Key Insights Presented at the 2025 REIT Investor Relations Symposium

The recent 2025 REIT Investor Relations Symposium, hosted by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nareit, took place on June 2 in New York City ahead of Nareit’s REITweek: 2025 Investor Conference. Bringing together over 100 REIT Investor Relations (IR) professionals representing nearly 70 REITs, the symposium provided a platform for insightful panel discussions covering various timely topics.
One of the key sessions, “The Political Climate in 2025,” featured David Bockorny, executive chairman and CEO of The Bockorny Group, who discussed the uncertainties surrounding trade policies, the status of the tax reconciliation bill, and provisions that could impact REITs, along with insights on the upcoming 2026 mid-term elections. Subsequent discussions in the event delved into market research on effective REIT messaging, the significance of communicating with REIT boards, understanding the parameters for index inclusion, and providing an outlook on the capital markets.
Matthew Bechard, Executive Vice President of Communications and Industry Affairs at Nareit, shared key takeaways from Nareit’s market research on effective REIT messaging during the session “Market Research from Capitol Hill.” Bechard highlighted the importance of using simple language to narrate a compelling story, starting with the basics of investing and the significance of commercial real estate investments, before delving into REIT specifics and their benefits.
“Lessons from the Board Room,” another session, focused on effective communication with REIT boards. Moderated by Jill Sawyer, senior vice president of investor relations at Federal Realty Investment Trust, the session featured insights from industry experts like David Henry, co-founder of Peaceable Street Capital, and board member of Healthcare Realty Trust and Starwood Real Estate Income Trust, among others. Panelists emphasized the essential attributes of an efficient IR professional, such as the ability to be persuasive, possessing deep valuation knowledge, contextualizing REIT performance within macroeconomic landscapes, delivering concise messaging, and adapting to different communication environments.
In discussing “Understanding Index Inclusion Criteria,” panelists like Alexa Marymor from the NYSE and Joti Rana from LSEG provided a detailed insight into index methodologies, differences between active and passive investing, and the evolving landscape of passive investing. They shed light on the specific criteria that indices consider when deciding on adding a company to their index, encompassing factors like a company’s structure, market cap, price thresholds, free float levels, and sector alignment.
The final session, “REIT and CRE Market Outlook,” led by Mike Reinking, Senior Market Strategist and Head of the MAC Desk at NYSE, offered insights into the capital market’s response to recent events, including the emergence of AI, the presidential election’s impact, tariff policies, potential tax changes, and rising long-term interest rates. The symposium concluded with a reception to kick off a packed week of meetings during Nareit’s REITweek: 2025 Investor Conference. Corporate members interested in attending the forthcoming tenth annual REIT IR Symposium in 2026 can reach out to Nareit for more information.