COPT Defense Establishes 2025 Guidance

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The 2025 guidance from COPT Defense reveals a carefully balanced growth strategy focused on its specialized defense/IT portfolio. The projected 3.5% FFO per share growth to $2.62-$2.70 demonstrates steady progression, though investors should note several key dynamics:

Portfolio Strength & Challenges:

The core Defense/IT portfolio maintains impressive 96.8% occupancy, reflecting the stable nature of government and defense contractor tenants
Expected tenant retention of 75-85% includes approximately 600,000 square feet of U.S. Government leases likely extending into 2026
Same Property Cash NOI growth of 2.0-3.5% indicates healthy organic growth from contractual rent escalators and new lease commencements

Development & Capital Strategy:

The $250-300M development pipeline focuses on mission-critical facilities near key defense installations
Pre-funding of $400M bond maturity in Q4 2025 demonstrates proactive liability management, though it will temporarily impact earnings by approximately $0.015 per share
Conservative dividend payout ratio below 65% provides financial flexibility for continued development funding

The guidance suggests management's confidence in the defense sector's fundamental strength, despite broader market uncertainties. The company's focused strategy on defense/IT properties near critical installations provides a defensive moat, though investors should monitor potential impacts from government budget cycles and defense spending priorities.

02/06/2025 - 04:17 PM

FFO per Share to Increase 3.5% at Midpoint

COLUMBIA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- COPT Defense Properties (NYSE: CDP) (“COPT Defense” or the “Company”) is establishing the following guidance for the year ending December 31, 2025:

2025 Guidance

Diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) in the range of $1.27−$1.35; and
Diluted FFO per share (“FFOPS”) - Nareit and as adjusted for comparability, in the range of $2.62−$2.70.

1Q25 Guidance

For the quarter ending March 31, 2025, the Company is establishing the following guidance:

EPS in the range of $0.31−$0.33; and
FFOPS - Nareit and as adjusted for comparability, in the range of $0.64−$0.66.

2025 Guidance Reconciliation Tables

Reconciliations of projected EPS to projected FFOPS - Nareit and as adjusted for comparability, are as follows:

Table 1: Reconciliation of EPS to FFOPS, per Nareit and As Adjusted for Comparability	Quarter ending		Year ending
	March 31, 2025		December 31, 2025
	Low	High	Low	High
EPS	$ 0.31	$ 0.33	$ 1.27	$ 1.35
Real estate-related depreciation and amortization	0.33	0.33	1.35	1.35
FFOPS, Nareit and as adjusted for comparability	$ 0.64	$ 0.66	$ 2.62	$ 2.70

Assumptions Underpinning 2025 Guidance

Tables 2 and 3 detail assumptions that underpin the Company’s 2025 and 1Q25 full year EPS and FFOPS guidance, respectively:

Table 2: Full Year 2025 Guidance Assumptions (a)

*Metric*	*2024 Actual*	*2025*			*Management Commentary*
*Metric*	*2024 Actual*	Low	Midpoint	High	*Management Commentary*
*Earnings:*
EPS	$1.23	$1.27	$1.31	$1.35
FFOPS – Nareit and as adjusted for comparability	$2.57	$2.62	$2.66	$2.70	Y/Y growth driven by an increase in NOI from the Same Property portfolio, developments placed into service, and 2024 acquisitions, partially offset by higher interest expense, lower interest and other income, and non-recurring items in 2024.

*Key Assumptions:*
2025 Same Property Pool:
% Change in Cash NOI	9.1% (b)	2.0%	2.75%	3.5%	Growth in 2025 driven by contractual cash rent increases in leases, commencement of rents from 2023 and 2024 leasing activity, and increases in cash rent at properties added into the 2025 pool, partially offset by non-recurring items in 2024.
Year-end Occupancy	94.1% (b)	93.5%	94.0%	94.5%	Occupancy will be impacted by multiple known non-renewals and downsizes, primarily in 1Q25, partially offset by the commencement of leases executed in 2024.

Tenant Retention	86%	75%	80%	85%	Of the ~3M SF expiring in 2025, we expect ~600K SF of USG leases will extend short-term into 2026. Tenant Retention guidance pertains to the remaining ~2.4M SF.
Change in Cash Rents on Renewals	0.6%	(1.0%)	0.0%	1.0%
Cash NOI from Developments (c)	$10.5	$4.0	$5.0	$6.0	~$150M delivered in 2024 (~400K SF, 83% leased), with another ~$250M delivering throughout 2025 (~600K SF, 75% leased). Range is driven by timing of rent commencement, not lease execution risk.
Net Construction Contract and Other Service Revenues	$2.3	$1.5	$2.0	$2.5
Total G&A Expenses (d)	$47.0	$45.0	$46.0	$47.0
Consolidated Interest Expense (net of Capitalized Interest)	$82.2	$89.0	$91.0	$93.0	Increase in interest expense due to a higher projected debt balance and pre-funding the $400M unsecured bond maturity due March 2026 in 4Q25 (net impact of ~1.5c per share), partially offset by higher capitalized interest given anticipated development starts.
Interest and other income, net	$12.7	$8.5	$9.5	$10.5	Decline is driven by lower cash balances, recent and anticipated paydowns of the Note Receivable from City of Huntsville and Other investing loan receivable, partially offset by temporary investment of bond proceeds in 4Q25.
Dividend / Diluted AFFO Payout Ratio	60.6%	Below 65%

*Investment Activity:*
Capital Invested in Development / Acquisitions	$189	$250	$275	$300	Anticipated costs incurred on development projects.
Capital Commitment to New Investments	$212	$200	$225	$250	Capital commitments to investments primarily in Fort Meade/BW Corridor and Redstone Arsenal.
Property Sales	-	None			No planned asset sales.

Table 3: 1Q25 Guidance Assumptions (a)
*1Q25 Metric*	*4Q24 Actual*	*1Q25*			*Management Commentary*
*1Q25 Metric*	*4Q24 Actual*	Low	Midpoint	High	*Management Commentary*
*Earnings:*
EPS	$0.31	$0.31	$0.32	$0.33
FFOPS – as adjusted for comparability	$0.65	$0.64	$0.65	$0.66	Flat q/q due to rent from lease commencements and development placed in service, offset by higher seasonal operating expenses and a ~50bps decline in same property occupancy due to multiple known non-renewals and downsizes.

a)	Dollars are in millions (except per share data).
b)	Same Property metrics in 2024 refer to the 2024 Pool.
c)	The 2024 actual amount represents cash NOI from developments placed into service during 2023 and 2024. The 2025 assumption amount represents cash NOI from developments placed into service during 2024 and expected to be placed into service during 2025 and, as such, are not yet in the Company’s Same Property portfolio.
d)	Includes G&A, leasing expenses, business development expenses, and land carry cost.

About COPT Defense

COPT Defense, an S&P MidCap 400 Company, is a self-managed REIT focused on owning, operating and developing properties in locations proximate to, or sometimes containing, key U.S. Government (“USG”) defense installations and missions (referred to as its Defense/IT Portfolio). The Company’s tenants include the USG and their defense contractors, who are primarily engaged in priority national security activities, and who generally require mission-critical and high security property enhancements. As of December 31, 2024, the Company’s Defense/IT Portfolio of 195 properties, including 24 owned through unconsolidated joint ventures, encompassed 22.4 million square feet and was 96.8% leased.

Non-GAAP Measures

The Company believes that the measures defined below that are not determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) are helpful to investors in measuring its performance and comparing it to that of other real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). Since these measures exclude certain items includable in their respective most comparable GAAP measures, reliance on the measures has limitations; the Company’s management compensates for these limitations by using the measures simply as supplemental measures that are weighed in balance with other GAAP and non-GAAP measures. These measures should not be used as an alternative to the respective most comparable GAAP measures when evaluating the Company’s financial performance or to cash flow from operating, investing and financing activities when evaluating its liquidity or ability to make cash distributions or pay debt service.

Basic FFO available to common share and common unit holders (“Basic FFO”) – FFO adjusted to subtract (1) preferred share dividends, (2) income or loss attributable to noncontrolling interests through ownership of preferred units in COPT Defense Properties, L.P. (the “Operating Partnership”) or interests in other consolidated entities not owned by us, (3) depreciation and amortization allocable to noncontrolling interests in other consolidated entities, (4) Basic FFO allocable to share-based compensation awards and (5) issuance costs associated with redeemed preferred shares. With these adjustments, Basic FFO represents FFO available to common shareholders and holders of common units in the Operating Partnership (“common units”). Common units are substantially similar to our common shares of beneficial interest (“common shares”) and are exchangeable into common shares, subject to certain conditions.

Cash net operating income (“Cash NOI”) – NOI from real estate operations adjusted to eliminate the effects of: straight-line rental adjustments, amortization of tenant incentives, amortization of intangibles and other assets included in FFO and NOI, lease termination fees from tenants to terminate their lease obligations prior to the end of the agreed upon lease terms and rental revenue recognized under GAAP resulting from landlord assets and lease incentives funded by tenants. Cash NOI also includes adjustments to NOI from real estate operations for the effects of the items noted above pertaining to unconsolidated real estate JVs that were allocable to our ownership interest in the JVs. Under GAAP, rental revenue is recognized evenly over the term of tenant leases (through straight-line rental adjustments and amortization of tenant incentives), which, given the long term nature of our leases, does not align with the economics of when tenant payments are due to us under the arrangements. Also under GAAP, when a property is acquired, we allocate the acquisition to certain intangible components, which are then amortized into NOI over their estimated lives, even though the resulting revenue adjustments are not reflective of our lease economics. In addition, revenue from lease termination fees and tenant-funded landlord improvements, absent an adjustment from us, would result in large one-time lump sum amounts in Cash NOI that we do not believe are reflective of a property’s long-term value.

Diluted adjusted funds from operations available to common share and common unit holders (“Diluted AFFO”) – Diluted FFO, as adjusted for comparability, adjusted for the following: (1) the elimination of the effect of (a) noncash rental revenues and property operating expenses (comprised of straight-line rental adjustments, which includes the amortization of recurring tenant incentives, and amortization of acquisition intangibles included in FFO and NOI, both of which are described under “Cash NOI” above), (b) share-based compensation, net of amounts capitalized, (c) amortization of deferred financing costs, (d) amortization of debt discounts and premiums and (e) amortization of settlements of debt hedges; and (2) replacement capital expenditures (defined below). Diluted AFFO also includes adjustments to Diluted FFO, as adjusted for comparability for the effects of the items noted above pertaining to unconsolidated real estate JVs that were allocable to our ownership interest in the JVs.

Diluted FFO available to common share and common unit holders (“Diluted FFO”) – Basic FFO adjusted to add back any changes in Basic FFO that would result from the assumed conversion of securities that are convertible or exchangeable into common shares. The computation of Diluted FFO (which includes discontinued operations) assumes the conversion of common units but does not assume the conversion of other securities that are convertible into common shares if the conversion of those securities would increase Diluted FFO per share in a given period.

Diluted FFO available to common share and common unit holders, as adjusted for comparability (“Diluted FFO, as adjusted for comparability”) – Diluted FFO or FFO adjusted to exclude: operating property acquisition costs (for acquisitions classified as business combinations); gain or loss on early extinguishment of debt; FFO associated with properties that secured non-recourse debt on which we defaulted and, subsequently, extinguished via conveyance of such properties (including property NOI, interest expense and gains on debt extinguishment); loss on interest rate derivatives; executive transition costs associated with named executive officers; and, for periods prior to 10/1/22, demolition costs on redevelopment and nonrecurring improvements and executive transition costs associated with other senior management team members. Diluted FFO, as adjusted for comparability also includes adjustments to Diluted FFO for the effects of the items noted above pertaining to unconsolidated real estate JVs that were allocable to our ownership interest in the JVs.

Diluted FFO per share – Defined as (1) Diluted FFO divided by (2) the sum of the (a) weighted average common shares outstanding during a period, (b) weighted average common units outstanding during a period and (c) weighted average number of potential additional common shares that would have been outstanding during a period if other securities that are convertible or exchangeable into common shares were converted or exchanged. The computation of Diluted FFO per share assumes the conversion of common units but does not assume the conversion of other securities that are convertible into common shares if the conversion of those securities would increase Diluted FFO per share in a given period.

Diluted FFO per share, as adjusted for comparability – Defined as (1) Diluted FFO available to common share and common unit holders, as adjusted for comparability divided by (2) the sum of the (a) weighted average common shares outstanding during a period, (b) weighted average common units outstanding during a period and (c) weighted average number of potential additional common shares that would have been outstanding during a period if other securities that are convertible or exchangeable into common shares were converted or exchanged. The computation of this measure assumes the conversion of common units but does not assume the conversion of other securities that are convertible into common shares if the conversion of those securities would increase the per share measure in a given period.

Reconciliations of Diluted EPS to Diluted FFOPS

	Actuals
Diluted EPS to Diluted FFOPS per Nareit and as adjusted for comparability (in dollars per share)	Quarter Ended December 31, 2024			Year Ended December 31, 2024
Diluted EPS	$	0.31		$	1.23
Real estate-related depreciation and amortization		0.34			1.36
Other FFO adjustments		(0.01	)		(0.02	)
Diluted FFOPS, Nareit		0.64			2.57
Other FFO, as adjusted for comparability adjustments		0.01			-
Diluted FFOPS, as adjusted for comparability	$	0.65		$	2.57

Funds from operations (“FFO” or “FFO per Nareit”) – Defined as net income or loss computed using GAAP, excluding gains on sales and impairment losses of real estate and investments in unconsolidated real estate JVs (net of associated income tax) and real estate-related depreciation and amortization. FFO also includes adjustments to net income or loss for the effects of the items noted above pertaining to unconsolidated real estate JVs that were allocable to our ownership interest in the JVs. We believe that we use the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trust’s (“Nareit”) definition of FFO, although others may interpret the definition differently and, accordingly, our presentation of FFO may differ from those of other REITs.

Net operating income from real estate operations (“NOI”) – Includes: consolidated real estate revenues; consolidated property operating expenses; and the net of revenues and property operating expenses of real estate operations owned through unconsolidated real estate JVs that are allocable to COPT Defense’s ownership interest in the JVs.

Net construction contract and other service revenues ‒ Defined as net operating income from real estate services such as property management, development and construction services primarily for the Company's properties but also for third parties. Construction contract and other service revenues and expenses consist primarily of subcontracted costs that are reimbursed to the Company by the customer along with a management fee. The operating margins from these activities are small relative to the revenue. The Company believes NOI from service operations is a useful measure in assessing both its level of activity and its profitability in conducting such operations.

Reconciliation of Net Construction Contract and Other Service Revenues (in millions)

	Actuals			Guidance
	Year Ended December 31, 2024			Year Ending December 31, 2025
Construction contract and other service revenues	$	75.6		$	33
Construction contract and other service expenses		(73.3	)		(31	)
Net construction contract and other service revenues	$	2.3		$	2

Payout ratios based on: Diluted FFO; Diluted FFO, as adjusted for comparability; and Diluted AFFO – These payout ratios are defined as (1) the sum of dividends on common and deferred shares and distributions to holders of interests in the Operating Partnership to the extent they are dilutive in the respective FFO per share numerators divided by (2) the respective non-GAAP measures.

Replacement capital expenditures – Tenant improvements and incentives, building improvements and leasing costs incurred during the period for operating properties that are not (1) items contemplated prior to the acquisition of a property, (2) improvements associated with the expansion of a building or its improvements, (3) renovations to a building which change the underlying classification of the building (for example, from industrial to office or Class C office to Class B office), (4) capital improvements that represent the addition of something new to the property rather than the replacement of something (for example, the addition of a new heating and air conditioning unit that is not replacing one that was previously there) or (5) replacements of significant components of a building after the building has reached the end of its original useful life. Replacement capital expenditures excludes expenditures of operating properties included in disposition plans during the period that were already sold or are held for future disposition. For cash tenant incentives not due to the tenant for a period exceeding three months past the date on which such incentives were incurred, we recognize such incentives as replacement capital expenditures in the periods such incentives are due to the tenant. Replacement capital expenditures, which is included in the computation of Diluted AFFO, is intended to represent non-transformative capital expenditures of existing properties held for long-term investment.

Same Property – Operating properties stably owned and 100% operational since at least the beginning of the prior year.

Same Property NOI and Same Property cash NOI – NOI, or Cash NOI, from real estate operations of Same Property groupings.

Reconciliations of Developments Property NOI to Cash NOI (in millions)

	Actuals			Guidance
	Year Ended December 31, 2024			Year Ending December 31, 2025
Property NOI	$	23		$	14
Straight line rent adjustments		(12	)		(9	)
Cash NOI	$	11		$	5

Forward-Looking Information

This press release may contain “forward-looking” statements, as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, that are based on the Company’s current expectations, estimates and projections about future events and financial trends affecting the Company. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “plan” or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which the Company cannot predict with accuracy and some of which the Company might not even anticipate. Although the Company believes that the expectations, estimates and projections reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions at the time made, the Company can give no assurance that these expectations, estimates and projections will be achieved. Future events and actual results may differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements.

The areas of risk that may affect these expectations, estimates and projections include, but are not limited to, those risks described in Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Source: COPT Defense Properties

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250206629204/en/

IR Contacts:

Venkat Kommineni, CFA

443.285.5587

venkat.kommineni@copt.com

Michelle Layne

443.285.5452

michelle.layne@copt.com

Source: COPT Defense Properties

FAQ

What is COPT Defense's (CDP) FFO per share guidance for 2025?

COPT Defense projects FFO per share between $2.62-$2.70 for 2025, representing a 3.5% increase at the midpoint.

What is CDP's expected Same Property Cash NOI growth for 2025?

The company expects Same Property Cash NOI growth of 2.0-3.5% for 2025.

How much capital does CDP plan to invest in development during 2025?

COPT Defense plans to invest between $250-300 million in development activities during 2025.

What is CDP's projected tenant retention rate for 2025?

The company projects a tenant retention rate of 75-85% for 2025.

What are CDP's earnings per share (EPS) projections for Q1 2025?

COPT Defense expects EPS between $0.31-$0.33 for Q1 2025.

COPT Defense Establishes 2025 Guidance

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FAQ

What is COPT Defense's (CDP) FFO per share guidance for 2025?

What is CDP's expected Same Property Cash NOI growth for 2025?

How much capital does CDP plan to invest in development during 2025?

What is CDP's projected tenant retention rate for 2025?

What are CDP's earnings per share (EPS) projections for Q1 2025?

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COPT Defense Establishes 2025 Guidance

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FAQ

What is COPT Defense's (CDP) FFO per share guidance for 2025?

What is CDP's expected Same Property Cash NOI growth for 2025?

How much capital does CDP plan to invest in development during 2025?

What is CDP's projected tenant retention rate for 2025?

What are CDP's earnings per share (EPS) projections for Q1 2025?

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