With uncertainty in Europe, tight credit markets and falling projections for demand for commercial office space and residential construction, The Wall Street Journal published a profile of the REIT sector that summarized the “dethroning” of REITs as a preferred equity category by investors (“Investors check out of real-estate stocks”, October 5, 2011). Of note, REITs that manage hotels and industrial space fell 32% and 24% during the third quarter of 2011. How did this sector-wide “slap down” affect timberland-owning REITs?
Timber REITs Fall with the Sector
While publicly-traded timberland-owning REITs, and REITs generally, outperformed the S&P 500 over 10-year, 3-year and 1-year benchmarks (see table), the timber REIT sector took a shellacking during the quarter. The timber REIT sector, as measured by the FTR (Forisk Timber REIT) Index, returned -20.84% for the quarter, and sits at -8.27% year-to-date.
Individually, the four publicly-traded timber REITs produced varying returns for the quarter, with Weyerhaeuser leading the way down, and Potlatch holding its own on a relative basis:
- Potlatch (PCH): -10.63%
- Plum Creek (PCL): -14.38%
- Rayonier (RYN): -15.55% (split adjusted)
- Weyerhaeuser (WY): -28.87%
Weyerhaeuser drove timber REIT returns as it comprises 44% of the market capitalization weighted FTR Index. Mathematically, the drop in share prices proved advantageous to investors shopping for dividend yields as Weyerhaeuser’s yield approached, and temporarily exceeded, 4%. Yields for Potlatch continue to exceed 6%, while Plum Creek and Rayonier hover between 4 to 5%. The question becomes the sustainability of dividend levels given the outlook on core revenue generators for these firms. Our research targets the ability of current cash generators by firm to satisfy cash obligations (i.e. debt service and dividends) in the near and mid-term.
Looking forward, the sector suffers from downward revisions associated with housing demand and construction in the United States, and the associated declining need for softwood lumber manufactured from the pine, Douglas-fir and hemlock trees grown by the timber REITs. Alternately, the Performance Fibers and log export businesses have provided timely and opportunistic lifts to revenues.
You might also like…
Indexing Timber REIT Performance: Weyerhaeuser, Where Art Thou? Timber REITs Outperformed the S&P 500, Private Timberlands and Other REIT Sectors for 1Q and 2Q 2011. Why? Weyerhaeuser Joining the Ranks of Publicly-Traded Timberland-Owning REITs Forisk Update: Wood Demand, Timber REITs & Bioenergy Timber REIT Comparative Analysis: Who Wins as Housing Markets Return?
© 2011 LandThink. All rights reserved. This content may not be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, in part or in whole, without written permission of LandThink. Use of this content without permission is a violation of federal copyright law. The articles, posts, comments, opinions and information provided by LandThink.com are for informational and research purposes only and DOES NOT substitute or coincide with the advice of an attorney, accountant, real estate broker or any other licensed real estate professional. LandThink.com strongly advises visitors and readers of this site to seek their own professional guidance and advice related to buying, investing in or selling real estate.
Similar Posts:
- Timber REITs and Joint Ventures
- Impacts Overstated for Timberland Owners from Changes to Southern Yellow Pine “Design Values”
- Farm Land For Sale – Opportunity Alert
- Utah’s mortgage delinquencies, foreclosures slow
- Betting on Greece?
Post Comment