Clas stays upbeat on US student housing despite 15% drop in segment’s H2 gross profit

[SINGAPORE] The managers of CapitaLand Ascott Trust (Clas) said they remain optimistic on the US student housing market even as gross profit from the segment fell 15 per cent year on year in the second half of FY2025. 

In an earnings briefing on Friday (Jan 30) morning, after the results release the night before, chief executive of the managers Serena Teo pointed to temporary supply shocks and “execution” factors for the decline in gross profit, rather than a deterioration in demand fundamentals.

For one, the university markets that Clas has targeted have attracted more competition due to strong enrolment growth and rising room rates.