Sail Through Inflationary Headwinds with Net Lease REITs
In today’s market, here's why investors should consider adding net lease REITs to their portfolio
Experts are sounding the alarm bells regarding an impending recession due to sustained inflation, rising interest rates and conflict in Europe. As a result, some investors are questioning whether their portfolios are resilient enough to weather an economic downturn. For investors seeking a reliable dividend stock to add to their portfolio, one worth considering is a net lease real estate investment trust (REIT).
REITs are companies that own or finance different types of properties and net lease specifically refers to the triple-net lease structure, whereby tenants are responsible for paying expenses related to property taxes, insurance and maintenance. Net lease REITs generally own single-tenant properties leased to creditworthy tenants and operate like corporate bonds due to their long-term leases. However, unlike bonds, net lease REITs can grow substantially through a combination of rent increases and external acquisitions, offering both stability and the potential for long-term growth. In today’s volatile market, here are three reasons why investors should consider adding net lease REITs to their portfolio.
Stable dividend yields provide long-term income
REITs have high and reliable dividend payouts compared to other stocks due to the REIT structure which requires at least 90 percent of taxable income to be distributed to shareholders as dividends. Several REITs have also increased their dividend over time, which has historically outpaced the rate of inflation and provided investors with steadily growing income. Furthermore, REITs can offer long-term capital appreciation through stock price increases, providing investors with total returns comparable, and often higher, than those of other stocks and fixed income investments. This demonstrates that REITs can be an attractive investment option for both income- and growth- focused investors.
Contractual rent increases offer hedge against inflation
Some net lease REITs provide natural protection against inflation due to contractual rent increases imbedded in their leases. These can be fixed or linked to an inflationary index such as the consumer price index (CPI). CPI-linked rental increases enable REITs, in particular net lease REITs that are not responsible for property management expenses, to directly offset inflation and pass on rising costs to the tenant. Inflation also tends to increase property prices which increases the overall value of a REIT’s portfolio; however, this growth is tempered by a REIT’s increased cost of debt due to rising interest rates. Regardless, these characteristics help protect investor returns against inflationary pressures, adding resiliency to a portfolio.
Diversification protects against certain market risks
Some net lease REITs offer diversified portfolios of real estate, meaning they invest across a range of property types, geographies and tenant industries. This ensures that no individual tenant, asset type or industry will have an outsized impact on overall performance, insulating investors from individual market risks and offering stability in economic downturns.
Net lease REITs also offer diversification compared to other stocks and bonds an investor may own in their portfolio, as real estate is a distinct asset class that has demonstrated low correlation with other sectors of the stock market. In other words, net lease REITs tend to outperform when other assets in a portfolio are struggling, offsetting market volatility.
Conclusion
When investors are choosing a net lease REIT for their portfolio, it’s important to consider that not all are created equal. Selecting a REIT with an established history and experience performing in all market cycles will ensure investors are protected from adverse impacts, while reaping the benefits of stability and growth over the long term.
Related Topics:
You May Also Like:
Net Lease Retail Demand Follows Where Retailers Are Growing
The US net lease market is experiencing a resurgence. Valuations reset throughout 2025, meaning the bid-ask spread narrowed. And in spite of economic headwinds, net lease volumes increased by 24% year-over-year for the fiscal year ending in Q3 2025, according to CBRE. For Michael Fitzgerald, managing director and head of US retail at W. P. Carey, finding the right retail investment opportunity starts with understanding some tell-tale signals. “The US net lease retail environment is driven primarily by the general health of retailers,” says Fitzgerald. “Are there a large number of retail operators that are opening new locations or investing in existing locations in a way where they need access to capital?” When the answer to that question is yes, deal flow often follows, and Fitzgerald points to specific categories where he sees the strongest deal flow and investor interest right now. Non-discretionary Categories Draw Investor Interest Fitzgerald notes that retailers that sell non-discretionary products or services are among the most interesting for investors, but tend to carry lower cap rates. “We also think about the macro trends, such as fitness,” says Fitzgerald. “It used to be something that a small percentage of the population would pay for; now it’s become a non-discretionary spend for a lot of families because general health and fitness have become a priority.” He notes that convenience stores, car washes and automotive services are among the other segments he sees generating strong deal flow, with car washes having regained interest and automotive services drawing attention across the board. Full Loan-to-Value Appeal Drives Demand For business operators or CFOs seeking efficient forms of capital, Fitzgerald explains that the net lease structure is hard to beat. “They can redeploy that capital back into their businesses at a higher return because they’re getting more loan-to-value than a mortgage,” says Fitzgerald. “That’s why we see sale-leasebacks continuing to be one of the top choices for businesses that have an ongoing need for capital.” When evaluating a net lease retail asset, Fitzgerald explains that the analysis centers on whether a location can generate enough cash flow to cover rent easily across a commitment that can run for 20 years or more. He also notes that new stores can complicate that picture since there is no operating history to draw from, which is why assets with longer track records tend to be the easiest to understand and underwrite. Net Lease Retail Holds Up Across Good Economies and Bad Despite continued headlines about retailer store closures, Fitzgerald notes that the net lease retail market is more durable than the news cycle suggests. He explains that the net lease market has proved resilient across good and bad economies, with the most difficult periods coming not from downturns but from rapid interest rate swings in either direction. “I’m optimistic about the net lease retail market. Even in times of relative instability, we continue to see consistent deal flow, as companies leverage sale-leaseback transactions to monetize real estate and fund growth,” says Fitzgerald.
A Balancing Act Between Deployment and Discipline
Net lease continues to be one of the core investment strategies employed in the global real estate market, but conditions in the US and Europe do not strictly mirror one another, explain Christopher Mertlitz, Head of European investments, and Zachary Pasanen, Co-head of North American Investments. However, across both of these regions, a common thread is emerging amid an uncertain macro environment: investors are balancing pressure to deploy capital with a more cautious approach to pricing, risk and long-term tenant viability. Download W. P. Carey’s keynote interview from the PERE Net Lease Report to learn more about the differences between the US and European net lease markets, which asset classes are garnering the most interest from investors, where deal flow is coming from and more.
An Interview with Gino Sabatini
Gino Sabatini, our Head of Investments, was recently a guest on the Net Lease Observer podcast. In the podcast, Gino discusses: His background in the restaurant business The history of W. P. Carey His view on how the investment market has changed over the years; and His outlook for 2026 and beyond Watch now An interview with Gino Sabatini, W. P. Carey, and Sean Hostert, Net Lease Observer.