GTY Stock Recent News

I am very bullish on REITs. But I still recognize that this sector is full of landmines. I highlight REITs to avoid this year.

Many REITs are historically cheap today. Some are cheap for a good reason. Others are just undervalued. I present a good example of that.

Getty Realty Corp. is an attractive REIT with a near 6% yield, strong fundamentals, and solid investment activity, making it a compelling buy for income investors. GTY's Q3 performance was impressive, beating revenue and FFO estimates, raising full-year AFFO guidance, and maintaining a high occupancy rate of 99.7%. The REIT has deleveraged its balance sheet, improved liquidity, and is well-positioned to benefit from declining interest rates, enhancing its long-term growth potential.

– Repays Outstanding Term Loan and Extends Maturity to 2029 – – Company Has No Debt Maturities Until June 2028 –

NEW YORK, Jan. 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Getty Realty Corp. (NYSE: GTY) announced today the allocations of the Company's 2024 dividend distributions on its common stock (CUSIP #374297109). The allocations as they will be reported on Form 1099-DIV are as follows:

US equity markets tumbled this week while benchmark interest rates surged to the cusp of multi-decade highs after a critical slate of employment data showed surprisingly buoyant labor market trends. Prompting a hawkish re-think of Fed policy expectations, inflation worries were further inflamed by surging energy prices amid frigid temperatures across the Central and East, while L.A. battled destructive wildfires. Real estate equities - the most rate-sensitive sector - were significant laggards this week as rate cut expectations soured, with REITs extending their year-end slide into early 2025.

Getty Realty boasts robust fundamentals, with a 99.7% occupancy rate and consistent rental collections, supporting its strong financial performance and dividend growth. The REIT's diversified portfolio spans 42 states, with significant exposure to convenience stores and automotive facilities, though tenant concentration poses some risk. We think its BBB- credit rating is borderline and its rental increase rate seems low. Nonetheless, Getty's solid asset allocation and external liquidity access likely enhance its financial stability.

The New Year could pose challenges as markets absorb the Fed's latest interest rate cuts and the sell-off in global equities. However, higher-yielding investments can offer income and hedging opportunities. The S&P 500's Shiller price-to-earnings (P/E) Ratio, among other historic indicators, underscores fears of a potential bear market. Income-generating stocks can help offset potential losses and continued risks of market volatility, inflation, and prolonged high interest rates.

Average REIT short interest fell 8 basis points in September to 3.7% of shares outstanding, per S&P Global Market Intelligence data. The hotel sector followed with a 60-basis point drop, while the office sector remained the most-shorted at 5.3% of shares outstanding. Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust logged the largest increase in short interest, up 16 percentage points to 32.4% of shares outstanding.

Getty Realty remains an attractive buy for long-term dividend investors, offering a nearly 6% yield and strong fundamentals despite recent sector cooling. GTY has shown robust growth with double-digit FFO & AFFO increases and a solid balance sheet, supporting its expansion and long-term outlook. The REIT's portfolio, focused on convenience stores and car washes, presents some risks but also significant growth potential, especially with favorable interest rate trends.