FTSE 100-listed real estate investment trust Land Securities Group PLC (LSE:LAND) improved its return on equity in the six months ending 30 September, although this key performance metric remains significantly below target.
LandSec delivered a 3.9% total return on equity, which represents the profitability for shareholders’ contributions, in the period.
This is a substantial improvement from the negative returns shareholders copped in the previous financial year, though it is still materially below LandSec’s target to deliver an 8-10% annual return.
LandSec’s property portfolio mainly consists of commercial offices and retail spaces in central London and other major urban centres.
The post-Covid recovery has been difficult for LandSec, although accelerating return-to-office trends have started to materialise.
At 96%, “our occupancy is now higher than it was before Covid”, said LandSec.
“We have continued to reposition our portfolio towards higher-return opportunities and are confident of deploying further capital towards this in the second half. Having managed our balance sheet well as markets corrected, we are now well placed to deliver growth and attractive returns," stated chief executive Mark Allan.
LanSec delivered an 18.6p dividend per share in the first half, representing a 2.2% year-on-year increase.