (Low cost Fee): The subsequent essential part of the DDM is the required price of return, sometimes called the low cost price. This price represents the return an investor expects to obtain for taking up the chance related to investing within the REIT. The low cost price ought to mirror components just like the risk-free price (sometimes primarily based on authorities bond yields) and the REIT’s particular threat components, comparable to market circumstances, rate of interest sensitivity, and business dangers.
Apply the DDM Components: With the forecasted future dividends and the low cost price in hand, you should use the DDM formulation to calculate the intrinsic worth of the REIT:
DDM = D1 / (r – g)
The place:
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DDM is the intrinsic worth of the REIT.
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D1 represents the anticipated dividend for the following interval.
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r is the corporate’s price of capital fairness
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g is the anticipated dividend development price.
Realty revenue is anticipated to offer $3.15 in 2024, as per SeekingAlpha. That may imply a dividend development (g) of three.27% in comparison with 2023 ($3.15 future dividend (D1) / $3.05 present dividend).
To maintain it easy, we won’t compute the price of capital fairness (r). We’ll use the Realty Revenue consensus from Finbox.com, which is the same as 9.8%.
So, DDM = $3.15 / (0.098 – 0.0327) = ~$48
Once more, we get a good worth equal to the present worth of ~48.
4. Think about Development Charges: Within the DDM formulation, the “g” issue represents the anticipated dividend development price. For REITs, this development price can differ considerably relying on components comparable to property market circumstances, rental revenue, and administration selections. Analysts typically take into account historic development charges, business forecasts, and the REIT’s enterprise technique to estimate “g.”
All it is advisable do is to redo the calculation utilizing the common historic yearly dividend improve, fairly than what’s estimated for the following interval.
5. Assess the Outcome: As soon as you’ve got calculated the intrinsic worth utilizing the DDM, you may examine it to the REIT’s present market worth. If the calculated intrinsic worth is larger than the market worth, the REIT could also be thought-about undervalued, suggesting a possible shopping for alternative. Conversely, if the intrinsic worth is decrease than the market worth, it could be overvalued.
Our DDM calculation resulted in a good worth of ~$48. The present worth of O inventory can also be ~$48. This implies the inventory is presently pretty valued.
Different Key Concerns:
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DDM assumes that dividends are a dependable indicator of a REIT’s worth. Nevertheless, it is important to think about the standard and sustainability of the dividend funds.
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Estimating the required price of return (low cost price) precisely is important, because it considerably impacts the DDM valuation.
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DDM is a basic valuation technique that gives a long-term perspective. Brief-term market sentiment and worth fluctuations could not align with DDM-based valuations.
To study extra about dividends, try my e-book “Stay Off Dividends.“
In abstract, the Dividend Low cost Mannequin could be a worthwhile software for estimating the intrinsic worth of a REIT primarily based on its anticipated future dividend funds. Nevertheless, like all valuation strategies, it needs to be used at the side of different metrics and issues to make well-informed funding selections.
4. Comparable Evaluation
Evaluating the REIT to its friends is a worthwhile technique to gauge its relative worth. Have a look at key metrics comparable to P/FFO ratio, dividend yield and development file, and price-to-NAV in comparison with comparable REITs in the identical sector or class. If the REIT’s metrics are extra favorable, it could be thought-about undervalued.
Let’s examine…

Realty Revenue vs Friends. Construct by creator.
As you may see, Realty Revenue is offering a pretty dividend yield and respectable annual development when in comparison with its friends. The P/FFO is someplace within the center, whereas the Value/NAV may be very engaging. Out of this comparability, I’m assured in my choice to purchase Realty Revenue, and never any of its friends.
Components to Think about When Valuing a REIT
Along with the valuation strategies, a number of components needs to be taken into consideration when evaluating a REIT:
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Historic Efficiency: Evaluate the REIT’s historic monetary efficiency, together with FFO development, dividend consistency, and complete returns over completely different timeframes.
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Property Portfolio: Assess the standard, location, and diversification of the true property belongings within the REIT’s portfolio. Search for properties in fascinating places with steady occupancy charges.
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Administration Group: Consider the expertise and monitor file of the REIT’s administration group. A succesful group is extra more likely to make sound funding selections.
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Monetary Well being: Look at the REIT’s debt ranges and curiosity protection ratio. Excessive debt and low-interest protection can pose dangers, particularly in financial downturns.
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Market Circumstances: Think about broader financial and actual property market circumstances which will have an effect on the REIT’s efficiency. Components like rates of interest, provide and demand dynamics, and regional financial well being can impression a REIT’s valuation.
Challenges in Valuing REITs
Valuing REITs might be difficult because of a number of components:
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Complexity: REITs can have advanced constructions and numerous property portfolios, making them more difficult to evaluate than conventional shares.
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Curiosity Charges: REITs are delicate to rate of interest adjustments. Rising rates of interest can have an effect on the price of capital and the valuation of the REIT’s properties.
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Market Sentiment: Investor sentiment and market tendencies can impression the inventory worth of REITs, resulting in short-term worth fluctuations that will not essentially mirror the underlying worth.
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Financial Circumstances: Financial downturns and actual property market cycles can have an effect on rental revenue and property values, which, in flip, have an effect on a REIT’s valuation.
Conclusion on Valuating REITs
Valuing a REIT is a important step in making knowledgeable funding selections. By understanding the strategies and components concerned within the valuation course of, traders can higher assess the intrinsic worth of a REIT and decide whether or not it aligns with their monetary objectives and threat tolerance. Needless to say REIT valuation is each an artwork and a science, and it requires steady monitoring and adjustment to remain aligned with altering market circumstances and funding targets.