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Real estate investment trusts (REITs) continue to deliver returns that exceed expectations.

After performing surprisingly well in the face of higher interest rates in 2018, the sector surged by about 12 per cent in the first 2½ months of this year, thanks in part to a switch to a more dovish approach by the Bank of Canada and the U.S. Federal Reserve Board.

One of the top-performing REITs is Northview Apartment REIT (NVU.UN-T), which was first recommended by my Income Investor newsletter back in November, 2004. So far this year it’s ahead 15 per cent.

Northview is one of Canada’s largest publicly traded multifamily REITs, with a portfolio of approximately 27,000 residential units and 1.2 million square feet of commercial space in more than 60 markets across eight provinces and two territories.

The unit price moved sharply higher after the release of fourth-quarter and year-end results on Feb. 27.

The REIT reported an 11-per-cent increase in fourth-quarter revenue to just over $94-million. For the full year, revenue was up 10 per cent to $364-million, compared with $331-million in 2017.

Net operating income (NOI) was $53.8-million in the quarter, up 13.4 per cent from $47.4-million in the same period the year before. For all of 2018, NOI was $212.1-million, compared with $189.3-million the year before.

Funds from operations (FFO), one of the key components in assessing a REIT’s financial health, was $32.2-million in the fourth quarter, an improvement of 10.4 per cent from $29.1-million in the same period the year before. For the full year, FFO was $130.7-million ($2.11 a unit, fully diluted) compared with $118.6-million ($2.08 a unit) in 2017.

Occupancy rates continued to show improvement, reaching the best levels since 2013. The fourth-quarter rate was 93.9 per cent, an improvement of 40 basis points (bps) over the previous quarter and 60 bps over the same period of 2017 (100 bps equal one percentage point). Ontario and Northern Canada remained strong at 97 per cent and 96.8 per cent respectively during the quarter. Occupancy in Western Canada was 88.2 per cent, a 160-bps increase over the prior three months and a 170-bps increase over the same period of 2017.

The REIT originally had almost all its assets in Alberta and the territories, but it has been aggressively extending its footprint to other parts of Canada in recent years. In December, Northview acquired a portfolio of 644 units in six apartment properties in Ontario for $131.9-million with a weighted average cap rate of 4.2 per cent. This acquisition expands its presence in Ontario with opportunities to generate growth through identified high-end renovation units.

The price is up $3.66 since the start of the year. That’s a significant move for a REIT in such a short time. RBC Dominion Securities has raised its price target on the units by $2, to $30.

I am maintaining my buy rating on this security. The yield is down to 5.8 per cent from 6.7 per cent at year end owing to the price increase, but it is still attractive at the current level.

Ask your financial adviser if it is suitable for your portfolio.

Disclosure: I own units in this REIT.

Gordon Pape is the editor and publisher of the Internet Wealth Builder and Income Investor newsletters.

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