Inside REITs Symposium 2025: Where Are the Next S-REITs Winners?

Last weekend, the 11th annual REITs Symposium—jointly hosted by ShareInvestor, InvestingNote, and REITAS—brought together Singapore’s top analysts and investors to discuss the future of S-REITs.

With global markets facing shifting interest rates and ongoing trade tensions, the event couldn’t have been more timely. The consensus? Despite the challenges, S-REITs remain a treasure trove of opportunities for discerning investors, especially in four standout sectors: Data Centres, Hospitality, Retail, and Healthcare.

As the US Federal Reserve signals possible rate cuts in 2025, S-REITs are poised to benefit from lower financing costs and potential valuation recovery. In a world where global trade frictions and economic uncertainty persist, investors are increasingly drawn to defensive, high-dividend assets. Singapore REITs, with average yields above 6% and valuations below historical norms, are attracting both local and international capital.

But not all S-REITs are created equal. The Symposium highlighted a clear trend: sector selection matters more than ever. Let’s take a closer look at the four sectors in focus, and the specific REITs that analysts believe are best positioned for the year ahead.

Few sectors are as exciting as data centres right now. With the explosion of AI, cloud computing, and the digital economy, demand for data storage and processing is soaring. This translates into robust, long-term growth for REITs in this space—making them relatively resilient even when the broader economy wobbles.

After years of pandemic-related headwinds, Singapore’s hospitality sector is bouncing back. The reopening of borders, coupled with new infrastructure like Changi Airport’s Terminal 5, is fueling a strong recovery in tourism. Hotel occupancy and room rates are rising, and hospitality REITs are seeing renewed interest.

While retail has faced its share of challenges, there’s a bright spot: suburban malls. As consumer confidence returns, these malls are outperforming their city-center counterparts, with narrowing rental gaps and steady foot traffic. Retail REITs with strong suburban exposure are poised to benefit most from the recovery in spending.

Healthcare REITs have proven their worth as defensive plays, especially in times of uncertainty. Demand for healthcare is steady, regardless of economic cycles, and these assets often serve as an inflation hedge. Even in a high-rate environment, healthcare REITs have delivered stable returns.

The REITs Symposium 2025 made it clear: while the market faces headwinds, opportunities abound for those who know where to look. Whether you’re drawn to the digital future of data centres, the comeback of hospitality, the stability of retail, or the resilience of healthcare, Singapore’s REIT market has something for everyone.