Veris Residential, Inc. (VRE): A Bull Case Theory

We came across a bullish thesis on Veris Residential, Inc. on Colubeat Investment Desk’s Substack. In this article, we will summarize the bulls’ thesis on VRE. Veris Residential, Inc.'s share was trading at $16.84 as of February 17th. VRE’s trailing P/E was 26.40 according to Yahoo Finance.

Veris Residential (NYSE:VRE) represents a compelling mispriced opportunity in the high-end residential REIT space. Historically associated with Mack-Cali and its struggling office assets, the market has largely ignored Veris’s successful transformation into a “pure play” luxury residential operator, leaving its stock essentially flat over the past five years despite superior fundamentals.

The company now owns a portfolio of young, high-quality properties with an average age of just nine years, significantly reducing recurring CapEx compared with older peers, allowing a larger share of rental income to flow to the bottom line. Tenant quality further supports stability, with an average household income of over $390,000 and a rent-to-income ratio of only 12.9%, providing strong coverage and flexibility for potential rent increases without impacting affordability.

Valuation remains highly attractive, as shares trade below replacement cost for these assets, creating a natural margin of safety. Management, led by CEO Mahbod Nia, has focused on simplifying the business, divesting legacy office assets, and reducing debt, positioning the company for either continued organic growth or a potential acquisition by private equity players seeking a ready-made luxury residential portfolio in a high-demand market.

Geographic positioning in Jersey City amplifies these advantages, benefiting from Manhattan’s halted new construction, local regulatory headwinds that increase costs for older buildings, and tax arbitrage that attracts high-income tenants. With limited downside, structurally lower expenses, a high-quality tenant base, and the potential for strategic transactions, Veris offers investors both safety and upside, making the current market price a significant discount to the intrinsic value of its transformed, luxury-focused portfolio.