KEPPEL REIT (SGX:K71U)
Keppel REIT - Eyeing Recovery
Keppel REIT's FY21 results in line; prefer CICT as reopening trade
- Keppel REIT (SGX:K71U)’s FY21 DPU at S$5.82cts (+1.6% y-o-y) was in line with our’s and street’s estimates, as contributions from Victoria Police Centre (in Melbourne), Pinnacle Office Park (Sydney) and Keppel Bay Tower (Singapore), helped offset the 275 George Street (Brisbane) divestment in Jul 2021.
- Office demand tailwinds have strengthened Keppel REIT’s fundamentals, but DPU growth remains unexciting versus peers, as upside from rental recovery is dulled by rising interest costs.
Slow leasing in 4Q21, rents on the rise
- Leasing activity eased in 4Q21 to ~298k sf, from ~995k sf in 3Q21 (and versus ~412k sf in 2Q21 and ~310k sf in 1Q21), with new demand and expansion led by financial services (29%), TMT (23%), and manufacturing/ distribution (15%) sector tenancies.
- Rental reversion was at +1.9% in 2H21, versus +1.0% in 3Q21, with its average weighted signing rents (of S$10.56 psfpm) higher than 3Q21 (at S$10.30psfpm).
- We see Singapore’s Grade A office rental recovery strengthening at +7.0% y-o-y in 2022, from +3.8% y-o-y in 2021. Management is guiding for a low-to-mid single-digit positive rental reversion into FY22, helped by its low S$10.38 psfpm expiring rents, and backfilling of DBS and SCB vacancies at MBFC.
Lower Australia occupancy, set to improve
- Occupancies rose at Pinnacle Office Park to 91.5% in 4Q21 (from 90.0% in 3Q21), but fell at 8 Exhibition to 93.7% (from 98.7%), and 8 Chifley Square at 68.6% (from 100%), due to expiring leases and slow leasing, while the Victoria Police Centre and David Malcolm Justice Centre remain fully occupied.
- In Seoul, strong backfilling at T Tower pushed occupancy from 94.2% to 100%. With lockdowns eased, we expect stronger demand recovery and rental growth prospects for prime grade occupancies across Australia’s office submarkets in FY22.
Gearing healthy, looking to add more
- Keppel REIT's Singapore portfolio valuation increased at +0.5% h-o-h to S$6.9b, due to stronger rents at MBFC Tower 1 & 2, ORQ, and Keppel Bay we roll forward to FY22.
- See
- We prefer CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust (SGX:C38U) (target price S$2.55, see report: CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust - Maybank Kim Eng 2021-12-06: Diversifying Down Under), with catalysts from DPU recovery, and redevelopment upside.
Chua Su Tye
Maybank Kim Eng Research
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https://www.maybank-ke.com.sg/
2022-01-26
SGX Stock
Analyst Report
1.05
UP
1.000
