Baron Real Estate Income Fund

Welltower Inc. (WELL) is a $100 billion diversified health care owner and manager of senior housing, including assisted and independent living. Core to its strategy is to partner with top-tier operators and health systems while providing operators access to its proprietary data analytics platform.
We are optimistic about the prospects for Welltower given the substantial opportunity for cyclical recovery and continued secular growth in its senior housing business through occupancy and rent growth. The company also benefits from its proven ability to recycle capital at attractive rates of returns, premier health care platform, partnerships with top-tier operators, and well-respected management team focused solely on creating value on a per-share basis.

Prologis, Inc. (PLD) is the world's largest industrial REIT, with a $100 billion global portfolio. 
In our view, industrial real estate fundamentals remain attractive over the next several years, with organic growth among the strongest across real estate asset types. Stabilizing demand—driven by e-commerce growth, inventory building, and the need for infill locations to support last-mile delivery—should help absorb a sharp decline in new supply. We believe Prologis is well positioned to benefit from these favorable fundamentals, supported by its strong assets, markets, management team, and balance sheet.

Equinix, Inc. (EQIX) is a network-neutral operator of more than 270 data centers in 70-plus metro areas across over 30 countries in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. It offers highly reliable facilities and low-latency interconnection among enterprises, networks, and cloud service providers.
Equinix benefits from several long-term secular trends, including increasing internet traffic, IT outsourcing, cloud computing, AI, and mobility. As data and customer needs become more global, Equinix should be able to leverage its leading global data center platform. We believe Equinix can continue to grow through new data center development, rent increases, and the addition of value-added services supplemented by accretive acquisitions that increase market penetration and reach.

The Macerich Company (MAC) is a REIT that owns a high-quality portfolio of mall properties—primarily in California, New York, and Arizona.
Macerich should benefit from favorable real estate fundamentals for high-quality, well-located retail properties, with tenant demand exceeding available space and generating rent growth. The recent appointment of a new CEO to lead Macerich through a multiyear business transformation should help simplify the company’s portfolio, reduce debt, and improve growth prospects. We believe the stock is undervalued and a successful conversion will result in a higher valuation multiple over time.

Boston Properties, Inc. (BXP) is a real estate investment trust that owns, manages, and develops office properties in the United States, with a significant presence in Boston, Washington, D.C., Midtown Manhattan, and San Francisco.
In our view, Boston Properties has the most desirable portfolio in the office sector based on physical structures and location. The company, which was founded in 1970 by Mort Zuckerman and Edward Linde, owns 164 office properties, five retail properties, four residential properties, and one hotel. We think long-term cash flow prospects are strong and the company maintains a strong balance sheet.

Equity Residential (EQR) is the largest U.S. apartment REIT, with over 75,000 units and a portfolio valued at over $35 billion, focused largely on coastal markets such as New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Boston, and San Francisco.
Equity Residential is a blue-chip apartment REIT, with high-quality assets in markets with high barriers to entry, a proven management team, a state-of-the-art operating platform, and a strong balance sheet. Tenant demand for apartments remains strong, driven by low housing inventories and changing demographics. Following a period of decelerating rent growth driven by elevated new construction levels, we think Equity Residential should begin to see stabilizing rent growth.

Blackstone Digital Infrastructure Trust Inc.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (ARE) is the largest pure-play landlord and developer for the life sciences industry. The company designs and improves space for lease to pharmaceutical, biotech, and life sciences companies, universities, and scientific research and government institutions.
In our opinion, Alexandria Real Estate is positioned to benefit from the aging U.S. population, ongoing health care needs, new drugs, and more capital infusions into biotechnology and health care. Core portfolio growth is driven by a mark-to-market growth opportunity, annual rent bumps, and occupancy gains. We think Alexandria has the potential to double in size by building out its development, redevelopment, and land holding pipeline.

UDR, Inc.

Meritage Homes Corporation