"In bear markets, a traditional safe haven for investors has been to seek out stocks with high dividend yields and ideally the potential for share-price appreciation," notes Bill Martin.

In his exceptional trading and investing service, BullMarket.com, he notes, "One of our favorites for income is Hospitality Properties Trust (NYSE: HPT), a real estate investment trust, which offers an 8.5% yield.

"Hospitality Properties Trust invests in hotels and travel centers, the latter being otherwise known as truck stops. If it doesn't sound very glamorous, this REIT nonetheless currently pays a $3.08 a share annual dividend, good for a pre-tax 8.5% yield with the stock trading in the mid-$30s range.

"It buys hotels principally for income and secondarily for appreciation potential. All of its properties are run under long-term combination agreements that usually require the operators to pay the company minimum returns or rent plus a share of the increased cash flows realized over time.

"It doesn't favor any one hotel brand, operating under such names as Hyatt Place, Spring Hill Suites, Marriott Residence Inn, Radisson, Staybridge Suites, Crowne Plaza, and Courtyard hotels.

Continue reading Income seekers sleep easy at Hospitality Properties (HPT)

Income seekers sleep easy at Hospitality Properties (HPT) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In his Forbes/Slatin Real Estate Report, editor Peter Slatin recently interviewed Amit Kapoor of Gabelli Asset Management, whose specialty is the hotel/hospitality segment of the broader real estate sector. Here are highlights from the interview, in which Kapoor looks at Orient-Express (NYSE: OEH), a premium property operator.

Forbes/Slatin: "As several recent reports have indicated, hotel stocks are continuing their strong performance while the current wave of privatization and consolidation also shows no sign of abating. What are the basic reasons behind your bullishness on the sector?

Amit Kapoor: Overall, momentum and fundamentals in the hotel market are very strong. The supply is limited and it will be at least two years before significant supply comes on line and starts affecting revPAR growth.

Forbes/Slatin: You've just released a very positive report on Orient-Express. What do you like in particular?

Continue reading Gabelli analyst rides on Orient-Express

Gabelli analyst rides on Orient-Express originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 27 Mar 2007 13:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.