Several sectors on the front lines of the pandemic recorded significant declines last week, including lodging and resorts, healthcare and retail, according to Nareit Economist Calvin Schnure. Others rose, though, including timber, data centers and infrastructure real estate investment trusts.
Healthcare real estate investment trust stocks fell 4.2%, whereas the overall REIT sector was only slightly down, Schnure noted. All Equity REITs total return index only declined 0.6% from the week prior.
Schnure said the declines likely were a result of news reports that the spread of COVID-19 has continued at a more rapid pace than many had expected, dampening hope for future progress in reopening the economy. Since the beginning of the year, healthcare REITs have fallen 26%.
