Ernest S. Rady Increases Stake in American Assets Trust Amid Price Surge
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 3 days ago
0mins
Source: Fool
- Share Acquisition: Ernest S. Rady executed an open-market purchase of 10,000 shares of American Assets Trust on June 15, 2026, at approximately $24.21 per share, totaling $242,100, indicating his confidence in the company's future prospects.
- Ownership Structure: Post-transaction, Rady holds 66,680 shares directly, while his indirect holdings through various family and corporate entities total 13,482,763 shares, maintaining a diversified investment structure.
- Market Performance: The purchase price was close to the market close of $24.28 on June 15, 2026, suggesting that the transaction occurred near prevailing market valuations, reflecting Rady's recognition of the company's value.
- Investor Signal: Rady has acquired nearly 560,000 shares of AAT in 2026, and his continued buying behavior signals a bullish outlook on the REIT, especially given the strong performance in multifamily rents and Hawaii hotel operations.
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Analyst Views on AAT
Wall Street analysts forecast AAT stock price to fall
1 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 23.850
Low
20.00
Averages
20.00
High
20.00
Current: 23.850
Low
20.00
Averages
20.00
High
20.00
About AAT
American Assets Trust, Inc. is a full service, vertically integrated and self-administered real estate investment trust (REIT). The Company is engaged in acquiring, improving, developing and managing office, retail, and residential properties throughout the United States in high-barrier-to-entry markets primarily in Southern California, Northern California, Washington, Oregon, Texas and Hawaii. The Company's office portfolio comprises approximately 4.1 million rentable square feet, and its retail portfolio comprises approximately 2.4 million rentable square feet. In addition, it owns one mixed-use property (including approximately 94,000 rentable square feet of retail space and a 369-room all-suite hotel) and 2,302 multifamily units. The Company's properties include Alamo Quarry Market, La Jolla Commons, Carmel Country Plaza, and Waikiki Beach Walk Retail, Embassy Suites Hotel, Carmel Mountain Plaza, Corporate Campus East III, Gateway Marketplace, Imperial Beach Gardens, and others.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- LTC Properties Investment: LTC Properties is shifting towards REIT investment diversification structures, expecting its 'senior housing operating portfolio' to comprise 45% of total asset value, which stabilizes share prices and attracts more investor interest.
- American Assets Trust: Founder Ernest Rady purchased approximately 50,000 shares in the past two weeks, and despite facing vacancy issues, management indicates that the operating environment is improving, which may enhance shareholder returns in the future.
- TXO Partners Investment: TXO Partners founder Bob Simpson bought 600,000 shares for over $8 million in early June, and despite distribution volatility, its 11.3% yield continues to attract investor attention, reflecting confidence in the company's long-term growth.
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- Share Acquisition: Ernest S. Rady executed an open-market purchase of 10,000 shares of American Assets Trust on June 15, 2026, at approximately $24.21 per share, totaling $242,100, indicating his confidence in the company's future prospects.
- Ownership Structure: Post-transaction, Rady holds 66,680 shares directly, while his indirect holdings through various family and corporate entities total 13,482,763 shares, maintaining a diversified investment structure.
- Market Performance: The purchase price was close to the market close of $24.28 on June 15, 2026, suggesting that the transaction occurred near prevailing market valuations, reflecting Rady's recognition of the company's value.
- Investor Signal: Rady has acquired nearly 560,000 shares of AAT in 2026, and his continued buying behavior signals a bullish outlook on the REIT, especially given the strong performance in multifamily rents and Hawaii hotel operations.
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- Share Acquisition: Ernest S. Rady purchased 10,000 shares of American Assets Trust on June 15, 2026, at approximately $24.21 per share, totaling around $242,000, which increased his direct holdings to 66,680 shares and indirect holdings to 13,482,763 shares, indicating strong confidence in the company's future.
- Consistent Buying: Rady has acquired over 560,000 shares in 2026, demonstrating his bullish outlook on American Assets Trust, especially as the stock approaches its highest price since November 2024, reflecting his strong belief in the REIT's potential.
- Market Performance: The company has seen a 27% increase in stock price over the past year, and Rady's purchases align with strong multifamily rents, better-than-expected rent payments, and robust tourism at its Hawaii properties, further bolstering market confidence in its future performance.
- Investment Strategy: Rady's acquisitions not only signal optimism about the company's prospects but also reflect his extensive experience in the real estate market and commitment to long-term value creation, indicating that he will continue to leverage active asset management and acquisition strategies to maintain the company's competitive edge.
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- Share Acquisition: Executive Chairman Ernest Rady purchased 10,000 shares of American Assets Trust at $23.40 per share on June 1, 2026, totaling approximately $234,000, indicating his bullish outlook on the company's future.
- Ownership Structure: Rady retains a total of 13,509,443 shares (both direct and indirect), with the majority held indirectly through trusts and foundations, underscoring his confidence in the company's long-term growth potential.
- Market Impact: Rady's purchase helped propel American Assets Trust's stock price to a 52-week high of $24.11 on June 5, reflecting optimistic market sentiment regarding the company's future performance.
- Financial Forecast: The company reported a first-quarter FFO of $0.51 per diluted share, with a full-year 2026 forecast of $1.96 to $2.10 per share; while the dividend yield stands at 5.75%, investors may prefer to wait for a price dip before buying in.
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- Share Purchase Transaction: Ernest Rady purchased 10,000 shares of American Assets Trust on June 1, 2026, for approximately $234,000 at a price of $23.40 per share, indicating his bullish outlook on the company's future prospects.
- Ownership Stake Changes: Following this transaction, Rady's direct holdings increased to 66,680 shares, with indirect holdings totaling 13,442,763 shares, bringing his total ownership to 13,509,443 shares, which represents about 0.49% of his combined holdings, reflecting his confidence in the company's ongoing growth.
- Market Performance Impact: Rady's purchase coincided with a rise in the company's stock price, reaching a 52-week high of $24.11 on June 5, suggesting increased market confidence in the REIT, which aligns with its first-quarter FFO of $0.51 per diluted share.
- Investor Considerations: While American Assets Trust boasts a robust dividend yield of 5.75%, investors may want to wait for a price dip before entering, given that shares are currently hovering near their historical highs, to optimize their investment strategy.
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- Stable Financial Performance: In Q1 2026, American Assets Trust reported FFO per diluted share of $0.51 and net income of $0.08 per share, indicating a stable performance within expectations despite market uncertainties.
- Credit Facility Expansion: The company successfully increased its unsecured credit facility from $400 million to $500 million and extended the maturity to April 2030, enhancing financial flexibility to support future investments and operations.
- Active Leasing Activity: During the quarter, approximately 237,000 square feet of office leases were executed with cash leasing spreads of 4.8% and straight-line spreads of 10.6%, reflecting ongoing market demand, although the upcoming vacancy from Genentech may impact future leasing targets.
- Rising Dividend Payout Ratio: The first quarter dividend payout ratio was approximately 111%, primarily driven by leasing-related capital expenditures, with expectations that the ratio will moderate as leases commence and convert to cash rent, reflecting confidence in future cash flows.
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