What is Bell Potter's view on REITs?

Have you considered REITs for your portfolio?

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Key points

  • Bell Potter sees potential upside in REITs. 
  • They recommend buying Centuria Capital Group, Goodman Group, Dexus Convenience Retail REIT, GDI Property Group, Healthco Healthcare and Wellness REIT, and Dexus Industria REIT, noting significant upside in Healthco and Goodman Group.
  • Bell Potter advises holding HMC Capital, DigiCo Infrastructure REIT, and Homeco Daily Needs REIT, but suggests selling Centuria Office REIT.

ASX REITs are real estate investment trusts. Essentially, these are companies that own and operate property assets that typically produce income.

REITs can have various property types in their portfolios, or they might specialise in just one type. 

For example, some focus on commercial real estate, such as offices, hospitals, shopping centres, warehouses, and hotels. 

Others specialise in residential property investment, such as aged care villages and apartment buildings.

Each week, broker Bell Potter provides analysis on the sector, including target prices and recommendations. 

Right now, it appears the broker sees upside after a down month. 

Here is how the broker is viewing the sector right now. 

Underperforming over the last month 

In this week's report, the broker noted that REITs performed well until a stronger-than-expected employment print (unemployment down to 4.3% vs. 4.5% prior and 4.4% consensus) drove the sector down against the broader S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

Bell Potter said overall, the sector has underperformed over the last month but could be poised for a bounce back.

On this sentiment, we still think the sector is well positioned (return of earnings growth, strong balance sheets, increased cap trans activity and potential for debt-funded accretive acquisitions) and worth bearing in mind 3mth BBSW is only marginally above where it started FY26 (c.3.6%).

The broker highlighted that Infratil Ltd (ASX: IFT) delivered its 1H26 result, reaffirming full-year guidance, but lost ground given prior strong consensus views. 

Other companies that fell last week included:

Buy, hold, and sell from Bell Potter

The report from Bell Potter also included target prices and recommendations.

REITs with buy recommendations include:

Of this group, the team at Bell Potter sees the biggest upside for Healthco Healthcare and Wellness Reit (ASX: HCW) and Goodman Group (ASX: GMG). 

The broker sees roughly 37% to 40% upside from current levels. 

The broker has hold recommendations on: 

Bell Potter has a sell recommendation on Centuria Office REIT (ASX: COF). 

Looking ahead, the broker said feedback from corporates and leading CRE private credit providers points towards potential for margin compression across the sector. 

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goodman Group and HMC Capital. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Goodman Group, HMC Capital, and HomeCo Daily Needs REIT. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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