While retail real estate faced challenges in 2019, performance varied quite widely across the sector, a trend that is likely to continue into 2020, according to Mizuho Americas REITs analyst Haendel St. Juste.
St. Juste was a recent guest on Nareit’s REIT Report podcast. He highlighted the disparity in performance between regional malls, which faced challenges, and shopping centers, that have had a “formidable run.”
In terms of the regional malls, “there’s lots of uncertainty with key tenants heading into 2020,” he said, while also describing Simon Property Group (NYSE: SPG) as “the most investable company in that space.”
For those investors looking for retail exposure, St. Juste highlights the triple net lease segment, which he feels offers “the best risk-adjusted returns.”
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