Federal Realty Investment Trust Announces First Quarter 2024 Operating Results

NORTH BETHESDA, Md., May 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE:FRT) today reported operating results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2024. For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, net income available for common shareholders was $0.66 per diluted share and $0.65 per diluted share, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, operating income was $100.2 million and $95.8 million, respectively.

Highlights for the first quarter include:

• Generated funds from operations available to common shareholders (FFO) per diluted share of $1.64 for the quarter, compared to $1.59 for the first quarter 2023, an increase of 3.1% year-over-year.
• Generated comparable property operating income (POI) growth of 3.8% for the first quarter excluding lease termination fees and prior period rents collected.
• Record levels of leasing with 104 signed leases for 566,865 square feet of comparable retail space in the first quarter, the highest first quarter volume on record, at a cash basis rollover growth of 9% and 20% on a straight line basis.
• Federal Realty's portfolio was 92.0% occupied and 94.3% leased at quarter end.
• Continued strong small shop leasing, ending the quarter at 91.4% leased, the highest level since 2015, and an increase of 70 basis points quarter-over-quarter and 140 basis points year-over-year.
• Tightened and raised 2024 earnings per diluted share guidance to $2.74 - $2.94, 2024 FFO per diluted share guidance to $6.67 - $6.87 and 2024 comparable properties growth excluding lease termination fees and prior period rents collected assumption to 2.75% - 4%.

"Federal Realty's strong start to 2024 is highlighted by our highest first-quarter leasing volume on record, surpassing 566,000 square feet of comparable retail space signed," said Donald C. Wood, Federal Realty's Chief Executive Officer. "In addition, we successfully executed leases for approximately 190,000 square feet of office space during the quarter at our premier mixed-use destinations. This robust demand underscores that our best-in-class shopping center and mixed-use offerings are the preferred choice for modern consumers, retailers, office employees, and corporate decision-makers when considering the future of their successful businesses."

Financial Results

Net Income

For the first quarter 2024, net income available for common shareholders was $54.7 million and earnings per diluted share was $0.66 versus $53.3 million and $0.65, respectively, for the first quarter 2023.

FFO

For the first quarter 2024, FFO was $136.7 million, or $1.64 per diluted share, compared to $130.3 million, or $1.59 per diluted share for the first quarter 2023.

FFO is a non-GAAP supplemental earnings measure which the Trust considers meaningful in measuring its operating performance.  A reconciliation of FFO to net income is attached to this press release.

Operational Update

Occupancy

The portfolio was 92.0% occupied and 94.3% leased as of March 31, 2024. Small shop leased rate was 91.4% as of March 31, 2024, an increase of 70 basis points quarter-over-quarter and 140 basis points year-over-year.

Additionally, our residential properties were 96.3% leased as of March 31, 2024.

Leasing Activity

During the first quarter 2024, Federal Realty signed 111 leases for 587,329 square feet of retail space. On a comparable space basis (i.e., spaces for which there was a former tenant), Federal Realty signed 104 leases for 566,865 square feet at an average rent of $36.39 per square foot compared to the average contractual rent of $33.30 per square foot for the last year of the prior leases, representing a cash basis rollover growth on those comparable spaces of 9%, 20% on a straight-line basis. Comparable leases represented 94% of total comparable and non-comparable retail leases signed during the first quarter 2024.

Regular Quarterly Dividends

Federal Realty announced today that its Board of Trustees declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $1.09 per common share, resulting in an indicated annual rate of $4.36 per common share. The regular common dividend will be payable on July 15, 2024 to common shareholders of record as of June 21, 2024.

Federal Realty's Board of Trustees also declared a quarterly cash dividend on its Class C depositary shares, each representing 1/1000 of a 5.000% Series C Cumulative Preferred Share of Beneficial Interest, of $0.3125 per depositary share. All dividends on the depositary shares will be payable on July 15, 2024 to shareholders of record as of July 1, 2024.

2024 Guidance

Federal Realty has updated its 2024 guidance, as summarized in the table below:

Conference Call Information

Federal Realty's management team will present an in-depth discussion of Federal Realty's operating performance on its first quarter 2024 earnings conference call, which is scheduled for Thursday, May 2, 2024 at 5:00 PM ET.  To participate, please call 1-877-407-9208 or 1-201-493-6784 five to ten minutes prior to the call start time.  The teleconference can also be accessed via a live webcast at www.federalrealty.com in the Investors section. A replay of the webcast will be available on Federal Realty's website at www.federalrealty.com. A telephonic replay of the conference call will also be available through May 16, 2024 by dialing 1-844-512-2921 or 1-412-317-6671; Passcode: 13745637.

About Federal Realty

Federal Realty is a recognized leader in the ownership, operation and redevelopment of high-quality retail-based properties located primarily in major coastal markets from Washington, D.C. to Boston as well as San Francisco and Los Angeles. Founded in 1962, Federal Realty's mission is to deliver long-term, sustainable growth through investing in communities where retail demand exceeds supply. Its expertise includes creating urban, mixed-use neighborhoods like Santana Row in San Jose, California, Pike & Rose in North Bethesda, Maryland and Assembly Row in Somerville, Massachusetts. These unique and vibrant environments that combine shopping, dining, living and working provide a destination experience valued by their respective communities. Federal Realty's 102 properties include approximately 3,300 tenants, in 26 million commercial square feet, and approximately 3,100 residential units. 

Federal Realty has increased its quarterly dividends to its shareholders for 56 consecutive years, the longest record in the REIT industry. Federal Realty is an S&P 500 index member and its shares are traded on the NYSE under the symbol FRT. For additional information about Federal Realty and its properties, visit www.federalrealty.com.

Safe Harbor Language

Certain matters discussed within this Press Release may be deemed to be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Although Federal Realty believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained. These factors include, but are not limited to, the risk factors described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 12, 2024 and include the following:

• risks that our tenants will not pay rent, may vacate early or may file for bankruptcy or that we may be unable to renew leases or re-let space at favorable rents as leases expire or to fill existing vacancy;
• risks that we may not be able to proceed with or obtain necessary approvals for any development, redevelopment or renovation project, and that completion of anticipated or ongoing property development, redevelopment or renovation projects that we do pursue may cost more, take more time to complete or fail to perform as expected;
• risks normally associated with the real estate industry, including risks that occupancy levels at our properties and the amount of rent that we receive from our properties may be lower than expected, that new acquisitions may fail to perform as expected, that competition for acquisitions could result in increased prices for acquisitions, that costs associated with the periodic maintenance and repair or renovation of space, insurance and other operations may increase, that environmental issues may develop at our properties and result in unanticipated costs, and, because real estate is illiquid, that we may not be able to sell properties when appropriate;
• risks that our growth will be limited if we cannot obtain additional capital, or if the costs of capital we obtain are significantly higher than historical levels;
• risks associated with general economic conditions, including inflation and local economic conditions in our geographic markets;
• risks of financing on terms which are acceptable to us, our ability to meet existing financial covenants and the limitations imposed on our operations by those covenants, and the possibility of increases in interest rates that would result in increased interest expense;
• risks related to our status as a real estate investment trust, commonly referred to as a REIT, for federal income tax purposes, such as the existence of complex tax regulations relating to our status as a REIT, the effect of future changes in REIT requirements as a result of new legislation, and the adverse consequences of the failure to qualify as a REIT; and
• risks related to natural disasters, climate change and public health crises (such as the outbreak and worldwide spread of COVID-19), and the measures that international, federal, state and local governments, agencies, law enforcement and/or health authorities implement to address them, may precipitate or materially exacerbate one or more of the above-mentioned risks, and may significantly disrupt or prevent us from operating our business in the ordinary course for an extended period.

Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements that we make, including those in this Press Release. Except as required by law, we make no promise to update any of the forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. You should review the risks contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 12, 2024.

SOURCE Federal Realty Investment Trust