Share

SA property investment sector delivers 11.1% total return - index

Cape Town – The South African property investment sector delivered an ungeared total return of 11.1% in 2016.

This is according to the IPD South Africa Annual Property Index released by MSCI, a provider of investment decision support tools worldwide.

The latest index reflects a 190 basis points decline from 13% in 2015 and the lowest recorded total return since 2009.

Income return remained steady at 8.3%, while capital growth came in at 2.6%, which was down from 4.4% in 2015. Capital growth was underpinned by an improved base rental growth of 6.2% - however, this was offset by negative yield impact.

The latest IPD South Africa Annual Property Index, sponsored by Nedbank CIB, is based on asset level data collected from a sample of 1 450 properties with a total capital value of R296.6bn at the end of December 2016. This represents approximately two thirds of professionally managed investment property in South Africa.
 
“The IPD South Africa Annual Property Index, provides a unique perspective on the fundamental drivers of commercial real estate returns in South Africa. In stark contrast to socio-political volatility, investors have benefitted from stable incomes, founded on the sectors’ contractual income base and aggressive cost management," said Phil Barttram, executive director of MSCI.

"Even given the decline in total returns, the sector has once again proven its resilience by providing real returns in 2016."

Top performing

At a sector level, industrial property was the top performing sector during the year with a total return of 13.6%, outperforming retail at 12.6%.
The office sector continues to struggle on the back of subdued capital growth and was particularly hard hit in 2016 with a total return of 7.6%.
At a property segment level, inner city and decentralised offices counted among the worst performing segments for the year with total returns of 7.5% and 7.7% respectively.

The IPD South Africa Annual Index has outperformed the MSCI SA Equities Index and the JP Morgan bond index (7 to 10 year) over 1, 3, 5 and 10 year periods.

The top performing segments for the year were high tech industrial property and neighbourhood shopping centres, which produced total returns of 18.1% and 20.3% respectively. Neighbourhood centre returns should be seen in a longer term context, which suggests a return to trend growth in 2016 rather than continued outperformance.
 
Robin Lockhart-Ross, managing executive, Nedbank CIB Property Finance, said the index results show that the performance of the South African property investment sector continues to hold up well despite the prevailing low gross domestic product (GDP) growth environment.

"Although, at 11.1%, the total return decreased from 13.0% in 2015, this is hardly surprising in that commercial property returns will over time closely track the general economy," he said.

Read Fin24's top stories trending on Twitter:

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
18.94
-0.2%
Rand - Pound
23.91
-0.1%
Rand - Euro
20.43
+0.2%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.34
+0.1%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.2%
Platinum
910.50
+1.5%
Palladium
1,011.50
+1.0%
Gold
2,221.35
+1.2%
Silver
24.87
+0.9%
Brent Crude
86.09
-0.2%
Top 40
68,346
+1.0%
All Share
74,536
+0.8%
Resource 10
57,251
+2.8%
Industrial 25
103,936
+0.6%
Financial 15
16,502
-0.1%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders