Top 5 global REITs to watch in 2026

What are REITs?

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are companies that own, operate or finance income-producing real estate across various sectors. They offer traders a way to gain exposure to real estate markets without directly owning physical properties.

REITs typically focus on specific property types such as shopping centres, office buildings, warehouses, healthcare facilities, telecoms or data centres. To qualify as a REIT, companies must distribute at least 90% of their taxable income to shareholders as dividends.

Benefits of REIT trading

Several factors may make REITs attractive to traders:

• Liquidity: Major REITs trade on established exchanges with good daily volumes
• Regulatory oversight: Most REITs operate under strict regulatory frameworks requiring regular financial disclosure
• Transparency: Public REITs must publish quarterly earnings and annual reports
• Diversification: Exposure to real estate without direct property ownership complexities
• Professional management: Experienced teams handle day-to-day operations and strategic decisions
• Dividend focus: Most REITs have dividend yields above market averages
• Trading flexibility: Choose between stock ownership or leveraged CFD trading

Important note: Past performance does not guarantee future results, and all investments carry risk.

Risks to consider with REITs

REIT trading involves several risks that traders should understand:

• Interest-rate sensitivity: REITs are particularly sensitive to interest rate changes. Rising rates can negatively impact valuations as stock traders may prefer bonds or other fixed-income investments
• Sector-specific risks: REITs focusing on struggling sectors (such as retail during economic downturns) may face significant challenges
• Economic cycles: Property values and rental income fluctuate with economic conditions
• Leverage risks: Many REITs use debt to finance acquisitions, which can amplify both gains and losses
• Market volatility: REIT prices can be volatile, especially during uncertain economic periods
• Concentration risk: Some REITs focus on specific geographic regions or property types, increasing concentration risk
• CFD trading risks: For leveraged CFD positions, losses can exceed your initial deposit due to leverage. This applies to professional clients only. Retail clients benefit from negative balance protection

Five global REITs to consider in 2026

Our selection focuses on REITs that offer attractive dividend yields and operate in markets with potential for recovery or growth. The analysis includes both fundamental metrics and technical considerations.

Overview of the REITs in this article

All the REITs listed here are available for CFD trading, while Federal Realty Investment Trust and WP Carey Inc REIT are available to stock trade with us.

Important note: All financial data is indicative and subject to market changes. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

All figures are accurate as of 16 February 2026.

1. Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE: FRT)

Sector: Retail and mixed-use property

Market cap: US$9.10 billion¹

Dividend yield: 4.31%²

Federal Realty Investment Trust is a long-established US shopping centre REIT with properties concentrated in high-density urban and coastal markets such as the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and California.

Known for a track record of long-term dividend growth, it has invested in mixed-use retail, dining and lifestyle destinations.

Over the past six months the stock price chart shows a general upward trend, moving modestly higher when viewed across a broader timeframe, despite short-term fluctuations.

Federal Realty benefits from strong tenant demand in high-traffic markets and a history of steady leasing activity. Its diversified portfolio of lifestyle and community-oriented retail assets helps support resilient cash flows. Capital allocation strategies have emphasised leasing spreads and occupancy improvements after periods of economic stress.

Highlights:

• For stock traders, the attraction is the company’s consistent performance and mix of defensive and growth characteristics as retail patterns normalise
• Its stock price has increased by 11.93% over the past six months³

2. Stor-Age Property REIT Limited (JSE: SSS)

Sector: Self-storage

Market cap: R9.21 billion⁴

Dividend yield: 6.29%⁵

Stor-Age Property REIT is a specialist self-storage REIT listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) with a secondary listing on A2X. It owns and operates storage facilities in South Africa and the United Kingdom, serving both individual and commercial customers.

Recent operational updates highlight strong occupancies, expansion of the property portfolio and associated revenue growth. The company has delivered increases in rental income, operating profit and distributable income per share, while expanding its footprint with new developments in both of its markets.

Over the last six months, Stor-Age’s stock has been positively influenced by these fundamentals and broader sector tailwinds.

Performance data and commentary from recent market reports show its stock price trending higher as the REIT outpaced several local benchmarks and delivered promising dividend growth.

Highlights:

• The company’s niche focus on self-storage enables revenue resilience across diverse economic environments, since storage demand often remains stable even during downturns
• Its dual-jurisdiction exposure adds geographic diversification and can help smooth out region-specific cycles
• Stor-Age’s stock price has grown by 11.70% over the past six months⁶

3. RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust (TSX: REI.UN)

Sector: Retail and mixed-use properties

Market cap: C$5.73 billion⁷

Dividend yield: 5.88%⁸

RioCan REIT is one of Canada’s largest real estate investment trusts. It owns, manages and develops retail-focused and mixed-use properties, particularly in major Canadian markets where demand for high-quality commercial and residential-anchored spaces remains solid.

Recent market charts show RioCan’s share price up over the last six months, indicating a rebound in sentiment around retail and mixed-use property exposure in Canada. While the price has oscillated, broad trend data points to gains over the period as stock traders respond to steady occupancy and leasing spreads in its portfolio.

Operational commentary notes high retail occupancy and strong leasing performance, which supports a reliable income stream from tenants. This performance helps underpin total returns when combined with distributions, which are a notable part of the value proposition for REIT stock traders.

Highlights:

• RioCan offers exposure to prime North American real estate themes, especially as mixed-use developments that combine retail with residential units attract consistent foot traffic and lease demand
• The stock price has increased by 10.12% over the past six months⁹

4. Growthpoint Properties Limited (JSE: GRT)

Sector: Retail, office, logistics and mixed‑use properties

Market cap: R62.28 billion¹⁰

Dividend yield: 6.77%¹¹

Growthpoint Properties is the largest primary listed REIT on the JSE with a diversified property portfolio that includes retail, office, logistics, industrial and mixed-use assets across South Africa, Australia, Eastern Europe and the rest of Africa. It also holds a 50% stake in the iconic V&A Waterfront, a major tourist destination.

Sector commentary shows Growthpoint has returned to growth after weaker periods, posting increased distributable income and raising its dividend payout, with markets responding positively over the recent months.

Positive earnings trends, dividend growth and improved sector expectations have correlated with upward share price momentum in Growthpoint over the recent period.

Highlights:

• Growthpoint’s geographic and asset diversification lends resilience against region-specific cycles, making it one of the major diversified REIT exposures in Africa and beyond
• Its stock price has risen by 25.99% over the past six months¹²

5. WP Carey Inc REIT (NYSE: WPC)

Sector: Single‑tenant properties leased on long‑term, triple‑net lease agreements

Market cap: US$16.26 billion¹³

Dividend yield: 4.96%¹⁴

WP Carey Inc is a large net-lease REIT that owns a diversified portfolio of properties across the US and Europe. Its strategy focuses on long-term net leases with contractual rent escalations and tenants responsible for property expenses, which aims to provide dependable rental income and diversification across tenant industries.

The multinational footprint – with roughly one third of revenue from Europe – helps reduce exposure to any single market cycle, and its net-lease model emphasises contractual cash flow visibility.

While net income figures may vary period-to-period, the REIT’s broader diversification and leasing fundamentals support positive stock trader sentiment that has been reflected in price trends over recent months.

Highlights:

• The company represents a way to access diversified commercial real estate income beyond core American markets, bridging multiple regions and tenant profiles – an attractive proposition for stock traders
• Its stock price has increased by 13.58% over the past six months¹⁵

How to trade REITs with IG UAE

CFDs

1. Open a CFD trading account with IG UAE
2. Search for REITs on the IG platform
3. Decide whether to go long (buy) or short (sell)
4. Choose your position size
5. Set stop-loss and limit orders
6. Place your trade and monitor it

Stock trading

1. Open a stock trading account with IG UAE
2. Search for REITs
3. Choose the REIT you want to buy – try our stock screener
4. Determine how many stocks you want to purchase
5. Place your order
6. Monitor your investment and collect any dividends

Risk management for REIT trading

Stock trading:

• Position sizing: Never risk more than 5-10% of your account on any single REIT
• Diversification: Consider spreading investments across multiple REITs and sectors
• Regular review: Assess portfolio performance and rebalance as needed

CFD trading:

• Position sizing: Never risk more than 2-3% of your account on any single REIT trade
• Stop losses: Set predetermined exit points to limit potential losses (typically 5-10% below entry)
• Leverage management: Use lower leverage ratios to reduce risk
• Market analysis: Monitor interest rate trends, economic indicators and real estate market conditions

FAQs about REITs

Footnotes
 

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