Stockchase Opinions

Rob Tetrault, BA, JD, MBA, CIMBTB Real Estate Investment TrustBTB.UN.TOBUYMar 09, 2018

He likes this company although it has retraced in price somewhat. If you are not worried about Quebec separating, the 9.5% yield is great. It has about 75 properties. As a more senior REIT, they are able to acquire debt at much lower rates. The dividend is not at risk. He would buy it on this dip. Yield 9.5%.

$4.52

Stock price when the opinion was issued

$3.80

As of Jun 02, 2026. Market Open.

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BUY

Most exposure is in Quebec. Lots of office space exposure. But could see a business turnaround. Would recommend buying and holding. 

HOLD

Smaller cap. Income focused, with a yield around 8.5%. 50% office, 25% retail, 20% industrial. Goal is 60% industrial over 4-5 years. Issue will be having to sell assets to get there. Office space is difficult right now, both operationally and to sell. 25% discount to NAV. Pretty safe.

DON'T BUY
Got out because risk/return was not in his favour. His concern was over-distribution, quality of assets, liquidity issues because it's smaller. Still struggling to grow. Doesn't fit his themes right now. Yield is 7.1%.
DON'T BUY
It is a diversified REIT focused in the Quebec secondary markets. It is retail and office. He is concerned about the distribution.
COMMENT

Dividend safe? He owned BTB.UN a few years ago as they held light industrial and commercial real estate around Montreal. The issue going back 3-4 years ago was they had issues meeting financial metrics, which he feels was due to them over distributing earnings. He would prefer to hold WPT and GRT.UN.

DON'T BUY
Over time it will be challenging to grow their net operating income. Their high distribution yield is probably pretty tight in terms of coverage.
DON'T BUY
Owned this for 6 years, but couldn't understand why the 8.2% yield was so high. If there's a bump (a bad earnings report), he worries what would protect this. He means 120% in over-distributing. Great properties in eastern Ontario and Quebec, but it's hard for them to grow.
SELL
He recently got out about three months ago. They bought is in 2012 at much lower levels. Their assets are focused in Eastern Ontario and Quebec. He feels they are over distributing -- over 100% payout. That is okay for while, but it is not sustainable. Industry wide payouts are down to 80%. Their properties are getting better with some recent selling of non-core assets. They yield may be vulnerable. He would be a seller.
SELL

REIT that specializes in eastern Ontario and Quebec. He initiated the position in 2010. When you do the math he made 13.5% annualized. Problem is they are over distributing. They got to a point f exhaustion. It is a great exit point.

DON'T BUY
He used to own this. It had B- level properties instead of A-. You can hold this, but other REITs perform better. A sleepy company with OK assets but will move sideways. Collect the dividend only.
COMMENT

Chart hasn’t moved. Stock is mistreated because not institutionally owned. Management is good, and are upgrading their portfolio. Debt’s in a good position. He doesn’t expect anything more than the yield. Consistent business. Retail/office in Quebec and Ontario, but he can look through this because it’s so cheap.

PAST TOP PICK

(A Top Pick June 1/17, Up 13%) He's held this for 7 years. It owns properties in Quebec and their properties cross retail, light industrial and commercial. Good management, but has an issue getting its story out. They're repositioning by selling poorly performing properties. It's still small cap which he seldom buys, but performs consistently with little volatility. A long-time hold.

TOP PICK

A small, mid-cap REIT that he has owned for quite a long time. It has given him an 8%-9% distribution. This has not moved for 3-4 years. They basically buy assets in Eastern Ontario and Québec. Have had vacancy issues and are repositioning their portfolio by selling down a lot of retail properties and focusing on industrials. Dividend yield of 9.1%. (Analysts’ price target is $4.65.)

COMMENT

An investment in this is an investment in Québec, so you have to be favourable to the Québec marketplace, which he is. One of the struggles he has with this is that when you are a small REIT, you can have high debts or a high yield ratio. In this case, it has both. However, they know the real estate market very well. If you think the Québec economy is going to continue to improve, this is a good way to do it. Dividend yield of 8.6%.