Global retail REITs in the post-COVID era: strategic adaptations and emerging investment opportunities

Purpose This paper examines structural changes in retail property post-COVID-19 through the lens of international REITs, identifying strategic adaptations, durable shifts and emerging investment opportunities in line with evolving consumer behaviors and economic trends. Design/methodology/approach A comparative case study of 24 retail REITs across 10 countries (2018–2024) uses financial filings, annual reports and market data to analyze performance metrics (e.g. NOI, FFO, occupancy) and strategic responses, employing temporal and cross-sectional analyses. Findings COVID-19 accelerated pre-existing trends like e-commerce penetration and demographic shifts (e.g. suburban migration), leading to durable changes such as bifurcation into convenience- and experience-based formats, omnichannel integration and mixed-use repurposing. REITs with essential tenants and low leverage (e.g. Realty Income, Link REIT) showed superior resilience, yielding investment opportunities in net lease consolidation and last-mile logistics. Regional variations highlight faster Asian recovery versus European lags. Practical implications Investors should prioritize format-specific allocations (e.g. grocery-anchored centers); managers focus on digital/tenant curation; policymakers facilitate public/private partnerships for adaptive reuse. Originality/value This study provides a global, multi-dimensional REIT analysis linking pandemic adaptations to investment returns, addressing gaps in cross-market durability and opportunities like hybrid retail viability.