Investing.com -- Shares of Unite Group (LON:UTG) climbed more than 2% on Tuesday, following its earnings, which reaffirmed strong rental growth and a solid financial outlook.
Analysts at Morgan Stanley noted that the student accommodation provider delivered "another set of strong results," with market rent increasing by 9% in 2024 and a total NAV-based return reaching 10%.
The company reported a net asset value (NAV) per share of 972 pence, a 6% increase year over year.
While this figure came slightly below Morgan Stanley’s estimate of 978 pence, it still placed the stock at a 12% discount relative to its NAV.
Investors reacted positively to the news, particularly as Unite announced a final dividend of 24.9 pence per share, bringing the total payout for the year to 37.3 pence—an increase of 5% from the previous year.
Unite’s portfolio valuation saw a 5% like-for-like increase, in line with expectations, as robust rental growth helped counteract a minor expansion in yields.
The company’s reported portfolio yield stood at 5.1% at the end of 2024. Operationally, Unite continues to demonstrate resilience, with occupancy levels remaining high at 98% for the 2024/25 academic year and rental growth projections maintained at 4-5% for 2025/26.
For the 2025/26 academic year, the company has secured 70% occupancy of its student accommodations, a metric they interpret as a return to typical demand levels after a particularly robust previous year.
They also confirmed their 2025 EPS forecast, projecting a 2% to 4% increase, resulting in 47.5 to 48.3 pence, which is slightly above market expectations.
Morgan Stanley remains optimistic about Unite’s prospects, maintaining an "overweight" rating on the stock.
The brokerage flags the company’s “visible, repeatable income yield" and its strong position in a high-demand sector.
While some of these strengths are already reflected in its valuation, analysts argue that the shares could continue to re-rate higher in the medium term given the company’s track record of delivering sustainable returns above sector averages.