Deep Dive: Identify specific assets rather than sectors

Unique opportunities

Alex Short, portfolio manager of AEW UK REIT, dives into the property industry

Identifying winning sectors and regions in real estate can be problematic in that many sectors and regions are heavily cross correlated. Further, the land, and in some cases the buildings, can often be repurposed for alternative uses profitably, increasing stockpicking opportunities. AEW UK REIT has outperformed the MSCI / AREF UK PFI Balanced Funds Quarterly Property index over six months, 12 months and three years, but we are wary to assume that our sector weightings, overweight industrial and light on high-street retail, will ensure continued success. Instead, we believe that assessin...