BRE Ppys Fair Value Assessed

Source: http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/14130/BRE+Ppys+Fair+Value+Assessed
Posted on Friday, August 8th, 2008 | In Market Commentary, Stocks to Watch

Contributed by: Zacks Market Commentaries (http://www.zacks.com/) -

BRE Properties (BRE) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that develops, acquires, and manages apartment communities.

Rents continue to grow in most of the companyÂ’s markets. BRE owns assets in some of the best apartment markets in the country where high home prices and continued problems in the credit markets are causing more people to rent. As such, BRE has been able to push through rental rate increases while holding steady occupancy.

The company exceeded our 2Q FFO [funds from operations] estimates by $0.01 per share. On the other hand, some of the companyÂ’s markets are weakening, notably, Phoenix, Sacramento, and Southern CA. Job losses have been high in Southern CA and the company is now competing with a glut of single family rentals in Phoenix and Sacramento. Overall US apartment fundamentals will weaken through the end of 2008 due the worsening employment situation.

Based on our 2008 FFO estimate of $2.80 and AFFO estimates of $2.35 per share, BRE is currently trading at 18.4x FFO and 22x AFFO estimates. This represents a 12% and 9% premium to sector averages. Due to recent share price increases, BRE is now valued at an approximate 3% premium to NAV [net asset value].

BRE should trade at a premium compared to sector averages; the company has a concentration of assets in the some of the most desirable and expensive areas of the country. We are setting our target price at 18x 2008 FFO estimates or $50.00 per share.

Read the full analyst report on BRE

“BRE” Free Stock Analysis: Buy? Sell? Hold?
Zacks Investment Research