Dividend King of the Week [FRT]
This week’s selection is the only Dividend King representing the Real Estate sector. In fact, it is a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT). If you have ever thought owning real estate might be a good investment but either a) don’t have the assets to acquire another property, or b) aren’t interested in the management of rentals, REITs are a great way to get in on the action. Congress legislated REITs into existence in 1960. REITs allow investors like you and I to own shares in commercial real estate portfolios – portfolios containing buildings and properties we wouldn’t be allowed to walk into, let alone acquire.
There are private REITs, public non-listed REITs, and public exchange-listed REITs. Among the last category, we have equity REITs, mortgage REITs, and equity/mortgage hybrid REITs. Equity trusts own and manage income-producing real estate. Mortgage trusts borrow money on a low rate, short-term basis and turn around and lend that money to real estate owners on a high(er) rate, long-term basis. They expect to profit from the interest rate spread and thus are highly sensitive to interest rates. Hybrids do a little of both. Why do we care?
Aside from other requirements, a REIT must pay out at least 90% of its taxable income in the form of dividends. That’s right, if they make money, they have to pass on nearly all of it to the shareholders. And Federal Realty Investment Trust has been doing it since the beginning.
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