Nareit's REIT Report Podcast

BREEAM Sees Growing Need for Data to Ensure Sustainability Performance Matches Investment Thesis

Breana Wheeler, director of U.S. operations at BREEAM, joined the REIT Report to discuss the evolving landscape of sustainability in real estate, including how investor expectations are shifting to performance-based frameworks that emphasize data and measurable outcomes.BREEAM is a Nareit Real Estate Sustainability Partner for 2026.Wheeler noted that capital providers and investors “are really looking for the data and performance that can validate the claims being made about sustainability risk and opportunity.” BREEAM’s focus on carbon emissions and resilience metrics is highlighted as a critical factor in asset valuation and risk management, particularly in light of increasing regulations and climate risks. Wheeler emphasized that resilience isn't about a single building. “True resilience is a team sport. It's not just thinking about your asset, it's about your block, your neighborhood, and your broader community. The willingness to tackle physical risk and mitigate at the community level is critical,” she said.

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REITs Set for Growth Amid Favorable Supply, Rate Backdrop: AEW’s Gina Szymanski

Jan 2900:17:38Tap to summarize

Gina Szymanski, chief investment officer at AEW Capital Management’s global securities business, joined the latest episode of the REIT Report to share her insights into the year ahead. She noted that REITs are facing a favorable macroeconomic backdrop marked by good demand, moderating supply, and stable interest rates.“The setup for us is great. and I would highly recommend the average investor take a look at REITs,” Szymanski said. “We're experiencing some of the best growth that we've ever experienced,” she added.For the most part, the sectors that AEW has been overweight in are still favorites, Szymanski said. Number one on that list is senior housing, where AEW has been overweight across the globe. Data centers are in second place, followed by retail. Industrial remains “on the margin,” she added.

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Prologis Sees Greater Focus on Supply Chain Adaptability in 2026

Jan 2200:14:51Tap to summarize

Melinda McLaughlin, global head of research at Prologis, Inc. (NYSE: PLD), joined the REIT Report to review major supply chain trends expected for 2026. McLaughlin discussed the performance of international logistics markets, the impact of e-commerce on leasing demand, the growing power needs of logistics facilities, emerging trends in defense-related demand, and the challenges faced by the trucking industry. The conversation highlighted the need for adaptability in supply chains as companies navigate a changing landscape. “I think there's an acknowledgement that supply chains need to be adaptable rather than continue to wait for perfect information. And I think that's really going to shape a return to normal in a lot of different spheres of the logistics real estate market,” McLaughlin said.

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REITs Positioned to Embark on Growth Journey in 2026

Jan 1500:10:21Tap to summarize

Nareit’s Senior Vice President for Research Ed Pierzak and Nareit Vice President for Index Management and Industry Information John Barwick joined the REIT Report to highlight key themes and trends in Nareit’s 2026 REIT Outlook.Pierzak discussed the dual divergences at play between REITs and broader equities and REITs and private real estate. Each provides an opportunity for REITs to outperform, he said. At the same time, REIT balance sheets point to access to capital, putting the sector in a “great position to really embark on a growth opportunity in 2026,” alongside signs of a thawing in the transaction market, Pierzak said.Meanwhile, Barwick discussed global REIT performance, noting that currency movements were a significant tailwind for U.S.-based investors in 2025 as a weaker dollar bolstered the performance of international assets. For U.S. investors, strong local returns in developed Asia and developed Europe were further boosted when translated back into dollars, which widened the performance gap with North America, Barwick noted.Read the 2026 REIT outlook: https://www.reit.com/news/blog/market-commentary/2026-reit-outlook-trends-and-strategies

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