2025 was a year of restraint. High borrowing costs torpedoed distributions, chilling investor sentiment, leaving REIT valuations flat. Everything changed as the year closed.Rate cuts weren’t just chatter anymore, they started to feel real. Inflation softened, and the key sectors – retail, industrial, and commercial – finally found their footing in both rents and occupancy.Now, 2026 is poised for a turnaround. This recovery probably may not roar back like past cycles, but it promises to be steadier, more dis ...

Core Viewpoint - Singapore REITs have faced challenges due to high financing costs and investor sentiment but are expected to recover as interest rates decline, making it a favorable time to consider quality REITs [1][14]. Group 1: Market Overview - Singapore REITs have been under pressure for the past two years due to high interest rates and dampened investor sentiment [1]. - The outlook is likely to improve with anticipated interest rate cuts, which typically boost distributions and support asset values [1][14]. Group 2: Individual REIT Analysis - **Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust (MPACT)**: - Owns properties across multiple countries and reported a DPU of S$0.0201 for 2QFY2025/2026, up 1.5% YoY [3]. - Committed occupancy fell to 88.9% from 96.4% YoY, with NPI down 2.2% YoY to S$163.9 million [4]. - VivoCity achieved 100% commitment and 14.1% rental reversion [4][5]. - **Mapletree Industrial Trust (MIT)**: - Manages S$8.5 billion in assets and reported a DPU of S$0.0318 for 2QFY2025/2026, down 5.6% YoY [6]. - Occupancy rate was 91.3%, with a weighted average rental reversion of 6.2% for its Singapore portfolio [6][7]. - Average borrowing cost declined to 3.0%, with data center demand as a long-term growth driver [7]. - **AIMS APAC REIT (AA REIT)**: - Reported a DPU of S$0.0472 for 1HFY2026, up 1.1% YoY, with portfolio occupancy at 93.3% [9]. - Achieved positive rental reversions of 7.7% in 1HFY2026 and has stable income from essential industries [10]. - **CapitaLand Ascendas REIT (CLAR)**: - DPU dipped 0.6% YoY to S$0.07477 in 1H2025, with aggregate leverage rising to 39.8% by September 2025 [11][12]. - Achieved rental reversions of 7.6% for renewed leases in 3Q2025, supported by a strong sponsor [12][13]. Group 3: Investment Outlook - Lower interest expenses are expected to boost distributable income and attract investors back to REITs [14]. - REITs with strong sponsors and quality assets are likely to lead the recovery as interest rates decline [16]. - MPACT, MIT, CLAR, and AA REIT are highlighted as potential beneficiaries of the anticipated rate cuts [16].