Saul Centers, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2024 Earnings

BETHESDA, Md., Aug. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Saul Centers, Inc. (NYSE: BFS), an equity real estate investment trust (“REIT”), announced operating results for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 (“2024 Quarter”).  Total revenue for the 2024 Quarter increased to $66.9 million from $63.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023 (“2023 Quarter”).  Net income increased to $19.5 million for the 2024 Quarter from $17.2 million for the 2023 Quarter primarily due to (a) higher lease termination fees of $1.6 million, (b) higher commercial base rent of $0.8 million and (c) higher residential base rent of $0.3 million, partially offset by (d) a lease termination fee paid to a tenant of $0.3 million. Net income available to common stockholders increased to $11.6 million, or $0.48 per basic and diluted share, for the 2024 Quarter from $10.4 million, or $0.43 per basic and diluted share, for the 2023 Quarter.

Same property revenue increased $3.2 million, or 5.1%, and same property operating income increased $2.4 million, or 5.1%, for the 2024 Quarter compared to the 2023 Quarter.  The $3.2 million increase in same property revenue for the 2024 Quarter compared to the 2023 Quarter was primarily due to (a) higher termination fees of $1.6 million, (b) higher commercial base rent of $0.8 million and (c) higher expense recoveries of $0.8 million. Shopping Center same property operating income for the 2024 Quarter totaled $36.8 million, an increase of $2.3 million compared to the 2023 Quarter.  Shopping Center same property operating income increased primarily due to (a) higher termination fees of $2.1 million and (b) higher base rent of $0.4 million, partially offset by (c) a lease termination fee paid to a tenant of $0.3 million.  Mixed-Use same property operating income totaled $12.9 million, an increase of $0.1 million compared to the 2023 Quarter. Mixed-Use same property operating income increased primarily due to (a) higher commercial base rent of $0.4 million and (b) higher residential base rent of $0.3 million partially offset by (c) lower termination fees of $0.5 million. No properties were excluded from same property results.  Reconciliations of (a) total revenue to same property revenue and (b) net income to same property operating income are attached to this press release. 

Same property revenue and same property operating income are non-GAAP financial measures of performance and improve the comparability of these measures by excluding the results of properties that were not in operation for the entirety of the comparable reporting periods. We define same property revenue as total revenue minus the revenue of properties not in operation for the entirety of the comparable reporting periods.  We define same property operating income as net income plus (a) interest expense, net and amortization of deferred debt costs, (b) depreciation and amortization of deferred leasing costs, (c) general and administrative expenses, (d) change in fair value of derivatives, and (e) loss on early extinguishment of debt minus (f) gains on sale and disposition of property and (g) the results of properties not in operation for the entirety of the comparable periods.

Funds from operations (“FFO”) available to common stockholders and noncontrolling interests (after deducting preferred stock dividends) increased to $28.5 million, or $0.83 per basic and diluted share, in the 2024 Quarter compared to $26.5 million, or $0.79 and $0.78 per basic and diluted share, respectively, in the 2023 Quarter.  FFO is a non-GAAP supplemental earnings measure that the Company considers meaningful in measuring its operating performance.  A reconciliation of net income to FFO is attached to this press release.  The increase in FFO available to common stockholders and noncontrolling interests was primarily the result of (a) higher termination fees of $1.6 million, (b) higher commercial base rent of $0.8 million and (c) higher residential base rent of $0.3 million partially offset by (d) higher general and administrative expense of $0.4 million and (e) a lease termination fee paid to a tenant of $0.3 million.

As of June 30, 2024, 95.8% of the commercial portfolio was leased compared to 94.0% as of June 30, 2023.  As of June 30, 2024, the residential portfolio was 99.4% leased compared to 99.2% as of June 30, 2023.

For the six months ended June 30, 2024 (“2024 Period”), total revenue increased to $133.6 million from $126.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023 (“2023 Period”).  Net income increased to $37.8 million for the 2024 Period from $34.9 million for the 2023 Period.  The increase in net income was primarily due to (a) higher other property revenue of $2.4 million and (b) higher commercial base rent of $2.2 million partially offset by (c) higher general and administrative expenses of $0.9 million, (d) higher interest expense, net and amortization of deferred debt costs of $0.6 million, and (e) a lease termination fee paid to a tenant of $0.3 million. Net income available to common stockholders increased to $22.5 million, or $0.93 per basic and diluted share, for the 2024 Period compared to $21.1 million, or $0.88 per basic and diluted share, for the 2023 Period.

Same property revenue increased $6.9 million, or 5.4%, and same property operating income increased $4.2 million, or 4.4%, for the 2024 Period compared to the 2023 Period. Shopping Center same property operating income increased by $3.3 million to $72.8 million primarily due to (a) higher termination fees of $2.3 million and (b) higher base rent of $1.5 million, partially offset by (c) a lease termination fee paid to a tenant of $0.3 million. Mixed-Use same property operating income increased by $0.9 million to $25.4 million primarily due to (a) higher commercial base rent of $0.7 million and (b) higher residential base rent of $0.6 million partially offset by (c) lower termination fees of $0.5 million. No properties were excluded from same property results.

FFO available to common stockholders and noncontrolling interests, after deducting preferred stock dividends, increased to $56.0 million, or $1.63 per basic and diluted share, in the 2024 Period from $53.4 million, or $1.60 and $1.57 per basic and diluted share, respectively in the 2023 Period. FFO available to common stockholders and noncontrolling interests increased primarily due to (a) higher other property revenue of $2.4 million and (b) higher commercial base rent of $2.2 million partially offset by (c) higher general and administrative expenses of $0.9 million, (d) higher interest expense, net and amortization of deferred debt costs of $0.6 million and (e) a lease termination fee paid to a tenant of $0.3 million.

Saul Centers, Inc. is a self-managed, self-administered equity REIT headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, which currently operates and manages a real estate portfolio of 61 properties, which includes (a) 50 community and neighborhood shopping centers and seven mixed-use properties with approximately 9.8 million square feet of leasable area and (b) four non-operating land and development properties. Over 85% of the Saul Centers’ property operating income is generated by properties in the metropolitan Washington, D.C./Baltimore area.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain matters discussed within this press release may be deemed to be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws.  For these statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Although the Company 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 (i) Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and (ii) our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 and include the following: (i) the ability of our tenants to pay rent, (ii) our reliance on shopping center “anchor” tenants and other significant tenants, (iii) our substantial relationships with members of the B. F. Saul Company and certain other affiliated entities, each of which is controlled by B. Francis Saul II and his family members, (iv) risks of financing, such as increases in interest rates, restrictions imposed by our debt, our ability to meet existing financial covenants and our ability to consummate planned and additional financings on acceptable terms, (v) our development activities, (vi) our access to additional capital, (vii) our ability to successfully complete additional acquisitions, developments or redevelopments, or if they are consummated, whether such acquisitions, developments or redevelopments perform as expected, (viii) adverse trends in the retail, office and residential real estate sectors, (ix) risks relating to cybersecurity, including disruption to our business and operations and exposure to liabilities from tenants, employees, capital providers, and other third parties, (x) risks generally incident to the ownership of real property, including adverse changes in economic conditions, changes in the investment climate for real estate, changes in real estate taxes and other operating expenses, adverse changes in governmental rules and fiscal policies, the relative illiquidity of real estate and environmental risks, and (xi) risks related to our status as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, such as the existence of complex regulations relating to our status as a REIT, the effect of future changes to REIT requirements as a result of new legislation and the adverse consequences of the failure to qualify as a REIT.  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 may be 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 carefully review the risks and risk factors included in (i) our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and (ii) our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2024.

Saul Centers, Inc. Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

June 30,
2024

December 31,
2023

Assets

Real estate investments

Land

$         501,787

$         511,529

Buildings and equipment

1,604,330

1,595,023

Construction in progress

615,166

514,553

2,721,283

2,621,105

Accumulated depreciation

(748,750)

(729,470)

Total real estate investments, net

1,972,533

1,891,635

Cash and cash equivalents

6,863

8,407

Accounts receivable and accrued income, net

53,328

56,032

Deferred leasing costs, net

25,834

23,728

Other assets

13,039

14,335

Total assets

$      2,071,597

$      1,994,137

Liabilities

Mortgage notes payable, net

$         966,132

$         935,451

Revolving credit facility payable, net

235,102

274,715

Term loan facility payable, net

99,605

99,530

Construction loans payable, net

141,765

77,305

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities

72,317

57,022

Deferred income

20,416

22,748

Dividends and distributions payable

23,240

22,937

Total liabilities

1,558,577

1,489,708

Equity

Preferred stock, 1,000,000 shares authorized:

Series D Cumulative Redeemable, 30,000 shares issued and outstanding

75,000

75,000

Series E Cumulative Redeemable, 44,000 shares issued and outstanding

110,000

110,000

Common stock, $0.01 par value, 50,000,000 and 40,000,000 shares authorized,
respectively, 24,256,492 and 24,082,887 shares issued and outstanding, respectively

241

241

Additional paid-in capital

451,845

449,959

Distributions in excess of accumulated net income

(294,852)

(288,825)

Accumulated other comprehensive income

3,434

2,014

Total Saul Centers, Inc. equity

345,668

348,389

Noncontrolling interests

167,352

156,040

Total equity

513,020

504,429

Total liabilities and equity

$      2,071,597

$      1,994,137

Saul Centers, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Operations(In thousands, except per share amounts)

Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

Revenue

(unaudited)

(unaudited)

Rental revenue

$             63,695

$             62,002

$       128,994

$           123,830

Other

3,248

1,707

4,641

2,928

Total revenue

66,943

63,709

133,635

126,758

Expenses

Property operating expenses

9,656

8,997

20,201

17,783

Real estate taxes

7,608

7,453

15,232

14,948

Interest expense, net and amortization of deferred debt
costs

12,267

12,278

24,715

24,099

Depreciation and amortization of deferred leasing costs

12,001

12,114

24,030

24,130

General and administrative

6,102

5,678

11,885

10,946

Total expenses

47,634

46,520

96,063

91,906

Gain on disposition of property

181

181

Net Income

19,490

17,189

37,753

34,852

Noncontrolling interests

Income attributable to noncontrolling interests

(5,042)

(4,027)

(9,675)

(8,188)

Net income attributable to Saul Centers, Inc.

14,448

13,162

28,078

26,664

Preferred stock dividends

(2,799)

(2,799)

(5,597)

(5,597)

Net income available to common stockholders

$             11,649

$             10,363

$         22,481

$             21,067

Per share net income available to common
stockholders

Basic and diluted

$                  0.48

$                  0.43

$              0.93

$                  0.88

Reconciliation of net income to FFO available to common stockholders and

noncontrolling interests (1)

Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

2024

2023

2024

2023

Net income

$              19,490

$              17,189

$             37,753

$             34,852

Subtract:

Gain on disposition of property

(181)

(181)

Add:

Real estate depreciation and amortization

12,001

12,114

24,030

24,130

FFO

31,310

29,303

61,602

58,982

Subtract:

Preferred stock dividends

(2,799)

(2,799)

(5,597)

(5,597)

FFO available to common stockholders and noncontrolling
interests

$              28,511

$              26,504

$             56,005

$             53,385

Weighted average shares and units:

Basic

34,498

33,340

34,423

33,332

Diluted (2)

34,502

34,049

34,427

34,040

Basic FFO per share available to common stockholders and
noncontrolling interests

$                  0.83

$                  0.79

$                 1.63

$                 1.60

Diluted FFO per share available to common stockholders and
noncontrolling interests

$                  0.83

$                  0.78

$                 1.63

$                 1.57

(1)

The National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“Nareit”) developed FFO as a relative non-GAAP financial measure of performance of an equity REIT in order to recognize that income-producing real estate historically has not depreciated on the basis determined under GAAP. FFO is defined by NAREIT as net income, computed in accordance with GAAP, plus real estate depreciation and amortization, and excluding impairment charges on real estate assets and gains or losses from real estate dispositions. FFO does not represent cash generated from operating activities in accordance with GAAP and is not necessarily indicative of cash available to fund cash needs, which is disclosed in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the applicable periods. There are no material legal or functional restrictions on the use of FFO. FFO should not be considered as an alternative to net income, its most directly comparable GAAP measure, as an indicator of the Company’s operating performance, or as an alternative to cash flows as a measure of liquidity. Management considers FFO a meaningful supplemental measure of operating performance because it primarily excludes the assumption that the value of the real estate assets diminishes predictably over time (i.e. depreciation), which is contrary to what the Company believes occurs with its assets, and because industry analysts have accepted it as a performance measure. FFO may not be comparable to similarly titled measures employed by other REITs.

(2)

Beginning March 5, 2021, fully diluted shares and units includes 1,416,071 limited partnership units that were held in escrow related to the contribution of Twinbrook Quarter. Half of the units held in escrow were released on October 18, 2021. The remaining units held in escrow were released on October 18, 2023.

Reconciliation of revenue to same property revenue (1)

(in thousands)

Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

(unaudited)

(unaudited)

Total revenue

$              66,943

$              63,709

$           133,635

$           126,758

Less: Acquisitions, dispositions and development properties

Total same property revenue

$              66,943

$              63,709

$           133,635

$           126,758

Shopping Centers

$              46,765

$              43,974

$             93,698

$             88,199

Mixed-Use properties

20,178

19,735

39,937

38,559

Total same property revenue

$              66,943

$              63,709

$           133,635

$           126,758

Total Shopping Center revenue

$              46,765

$              43,974

$             93,698

$             88,199

Less: Shopping Center acquisitions, dispositions and
development properties

Total same Shopping Center revenue

$              46,765

$              43,974

$             93,698

$             88,199

Total Mixed-Use property revenue

$              20,178

$              19,735

$             39,937

$             38,559

Less: Mixed-Use acquisitions, dispositions and development properties

Total same Mixed-Use property revenue

$              20,178

$              19,735

$             39,937

$             38,559

(1)

Same property revenue is a non-GAAP financial measure of performance that management believes improves the comparability of reporting periods by excluding the results of properties that were not in operation for the entirety of the comparable reporting periods.  Same property revenue adjusts property revenue by subtracting the revenue of properties not in operation for the entirety of the comparable reporting periods.  Same property revenue is a measure of the operating performance of the Company’s properties but does not measure the Company’s performance as a whole.  Same property revenue should not be considered as an alternative to total revenue, its most directly comparable GAAP measure, as an indicator of the Company’s operating performance.  Management considers same property revenue a meaningful supplemental measure of operating performance because it is not affected by the cost of the Company’s funding, the impact of depreciation and amortization expenses, gains or losses from the acquisition and sale of operating real estate assets, general and administrative expenses or other gains and losses that relate to ownership of the Company’s properties.  Management believes the exclusion of these items from same property revenue is useful because the resulting measure captures the actual revenue generated by operating the Company’s properties.  Other REITs may use different methodologies for calculating same property revenue.  Accordingly, the Company’s same property revenue may not be comparable to those of other REITs.

Mixed-Use same property revenue is composed of the following:

Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,

(In thousands)

2024

2023

2024

2023

Office mixed-use properties (1)

$              10,062

$                9,856

$              19,815

$              19,001

Residential mixed-use properties (residential activity) (2)

8,968

8,737

17,806

17,270

Residential mixed-use properties (retail activity) (3)

1,148

1,142

2,316

2,288

Total Mixed-Use same property revenue

$              20,178

$              19,735

$              39,937

$              38,559

(1)

Includes Avenel Business Park, Clarendon Center – North and South Blocks, 601 Pennsylvania Avenue and Washington Square

(2)

Includes Clarendon South Block, The Waycroft and Park Van Ness

(3)

Includes The Waycroft and Park Van Ness

Reconciliation of net income to same property operating income (1)

Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,

(In thousands)

2024

2023

2024

2023

(unaudited)

(unaudited)

Net income

$              19,490

$              17,189

$             37,753

$             34,852

Add: Interest expense, net and amortization of deferred debt costs

12,267

12,278

24,715

24,099

Add: Depreciation and amortization of deferred leasing costs

12,001

12,114

24,030

24,130

Add: General and administrative

6,102

5,678

11,885

10,946

Less: Gain on disposition of property

(181)

(181)

Property operating income

49,679

47,259

98,202

94,027

Less: Acquisitions, dispositions and development properties

Total same property operating income

$              49,679

$              47,259

$             98,202

$             94,027

Shopping Centers

$              36,812

$              34,512

$             72,781

$             69,477

Mixed-Use properties

12,867

12,747

25,421

24,550

Total same property operating income

$              49,679

$              47,259

$             98,202

$             94,027

Shopping Center operating income

$              36,812

$              34,512

$             72,781

$             69,477

Less: Shopping Center acquisitions, dispositions and development
properties

Total same Shopping Center operating income

$              36,812

$              34,512

$             72,781

$             69,477

Mixed-Use property operating income

$              12,867

$              12,747

$             25,421

$             24,550

Less: Mixed-Use acquisitions, dispositions and development properties

Total same Mixed-Use property operating income

$              12,867

$              12,747

$             25,421

$             24,550

(1)

Same property operating income is a non-GAAP financial measure of performance that management believes improves the comparability of reporting periods by excluding the results of properties that were not in operation for the entirety of the comparable reporting periods.  Same property operating income adjusts property operating income by subtracting the results of properties that were not in operation for the entirety of the comparable periods.  Same property operating income is a measure of the operating performance of the Company’s properties but does not measure the Company’s performance as a whole.  Same property operating income should not be considered as an alternative to property operating income, its most directly comparable GAAP measure, as an indicator of the Company’s operating performance.  Management considers same property operating income a meaningful supplemental measure of operating performance because it is not affected by the cost of the Company’s funding, the impact of depreciation and amortization expenses, gains or losses from the acquisition and sale of operating real estate assets, general and administrative expenses or other gains and losses that relate to ownership of the Company’s properties.  Management believes the exclusion of these items from property operating income is useful because the resulting measure captures the actual revenue generated and actual expenses incurred by operating the Company’s properties.  Other REITs may use different methodologies for calculating same property operating income.  Accordingly, same property operating income may not be comparable to those of other REITs.

Mixed-Use same property operating income is composed of the following:

Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,

(In thousands)

2024

2023

2024

2023

Office mixed-use properties (1)

$                6,577

$                6,469

$              12,797

$            12,177

Residential mixed-use properties (residential activity) (2)

5,451

5,438

10,923

10,726

Residential mixed-use properties (retail activity) (3)

839

840

1,701

1,647

Total Mixed-Use same property operating income

$              12,867

$              12,747

$              25,421

$             24,550

(1)

Includes Avenel Business Park, Clarendon Center – North and South Blocks, 601 Pennsylvania Avenue and Washington Square

(2)

Includes Clarendon South Block, The Waycroft and Park Van Ness

(3)

Includes The Waycroft and Park Van Ness

SOURCE Saul Centers, Inc.


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