In this article, we will be looking at the 10 best REIT stocks with high dividend yields. To skip our detailed analysis of REIT stocks, you can go directly to see the 5 Best REIT Stocks with High Dividend Yields.
According to a 2021 outlook report from National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, or NAREIT, this year, REITs alongside commercial real estate are set to begin healing from the wounds opened by the coronavirus pandemic, particularly in light of vaccine distribution and effectiveness.
In 2020, the REIT industry saw a number of challenges like rising vacancy rates and falling rents. For instance, the vacancy rates in offices rose 80 bps from 9.9% in the first quarter to about 10.7% in the third quarter, and it is estimated that these rates will rise this year and in early 2022. As demand in the office, apartment, retail, and industrial sectors also fell, rent growth decreased in pursuit, with retail property rents declining by 0.6% quarter-on-quarter last year, for example. Yet despite all this, REITs are among the few players that managed to remain strong in the face of the pandemic, largely because of strengthened financial positions that also allowed them to raise about $460 billion in common equity capital from 2009 to 2020. And while the above mentioned factors and lockdown impositions had resulted in losses for the REIT industry, with fund from operations (FFO) falling by 23.5% in the second quarter of 2020, the industry was able to stabilize in the third quarter, when FFO rose by 5.6%.
In light of the recovery, REITs are beginning to regain investor confidence. A research study titled Private Equity Real Estate Fund Performance: A Comparison to Listed REITs and Open-end Core Funds, has also offered data to back up the claim that investing in REITs can be more profitable for investors by offering higher returns than investing in private equity real estate (PERE) funds. The study’s data set was made up of about 375 US and 255 international PERE closed end funds, and it found that in America, REIT returns surpassed risk-adjusted returns of PERE funds by about 590 basis points, and won around 68% of the matchups based on risk adjustment. Globally, REIT returns again surpassed those of PERE funds by 619 basis points on average, and beat 68% of the global PERE funds.
To add the cherry on top of the cake, it should be noted that REITs are significant contributors to the US economy. In 2019 alone, the REIT industry created about 2.6 million full-time or equivalent jobs while also generation about $173.3 billion in labor income. Moreover, the distribution of dividends from REIT stocks, as well as interest payments to investors, also supported around 489,000 jobs while generating $30.3 billion in labor income for that year. Thus, it can be rightly said that REITs are some of the biggest contributors to the US economy, while also remaining attractive investment options. As such, REIT dividend stocks can be considered good investment options like other more stable dividend stocks such as Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), Visa Inc. (NYSE: V), and NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE).
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Without further ado, let’s look at the 10 best REIT stocks with high dividend yields. The stocks added to our list below were selected on the basis of hedge fund sentiment, analysts’ ratings, fundamentals, and growth potential based on core business strengths. We picked dividend-paying REIT stocks with strong fundamentals and at least 5% dividend yields.
Best REIT Stocks with High Dividend Yields
10. Great Ajax Corp. (NYSE: AJX)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 11
Dividend Yield: 5.2%
Great Ajax Corp. (NYSE: AJX) is a real estate company that acquires, invests in, and manages residential mortgage and small balance commercial mortgage loans. It holds real estate-owned properties too and ranks 10th on our list of the best REIT stocks with high dividend yields.
This May, B. Riley analyst Matt Howlett raised the price target on Great Ajax Corp. (NYSE: AJX) shares to $16, keeping the firm’s Buy rating on the stock as well, in light of the company’s first-quarter results which exceeded expectations.
In the first quarter of 2021, Great Ajax Corp. (NYSE: AJX) had an FFO of $0.30, beating estimates by $0.04. The company’s revenue was $19.77 million, up 145.94% year over year, and beating estimates by $2.97 million. Great Ajax Corp. (NYSE: AJX) has also gained about 26.05% in the past 6 months and 28.14% year to date.
By the end of the first quarter of 2021, 11 hedge funds out of the 866 tracked by Insider Monkey held stakes in Great Ajax Corp. (NYSE: AJX) worth roughly $9.71 million. This is compared to 8 hedge funds in the previous quarter with a total stake value of about $15.6 million.
Like Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), Visa Inc. (NYSE: V), and NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE), Great Ajax Corp. (NYSE: AJX) is a good dividend stock to buy.
9. National Health Investors, Inc. (NYSE: NHI)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 11
Dividend Yield: 5.4%
National Health Investors, Inc. (NYSE: NHI) is a real estate investment trust working on sale-leaseback, joint-venture, mortgage, and mezzanine financing of senior housing and medical investments. It ranks 9th on our list of the best REIT stocks with high dividend yields.
This June, BMO Capital upgraded National Health Investors, Inc. (NYSE: NHI) shares from Underperform to Market Perform, keeping its price target of $71. Analyst John Kim has commented that he sees an upside for the company’s dividend from here on out.
In the first quarter of 2021, National Health Investors, Inc. (NYSE: NHI) had an FFO of $1.24, missing estimates by $0.10. The company’s revenue was $80.89 million, beating estimates by $1.51 million. National Health Investors, Inc. (NYSE: NHI) has also gained about 3.29% in the past 6 months and 1.85% year to date.
By the end of the first quarter of 2021, 11 hedge funds out of the 866 tracked by Insider Monkey held stakes in National Health Investors, Inc. (NYSE: NHI) worth roughly $30.1 million. This is compared to 13 hedge funds in the previous quarter with a total stake value of about $57.6 million.
Like Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), Visa Inc. (NYSE: V), and NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE), National Health Investors, Inc. (NYSE: NHI) is a good dividend stock to buy.
8. Global Medical REIT Inc. (NYSE: GMRE)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 18
Dividend Yield: 5.5%
Global Medical REIT Inc. (NYSE: GMRE) is a net-lease medical office REIT operating in the health care REITs industry acquiring purpose-built specialized healthcare facilities to lease to robust healthcare systems. It ranks 8th on our list of the best REIT stocks with high dividend yields.
This July, Colliers analyst Barry Oxford began coverage of Global Medical REIT Inc. (NYSE: GMRE) shares with a Buy rating and an $18 price target. In June, B. Riley analyst Bryan Maher also raised the firm’s price target on Global Medical REIT Inc. (NYSE: GMRE) shares to $18 keeping a Buy rating as well.
In the first quarter of 2021, Global Medical REIT Inc. (NYSE: GMRE) had an FFO of $0.23, beating estimates by $0.01. The company’s revenue was $27.35 million, up 26.33% year over year, and beating estimates by $1.61 million. Global Medical REIT Inc. (NYSE: GMRE) has also gained about 18.62% in the past 6 months and 22.22% year to date.
By the end of the first quarter of 2021, 18 hedge funds out of the 866 tracked by Insider Monkey held stakes in Global Medical REIT Inc. (NYSE: GMRE) worth roughly $36.5 million. This is compared to 8 hedge funds in the previous quarter with a total stake value of about $21.08 million.
Like Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), Visa Inc. (NYSE: V), and NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE), Global Medical REIT Inc. (NYSE: GMRE) is a good dividend stock to buy.
7. W. P. Carey Inc. (NYSE: WPC)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 23
Dividend Yield: 5.6%
W. P. Carey Inc. (NYSE: WPC) is one of the largest net lease REITs, having an enterprise value of $18 billion, alongside a portfolio of operationally critical commercial real estate. The company ranks 7th on our list of the best REIT stocks with high dividend yields.
In June, Wells Fargo analyst Todd Stender raised the price target on W. P. Carey Inc. (NYSE: WPC) shares from $77 to $90, keeping an Overweight rating on the stock. The decision came in light of the company having had another strong financial quarter with good momentum.
In the first quarter of 2021, W. P. Carey Inc. (NYSE: WPC) had an FFO of $0.91, missing estimates by $0.24. The company’s revenue was $311.17 million, up 0.70% year over year and beating estimates by $6.10 million. W. P. Carey Inc. (NYSE: WPC) has also gained about 18.49% in the past 6 months and 16.59% year to date.
By the end of the first quarter of 2021, 23 hedge funds out of the 866 tracked by Insider Monkey held stakes in W. P. Carey Inc. (NYSE: WPC) worth roughly $162 million. This is compared to 18 hedge funds in the previous quarter with a total stake value of about $197 million.
Like Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), Visa Inc. (NYSE: V), and NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE), W. P. Carey Inc. (NYSE: WPC) is a good dividend stock to buy.
6. Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE: IRM)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 16
Dividend Yield: 5.8%
Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE: IRM) is a company operating in the specialized REITs industry and a global leader for storage and information management services. Its real estate network comprises of over 90 million square feet and it ranks 6th on our list of the best REIT stocks with high dividend yields.
Wells Fargo has an Overweight rating on Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE: IRM) shares and the firm raised its price target on the company’s shares from $32 to $38 this February. Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE: IRM)’s 2021 revenue guidance in May came in at $4.37 billion to $4.52 billion, versus the consensus $4.36 billion.
In the first quarter of 2021, Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE: IRM) had an FFO of $0.63, beating estimates by $0.07. The company’s revenue was $1.08 billion, up 1.25% year over year and beating estimates by $15.51 million. Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE: IRM) has also gained about 46.75% in the past 6 months and 51.15% year to date.
By the end of the first quarter of 2021, 16 hedge funds out of the 866 tracked by Insider Monkey held stakes in Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE: IRM) worth roughly $56.3 million. This is compared to 18 hedge funds in the previous quarter with a total stake value of about $64.7 million.
Like Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), Visa Inc. (NYSE: V), and NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE), Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE: IRM) is a good dividend stock to buy.
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Disclosure: None. 10 Best REIT Stocks with High Dividend Yields is originally published on Insider Monkey.
