Metope In The News

Two years ago, South African real estate hardly featured in local wealth and pension portfolios. But the tide is turning as investors plunge back into the asset class with fresh vigour. Liliane Barnard, portfolio manager of the Metope Property Income Prescient Fund, the top domestic property unit trust over one year according to figures for the 12 months to February 19 from FundsData, shares her views.

Real estate investment trust Vukile is cementing its reputation as a shrewd capital allocator as it ramps up its European shopping spree. Metope investment analyst Curwin Rittles comments.

Metope shares its 2026 Outlook for the South African listed property. The investment team looks back at 2025, highlighting that the sector once again delivered exceptional returns in 2025, with South African listed property generating a total return of approximately 30.5%, following the 29.8% gain recorded in 2024.  Performance was supported by a materially more stable macroeconomic environment and a clear improvement in underlying fundamentals. Looking ahead to 2026, Metope expect sector returns to be more earnings-led, underpinned by ongoing real rental growth, the contribution from embedded escalations, further efficiency gains, and the continued rollout of renewable energy initiatives.

Among SA's listed property fund classes tracked by FundsData, the Metope Property Income Prescient fund took the top spot in 2025, with its class B units returning 36.7% followed by the class A units delivering 36.5% last year, CityWire SA reported in its review of property unit trust returns last year. Run by property veteran Liliane Barnard, the R45.3m fund counts the Dipula Income, Emira Property and Equites Property funds among its three largest holdings.

Vukile Property Fund's winning streak has been supported by above-market earnings and dividend growth. In its recent pre-close update, management confirmed it was on track to deliver “at least” 8% dividend growth for the year to end-March 2026 — well ahead of the sector average of 3%-5%. Investment analyst at Metope, Curwin Rittles, gives his outlook on the stock.

Hyprop Investments, whose SA portfolio includes Canal Walk and Table Bay Mall in Cape Town, and Clearwater Mall, Rosebank Mall and Hyde Park Corner in Johannesburg, has delivered a 7.5% increase in distributable income for the year - driven by double-digit growth in SA and Eastern Europe. Curwin Rittles, analyst at Metope, shares his views on the latest results.

Lighthouse Properties’ latest results reaffirm why South African investors should be exposed to Spain and Portugal, where consumers are still shopping up a storm. Metope analyst Curwin Rittles comments.

Metope's investment team gives its mid-year update for 2025.

The link between property returns and reliable municipal infrastructure is becoming increasingly evident in the Reit sector. Curwin Rittles, investment analyst at Metope, shares his views.

South Africa-based Vukile Property Fund, which has become one of the largest retail landlords in Spain and Portugal, tests fresh highs as it bags six Iberian retail deals worth more than R12bn in seven months. Metope investment analyst Curwin Rittles comments.