South Africa’s REIT sector is heading in the direction of a re-rating: the question remains whether the sector will rally this year or next year?
Already, the FTSE/JSA South African Property Index is out of 2019’s starting blocks with its strongest January performance in ten plus years since 2007, outperforming all other asset classes. At the end of January 2019, the South African Property Index was up to 9.17%, well ahead of the FTSE/JSE All Share Index at 2.69%, bonds at 1.7% and cash at 0.6%.
Real estate analyst at Anchor Stockbrokers, Wynand Smit explains:
“Should growth expectations start to improve during 2019, the valuations of the SA REITs are compelling.“
Mvula Seroto of Catalyst of Catalyst Fund Managers points out that a re-rate in the sector would be a big gain for it in 2019 points: “however, this will only be possible if the economic outlook improves, there are positive results from the 2019 general elections, and a reprieve from credit rating agency downgrades.”
Mohamed Kalla, Director and Portfolio Manager at Sesfikile Capital, says:
“Being quite conservative in our relative rating and growth expectations, we arrive at a 2019 total return expectation of circa 12% for the FTSE/JSE All Property Index (ALPI). The main driver is the attractive – on a relative and absolute basis – initial forward yield and does not factor in a significant re-rating relative to bonds in 2019. However, our forecasts point to a more stable 2020 growth outlook, which should result in better re-rating potential a year from now.”
Stanlib Analyst and Portfolio Manager Ahmed Motara believes it is too early to call for a material REIT sector rally in 2019 given South African elections, Edcon concerns and possibly lower retailer rentals are issues to be absorbed by the sector this year.
For 2019, Motara anticipates the income return to dominate the total return picture in the REIT sector with 2020 expected to see a return to higher total returns as capital return becomes more evident.
According to Capricorn Fund Managers SA’s Howard Penny, who expects 2019 to be a better year overall for SA REIT returns after a disappointing 2018, the jury is out as to whether the sector could re-rate on a relative valuation level this year: “Given worries surrounding rising global interest rates, perhaps the bounce back may have to wait for 2020.”
Andrea Taverna-Turisan, SA REIT Association Marketing Committee Chairman, notes, “With the cost of equity having increased substantially in South Africa, management teams of local property counters will need to focus on the pure property fundamentals of their organisations to ensure the property sector will become more robust and better positioned to deliver shareholder value over time.”
