Industry Overview - The Zacks REIT and Equity Trust - Retail industry is showing resilience as landlords adapt and reposition assets for long-term stability, focusing on necessity-based and experience-driven retailers [1][3] - The industry is experiencing a rebound driven by renewed consumer interest in in-store shopping, despite past challenges such as declining foot traffic and store closures [2] Key Drivers - Strategic re-tenanting and disciplined expansion are strengthening occupancy and cash flows, with limited new supply helping to preserve rent levels and investor confidence [1][4] - The lack of new construction activity has minimized competitive pressure on existing assets, allowing occupancy and rents to hold firm [4] Consumer Behavior - The outlook for retail REITs is closely linked to consumer behavior, with economic softness and rising costs making households more selective in their spending [5] - Wealthier consumers continue to support high-end demand, while middle-income shoppers are cutting back, leading to an uneven spending landscape [5] Industry Performance - The Zacks REIT and Equity Trust - Retail industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank 55, placing it in the top 23% of 243 Zacks industries, indicating robust near-term prospects [6][7] - The industry has underperformed the broader Zacks Finance sector and the S&P 500 over the past year, declining 5.6% compared to the S&P 500's rise of 22.3% [10] Valuation Metrics - The industry is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-FFO of 14.98X, below the S&P 500's forward P/E of 23.77X and the Finance sector's forward P/E of 16.94X [12] - Over the last five years, the industry has traded as high as 18.89X and as low as 12.21X, with a median of 15.22X [15] Company Highlights - **Agree Realty Corporation (ADC)**: Specializes in retail net-lease properties with a portfolio of approximately 2,603 properties totaling around 53.7 million square feet. The company raised its full-year 2025 investment guidance to $1.50 billion-$1.65 billion, indicating confidence in its capital deployment strategy [16][17] - **Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRT)**: Focuses on high-quality retail properties in affluent markets, with a recent acquisition of Annapolis Town Center enhancing its portfolio. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 FFO per share has been revised upward to $7.22 [21][22][23] - **Urban Edge Properties (UE)**: Concentrates on retail properties in urban communities, with grocery tenants accounting for about 80% of its portfolio's value. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its 2025 FFO per share has been raised to $1.42, indicating a 5.2% year-over-year increase [26][28][29]