Dividend growth is a powerful catalyst for REITs. Hike announcements commonly lead to immediate upside. I present 3 undervalued REITs with rapid dividend growth potential.
After a strong August, REITs faded slightly in September (-0.73%), pulling the REIT sector's year-to-date average total return down to (-1.74%). Mid-cap REITs (-0.92%) averaged the lowest total return in September. Large caps (-0.29%), micro caps (-0.79%), and small caps (-0.83%) averaged modestly smaller declines. Only 37.4% of REIT securities had a positive total return in September.
SBA Communications and American Tower have disappointed investors over the last 3 years. The primary issue was that investors overpaid for growth. The secondary issue was even that expected growth didn't materialize.
American Tower faces recent profit and cash flow declines, but revenue growth and raised 2025 guidance support continued optimism. AMT's Data Centers and international segments drive revenue gains, offsetting weakness in United States/Canada and Latin America due to currency impacts. Valuation is reasonable versus peers, especially given AMT's lower leverage and stronger financial flexibility compared to CCI and SBAC.
American Tower Corporation (NYSE:AMT ) Global Communications Infrastructure Conference September 16, 2025 9:30 AM EDT Company Participants Rodney Smith - Executive VP, CFO & Treasurer Conference Call Participants Jonathan Atkin - RBC Capital Markets, Research Division Presentation Jonathan Atkin RBC Capital Markets, Research Division Welcome, everybody, to the first session of the first day of the 2025 edition of our Global Communications Infrastructure Conference. My name is Jon Atkin.
American Tower Corporation (NYSE:AMT ) Citi's 2025 Global Technology, Media and Telecommunications Conference September 3, 2025 10:10 AM EDT Company Participants Steven Vondran - President, CEO & Director Conference Call Participants Michael Rollins - Citigroup Inc., Research Division Presentation Michael Rollins MD & U.S. Telecoms Analyst [Audio Gap] and infrastructure for Citi. Just a quick housekeeping item.
AMT stock rallies 11.2% YTD, driven by 5G expansion, long-term leases and steady dividend hikes.
American Tower's slow growth and lofty valuation make it unattractive compared to broader market returns, despite its stability and strong dividend yield. AFFO per share growth is minimal, barely outpacing inflation, and revenue growth is largely driven by FX variations rather than core business expansion. High leverage and capital obligations limit flexibility, and rising interest rates could pressure future cash flows and shareholder returns.
Inflation is in a tug of war: Disinflationary housing offsets inflationary tariffs, but tariffs will increasingly push consumer prices higher over the next year. The economy and stock market are both K-shaped, with affluent consumers and AI-related stocks thriving while others struggle or stagnate. Despite these divergences, I remain committed to value-oriented dividend growth investing, focusing on stocks with strong yields and growth potential.
American Tower offers essential infrastructure with global reach, benefiting from secular trends in 5G, mobile data, and AI-driven data center demand. Recent share price weakness presents a compelling entry point, as AMT maintains strong leasing momentum and robust data center growth. Strong business fundamentals include robust leasing momentum, double-digit data center growth, and solid international performance, especially in Africa and APAC.
American Tower Corporation (NYSE:AMT ) TD Cowen's 11th Annual Communications Infrastructure Summit Conference Call August 12, 2025 1:15 PM ET Company Participants Richard Rossi - Executive VP & President of U.S. Tower Conference Call Participants Michael Elias - TD Cowen, Research Division Michael Elias All right. Perfect. Good morning, everyone, and welcome to TD Cowen's 11th Annual Communications Infrastructure Summit.
American Tower Corporation (NYSE:AMT ) KeyBanc Capital Markets Technology Leadership Forum August 11, 2025 1:00 PM ET Company Participants Edward M. Knapp - Senior VP & CTO Conference Call Participants Brandon Lee Nispel - KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Research Division Brandon Lee Nispel Good morning, everybody.