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University of Mississippi

The 50th Anniversary of REITs: a Triple Case Study With Financial Analysis

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>On September 14th, 2010, the REIT industry celebrated its 50th Anniversary. Only three REITs that were there in the beginning still exist today: Washington Real Estate Investment Trust, Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust, and Winthrop Realty Trust (formerly known as First Union Real Estate Equity and Mortgage Investments). This study provides a historical recap of the first fifty years of the REIT industry with a review of its rules and underlying tax legislation. In addition, it provides a historical review of the three successful companies that have been in the industry throughout its entire existence. Quantitative analysis was performed through the computation of specific ratios relevant to the REIT industry from 1961 through 2010, utilizing data from Compustat, SNL Financial, and hand-collected data. In addition, ANOVA testing was performed to identify significant differences in the ratios for the three specific companies and all the other companies in the industry. Qualitative analysis was performed through review of historical documents and interviews with company management. Specific qualitative and quantitative factors were identified for each company, even though those factors may not have been the same for all three companies. The main finding from this research is that a company that can establish its identity, hire strong management, know its market, and concentrate its focus on particular financial measures and goals will be the company that will survive while other companies fail.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Ph.D. in Accountancy
Level thesis:degree_level
Dissertation
Year dc:date.available
2012

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • White, Barbara Sumrall
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Dale Flesher
  • Matthew D. Hill
  • J. R. Shaw

Subjects

dc:subject × 7

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/307
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:egrove.olemiss.edu:etd-1306

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of Mississippi
Base URL
egrove.olemiss.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

White, Barbara Sumrall. The 50th Anniversary of REITs: a Triple Case Study With Financial Analysis. Dissertation thesis, 2012. https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/307