Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. Reports 2023 Third Quarter Results

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Oct 24, 2023

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. (ROIC, Financial) announced today financial and operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • $8.4 million of net income attributable to common stockholders ($0.07 per diluted share)
  • $36.0 million in Funds From Operations (FFO)(1) ($0.27 per diluted share)
  • FFO per diluted share guidance for 2023 narrowed ($1.05 - $1.07 per diluted share)
  • 8.2% increase in same-center cash net operating income (3Q‘23 vs. 3Q‘22)
  • 98.2% portfolio lease rate at 9/30/23 (vs. 97.8% at 9/30/22)
  • 465,187 square feet of leases executed during 3Q‘23 (new and renewed)
  • 36.0% increase in same-space cash base rents on new leases (7.2% increase on renewals)
  • 1.5 million square feet of leases executed during first nine months of ‘23 (record activity)
  • $350.0 million senior unsecured notes issued (due October 2028, 6.75% coupon)
  • 96.8% of total principal debt outstanding effectively fixed-rate at 9/30/23
  • 6.4x net principal debt-to-annualized EBITDA ratio for 3Q‘23
  • $0.15 per share cash dividend declared

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(1) A reconciliation of GAAP net income to FFO is provided at the end of this press release.

Stuart A. Tanz, President and Chief Executive Officer of Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. stated, “During the third quarter, we continued to build on the leasing momentum that we established in the first of half of 2023. As a result, through the first nine months, we leased a record amount of space. Additionally, we continued to achieve solid releasing rent growth, with the third quarter being our strongest year-to-date in terms of same-space rent increases on both new leases and renewals.” Tanz added, “Looking ahead, we are working towards achieving a solid finish to 2023 and positioning our business and grocery-anchored portfolio for a strong start to 2024.”

FINANCIAL RESULTS SUMMARY

For the three months ended September 30, 2023, GAAP net income attributable to common stockholders was $8.4 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, as compared to GAAP net income attributable to common stockholders of $18.5 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, for the three months ended September 30, 2022. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, GAAP net income attributable to common stockholders was $26.5 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, as compared to GAAP net income attributable to common stockholders of $41.7 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. Included in 2022 GAAP net income was a $7.7 million gain on sale of real estate for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022.

FFO for the third quarter of 2023 was $36.0 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, as compared to $36.5 million in FFO, or $0.27 per diluted share for the third quarter of 2022. FFO for the first nine months of 2023 was $105.4 million, or $0.79 per diluted share, as compared to $109.4 million in FFO, or $0.83 per diluted share for the first nine months of 2022. ROIC reports FFO as a supplemental performance measure in accordance with the definition set forth by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts. A reconciliation of GAAP net income to FFO is provided at the end of this press release.

For the third quarter of 2023, same-center net operating income (NOI) was $55.5 million, as compared to $51.2 million in same-center NOI for the third quarter of 2022, representing an 8.2% increase. For the first nine months of 2023, same-center NOI increased 3.6% as compared to same-center NOI for the first nine months of 2022. ROIC reports same-center comparative NOI on a cash basis. A reconciliation of GAAP operating income to same-center comparative NOI is provided at the end of this press release.

In September 2023, ROIC issued, through its operating partnership, $350.0 million of senior unsecured notes. The notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 6.75% and mature in October 2028. ROIC expects to utilize a portion of the net proceeds to fully retire its operating partnership’s $250.0 million senior notes (due December 2023). Additionally, ROIC utilized a portion of the net proceeds to reduce borrowings outstanding on its unsecured term loan and unsecured revolving credit facility.

At September 30, 2023, ROIC had total real estate assets (before accumulated depreciation) of approximately $3.4 billion and approximately $1.4 billion of net principal debt outstanding (total principal debt less cash and equivalents). For the third quarter of 2023, ROIC’s net principal debt-to-annualized EBITDA ratio was 6.4 times, and 96.8% of its total principal debt outstanding was effectively fixed-rate at September 30, 2023.

PROPERTY OPERATIONS SUMMARY

At September 30, 2023, ROIC’s portfolio was 98.2% leased. During the third quarter of 2023, ROIC executed 95 leases, totaling 465,187 square feet, including 34 new leases, totaling 155,585 square feet, achieving a 36.0% increase in same-space comparative base rent, and 61 renewed leases, totaling 309,602 square feet, achieving a 7.2% increase in base rent. ROIC reports same-space comparative new lease and renewal base rents on a cash basis.

DIVIDEND SUMMARY

On October 6, 2023, ROIC distributed a $0.15 per share cash dividend. On October 24, 2023, the Board declared a cash dividend of $0.15 per share, payable on January 5, 2024 to stockholders of record on December 15, 2023.

2023 GUIDANCE SUMMARY

ROIC currently estimates that GAAP net income for 2023 will be within the range of $0.28 to $0.30 per diluted share, and FFO will be within the range of $1.05 to $1.07 per diluted share.

Year Ended December 31, 2023
Initial (2/15/23)Current
Low EndHigh EndLow EndHigh End
(unaudited, amounts in thousands except per share and percentage data)
GAAP net income applicable to stockholders$43,709$54,526$34,693$37,316
Funds from operations (FFO) – diluted$139,650$150,700$139,860$142,524
GAAP net income per diluted share$0.35$0.43$0.28$0.30
FFO per diluted share$1.05$1.11$1.05$1.07
Key Drivers
General and administrative expenses$23,000$22,000$23,000$22,000
Interest expense and other finance expenses$68,000$73,000$73,250$73,250
Straight-line rent$1,000$1,000$2,000$2,500
Amortization of above- and below-market rent$10,000$10,000$10,000$10,500
Bad debt$5,000$3,000$4,000$3,500
Acquisitions$100,000$200,000$$
Dispositions$200,000$50,000$15,000$
Same-center cash NOI growth2.0%5.0%3.0%4.0%

ROIC’s management will discuss guidance, and the underlying assumptions, on ROIC’s October 25, 2023 conference call. ROIC’s guidance is a forward-looking statement and is subject to risks and other factors noted elsewhere in this press release.

CONFERENCE CALL

ROIC will conduct a conference call to discuss its results on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time / 6:00 a.m. Pacific Time.

To participate in the conference call, click on the following link (ten minutes prior to the call) to register:
https://register.vevent.com/register/BI38ddda3155334a659306e46354049ebd

Once registered, participants will have the option of: 1) dialing in from their phone (using a PIN); or 2) clicking the “Call Me” option to receive an automated call directly to their phone.

The conference call will also be available live (in a listen-only mode) at: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/2hpfahit

The conference call will be recorded and available for replay following the conclusion of the live broadcast and will be accessible up to one year on ROIC’s website, specifically on its Investor Relations Events & Presentations page:
https://investor.roicreit.com/events-presentations

ABOUT RETAIL OPPORTUNITY INVESTMENTS CORP.

Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. ( ROIC), is a fully-integrated, self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT) that specializes in the acquisition, ownership and management of grocery-anchored shopping centers located in densely-populated, metropolitan markets across the West Coast. As of September 30, 2023, ROIC owned 93 shopping centers encompassing approximately 10.6 million square feet. ROIC is the largest publicly-traded, grocery-anchored shopping center REIT focused exclusively on the West Coast. ROIC is a member of the S&P SmallCap 600 Index and has investment-grade corporate debt ratings from Moody's Investor Services, S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings, Inc. Additional information is available at: www.roireit.net.

When used herein, the words "believes," "anticipates," "projects," "should," "estimates," "expects," “guidance” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements with the meaning of that term in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and in Section 21F of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Certain statements contained herein may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results of ROIC to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Information regarding such risks and factors is described in ROIC's filings with the SEC, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is available at: www.roireit.net.

RETAIL OPPORTUNITY INVESTMENTS CORP.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share data)

September 30, 2023
(unaudited)
December 31, 2022
ASSETS
Real Estate Investments:
Land$958,419$958,236
Building and improvements2,476,3892,452,857
3,434,8083,411,093
Less: accumulated depreciation632,087578,593
2,802,7212,832,500
Mortgage note receivable4,7184,786
Real Estate Investments, net2,807,4392,837,286
Cash and cash equivalents205,2605,598
Restricted cash2,2521,861
Tenant and other receivables, net58,92357,546
Deposits500
Acquired lease intangible assets, net45,63652,428
Prepaid expenses1,6275,957
Deferred charges, net28,58526,683
Other assets17,46516,420
Total assets$3,167,187$3,004,279
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities:
Term loan$199,684$299,253
Credit facility88,000
Senior Notes1,293,012946,849
Mortgage notes payable60,27160,917
Acquired lease intangible liabilities, net142,356152,117
Accounts payable and accrued expenses64,46622,885
Tenants’ security deposits7,9937,701
Other liabilities39,50041,959
Total liabilities1,807,2821,619,681
Commitments and contingencies
Equity:
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value 50,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding
Common stock, $0.0001 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized; 126,001,795 and 124,538,811 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively1312
Additional paid-in capital1,628,6631,612,126
Accumulated dividends in excess of earnings(346,260)(315,984)
Accumulated other comprehensive income1,27014
Total Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. stockholders’ equity1,283,6861,296,168
Non-controlling interests76,21988,430
Total equity1,359,9051,384,598
Total liabilities and equity$3,167,187$3,004,279

RETAIL OPPORTUNITY INVESTMENTS CORP.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share data)

Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
2023202220232022
Revenues
Rental revenue$78,273$77,420$236,902$229,675
Other income3,4726186,1793,061
Total revenues81,74578,038243,081232,736
Operating expenses
Property operating13,21012,705