4 Top Canadian REITs to Buy for Passive Income

Load up on SmartCentres REIT (TSX:SRU.UN) and two other great Canadian REITs for big passive income going into the summer season.

Canadian REITs have been pretty slow to recover from the market meltdown of 2020. Many still sport yields that are on the higher end of the spectrum. With the economic reopening underway, I think such distributions ought to be scooped up before they have a chance to be compressed further.

Without further ado, let’s have a look at four top Canadian REIT picks from across the board.

SmartCentres REIT

SmartCentres REIT (TSX:SRU.UN) was one of the most resilient REITs through the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The owner and operator of strip malls across the nation was fortunate to have housed so many essential retailers. Moreover, many tenants forced to close their doors also had rock-solid balance sheets, allowing them to make rent with ease.

With rent-collection rates flirting with normalized levels, I find it absurd that SmartCentres REIT is still off 9% from its 2020 highs. Undoubtedly, SmartCentres REIT has been punished for being a retail REIT, one of the worst places to be amid the pandemic. However, as restrictions are gradually lifted, I suspect more investors will look to reach for the yield +6% yield to give their passive-income streams a raise.

H&R REIT

H&R REIT (TSX:HR.UN) is a diversified property play with a heavier weighting in office and retail, both of which took on a brunt of the damage from the pandemic. The REIT has been steadily climbing back in recent weeks, but shares remain a country mile (nearly 30%) away from their 2019 highs. Unlike Smart, H&R was forced to take its distribution to the chopping block. Although the 4.2% yield is on the lower end, it’s worth noting that the REIT could be in for some generous hikes as the world inches closer towards normalcy and rent collection recovers further.

The digitization of work trend could impact the number of people returning to the office. As a result, office space demand could take a permanent hit, and H&R REIT may take a lot longer to hit its pre-pandemic highs. In any case, shares look severely undervalued with room to run into year’s end.

Killam Apartment REIT

Killam REIT (TSX:KMP.UN) is a growthy residential REIT with a juicy 3.5% yield. It also happens to have better fundamentals and a lower valuation than some of its peers in the space. The REIT, which specializes in residential and mixed-use properties on the Atlantic coast, has done a terrific job of mitigating pressures amid the worst of the pandemic.

As lockdowns lift and the REIT gets back to doing what it does best, I suspect Killam will continue to outperform the broader TSX Index by a wide margin, thanks in part to the exceptional stewards running the show who know how to unlock long-term value like few others in the REIT space.

Inovalis REIT

Inovalis REIT (TSX:INO.UN) is a TSX-traded security that’s a play on office real estate in the French and German markets. The REIT is not only a great way to diversify into Europe without having to gain access to European stock exchanges, but it’s also one of the best ways to score big but safe passive income.

The REIT sports a juicy 8.3% yield, which is pretty much in line with historical averages. The REIT has a high yield by design, but investors shouldn’t expect much in the way of capital gains, unless we fall into another horrific crisis, which Inovalis should be quick to recover from.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the “official” recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium service or advisor. We’re Motley! Questioning an investing thesis — even one of our own — helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer, so we sometimes publish articles that may not be in line with recommendations, rankings or other content.

Fool contributor Joey Frenette owns shares of SmartCentres REIT. The Motley Fool recommends Inovalis REIT.

More on Stocks for Beginners

engineer at wind farm
Energy Stocks

Invest $20,000 in This Dividend Stock for $100 in Monthly Passive Income

This dividend stock has it all – a strong outlook, monthly income, and even more to consider buying today.

Read more »

stocks climbing green bull market
Stocks for Beginners

3 TSX Stocks Soaring Higher With No Signs of Slowing

Don't ignore stocks just because they look like they're at a high price. Instead, see exactly why they've driven so…

Read more »

Middle aged man drinks coffee
Dividend Stocks

Here’s the Average TFSA Balance at Age 35 in Canada

At age 35, it might not seem like you need to be thinking about your future cash flow. But ideally,…

Read more »

a man relaxes with his feet on a pile of books
Dividend Stocks

CPP Pensioners: Watch for These Important Updates

The CPP is an excellent tool for retirees, but be sure to stay on top of important updates like these.

Read more »

Piggy bank with word TFSA for tax-free savings accounts.
Stocks for Beginners

2 Top TSX Growth Stocks to Stash in a TFSA for Life

These two growth stocks may not be the top in the last month, but in the last few years, they…

Read more »

people relax on mountain ledge
Dividend Stocks

Invest $10,000 in This Dividend Stock for a Potential $4,781.70 in Total Returns

A dividend stock doesn't have to be risky, or without growth. And in the case of this one, the growth…

Read more »

TFSA (Tax free savings account) acronym on wooden cubes on the background of stacks of coins
Dividend Stocks

How to Turn a $15,000 TFSA Into $171,000

$15,000 may not seem like a lot, but over time that amount can balloon into serious cash.

Read more »

A worker uses a double monitor computer screen in an office.
Stocks for Beginners

Why I’d Buy Fairfax Financial Stock Even at Today’s Prices

Fairfax stock just keeps edging higher. But is it now too expensive, or can investors just look forward to even…

Read more »