The investment attributes of Mexico REITs as a listed property investment vehicle

PurposeMexico REITs are a significant and important REIT market, both in a regional and in emerging property market context. As one of the few emerging economies in the world with an active REIT market, Mexico REITs are specifically designed to provide an effective pathway to participate in the investment opportunities offered by the Mexico commercial property market for both domestic and international investors. Importantly, Mexico REITs provide additional property investment benefits such as a high degree of transparency, governance and liquidity. The main focus of this research is to highlight the significance of Mexico REITs and assess their performance dynamics, as well as the added-value benefits of Mexico REITs in mixed-asset investment portfolios.Design/methodology/approachUsing monthly total returns, the risk-adjusted performance and portfolio diversification potential of Mexico REITs over April 2011–December 2019 were assessed. A constrained mean-variance portfolio optimisation framework was used to develop a three-asset portfolio scenario using the historical returns, risk and correlation of Mexico REITs and the other two major financial assets.FindingsDespite being more volatile than the mainstream asset classes, Mexico REITs delivered the strongest risk-adjusted performance versus stocks and bonds over April 2011–December 2019, which was made possible by the high premium of their total return performance. Notably, Mexico REITs offered excellent diversification potential with bonds, whilst demonstrating a marginal positive correlation with the stock market. These investment attributes of Mexico REITs have brought immediate benefits towards their ability to add value to the Mexico mixed-asset portfolio fabric across a wide portfolio risk–return spectrum.Practical implicationsWhilst their initial establishment in 2004 was considered unsuccessful, the ongoing regulatory improvements have been pivotal in providing a supportive investment environment to nurture the organic growth of Mexico REITs. This now sees the Mexico REIT market as an exemplar of success for REIT establishments amongst its peers in the Latin American region, as well as for emerging economies worldwide. Mexico REITs are now an important REIT market, as the second largest emerging REIT market in the world. The empirical investigation of this research has established the investment attributes of Mexico REITs as a listed property investment vehicle. The strong risk-adjusted performance of Mexico REITs compared to stocks and bonds sees Mexico REITs contributing to the mixed-asset portfolio across the portfolio risk–return spectrum. This is particularly important as it provides insights into the broader strategic implications of Mexico REITs as an effective, transparent and tax-efficient conduit for high-quality Latin American property exposure in a liquid format.Originality/valueThis paper is the first published empirical research that elucidates the investment attributes of Mexico REITs, highlighting their significance, risk-adjusted and portfolio performance enhancement role as an emerging REIT market. The main outcome of this research enables empirically validated, more informed and practical property investment decision-making regarding the strategic role of Mexico REITs in an investment portfolio.