In this article, we will discuss the 7 Best “Land Owner” Stocks to Buy for Hard Asset Value.
In an era of digital assets, algorithmic trading, and balance sheets built on intangible intellectual property, the most enduring store of value remains the one that has never been manufactured, replicated, or disrupted by software: the land beneath our feet. As inflation, resource scarcity, urban expansion, and infrastructure development drive demand for hard assets, publicly traded landowner companies are increasingly attracting attention as a unique way to gain exposure to appreciating real estate, natural resources, and long-term economic growth.
Legendary investor Warren Buffett has long favored tangible assets that generate value over decades, while hedge fund billionaire John Paulson has repeatedly argued that real assets can provide powerful protection against inflation and currency debasement. Stanley Druckenmiller has similarly highlighted how supply-demand imbalances in real assets can create significant long-term investment opportunities, particularly when replacement costs continue to increase.
The numbers behind the investment thesis are compelling. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, U.S. farmland values have more than doubled over the past decade, while timberland and resource-rich acreage have historically delivered attractive long-term returns with lower correlations to traditional stocks. Research from NCREIF has shown that institutional-quality farmland has generated annualized returns of roughly 10% over long periods, supported by both land appreciation and income generation.
For investors seeking exposure to hard-asset value, inflation protection, and scarce real estate, landowner stocks offer something increasingly rare in modern markets: ownership of a finite resource that becomes more valuable as the world continues to grow.
With this context in mind, here are the best “land owner” stocks to buy for hard asset value.
Our Methodology
We used stock screeners to identify the best land owner stocks with a short percentage of shares outstanding, less than 3%. We limited our final selection to companies that have recently reported noteworthy developments likely to impact investor sentiment. These stocks are also popular among analysts and elite hedge funds. To make the list easier to navigate, we ranked the stocks in descending order of their short percentage of shares outstanding.
“Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Insider Monkey’s quarterly newsletter strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 599.2% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 372 percentage points ().”
7 Best “Land Owner” Stocks to Buy for Hard Asset Value
7. AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (NYSE:AVB)
Short Percentage of Shares Outstanding: 2.82%
On June 10, Mizuho raised its price target on AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (NYSE:AVB) to $192 from $189 while maintaining a Neutral rating. The firm updated its outlook for apartment real estate investment trusts following improvements in the macroeconomic environment and increasingly supportive private-market data. Mizuho believes the sector is benefiting from stronger fundamentals and expects apartment REITs to continue attracting investor attention as market conditions improve.
Earlier, on May 29, Piper Sandler analyst Alexander Goldfarb raised the firm’s price target on AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (NYSE:AVB) to $195 from $183 while maintaining a Neutral rating. The increase was driven primarily by the company’s pending merger with Equity Residential, which Piper believes could unlock meaningful strategic value. The firm pointed to potential scale advantages, operational efficiencies, and enhanced competitive positioning that may strengthen AvalonBay’s long-term growth profile and improve overall portfolio performance.
Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (NYSE:AVB) is a multifamily real estate investment trust focused on developing, acquiring, and managing high-quality apartment communities in supply-constrained U.S. markets. The company owns a portfolio of residential properties located in regions characterized by strong demographics, high barriers to entry, and favorable long-term housing demand trends.
6. Sun Communities, Inc. (NYSE:SUI)
Short Percentage of Shares Outstanding: 2.59%
On June 5, RBC Capital lowered its price target on Sun Communities, Inc. (NYSE:SUI) to $149 from $151 while maintaining an Outperform rating on the shares. The firm updated its financial model following the company’s recent sale of its U.K. assets. Although the price target adjustment was modest, RBC’s continued Outperform rating reflects its confidence in Sun Communities’ strategic direction and its ability to enhance shareholder value through portfolio optimization initiatives.
On May 29, Wells Fargo lowered its price target on Sun Communities, Inc. (NYSE:SUI) to $142 from $150 while reiterating an Overweight rating on the stock. The firm viewed the sale of the company’s U.K. platform as a significant milestone in its investment thesis, noting that the transaction removes a key overhang that had weighed on investor sentiment. While the sale resulted in a sizable impairment charge, Wells Fargo stated that the transaction pricing was generally in line with expectations and believes the divestiture improves the company’s strategic focus and supports the potential for valuation multiple expansion over time.
Founded in 1975 and headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, Sun Communities, Inc. (NYSE:SUI) operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns, manages, and develops manufactured housing, RV, and marina properties across the US, UK, and Canada. It holds and continually improves high-demand, finite real estate, providing a strong inflationary hedge through consistent, land-lease cash flows and tangible physical assets.
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