Director, RaaS Research Group, Research as a Service (RaaS)

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Equity Bottom-Up

US Student Housing REIT / Equity Bottom-Up

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<h2>US Student Housing REIT</h2>
<h3>Return to campus drives value and yields</h3>
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<p>US Student Housing REIT (ASX:USQ) was incorporated in July 2020 and listed on the ASX in March 2022 raising an additional $15.5m at an issue price of $1.38 per unit (a $45m raise was targeted). USQ is a Real Estate Investment Trust managed by Auctus Investment Group (ASX:AVC) intended to invest via Delaware companies (for US tax reasons) in purpose-built student housing near top-tier public universities in the USA. The US assets are managed by Student Quarters – an Atlanta-based asset manager with more than US$1b under management and a track record from 2013 in this property sector. As usual, the REIT itself is ungeared while the underlying properties are currently geared within the target range 60%-65% at an LVR of 61.1%. USQ is unusual in the Australian REIT sector as a short-term residential leasing-focused vehicle. The REIT currently sits at the bottom of the Australian REIT sector by portfolio size. NTA per unit rose to US$1.02 (A$1.48) at June 30.</p>
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<h3>Business model</h3>
<p>USQ invests in existing high-quality, purpose-built student accommodation in the US. The REIT has a portfolio of nine assets including one acquired since listing. Students lease accommodation while at college with rental rates and occupancy levels the key revenue drivers. The sector was extremely resilient during COVID with average occupancy above 90%. USQ reported pre-leasing of 96.7% at 15 August 2022 for the upcoming 2022/23 academic year at rental increases of 8.0%. The assets are good quality with the oldest built in 2009 and diversified across five states and six universities. Georgia is the largest exposure at 26% of portfolio market value. USQ should benefit from the lowest new supply of student housing since 2011, suggesting rents and occupancy rates are likely to be firmer. The properties are geared with 62% of debt falling due in 2029 for an average maturity of 10 years and 81.4% of exposure at fixed rates. Properties are capitalised at rates between 4.75% and 5.25% giving a fair market value for the portfolio of US$144.6m.</p>
<h3>Quarterly distribution of US$0.015 per unit</h3>
<p>The REIT reported a 5.6% increase in portfolio valuation for the financial year and delivered the prospectus-forecast distribution for the June quarter. Funds appear to be fully invested in properties under the mandate. Despite interest rate rises, market activity appears favourable with good rental and occupancy trends. If portfolio performance is maintained, it seems likely that Auctus will attempt to increase the size of the fund through an additional equity raise when securities markets are favourable.</p>
<h3>New to the market but with promising execution</h3>
<p>The average yield of the listed REIT sector is 5.8% with USQ not yet delivering a track record with which to gauge likely distribution levels. The broader REIT sector is trading on a PER of 8.4x and price/book of 0.9x.</p>
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US Student Housing REIT
Return to campus drives value and yields




US Student Housing REIT (ASX:USQ) was incorporated in July 2020 and listed on the ASX in March 2022 raising an additional $15.5m at an issue price of $1.38 per unit (a $45m raise was targeted). USQ is a Real Estate Investment Trust managed by Auctus Investment Group (ASX:AVC) intended to invest via Delaware companies (for US tax reasons) in purpose-built student housing near top-tier public universities in the USA. The US assets are managed by Student Quarters – an Atlanta-based asset manager with more than US$1b under management and a track record from 2013 in this property sector. As usual, the REIT itself is ungeared while the underlying properties are currently geared within the target range 60%-65% at an LVR of 61.1%. USQ is unusual in the Australian REIT sector as a short-term residential leasing-focused vehicle. The REIT currently sits at the bottom of the Australian REIT sector by portfolio size. NTA per unit rose to US$1.02 (A$1.48) at June 30.




Business model
USQ invests in existing high-quality, purpose-built student accommodation in the US. The REIT has a portfolio of nine assets including one acquired since listing. Students lease accommodation while at college with rental rates and occupancy levels the key revenue drivers. The sector was extremely resilient during COVID with average occupancy above 90%. USQ reported pre-leasing of 96.7% at 15 August 2022 for the upcoming 2022/23 academic year at rental increases of 8.0%. The assets are good quality with the oldest built in 2009 and diversified across five states and six universities. Georgia is the largest exposure at 26% of portfolio market value. USQ should benefit from the lowest new supply of student housing since 2011, suggesting rents and occupancy rates are likely to be firmer. The properties are geared with 62% of debt falling due in 2029 for an average maturity of 10 years and 81.4% of exposure at fixed rates. Properties are capitalised at rates between 4.75% and 5.25% giving a fair market value for the portfolio of US$144.6m.
Quarterly distribution of US$0.015 per unit
The REIT reported a 5.6% increase in portfolio valuation for the financial year and delivered the prospectus-forecast distribution for the June quarter. Funds appear to be fully invested in properties under the mandate. Despite interest rate rises, market activity appears favourable with good rental and occupancy trends. If portfolio performance is maintained, it seems likely that Auctus will attempt to increase the size of the fund through an additional equity raise when securities markets are favourable.
New to the market but with promising execution
The average yield of the listed REIT sector is 5.8% with USQ not yet delivering a track record with which to gauge likely distribution levels. The broader REIT sector is trading on a PER of 8.4x and price/book of 0.9x.













US Student Housing REIT - Return to Campus Drives Value and Yields

Australia

US Student Housing REIT operates as a real estate investment trust. The Company acquires and manages purpose-built student housing assets located within close proximity to top-tier public universities across the United States.

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US Student Housing REIT (USQ AU)

US Student Housing REIT - Return to Campus Drives Value and Yields

US Student Housing REIT Return to campus drives value and yields US Student Housing REIT (ASX:USQ) was incorporated in July 2020 and listed...

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