The sector featured strongly overall in the list of the Top 100 Companies on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange for performance. SA REITs made up a significant 12% of the Top 100 Companies over five years based on a compound annual growth rate.

“The sector has held up well, despite the current negative sentiment. It remains the best income producer, a defensive investment through cycles and a powerful shield against inflation,” reports Izak Petersen, Chairman of the SA REIT Association.

The SA REIT Association represents South Africa’s listed REIT sector and its members comprise all listed SA REITs. Currently, there are 31 SA REITs listed on the JSE, which represent a market capitalisation of over R422 billion.

Leading the listed property sector, and third overall, Fortress Income Fund delivered a compound growth rate of 47.53%. Other top performing SA REITs to be included in the Top 100 Companies are Resilient REIT, Fairvest Property Holdings, Dipula Income Fund B, SA Corporate Real Estate Fund, Hyprop Investments, Arrowhead Properties, Oasis Crescent Property Fund, Hospitality Fund B, Octodec Investments, Redefine Properties and Emira Property Fund.

“The sector’s strong showing among South Africa’s top listed investments and its positive performance track record are reasons that any serious investor should regard meaningful exposure to listed property as essential,” notes Petersen.

The prolific presence of SA REITs among South Africa’s Top 100 companies is supported by SA REIT Association research, conducted by Bridge Fund Managers, which shows SA REITs have again delivered healthy positive performance in 2017.

For this year to the end of October, SA REITs delivered respectable total returns of 7.2%, and outclassed cash at 6.30% and SA bonds at 5.37%. Its performance was only second to SA stocks.

The Top 100 Companies awards acknowledge those listed companies that have created the most wealth and value for shareholders. The share price performance of every company listed on the JSE, which forms the basis of its research, is calculated using a hypothetical initial investment of R10 000 in each share over five years, from 1 September 2012 to 31 August 2017.

Companies are ranked according to their share price performance, as calculated by IRESS. The results were recently published in the Top 100 Companies survey carried out by the Sunday Times Business Times.

* The SA REIT Association is hosting its highly anticipated third biennial conference on 15 March 2018 at the Sandton Convention Centre.  To book your seat at the SA REIT Conference 2018, sponsored by Nedbank CIB.