Why dont markets react in the way that companies want them to? Thats the question management at British Land (LSE: BLND) will be asking after todays positive set of results triggered a 2.75% drop in the share price. The downbeat market response may signal a turning point in the commercial property market.
Oh give me Land
British LandsQ3 results looked decent enough with the companyreporting 314,000 sq ft of retail lettings and renewals, 8.7% ahead of estimated recovery value, plusa further 189,000 sq ft under offer. Retailer sales for the quarter were up 0.6% year-on-year, outperforming the benchmark by 200 basis points, and although footfall slipped 0.6% it still outperformed the benchmark by 220 basis points.
Chief executiveChris Griggtalked upa positive quarter, saying that it reflects the strong positioning of the companys portfolio. British Land has alsomade further disposals of non-core assets and residential units ahead of valuation. However, markets appearto have picked up on hissingle note of caution, with Grigg stating that: We remain mindful of potential headwinds going forward.
A very British boom
Just about everybody is mindful of potential headwinds as Prime Minister Theresa May prepares to pull the trigger on what looks like a hard Brexit. The bigquestion is how long the UK economy can keep booming and leading the G7growth table, driven by the weak pound and credit-fuelled consumer boom. Wage growth is improving, up slightly from 2.6% to 2.8%, making workers richer in real terms, even with consumer price inflation at 1.6%. That may change if inflation hits 3% this year, as manyanalysts predict.
The economy looks strong, yet investors are shunning British Land. Perhaps thats down to itstoppy valuation, now on a pricey forecast of 17.3 times earnings. Forecast earnings per share growth looks patchy, including a predicted 2% drop in the year to 31 March 2018, to be followed by a 3% pick-up.However, thedividend is forecast to yield an attractive 4.7%, if thinlycovered 1.3 times.
The REIT stuff
British Lands share price is down 13% over the past 12 months, and upjust 30% over five years. Fellow real estate investment trust (REIT)Land Securities Group (LSE: LAND) has put on a better show, falling 5% over the last year but rising 58% over five years. The result is thatittrades atalmost21 times earnings, while yielding less at 3.4%, covered 1.3 times.
Last year LandSecuritiesreportedhesitant demand for office space in London in the wake of the Brexit vote, coupled with a warning of weaker rental values. Things may come to a headonce Article 50 is triggered, especiallywithevery step of the negotiations set to be greeted with a blaze of scaremongering headlines. Land Securities is insulated by what management describes as its high quality, well-let portfolio, and EPS forecasts look promising, with 4% growth to 31 March 2018, followed by 7%.
Despite that, I think the dourmarket reception to British Lands results suggests LandSecurities will have a tough job convincing investors that its ready to hit the ground running.
Brexit hasn’t been the disaster that many experts foretold, but these are early days.The turbulence may really beginonce Prime Minister Theresa May triggers Article 50.
This BRAND NEW special Motley Fool report sets out exactly what Brexit means for your portfolio, and how you can take advantage by picking up top company stocks at bargain basement prices.
Whether you voted Remain or Leave you need to know the likely impact onyour portfolio soclick here to read this no obligation report. It will be yours in moments and won’t cost you a penny.
Harvey Jones has no position in any shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. We Fools don’t all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.
