WSR Rewards Investors With 5.6% Dividend Hike: Is it Sustainable?

Core Insights - Whitestone REIT (WSR) has declared a quarterly cash dividend of 14.25 cents per share, reflecting a 5.6% increase from the previous payout of 13.50 cents per share [1][7] - The annualized dividend payout now totals 57 cents per share, resulting in an annualized yield of 4.19% based on the stock's closing price of $13.60 on December 19, 2025 [2][7] - The company has also authorized a share repurchase program of up to $50 million to enhance shareholder value [2][7] Dividend Growth and Strategy - The CEO of Whitestone, Dave Holeman, emphasized the company's focus on achieving a long-term Core FFO per share growth target of 5-7% while aligning dividend growth with this steady growth [3] - WSR has increased its dividend five times in the last five years, with a five-year annualized dividend growth rate of 5.28%, indicating strong cash flow generation capabilities [3] Market Performance - Over the past three months, WSR shares have gained 6.3%, contrasting with a 1.4% decline in the broader industry [4] - Comparatively, other REITs such as Welltower and Cousins Properties are currently rated higher, with Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) [5]