Summary of Industrial REITs - The Eras Tour
Core Content
This report discusses the evolving landscape of U.S. industrial real estate, focusing on how shifting economic eras—Rapid Globalization (1985-2011), E-Commerce Boom (2011-2021), and the current Manufacturing Reinvestment Era (2021-Present)—have influenced warehouse and logistics demand. The report also outlines the potential impact of Trump's policies on the sector, particularly in relation to on-shoring and nearshoring trends, and highlights key REITs expected to benefit from these changes.
Main Points
- Manufacturing Reinvestment Era: Ongoing and expected to continue under Trump's second term. This era is driven by U.S. government policies (e.g., CHIPS, IRA) and tariffs that encourage domestic manufacturing and reduce reliance on foreign supply chains.
- On-shoring Trends: Accelerating due to Trump's protectionist policies, leading to increased demand for logistics real estate in the Southeast and Midwest. These regions are expected to outperform coastal markets in terms of rent growth and warehouse demand.
- Nearshoring Impact: Companies are shifting production from China to Mexico and other border markets, with EGP having the highest exposure to these areas.
- Short-Term Inventory Building: A 90-day tariff reduction is expected to drive inventory buildup in the U.S., especially for back-to-school and holiday seasons, which will benefit coastal industrial REITs like PLD, FR, REXR, and TRNO.
- Valuation Opportunities: STAG and LXP are considered undervalued relative to the sector, with attractive price-to-FFO multiples and potential for higher leasing spreads and FFO growth.
- Long-Term Outlook: Continued shift away from China and toward East Coast ports and nearshoring. This is expected to result in increased East Coast port traffic and less reliance on West Coast ports.
Key REITs and Their Ratings
| Ticker |
Rating |
Price Target |
| REXR |
BUY |
$40.00 |
| EGP |
BUY |
$198.00 |
| TRNO |
BUY |
$65.00 |
| PLD |
BUY |
$119.00 |
| LXP |
BUY |
$12.00 |
Key Changes in Ratings and Price Targets
| Ticker |
Rating |
Price Target Change |
| EGP |
BUY |
↑ $198.00 ($197.00) |
| TRNO |
BUY |
↓ $65.00 ($66.00) |
| PLD |
BUY |
↑ $119.00 ($117.00) |
| LXP |
BUY |
↑ $12.00 ($11.00) |
Market Rent Growth Projections
| REIT |
Estimated Rent CAGR 2024-2027 |
Implied GAAP Leasing Spreads |
| STAG |
2.2% |
52.3% (2024), 55.6% (2025E), 51.0% (2026E), 33.8% (2027E) |
| LXP |
2.1% |
62.7% (2024), 61.0% (2025E), 56.4% (2026E), 34.1% (2027E) |
| EGP |
1.3% |
58.6% (2024), 54.5% (2025E), 44.6% (2026E), 23.1% (2027E) |
| PLD |
1.2% |
57.2% (2024), 48.9% (2025E), 35.7% (2026E), 13.5% (2027E) |
| TRNO |
1.0% |
64.8% (2024), 48.7% (2025E), 36.6% (2026E), 15.2% (2027E) |
| FR |
0.4% |
60.7% (2024), 50.1% (2025E), 37.5% (2026E), 13.6% (2027E) |
| REXR |
0.2% |
51.8% (2024), 33.4% (2025E), 5.8% (2026E), -19.4% (2027E) |
Industrial Warehouse Eras by the Numbers
| Metric |
Rapid Globalization |
E-Commerce Boom |
Manufacturing Reinvestment |
| Imports (CAGR) |
4.6% |
0.3% |
0.7% |
| Port of LA/LB TEU Traffic (CAGR) |
7.3% |
3.7% |
-0.2% |
| Retail Sales (CAGR) |
1.4% |
2.8% |
1.5% |
| eComm Sales (CAGR) |
NA |
14.4% |
3.5% |
| eComm Milk Share |
NA |
18.3% |
19.4% |
| eComm Growth in Mkt Share (bps) |
NA |
+1198 bps |
+108 bps |
| Manufacturing Construction Spend (CAGR) |
NA |
3.0% |
38.0% |
| Excess Warehouse Demand (bps) |
44 bps |
78 bps |
123 bps |
Short-Term and Long-Term Outlook
- Short-Term: Inventory building due to Trump's tariff reduction will boost warehouse demand in coastal markets like SoCal.
- Long-Term: Continued shift away from China and increased nearshoring will drive demand in East Coast ports and border markets, with EGP being the most exposed.
Key Insights
- The Manufacturing Reinvestment Era is expected to last 4+ years, with on-shoring and nearshoring playing a major role.
- STAG, LXP, and EGP are highlighted as best positioned to capture the demand from the current era due to their strategic locations and valuation.
- E-commerce remains a key driver of warehouse demand, though at a slower pace than during the boom period.
- Inventory-to-Sales Ratios are expected to rise, which could translate into increased warehouse demand, especially for retailers and businesses.
- Coastal REITs may benefit from short-term inventory building, while inland and manufacturing-focused REITs are better positioned for long-term growth.
Conclusion
The report underscores the positive outlook for industrial REITs, especially those focused on on-shoring, nearshoring, and e-commerce. It suggests that Trump's policies will continue to drive warehouse demand and rent growth in the Southeast and Midwest. The Manufacturing Reinvestment Era is expected to bring long-term structural changes to the U.S. supply chain, favoring REITs with exposure to these markets.