What Correction? Why This REIT Won't Dip

Medical Properties Trust (NYSE: MPW) could be a prescription for what's ailing pretty much everyone's portfolio right now. Shareholders of this real estate investment trust (REIT) have enjoyed long-term growth that bests the overall market, and the short-term pain so far this year has been minimal as well.

Shares in this Birmingham, Alabama-based health-care real estate investment leader have only fallen about 4% in January, compared with about 9% for the S&P 500, not to mention the precipitous plunges of many a go-go growth stock.

Strong metrics also include a nearly 14% year-over-year increase in funds from operations (FFO), a critical measure of a REIT's performance. Medical Properties Trust has also raised its dividend for nine straight years and is now yielding almost 5% with a dividend payout ratio of 82.51%, which is quite reasonable for a REIT.

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Source Fool.com