The Q3 earnings season has just begun and the real estate investment trust (REIT) space is already buzzing with activity. Notably, on Oct 18, Crown Castle International Corp. (CCI – Free Report), SL Green Realty Corp. (SLG – Free Report) and Brandywine Realty Trust (BDN – Free Report) are scheduled to release their quarterly results.
Admittedly, the Federal Open Market Committee meeting has affected the price performance of REITs in the quarter. However, with the economy and the job market showing signs of recovery, a number of asset categories displayed strength in third-quarter 2017.
Per a recent study from CBRE Group Inc. (CBG – Free Report), the U.S. office vacancy rate contracted 10 basis points (bps) in the third quarter amid growth in office-using jobs. In most of the U.S. office markets, vacancy dropped, taking the national office-vacancy rate close to its post-recession low.
The industrial asset category also grabbed attention on the back of robust demand, recovering economy and job market, strengthening e-commerce market, and a healthy manufacturing environment. Amid an e-commerce boom, growth in industries and companies opting for consolidation of operations to improve supply-chain efficiencies, demand for logistics infrastructure and efficient distribution networks has been increasing.
Nevertheless, dwindling mall traffic and store closures amid aggressive growth in online purchases have kept retail REITs on tenterhooks.
Consolidation in the wireless industry is expected to bring down demand for cell-tower deployments. Further, evolution of new technologies may reduce demand for site leases. These factors will likely impact the wireless communication tower operators.
Therefore, surprises might be in store for some REITs, while others may disappoint this earnings season. Let’s have a look at what’s in store for these three REITs set to release third-quarter figures:
