We see compelling evidence to own listed real estate in the current environment
1. The second half of the 2020s will likely look more like previous decades
We believe the second half of the 2020s will look more like previous decades as longer-term returns are driven by fundamentals, which remain healthy.
U.S. listed real estate annual returns(1)
January 1991 – December 2024
At December 31, 2024. Source: REIT.com and Morningstar, Cohen & Steers.
2. U.S. REITs are trading at historic discounts relative to equities
Valuations relative to the broader equity market are meaningfully below the historical median. Current discounts remain in the top quartile vs. history.
U.S. real estate vs. U.S. equities earnings multiple spreads(2)
Trailing 20-years
At March 31, 2025. Source UBS, Bloomberg, Citi Research – US Equity Strategy, and Cohen & Steers.
3. Historically, REITs have outperformed equities following steep multiple discounts
With REITs currently at a -3.8x discount, any reversion toward the historic median of -0.4x could benefit performance.
At March 31, 2025. Source UBS, Bloomberg, Citi Research – US Equity Strategy, and Cohen & Steers.
FURTHER READING
How a REIT allocation can extend retirement savings
Most defined contribution investors are overlooking real estate, and missing out on its powerful portfolio benefits. Historical data shows that adding a permanent real estate investment trust (REIT) allocation can benefit investors in meaningful ways.
REITs offer a potential haven amid tariff-induced uncertainty
How tariff pressures could affect U.S. listed real estate, which real estate sectors face the most headwinds, and why strong fundamentals put REITs on relatively solid ground amid volatility.
The strong performance of towers and the unique drivers of their resilience
The top-performing U.S. REIT sector this year even in the wake of recent market volatility. Favorable supply and demand dynamics. And historically low valuations.
Data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results. There is no guarantee that any historical trend illustrated above will be repeated in the future, and there is no way to predict precisely when such a trend will begin. The information presented above does not represent the performance of any fund or other account managed or serviced by Cohen & Steers, and there is no guarantee that investors will experience the type of performance listed above.
(1) U.S. REITs represented by the FTSE Nareit All Equity REITs Index which contains all tax-qualified REITs with more than 50% of total assets in qualifying real estate assets other than mortgages secured by real property that also meet minimum size and liquidity criteria. (2) (FFO) Funds from operations is the REIT industry’s key earnings metric. It is calculated as GAAP net income, plus real estate gains (minus real estate losses), plus GAAP real estate depreciation and amortization. The price/earnings ratio (often shortened to the P/E ratio or the PER) is the ratio of a company's stock price to the company's earnings per share. Earnings multiples are the ratio of a company's share value to the amount of profit it makes in a particular period, whether paid out in dividends or not. 2024 multiples shown are forward looking for the current year. (3) U.S. Real Estate represented by UBS’ coverage universe of U.S. real estate companies from January 2005 to December 2010; data thereafter shows Cohen & Steers coverage universe. (4) The S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged index of 500 large-cap stocks that is frequently used as a general measure of stock market performance. It includes 500 large-cap stocks, which together represent about 75% of the total U.S. equities market. To be eligible for addition to the S&P 500, companies must have a market capitalization of at least US$4 billion. (5) U.S. REITs are represented by the FTSE Nareit All Equity REITs Index. Returns shown are average non annualized total returns.
This material represents an assessment of the market environment at a specific point in time and should not be relied upon as investment advice, does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell a security or other investment and is not intended to predict or depict performance of any investment. This material is not being provided in a fiduciary capacity and is not intended to recommend any investment policy or investment strategy or take into account the specific objectives or circumstances of any investor. We consider the information in this presentation to be accurate, but we do not represent that it is complete or should be relied upon as the sole source of appropriateness for investment. Please consult with your investment, tax or legal professional regarding your individual circumstances prior to investing. An investor cannot invest directly in an index and index performance does not reflect the deduction of any fees, expenses or taxes. Index comparisons have limitations as volatility and other characteristics may differ from a particular investment.
Risks of Investing in Real Estate Securities
Risks of investing in real estate securities are similar to those associated with direct investments in real estate, including falling property values due to increasing vacancies or declining rents resulting from economic, legal, political or technological developments, lack of liquidity, limited diversification and sensitivity to certain economic factors such as interest rate changes and market recessions. Foreign securities involve special risks, including currency fluctuations, lower liquidity, political and economic uncertainties, and differences in accounting standards. Some international securities may represent small- and medium-sized companies, which may be more susceptible to price volatility and less liquidity than larger companies.
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