Saul Centers, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2021 Earnings

Rhea-AI Summary

Saul Centers, with ticker BFS, reported significant operating results for Q3 2021, showing a total revenue increase to $60.3 million from $56.8 million in Q3 2020. Net income increased to $16.9 million from $11.6 million. The Waycroft development, 98% leased, contributed positively with a $1.5 million impact from increased occupancy. Funds from operations rose to $26.6 million ($0.82/share), supported by lower credit losses and higher capitalized interest. As of September 30, 2021, 92.5% of the commercial portfolio was leased, showing slight declines from the prior year.

Positive

• Total revenue increased to $60.3 million from $56.8 million year-over-year.
• Net income rose to $16.9 million from $11.6 million in the same period last year.
• The Waycroft development is 98% leased, positively impacting net income by $1.5 million.
• Funds from operations increased to $26.6 million ($0.82 per share) from $22.5 million ($0.72 per share) year-over-year.

Negative

• Commercial portfolio occupancy decreased to 92.5% from 94.0% year-over-year.

BETHESDA, Md., Nov. 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Saul Centers, Inc. (NYSE: BFS), an equity real estate investment trust ("REIT"), announced its operating results for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 ("2021 Quarter").  Total revenue for the 2021 Quarter increased to $60.3 million from $56.8 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 ("2020 Quarter").  Net income increased to $16.9 million for the 2021 Quarter from $11.6 million for the 2020 Quarter.  The Waycroft mixed-use development opened in April 2020 and, as of September 30, 2021, was 98% leased. Concurrent with the opening in April 2020, interest, real estate taxes and all other costs associated with the residential portion of the property, including depreciation, began to be charged to expense, while revenue continued to grow as occupancy increased. As a result, net income for the 2021 Quarter was favorably impacted by $1.5 million, compared to the 2020 Quarter, due to increased occupancy at The Waycroft. Net income also increased from the 2020 Quarter due to (a) lower credit losses on operating lease receivables and corresponding reserves (collectively, $2.3 million), (b) higher capitalized interest ($1.1 million), primarily due to the Twinbrook Quarter development project, and (c) higher parking income, net of expenses ($0.3 million).  Net income available to common stockholders increased to $10.3 million ($0.44 per diluted share) for the 2021 Quarter from $6.6 million ($0.28 per diluted share) for the 2020 Quarter.

Same property revenue increased $3.5 million (6.2%) and same property operating income increased $3.1 million (7.3%) for the 2021 Quarter compared to the 2020 Quarter.  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 lease costs, (c) general and administrative expenses and (d) change in fair value of derivatives minus (e) gains on sale of property and (f) the results of properties which were not in operation for the entirety of the comparable periods.  Shopping Center same property operating income for the 2021 Quarter totaled $33.8 million, a $2.3 million increase from the 2020 Quarter.  Mixed-Use same property operating income totaled $11.0 million, a $0.8 million increase from the 2020 Quarter. The increase in Shopping Center same property operating income was primarily the result of (a) lower credit losses on operating lease receivables and corresponding reserves (collectively, $2.0 million) and (b) higher base rent ($0.3 million). The increase in Mixed-Use same property operating income was primarily the result of (a) higher base rent ($1.0 million), (b) lower credit losses on operating lease receivables and corresponding reserves (collectively, $0.3 million) and (c) higher parking income, net of expenses ($0.3 million), partially offset by (d) lower expense recoveries, net of expenses ($0.7 million) and (e) lower lease termination fees ($0.2 million).  Reconciliations of (a) total revenue to same property revenue and (b) net income to same property operating income are attached to this press release.

As of September 30, 2021, 92.5% of the commercial portfolio was leased, compared to 94.0% at September 30, 2020.  On a same property basis, 92.5% of the commercial portfolio was leased as of September 30, 2021, compared to 94.0% at September 30, 2020.  As of September 30, 2021, the residential portfolio was 97.8% leased compared to 73.9% at September 30, 2020.  As of September 30, 2021, excluding the Waycroft, the residential portfolio was 97.7% leased compared to 94.4% at September 30, 2020. 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2021 ("2021 Period"), total revenue increased to $179.0 million from $166.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 ("2020 Period").  Net income increased to $45.8 million for the 2021 Period from $38.6 million for the 2020 Period.  Net income available to common stockholders increased to $27.8 million ($1.17 per diluted share) for the 2021 Period compared to $22.6 million ($0.97 per diluted share) for the 2020 Period.  The increase in net income was primarily due to (a) increased base rent at The Waycroft, which opened in April 2020, and Ashbrook Marketplace, which opened in November 2019 (collectively, $9.4 million) and (b) lower credit losses on operating lease receivables and corresponding reserves (collectively, $4.8 million), partially offset by (c) lower base rent in the Mixed-Use Portfolio, exclusive of The Waycroft ($3.5 million), and (d) lower expense recoveries, net of expenses ($3.2 million).

Same property revenue increased $2.9 million (1.8%) and same property operating income increased $1.8 million (1.5%) for the 2021 Period, compared to the 2020 Period.  Shopping Center same property operating income increased $5.7 million (6.0%) and mixed-use same property operating income decreased $3.8 million (12.9%). Shopping Center same property operating income increased primarily due to (a) lower credit losses on operating lease receivables and corresponding reserves (collectively, $4.3 million), (b) higher base rent ($1.5 million) and (c) higher percentage rent ($0.6 million), partially offset by (d) lower expense recoveries, net of expenses ($0.5 million) and (e) lower termination fees ($0.2 million). Mixed-use same property operating income decreased primarily due to (a) lower base rent ($3.5 million), (b) lower termination fees ($0.7 million) and (c) lower expense recoveries, net of expenses ($0.4 million), partially offset by (d) lower credit losses on operating lease receivables and corresponding reserves (collectively, $0.6 million).

Funds from operations ("FFO") available to common stockholders and noncontrolling interests (after deducting preferred stock dividends) was $26.6 million ($0.82 and $0.79 per basic and diluted share, respectively) in the 2021 Quarter compared to $22.5 million ($0.72 per basic and diluted share) in the 2020 Quarter.  FFO is a non-GAAP supplemental earnings measure which 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) lower credit losses on operating lease receivables and corresponding reserves (collectively, $2.3 million), (b) increased occupancy at The Waycroft, which opened April 2020 ($1.5 million), and (c) higher capitalized interest ($1.1 million), primarily due to the Twinbrook Quarter development project, partially offset by (e) lower expense recoveries, net of expenses ($0.9 million).

FFO available to common stockholders and noncontrolling interests (after deducting preferred stock dividends and the impact of preferred stock redemptions) increased to $75.3 million ($2.37 and $2.29 per basic and diluted share, respectively) in the 2021 Period from $67.8 million ($2.17 per basic and diluted share) in the 2020 Period.  FFO available to common stockholders and noncontrolling interests increased primarily due to (a) lower credit losses on operating lease receivables and corresponding reserves (collectively, $4.8 million), (b) increased occupancy at The Waycroft, which opened in April 2020 ($1.2 million), (c) higher percentage rent ($0.8 million), and (d) increased occupancy at Ashbrook Marketplace, which opened in November 2019 ($0.6 million).

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared a novel strain of coronavirus ("COVID-19") a pandemic, and on March 13, 2020, the United States declared a national emergency with respect to COVID-19.  As a result, the COVID-19 pandemic is negatively affecting almost every industry directly or indirectly.

The actions taken by federal, state and local governments to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 by ordering closure of nonessential businesses and ordering residents to generally stay at home, and subsequent phased re-openings, resulted in many of our tenants announcing mandated or temporary closures of their operations and/or requesting adjustments to their lease terms. Overall, there remains significant uncertainty around the long-term economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which could have a material and adverse effect on or cause disruption to our business or financial condition, results from operations, cash flows and the market value and trading price of our securities.

While the Company's grocery store, pharmacy, bank and home improvement store tenants have generally remained fully open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many restaurants have operated with reduced hours and/or limited indoor seating, supplemented with delivery and curbside pick-up, and most health, beauty supply and services, fitness centers, and other non-essential businesses have re-opened, some with limited customer capacity. As of October 31, 2021, payments by tenants of contractual base rent and operating expense and real estate tax recoveries totaled approximately 98% for the 2021 Quarter. The Company is generally not charging late fees or delinquent interest on past due payments and, in limited cases, rent deferral agreements have been negotiated to allow tenants temporary relief where needed. For additional discussion of how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the Company's business, please see Part 1, Item 2 (Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations) of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021.

While we expect collections of rent billings, including minimum rent, operating expense recoveries and real estate tax reimbursements, to remain below pre-pandemic levels in the near-term, when taking into account the amount of time elapsed since the due date of the payment, we continue to experience sequential improvement in our collection rates. The following table summarizes the Company's consolidated total collections of the first quarter, second quarter, third quarter and October 2021 rent billings as of November 1, 2021:

	Retail		Office		Residential		Total
2021 First Quarter	99	%	100	%	99	%	99	%
2021 Second Quarter	99	%	100	%	99	%	99	%
2021 Third Quarter	97	%	100	%	99	%	98	%
October 2021	95	%	99	%	99	%	96	%

Although we are and will continue to be actively engaged in rent collection efforts related to uncollected rent, and we continue to work with certain tenants who have requested rent deferrals, we can provide no assurance that such efforts or our efforts in future periods will be successful, particularly in the event that the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions intended to prevent its spread continue for a prolonged period.  As of September 30, 2021, $4.6 million of deferred rents have come due. Of the amounts that have come due, $4.5 million has been paid. 

With cash balances of over $8.9 million and borrowing capacity of approximately $220.2 million on October 31, 2021, the Company believes that it has sufficient liquidity and flexibility to meet the needs of the Company's operations as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to evolve.

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 land and development properties. Approximately 85% of the Saul Centers' property operating income is generated by properties in the metropolitan Washington, DC/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, 2020 and (ii) our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 and include the following: (i) general adverse economic and local real estate conditions, (ii) the inability of major tenants to continue paying their rent obligations due to bankruptcy, insolvency or a general downturn in their business, (iii) financing risks, such as the inability to obtain equity, debt or other sources of financing or refinancing on favorable terms to the Company, (iv) the Company's ability to raise capital by selling its assets, (v) changes in governmental laws and regulations and management's ability to estimate the impact of such changes, (vi) the level and volatility of interest rates and management's ability to estimate the impact thereof, (vii) the availability of suitable acquisition, disposition, development and redevelopment opportunities, and risks related to acquisitions not performing in accordance with our expectations, (viii) increases in operating costs, (ix) changes in the dividend policy for the Company's common and preferred stock and the Company's ability to pay dividends at current levels, (x) the reduction in the Company's income in the event of multiple lease terminations by tenants or a failure by multiple tenants to occupy their premises in a shopping center, (xi) impairment charges, (xii) unanticipated changes in the Company's intention or ability to prepay certain debt prior to maturity and (xiii) an epidemic or pandemic (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 it, which may (as with COVID-19) precipitate or exacerbate one or more of the above-mentioned and/or other risks, and 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 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, 2020 and (ii) our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021.

Saul Centers, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)	September 30, 2021				December 31, 2020
Assets
Real estate investments
Land	$	511,596			$	511,482
Buildings and equipment	1,563,059				1,543,837
Construction in progress	191,707				69,477
	2,266,362				2,124,796
Accumulated depreciation	(639,241)				(607,706)
	1,627,121				1,517,090
Cash and cash equivalents	11,917				26,856
Accounts receivable and accrued income, net	61,855				64,917
Deferred leasing costs, net	24,638				26,872
Other assets	13,969				9,837
Total assets	$	1,739,500			$	1,645,572
Liabilities
Notes payable	$	794,586			$	827,603
Construction loan payable	147,112				144,607
Revolving credit facility payable	95,028				103,913
Term loan facility payable	99,209				74,791
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	27,199				24,384
Deferred income	26,216				23,293
Dividends and distributions payable	20,543				19,448
Total liabilities	1,209,893				1,218,039
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, 40,000,000 shares authorized, 23,713,961 and 23,476,626 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	237				235
Additional paid-in capital	430,537				420,625
Partnership units in escrow	79,300				—
Distributions in excess of accumulated net income	(252,309)				(241,535)
Total Saul Centers, Inc. equity	442,765				364,325
Noncontrolling interests	86,842				63,208
Total equity	529,607				427,533
Total liabilities and equity	$	1,739,500			$	1,645,572
The Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.

 

Saul Centers, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
	Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021				2020				2021				2020
Revenue	(unaudited)								(unaudited)
Rental revenue	$	59,058			$	55,749			$	175,634			$	163,167
Other	1,198				1,011				3,351				3,756
Total revenue	60,256				56,760				178,985				166,923
Expenses
Property operating expenses	8,210				7,416				24,420				20,862
Real estate taxes	7,154				7,523				22,121				22,027
Interest expense, net and amortization of deferred debt costs	10,914				12,398				34,559				34,011
Depreciation and amortization of lease costs	12,467				13,713				37,852				37,593
General and administrative	4,626				4,107				14,234				13,790
Total expenses	43,371				45,157				133,186				128,283
Net Income	16,885				11,603				45,799				38,640
Noncontrolling interests
Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3,747)				(2,236)				(9,653)				(7,681)
Net income attributable to Saul Centers, Inc.	13,138				9,367				36,146				30,959
Preferred stock dividends	(2,798)				(2,798)				(8,395)				(8,394)
Net income available to common stockholders	$	10,340			$	6,569			$	27,751			$	22,565
Per share net income available to common stockholders
Basic and diluted	$	0.44			$	0.28			$	1.17			$	0.97

 

Reconciliation of net income to FFO available to common stockholders and noncontrolling interests (1)
	Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
(In thousands, except per share amounts)	2021				2020				2021				2020
Net income	$	16,885			$	11,603			$	45,799			$	38,640
Add:
Real estate depreciation and amortization	12,467				13,713				37,852				37,593
FFO	29,352				25,316				83,651				76,233
Subtract:
Preferred stock dividends	(2,798)				(2,798)				(8,395)				(8,394)
FFO available to common stockholders and noncontrolling interests	$	26,554			$	22,518			$	75,256			$	67,839
Weighted average shares and units:
Basic	32,237				31,264				31,774				31,232
Diluted (2)	33,656				31,264				32,877				31,233
Basic FFO per share available to common stockholders and noncontrolling interests	$	0.82			$	0.72			$	2.37			$	2.17
Diluted FFO per share available to common stockholders and noncontrolling interests	$	0.79			$	0.72			$	2.29			$	2.17

(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 are held in escrow related to the contribution of Twinbrook Quarter to the Company by the B. F. Saul Real Estate Investment Trust. The units will remain in escrow until the conditions of the Twinbrook Contribution Agreement, as amended, are satisfied.

 

Reconciliation of revenue to same property revenue (3)
(in thousands)		Three months ended September 30,								Nine months ended September 30,
		2021				2020				2021				2020
		(unaudited)								(unaudited)
Total revenue		$	60,256			$	56,760			$	178,985			$	166,923
Less: Acquisitions, dispositions and development properties		—				—				(11,309)				(2,151)
Total same property revenue		$	60,256			$	56,760			$	167,676			$	164,772
Shopping Centers		$	42,485			$	40,336			$	126,935			$	120,236
Mixed-Use properties		17,771				16,424				40,741				44,536
Total same property revenue		$	60,256			$	56,760			$	167,676			$	164,772
Total Shopping Center revenue		$	42,485			$	40,336			$	126,935			$	120,236
Less: Shopping Center acquisitions, dispositions and development properties		—				—				—				—
Total same Shopping Center revenue		$	42,485			$	40,336			$	126,935			$	120,236
Total Mixed-Use property revenue		$	17,771			$	16,424			$	52,050			$	46,687
Less: Mixed-Use acquisitions, dispositions and development properties		—				—				(11,309)				(2,151)
Total same Mixed-Use property revenue		$	17,771			$	16,424			$	40,741			$	44,536

(3)

Same property revenue is a non-GAAP financial measure of performance that 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 and actual expenses incurred 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.

 

Reconciliation of net income to same property operating income (4)
	Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
(In thousands)	2021				2020				2021				2020
	(unaudited)								(unaudited)
Net income	$	16,885			$	11,603			$	45,799			$	38,640
Add: Interest expense, net and amortization of deferred debt costs	10,914				12,398				34,559				34,011
Add: Depreciation and amortization of lease costs	12,467				13,713				37,852				37,593
Add: General and administrative	4,626				4,107				14,234				13,790
Property operating income	44,892				41,821				132,444				124,034
Less: Acquisitions, dispositions and development properties	—				—				(6,655)				(71)
Total same property operating income	$	44,892			$	41,821			$	125,789			$	123,963
Shopping Centers	$	33,845			$	31,581			$	99,848			$	94,195
Mixed-Use properties	11,047				10,240				25,941				29,768
Total same property operating income	$	44,892			$	41,821			$	125,789			$	123,963
Shopping Center operating income	$	33,845			$	31,581			$	99,848			$	94,195
Less: Shopping Center acquisitions, dispositions and development properties	—				—				—				—
Total same Shopping Center operating income	$	33,845			$	31,581			$	99,848			$	94,195
Mixed-Use property operating income	$	11,047			$	10,240			$	32,596			$	29,839
Less: Mixed-Use acquisitions, dispositions and development properties	—				—				(6,655)				(71)
Total same Mixed-Use property operating income	$	11,047			10,240				$	25,941			$	29,768

(4)

Same property operating income is a non-GAAP financial measure of performance that 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.

 

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SOURCE Saul Centers, Inc.

FAQ

What were Saul Centers' earnings results for Q3 2021?

Saul Centers reported total revenue of $60.3 million and net income of $16.9 million for Q3 2021.

What is the impact of The Waycroft on Saul Centers' financials?

The Waycroft development significantly contributed $1.5 million to net income in Q3 2021 due to increased occupancy, which is now 98%.

How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect Saul Centers' operations in Q3 2021?

The pandemic continued to impact tenants, with approximately 98% of contractual base rent collected for Q3 2021, although collections remain below pre-pandemic levels.

What is the leasing status of Saul Centers' commercial portfolio?

As of September 30, 2021, 92.5% of the commercial portfolio was leased, a decline from 94.0% at the same time last year.

What is the future outlook for Saul Centers based on the latest results?

While collections are improving, the company expects them to remain below pre-pandemic levels in the near term due to ongoing uncertainties.