The retail real estate investment trust (REIT) Getty Realty - a free standing retail REIT - had the highest dividend yield among the ** largest retail REITs in the United States in February 2025. Besides free standing retail, the ranking also includes shopping centers and region mall REITs. Simon Property Group, the retail REIT with the largest market cap, which specializes in regional malls, had a dividend yield of **** percent.

As of December 29, 2024, the ten leading retail real estate investment trusts (REITs) in the United States had a combined market capitalization of about 175 billion U.S. dollars. Most REITs in the list saw their market caps increase in 2024. The largest retail REIT, Simon Property Group, saw its market cap rise from 46.6 billion U.S. dollars to 56.1 billion U.S. dollars between December 2023 and December 2024. Despite the REIT sector compressing in 2022, the three year-returns of most REITs remained positive.

In the 12 months up to February 2025, the shopping center REIT Acadia Realty was the retail real estate REIT with the highest return in the United States. However, not all retail REITs saw positive returns. The largest retail real estate Investment trust (REITs), Simon Property Group, recorded annual return of over 32 percent.

In February 2025, 17 of the 20 largest retail REITs by market cap registered a two-digit annual return. Simon Property Group - the largest retail REITs - saw a one-year return of 32 percent. Looking at the three- and five-year periods, returns were lower. Realty Income, for example, had a five-year return of less than *** percent.

The shopping center REIT Curbline Properties Corpis estimated to reach the highest price to funds from operation (P/FFO) in the United States in 2025. According to the February 2025 estimate, the P/FFO value of Curbline Properties Corpis, one of the REITs with the largest caps in the country, will reach ***** percent in 2025 and ***** percent in 2026. P/FFO measures the ratio of the share price to the mean cash flow from operations. A high ratio suggests that the stock is priced higher compared to the company's cash flow - a sign of high investor confidence. Nevertheless, a high ratio also suggests that a stock may be overpriced.

The North America REIT Market Report Segments the Industry by Sector of Exposure (Retail, Industrial, Office, and More), by REIT Structure (Equity REITs, Mortgage REITs, and Hybrid REITs), by Market-Capitalization Size (Large-Cap (≥ US $10 Bn, Mid-Cap (US $3–10 Bn), and Small-Cap (≤ US $3 Bn)), and by Country (United States, Canada, and Mexico). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

The FTSE Nareit All Equity REITs index is a free-float adjusted, market capitalization-weighted index of equity real estate investment trusts (REITs) in the United States. As of December 2024, the market cap of the index was *** trillion U.S. dollars, up from *** trillion U.S. dollars in December 2021. To be included in the index, the 140 constituents have to have more than ** percent of total assets in qualifying real estate assets other than mortgages secured by real property. Infrastructure, residential, and retail real estate are the largest REIT segments: Retail real estate REITs had a market cap of *** billion U.S. dollars as of December 2024, while industrial had a market cap of almost ***** billion U.S. dollars. The number of REITs has remained fairly constant in recent years, but the market cap has increased notably.

According to Cognitive Market Research, the global Real Estate Investment Trust market size will be USD xx million in 2024. It will expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.60% from 2024 to 2031.

North America held the major market share for more than 40% of the global revenue with a market size of USD XX million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.8% from 2024 to 2031.
Europe accounted for a market share of over 30% of the global revenue with a market size of USD XX million.
Asia Pacific held a market share of around 23% of the global revenue with a market size of USD XX million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.6% from 2024 to 2031.
Latin America had a market share of more than 5% of the global revenue with a market size of USD XX million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.0% from 2024 to 2031.
Middle East and Africa had a market share of around 2% of the global revenue and was estimated at a market size of USD XX million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.3% from 2024 to 2031.
The Equity REITs is the fastest growing segment of the Real Estate Investment Trust industry

Market Dynamics of Real Estate Investment Trust Market

Key Drivers for Real Estate Investment Trust Market

Increasing Stable Income Generation to Boost Market Growth

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are acknowledged for their solid earnings era, making them attractive to investors searching out regular coins to go with the flow. They derive profits frequently from rental bills on properties inclusive of industrial homes, flats, purchasing facilities, and more. REITs are required, with the aid of regulation, to distribute a minimum of 90% of their taxable income to shareholders as dividends, ensuring a dependable move of income. This regular dividend payout makes REITs mainly attractive to earnings-focused buyers, which includes retirees or those searching out passive profits, while additionally imparting potential for capital appreciation over time.

Increasing Demand for Real Estate to Drive Market Growth

The increasing demand for actual property is fueled by way of international population increase, urbanization, and monetary development. As more humans circulate to towns and economies make bigger, the want for residential, industrial, and business residences rises. This growing demand leads to higher property values and rental earnings, reaping rewards for Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). With an assorted portfolio across sectors like retail, office areas, and housing, REITs are nicely positioned to capitalize on those trends. As asset expenses and condominium quotes grow, REITs can generate better returns for traders via both capital appreciation and consistent dividend payouts.

Restraint Factor for the Real Estate Investment Trust Market

Interest Rate Sensitivity, will Limit Market Growth

REITs are rather touchy to interest rate fluctuations due to their reliance on borrowed capital for property acquisitions and development. When hobby quotes upward push, borrowing prices grow, lowering REITs' profitability. Higher hobby prices can also make alternative profits-producing investments, like bonds, extra attractive, probably mainly to lower the call for REIT shares. Additionally, growing costs may suppress property values, in addition to impacting REIT's overall performance. Conversely, while interest charges are low, REITs gain from cheaper borrowing charges and greater favorable situations for property investments, improving their capability to generate returns and keep robust dividend payouts for traders.

Impact of Covid-19 on the Real Estate Investment Trust Market

The COVID-19 pandemic extensively impacted the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) marketplace, inflicting elevated volatility and shifts in calls across sectors. While some segments, like residential and business REITs, fared well because of sustained calls for housing and e-commerce, others, in particular retail and hospitality REITs, confronted enormous declines as lockdowns and travel restrictions reduced occupancy charges and apartment earnings. The pandemic improved tendencies towards remote paintings and online purchasing, reshaping the panorama for REIT investments and techniques shifting ahead. Market Overview

As per Cognitive Market Research, the global Re...

The real estate investment trusts (REITs) market in the United States grew slightly in 2023, after plummeting in 2022. In 2023, the market cap of all REITs, including equity, mortgage, and hybrid, reached **** trillion U.S. dollars. This was a decrease from the **** trillion U.S. dollars recorded in 2021 when the market peaked. REITs are companies which own and operate real estate to generate income. U.S. REIT sector The number of REITs operating in the U.S. has fluctuated over the past 45 years, and in 2023 measured *** firms. The number in operation has slightly fallen from its record high of *** companies in 2015. REITs often specialize in a specific property type, with industrial and retail being the most popular asset types. Global dominance of American REITs The largest ten REITs worldwide were based in the United States in 2024. Prologis, a company specializing in logistics real estate, was the largest REIT globally in terms of market capitalization in that year.

Renewable Infrastructure REIT Market Outlook

According to our latest research, the global Renewable Infrastructure REIT market size reached USD 39.7 billion in 2024, propelled by robust investor appetite for sustainable assets and expanding renewable energy portfolios. The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 11.6% during the forecast period, reaching USD 108.6 billion by 2033. This impressive growth is fueled by increasing demand for clean energy, favorable regulatory frameworks, and the rising integration of renewable energy assets into institutional investment portfolios.

The primary growth driver for the Renewable Infrastructure REIT market is the accelerating global transition towards decarbonization and sustainability. Governments across major economies are implementing stringent emission reduction targets and incentivizing the deployment of renewable energy assets. This regulatory momentum, combined with growing climate awareness among investors, is catalyzing the development and listing of REITs focused on solar, wind, hydroelectric, biomass, and geothermal infrastructure. The consistent growth in renewable energy installations worldwide, coupled with the need for large-scale capital inflows, makes REITs an attractive vehicle for both asset owners and investors seeking stable returns with environmental impact.

Another significant growth factor is the maturation of renewable energy technologies and the declining cost of generation. As solar and wind technologies achieve grid parity in many regions, the cash flows from renewable assets are becoming more predictable and attractive for REIT structures. This financial stability, combined with the diversification benefits that renewable infrastructure provides to real estate investment portfolios, is drawing institutional capital at an unprecedented pace. Furthermore, the increasing sophistication of asset management practices and the emergence of hybrid REIT models are enabling more efficient aggregation and monetization of distributed renewable assets, further expanding the market’s potential.

The growing participation of retail investors, facilitated by the democratization of investment platforms and the rise of ESG-focused financial products, is also contributing to market expansion. Renewable Infrastructure REITs offer retail investors access to large-scale, income-generating clean energy projects that were previously accessible only to institutional investors. The transparent and regulated nature of REITs, combined with the long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) underpinning renewable projects, provides a compelling risk-return profile for a broad range of investors. Additionally, the proliferation of green finance initiatives and sustainable investment mandates among pension funds and sovereign wealth funds is expected to further accelerate capital inflows into this sector.

Regionally, North America and Europe are currently leading the Renewable Infrastructure REIT market, accounting for the majority of global investment activity and asset deployment. North America, driven by the United States, benefits from a mature REIT ecosystem and a rapidly expanding renewable energy sector. Europe, with its ambitious decarbonization agenda and supportive regulatory environment, is witnessing a surge in both utility-scale and distributed renewable projects entering REIT structures. Meanwhile, Asia Pacific is emerging as a high-growth region, supported by large-scale renewable energy targets in China, India, and Southeast Asia. Latin America and the Middle East & Africa, while still nascent, are showing increasing interest as governments and private sector players ramp up their renewable energy commitments.

Asset Type Analysis

The Renewable Infrastructure REIT market is segmented by asset type into solar, wind, hydroelectric, biomass, geothermal, and others, each contributing uniquely to the sector’s overall growth and risk diversification. Solar assets represent the largest share within this segment, owing to the rapid decline in photovoltaic technology costs and widespread policy support for solar energy installations. Solar REITs are particularly attractive due to their scalability, predictable cash flows from long-term PPAs, and suitability for both utility-scale and distributed generation projects. Investors are increasingly drawn to solar REITs for their ability to generate stable, inflation-hedged income streams while supporting the glob

Simon Property Group, Brookfield Properties, and SITE Centers Corp were the largest shopping mall property managers in the United States in 2021. The three companies managed over *** million square feet of leasable area. Besides being the biggest shopping mall manager, Simon Property was the largest retail real estate investment trust in the United States.

Eurocommercial Properties was the real estate investment trust (REIT) with the largest market cap in the Netherlands as of April 11, 2024. The market cap, or the aggregate value of the total outstanding shares of the company, was approximately **** billion U.S. dollars during that period. Eurocommercial Properties also had the highest revenue. Nevertheless, Vastned Retail had the highest EBITDA margin, with earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization amounting to ***** percent of the company's revenue. In terms of return on investment (ROI), NSI ranked first.

In 2021, Canadian food retailer Empire Company Ltd. generated approximately ** billion U.S. dollars in revenue, making it the second largest retail company in Canada. Empire Company Limited is a Canadian conglomerate specializing in food retail and related real estate and investments. Founded by the Sobeys family in 1963, Empire Company made its first purchase 13 years later when it took over ownership of Lawtons Drug Stores Limited. Other Empire Company subsidiaries include the real estate investment company Crombie REIT and food retailer Sobeys.