CTO Realty Growth (CTO) Company Overview

CTO Realty offers a high yield of 7.9% and strong total returns through strategic acquisitions and property repositioning in high-growth U.S. Sunbelt markets. CTO has shown robust same-store NOI growth, occupancy gains, and impressive lease spreads, validating its property quality and repositioning strategy. CTO has improved its leverage profile and has a promising acquisition and lease-up pipeline, positioning it for sustainable growth.

Avoid private equity and REITs offering unsustainable high yields; they often rely on risky investments or leverage, leading to potential capital destruction. We prefer to look at the cashflows first to ensure companies have enough to sustain the dividend while retaining some for growth. This article explores the various pitfalls of traditional high-yield investing and proposes 3 high-yield stocks that offer a better total return potential.

CTO Realty Growth offers a 7.44% dividend yield on the common stock, but preferred stock CTO.PR.A provides safer, cumulative dividends at a 6.83% yield. Preferred stockholders have priority over common shareholders in dividend payments, making CTO.PR.A a more secure investment despite its slightly lower yield. CTO's financial ratios indicate potential challenges in maintaining current common stock dividends, enhancing the appeal of the more stable preferred stock dividends.

CTO Realty Growth presents a compelling buy opportunity with a forward P/AFFO multiple of 10.34x, well below the sector median of 17.04x. The REIT's strong growth potential is supported by strategic acquisitions in high-growth Sun Belt markets and a significant increase in investment activity. Despite higher leverage, management's efforts to deleverage and a solid balance sheet support future growth, with raised FFO and AFFO guidance for 2024.

CTO Realty Growth has expanded its gross leasable space by a material pace since the start of 2024. The REIT is paying out a 7.6% common dividend yield that is at least 164% covered by free cash flow. Only $51 million of debt comes due in 2025 against liquidity of $213 million at the end of the third quarter.

The Dividend Harvesting Portfolio reached an all-time high, with a 27.82% return on invested capital and forward dividend income of $1,863.23. I remain bullish on the market, expecting a strong 2025, driven by falling rates, economic growth, and declining unemployment. Realty Income and CTO Realty Growth were added to the portfolio, with plans to focus on other sectors in upcoming months.

WINTER PARK, Fla., Nov. 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CTO Realty Growth, Inc. (NYSE: CTO) (the “Company” or “CTO”) announced today that its Board of Directors has authorized, and the Company has declared, a quarterly cash dividend of $0.38 per share of common stock for the fourth quarter of 2024 (the “Common Stock Cash Dividend”). The Common Stock Cash Dividend represents an annualized yield of approximately 7.8% based on the closing price of the Company's common stock on November 18, 2024.

The Federal Reserve's recent 50 bps rate cut and projected future cuts in 2024 signal a potential favorable shift for the REITs sectors. The latest JOLTS Report fell short of expectations. September job openings slid to 7.443M from 7.861M in August, and layoffs and discharges rose, a potential opportunity for more rate cuts. REITs benefit from a lower-rate environment due to reduced borrowing costs and more attractive dividend yields relative to bonds that can drive investor demand and share prices.

CTO Realty (CTO) came out with quarterly funds from operations (FFO) of $0.51 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.48 per share. This compares to FFO of $0.48 per share a year ago.