Easterly Government Properties Reports First Quarter 2023 Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Easterly Government Properties, a real estate investment trust focused on properties leased to the U.S. Government, reported net income of $4.4 million and Core FFO of $29.5 million for Q1 2023. The company paid off the outstanding mortgage balance on DEA-Pleasanton and entered into interest rate swaps. It also issued shares of common stock, raising net proceeds of approximately $52.4 million. The company expects to receive additional net proceeds of approximately $36.7 million from the sale of more shares. The Board of Directors approved a cash dividend of $0.265 per share for Q1 2023.

Positive

• Easterly Government Properties reported positive Q1 2023 results with net income of $4.4 million and Core FFO of $29.5 million. The company paid off the outstanding mortgage balance on DEA-Pleasanton and entered into interest rate swaps. It also raised net proceeds of approximately $52.4 million through the issuance of shares of common stock. The Board of Directors approved a cash dividend of $0.265 per share for Q1 2023.

Negative

• None.

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Easterly Government Properties, Inc. (NYSE: DEA) (the “Company” or “Easterly”), a fully integrated real estate investment trust (“REIT”) focused primarily on the acquisition, development and management of Class A commercial properties leased to the U.S. Government, today announced its results of operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2023.

Highlights for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2023:

• Net income of $4.4 million, or $0.04 per share on a fully diluted basis
• Core FFO of $29.5 million, or $0.29 per share on a fully diluted basis
• Paid off the full $15.7 million outstanding balance of the mortgage on DEA - Pleasanton
• Entered into three SOFR-based interest rate swaps, each with a notional value of $100.0 million, that were designated as cash flow hedges of interest rate risk. These interest rate swaps will become effective as the Company's existing swaps mature in June and September 2023, and will mature in 2024 and 2025
• Issued an aggregate of 2,559,000 shares of the Company's common stock in settlement of previously entered into forward sales transactions, comprised of (i) 250,000 shares of common stock through the Company's $300.0 million ATM Program launched in December 2019 (the “December 2019 ATM Program”), and (ii) 2,309,000 shares of the Company's common stock in connection with the August 11, 2021 underwritten public offering (the “Offering”), at a weighted average price of $20.46, raising net proceeds to the Company of approximately $52.4 million
• Expects to receive, as of the date of this release, aggregate net proceeds of approximately $36.7 million from the sale of 1,700,000 shares of the Company's common stock that have not yet been settled under the December 2019 ATM Program, assuming these forward sales transactions are physically settled in full using a net weighted average combined initial forward sales price of $21.61 per share

“With sector headwinds presenting unprecedented challenges to office landlords, we are gratified to have an occupied and diverse set of mission critical assets leased to the U.S. Federal Government,” said William C. Trimble, III, Easterly's Chief Executive Officer. “While only 51% of the Company's annualized lease income is derived from office leases, we believe the Easterly portfolio is more akin to government infrastructure than commercial office. This sentiment is supported by our strong occupancy and renewal metrics across all classes of assets, including our office portfolio.”

Portfolio Operations

As of March 31, 2023, the Company or its joint venture (the “JV”) owned 86 operating properties in the United States encompassing approximately 8.6 million leased square feet, including 85 operating properties that were leased primarily to U.S. Government tenant agencies and one operating property that is entirely leased to a private tenant. In addition, the Company wholly owned one property under re-development that the Company expects will encompass approximately 0.2 million rentable square feet upon completion. The re-development project, located in Atlanta, Georgia, is currently in design and, once complete, a 20-year lease with the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is expected to commence for the beneficial use of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As of March 31, 2023, the portfolio had a weighted average age of 14.1 years, based upon the date properties were built or renovated-to-suit, and had a weighted average remaining lease term of 10.4 years.

Balance Sheet and Capital Markets Activity

As of March 31, 2023, the Company had total indebtedness of approximately $1.2 billion comprised of $49.5 million outstanding on its revolving credit facility, $100.0 million outstanding on its 2016 term loan facility, $150.0 million outstanding on its 2018 term loan facility, $700.0 million of senior unsecured notes, and $223.9 million of mortgage debt (excluding unamortized premiums and discounts and deferred financing fees). At March 31, 2023, Easterly’s outstanding debt had a weighted average maturity of 5.5 years and a weighted average interest rate of 3.7%. As of March 31, 2023, Easterly’s Net Debt to total enterprise value was 45.5% and its Adjusted Net Debt to annualized quarterly EBITDA ratio was 7.2x.

On January 26, 2023, the Company paid off the full $15.7 million outstanding balance of the mortgage on DEA - Pleasanton.

On February 3, 2023 the Company entered into three SOFR-based interest rate swaps, each with a notional value of $100.0 million, that were designated as cash flow hedges of interest rate risk. These interest rate swaps will become effective as the Company's existing swaps mature in June and September 2023, and will mature in 2024 and 2025. As a result of the interest rate swaps entered into on February 3, 2023, and by assuming a fully drawn 2018 term loan facility balance of $200.0 million, the Company extended the maturity of its interest rate swaps from a weighted average maturity of less than six months to a weighted average maturity of over 25 months, effectively extending the certainty of the Company's fixed rate 2016 and 2018 term loan schedules by more than 19 months as of the date of execution.

During March 2023, the Company issued an aggregate of 2,559,000 shares of the Company's common stock in settlement of previously entered into forward sales transactions, comprised of (i) 250,000 shares of common stock through the Company's December 2019 ATM Program, and (ii) 2,309,000 shares of the Company's common stock in connection with the Offering, at a weighted average price of $20.46, raising net proceeds to the Company of approximately $52.4 million.

The Company expects to receive, as of the date of this release, aggregate net proceeds of approximately $36.7 million from the sale of 1,700,000 shares of the Company's common stock that have not yet been settled under the December 2019 ATM Program, assuming these forward sales transactions are physically settled in full using a net weighted average combined initial forward sales price of $21.61 per share.

Dividend

On April 26, 2023, the Board of Directors of Easterly approved a cash dividend for the first quarter of 2023 in the amount of $0.265 per common share. The dividend will be payable May 23, 2023 to shareholders of record on May 11, 2023.

Subsequent Events

On April 12, 2023, the Company announced that it earned two important accolades related to recent environmental sustainability and social responsibility achievements, including Easterly's recognition as a:

• 2022 Premier Member by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR Certification Nation; and
• Best Places to Work in the Greater Washington region by the Washington Business Journal.

Guidance

This guidance is forward-looking and reflects management's view of current and future market conditions. The Company's actual results may differ materially from this guidance.

Outlook for the 12 Months Ending December 31, 2023

The Company is maintaining its guidance for full-year 2023 Core FFO per share on a fully diluted basis in a range of $1.12 - $1.15.

		Low				High
Net income (loss) per share – fully diluted basis		$	0.19				0.22
Plus: Company's share of real estate depreciation and amortization		$	0.92				0.92
FFO per share – fully diluted basis		$	1.11				1.14
Plus: Company's share of depreciation of non-real estate assets		$	0.01				0.01
Core FFO per share – fully diluted basis		$	1.12				1.15

This guidance assumes (i) the closing of VA - Corpus Christi through the JV at the Company's pro rata share of approximately $21 million, and (ii) up to $15 million of gross development-related investment during 2023.

Non-GAAP Supplemental Financial Measures

This section contains definitions of certain non-GAAP financial measures and other terms that the Company uses in this press release and, where applicable, the reasons why management believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors about the Company’s financial condition and results of operations and the other purposes for which management uses the measures. These measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of the differences between each non-GAAP financial measure and the comparable GAAP financial measure are included in this press release following the consolidated financial statements. Additional detail can be found in the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly report on Form 10-Q, as well as other documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. We present certain financial information and metrics “at Easterly’s Share,” which is calculated on an entity-by-entity basis. “At Easterly’s Share” information, which we also refer to as being “at share,” “pro rata,” or “our share” is not, and is not intended to be, a presentation in accordance with GAAP.

Cash Available for Distribution (CAD) is a non-GAAP financial measure that is not intended to represent cash flow for the period and is not indicative of cash flow provided by operating activities as determined under GAAP. CAD is calculated in accordance with the current Nareit definition as FFO minus normalized recurring real estate-related expenditures and other non-cash items, nonrecurring expenditures and the unconsolidated real estate venture’s allocated share of these adjustments. CAD is presented solely as a supplemental disclosure because the Company believes it provides useful information regarding the Company’s ability to fund its dividends. Because all companies do not calculate CAD the same way, the presentation of CAD may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

Core Funds from Operations (Core FFO) adjusts FFO to present an alternative measure of the Company's operating performance, which, when applicable, excludes items which it believes are not representative of ongoing operating results, such as liability management related costs (including losses on extinguishment of debt and modification costs), catastrophic event charges, depreciation of non-real estate assets, and the unconsolidated real estate venture's allocated share of these adjustments. In future periods, the Company may also exclude other items from Core FFO that it believes may help investors compare its results. The Company believes Core FFO more accurately reflects the ongoing operational and financial performance of the Company's core business.

EBITDA is calculated as the sum of net income (loss) before interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization, (gain) loss on the sale of operating properties, impairment loss, and the unconsolidated real estate venture’s allocated share of these adjustments. EBITDA is not intended to represent cash flow for the period, is not presented as an alternative to operating income as an indicator of operating performance, should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP, is not indicative of operating income or cash provided by operating activities as determined under GAAP and may be presented on a pro forma basis. EBITDA is presented solely as a supplemental disclosure with respect to liquidity because the Company believes it provides useful information regarding the Company's ability to service or incur debt. Because all companies do not calculate EBITDA the same way, the presentation of EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

Funds From Operations (FFO) is defined, in accordance with the Nareit FFO White Paper - 2018 Restatement, as net income (loss), calculated in accordance with GAAP, excluding depreciation and amortization related to real estate, gains and losses from the sale of certain real estate assets, gains and losses from change in control and impairment write-downs of certain real estate assets and investments in entities when the impairment is directly attributable to decreases in the value of depreciable real estate held by the entity. FFO includes the Company’s share of FFO generated by unconsolidated affiliates. FFO is a widely recognized measure of REIT performance. Although FFO is a non-GAAP financial measure, the Company believes that information regarding FFO is helpful to shareholders and potential investors.

Funds From Operations, as Adjusted (FFO, as Adjusted) adjusts FFO to present an alternative measure of the Company's operating performance, which, when applicable, excludes the impact of losses on extinguishment of debt, depreciation of non-real estate assets, acquisition costs, straight-line rent and other non-cash adjustments, amortization of deferred revenue (which results from landlord assets funded by tenants), non-cash interest expense, non-cash compensation, amortization of above-/below-market leases, and the unconsolidated real estate venture’s allocated share of these adjustments. By excluding these income and expense items from FFO, as Adjusted, the Company believes it provides useful information as these items have no cash impact. In addition, by excluding acquisition related costs the Company believes FFO, as Adjusted provides useful information that is comparable across periods and more accurately reflects the operating performance of the Company’s properties.

Net Debt and Adjusted Net Debt. Net Debt represents the Company's consolidated debt and its share of unconsolidated debt adjusted to exclude its share of unamortized premiums and discounts and deferred financing fees, less its share of cash and cash equivalents and property acquisition closing escrow, net of deposit. By excluding these items, the result provides an estimate of the contractual amount of borrowed capital to be repaid, net of cash available to repay it. The Company believes this calculation constitutes a beneficial supplemental non-GAAP financial disclosure to investors in understanding its financial condition. Adjusted Net Debt is Net Debt reduced by 1) for each project under construction or in design, the lesser of i) outstanding lump-sum reimbursement amounts and ii) the cost to date, 2) 40% times the amount by which the cost to date exceeds total lump-sum reimbursement amounts for each project under construction or in design and 3) outstanding lump-sum reimbursement amounts for projects previously completed. These adjustments are made to 1) remove the estimated portion of each project under construction, in design or previously completed that has been financed with debt which may be repaid with outstanding cost reimbursement payments from the US Government and 2) remove the estimated portion of each project under construction or in design, in excess of total lump-sum reimbursements, that has been financed with debt but has not yet produced earnings. See page 25 of the Company’s Q1 2023 Supplemental Information Package for further information. The Company’s method of calculating Net Debt and Adjusted Net Debt may be different from methods used by other REITs and may be presented on a pro forma basis. Accordingly, the Company's method may not be comparable to such other REITs.

Other Definitions

Fully diluted basis assumes the exchange of all outstanding common units representing limited partnership interests in the Company’s operating partnership, or common units, the full vesting of all shares of restricted stock, and the exchange of all earned and vested LTIP units in the Company’s operating partnership for shares of common stock on a one-for-one basis, which is not the same as the meaning of “fully diluted” under GAAP.

Conference Call Information

The Company will host a webcast and conference call at 11:00 am Eastern time on May 2, 2023 to review the first quarter 2023 performance, discuss recent events and conduct a question-and-answer session. A live webcast will be available in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website. Shortly after the webcast, a replay of the webcast will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website for up to twelve months. Please note that the full text of the press release and supplemental information package are also available through the Company’s website at ir.easterlyreit.com.

About Easterly Government Properties, Inc.

Easterly Government Properties, Inc. (NYSE: DEA) is based in Washington, D.C., and focuses primarily on the acquisition, development and management of Class A commercial properties that are leased to the U.S. Government. Easterly’s experienced management team brings specialized insight into the strategy and needs of mission-critical U.S. Government agencies for properties leased to such agencies either directly or through the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). For further information on the company and its properties, please visit www.easterlyreit.com.

Forward Looking Statements

We make statements in this press release that are considered “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, which are usually identified by the use of words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “projects,” “seeks,” “should,” “will,” and variations of such words or similar expressions and include our guidance with respect to Net income (loss) and Core FFO per share on a fully diluted basis. We intend these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are including this statement in this press release for purposes of complying with those safe harbor provisions. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views about our plans, intentions, expectations, strategies and prospects, which are based on the information currently available to us and on assumptions we have made. Although we believe that our plans, intentions, expectations, strategies and prospects as reflected in or suggested by those forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that the plans, intentions, expectations or strategies will be attained or achieved. Furthermore, actual results may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements and will be affected by a variety of risks and factors that are beyond our control including, without limitation: risks associated with our dependence on the U.S. Government and its agencies for substantially all of our revenues, including credit risk and risk that the U.S. Government reduces its spending on real estate or that it changes its preference away from leased properties; risks associated with ownership and development of real estate; the risk of decreased rental rates or increased vacancy rates; loss of key personnel; general volatility of the capital and credit markets and the market price of our common stock; the risk we may lose one or more major tenants; difficulties in completing and successfully integrating acquisitions; failure of acquisitions or development projects to occur at anticipated levels or yield anticipated results; risks associated with our joint venture activities; risks associated with actual or threatened terrorist attacks; intense competition in the real estate market that may limit our ability to attract or retain tenants or re-lease space; insufficient amounts of insurance or exposure to events that are either uninsured or underinsured; uncertainties and risks related to adverse weather conditions, natural disasters and climate change; exposure to liability relating to environmental and health and safety matters; limited ability to dispose of assets because of the relative illiquidity of real estate investments and the nature of our assets; exposure to litigation or other claims; risks associated with breaches of our data security; risks associated with our indebtedness; risks associated with derivatives or hedging activity; risks associated with mortgage debt or unsecured financing or the unavailability thereof, which could make it difficult to finance or refinance properties and could subject us to foreclosure; adverse impacts from COVID-19 or any future pandemic, epidemic or outbreak of any other highly infectious disease on the U.S., regional and global economies and our financial condition and results of operations; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in the “Risk Factors” section of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 28, 2023, and under the heading “Risk Factors” in our other public filings. In addition, our anticipated qualification as a real estate investment trust involves the application of highly technical and complex provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or the Code, and depends on our ability to meet the various requirements imposed by the Code through actual operating results, distribution levels and diversity of stock ownership. We assume no obligation to update publicly any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Balance Sheet

(Unaudited, in thousands, except share amounts)

		March 31, 2023				December 31, 2022
Assets
Real estate properties, net		$	2,277,307			$	2,285,308
Cash and cash equivalents			8,852				7,578
Restricted cash			11,621				9,696
Tenant accounts receivable			58,334				58,835
Investment in unconsolidated real estate venture			270,889				271,644
Intangible assets, net			151,335				157,282
Interest rate swaps			2,460				4,020
Prepaid expenses and other assets			38,488				35,022
Total assets		$	2,819,286			$	2,829,385
Liabilities
Revolving credit facility			49,500				65,500
Term loan facilities, net			249,079				248,972
Notes payable, net			696,171				696,052
Mortgage notes payable, net			223,942				240,847
Intangible liabilities, net			15,392				16,387
Deferred revenue			81,881				83,309
Interest rate swaps			454				-
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities			62,828				67,336
Total liabilities			1,379,247				1,418,403
Equity
Common stock, par value $0.01, 200,000,000 shares authorized, 93,389,906 and 90,814,021 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively			934				908
Additional paid-in capital			1,672,467				1,622,913
Retained earnings			97,388				93,497
Cumulative dividends			(500,051	)			(475,983	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)			1,773				3,546
Total stockholders' equity			1,272,511				1,244,881
Non-controlling interest in Operating Partnership			167,528				166,101
Total equity			1,440,039				1,410,982
Total liabilities and equity		$	2,819,286			$	2,829,385

Income Statement   (Unaudited, in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
		Three Months Ended
		March 31, 2023				March 31, 2022
Revenues
Rental income		$	68,148			$	70,439
Tenant reimbursements			2,075				1,144
Asset management income			517				248
Other income			480				471
Total revenues			71,220				72,302
Expenses
Property operating			17,888				15,458
Real estate taxes			7,468				7,826
Depreciation and amortization			23,081				24,159
Acquisition costs			461				362
Corporate general and administrative			7,295				5,983
Total expenses			56,193				53,788
Other income (expense)
Income from unconsolidated real estate venture			1,402				631
Interest expense, net			(12,015	)			(10,882	)
Net income			4,414				8,263
Non-controlling interest in Operating Partnership			(523	)			(922	)
Net income available to Easterly Government
Properties, Inc.		$	3,891			$	7,341
Net income available to Easterly Government
Properties, Inc. per share:
Basic		$	0.04			$	0.08
Diluted		$	0.04			$	0.08
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic			91,099,357				90,150,518
Diluted			91,329,140				90,571,571
Net income, per share - fully diluted basis		$	0.04			$	0.08
Weighted average common shares outstanding -
fully diluted basis			103,419,574				101,538,051

EBITDA   (Unaudited, in thousands)
		Three Months Ended
		March 31, 2023				March 31, 2022
Net income		$	4,414			$	8,263
Depreciation and amortization			23,081				24,159
Interest expense			12,015				10,882
Tax expense			168				51
Unconsolidated real estate venture allocated share of above adjustments			1,940				928
EBITDA		$	41,618			$	44,283

FFO and CAD   (Unaudited, in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
		Three Months Ended
		March 31, 2023				March 31, 2022
Net income		$	4,414			$	8,263
Depreciation of real estate assets			22,831				23,912
Unconsolidated real estate venture allocated share of above adjustments			1,875				878
FFO		$	29,120			$	33,053
Adjustments to FFO:
Loss on extinguishment of debt		$	14			$	-
Natural disaster event expense, net of recovery			100				5
Depreciation of non-real estate assets			250				247
Unconsolidated real estate venture allocated share of above adjustments			16				16
Core FFO		$	29,500			$	33,321
Adjustments to Core FFO:
Acquisition costs			461				362
Straight-line rent and other non-cash adjustments			(463	)			(982	)
Amortization of above-/below-market leases			(700	)			(860	)
Amortization of deferred revenue			(1,484	)			(1,398	)
Non-cash interest expense			244				225
Non-cash compensation			1,668				1,629
Natural disaster event expense, net of recovery			(100	)			(5	)
Unconsolidated real estate venture allocated share of above adjustments			(113	)			(315	)
FFO, as Adjusted		$	29,013			$	31,977
FFO, per share - fully diluted basis		$	0.28			$	0.33
Core FFO, per share - fully diluted basis		$	0.29			$	0.33
FFO, as Adjusted, per share - fully diluted basis		$	0.28			$	0.31
FFO, as Adjusted		$	29,013			$	31,977
Acquisition costs			(461	)			(362	)
Principal amortization			(1,058	)			(1,300	)
Maintenance capital expenditures			(2,740	)			(934	)
Contractual tenant improvements			(301	)			(617	)
Unconsolidated real estate venture allocated share of above adjustments			-				-
Cash Available for Distribution (CAD)		$	24,453			$	28,764
Weighted average common shares outstanding - fully diluted basis			103,419,574				101,538,051

Net Debt and Adjusted Net Debt   (Unaudited, in thousands)
	March 31, 2023
Total Debt(1)	$	1,223,354
Less: Cash and cash equivalents		(9,465	)
Net Debt	$	1,213,889
Less: Adjustment for development projects(2)		(14,772	)
Adjusted Net Debt	$	1,199,117
1 Excludes unamortized premiums / discounts and deferred financing fees. 2 See definition of Adjusted Net Debt on Page 4.

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230502005337/en/

Easterly Government Properties, Inc.

Lindsay S. Winterhalter

Supervisory Vice President, Investor Relations & Operations

202-596-3947

ir@easterlyreit.com

Source: Easterly Government Properties, Inc.

FAQ

What were Easterly Government Properties' Q1 2023 net income and Core FFO?

Easterly Government Properties reported net income of $4.4 million and Core FFO of $29.5 million for Q1 2023.

Did Easterly Government Properties pay off any outstanding mortgage balances?

Yes, the company paid off the full $15.7 million outstanding balance of the mortgage on DEA-Pleasanton.

What did Easterly Government Properties do with its interest rate swaps?

The company entered into three SOFR-based interest rate swaps with a notional value of $100.0 million each, designated as cash flow hedges of interest rate risk.

How much did Easterly Government Properties raise through the issuance of shares of common stock?

The company raised net proceeds of approximately $52.4 million through the issuance of 2,559,000 shares of common stock.

What is the cash dividend approved by Easterly Government Properties' Board of Directors for Q1 2023?

The Board of Directors approved a cash dividend of $0.265 per common share for Q1 2023.