SYDNEY, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Diversified real estate investment trust Stockland Corp Ltd SGP.AX posted a 9.4 percent rise in underlying annual profit, helped by strong demand for housing, while its retirement living and logistics businesses were also bouyant.
Underlying profit rose to A$608 million ($446 million) compared to A$555 million a year ago and in line with a A$607 million estimate of 10 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Funds from operations, a measure of underlying and recurring earnings, increased about 15 percent to A$657 million.
Last week, property developer Mirvac Group MGR.AX boosted annual profit by 36 percent and locked in record home pre-sales. It expects booming property markets to drive earnings growth in its residential business over the next 3-5 years. ($1 = 1.3633 Australian dollars)