ELS Reports First Quarter Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Equity LifeStyle Properties (NYSE: ELS) reported a 5.5% revenue increase to $296.0 million for Q1 2021, up from $280.5 million in Q1 2020. Net income decreased by $1.7 million to $65.2 million, equating to $0.36 per share. Funds from Operations (FFO) rose by $8.3 million to $120.6 million, or $0.63 per share. The company completed the acquisition of 11 marinas for $262.0 million and secured a $300.0 million loan, transitioning to fixed-rate debt. Despite the positive revenue growth, the declining net income may concern investors.

Positive

• Total revenues increased by $15.5 million (5.5%) to $296.0 million.
• Funds from Operations (FFO) rose by $8.3 million to $120.6 million.
• Normalized FFO increased by $9.3 million to $122.6 million.
• Successful acquisition of 11 marinas for $262.0 million.

Negative

• Net income available for Common Stockholders decreased by $1.7 million to $65.2 million.

Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. (NYSE: ELS) (referred to herein as “we,” “us,” and “our”) today announced results for the quarter ended March 31, 2021. All per share results are reported on a fully diluted basis unless otherwise noted.

Financial Results for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2021

For the quarter ended March 31, 2021, total revenues increased $15.5 million, or 5.5 percent, to $296.0 million compared to $280.5 million for the same period in 2020. For the quarter ended March 31, 2021, net income available for Common Stockholders decreased $1.7 million, or $0.01 per Common Share, to $65.2 million, or $0.36 per Common Share, compared to $66.9 million, or $0.37 per Common Share, for the same period in 2020.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Portfolio Performance

For the quarter ended March 31, 2021, Funds from Operations (“FFO”) available for Common Stock and OP Unit holders increased $8.3 million, or $0.05 per Common Share, to $120.6 million, or $0.63 per Common Share, compared to $112.3 million, or $0.58 per Common Share, for the same period in 2020.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2021, Normalized Funds from Operations (“Normalized FFO”) available for Common Stock and OP Unit holders increased $9.3 million, or $0.05 per Common Share, to $122.6 million, or $0.64 per Common Share, compared to $113.3 million, or $0.59 per Common Share, for the same period in 2020.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2021, property operating revenues, excluding deferrals, increased $15.5 million to $285.2 million, compared to $269.7 million for the same period in 2020. For the quarter ended March 31, 2021, income from property operations, excluding deferrals and property management, increased $6.4 million to $170.3 million, compared to $163.9 million for the same period in 2020.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2021, Core property operating revenues, excluding deferrals, increased approximately 2.8 percent and Core income from property operations, excluding deferrals and property management, increased approximately 1.9 percent compared to the same period in 2020.

Business Updates

Page 1 of this Earnings Release and Supplemental Financial Information provides an update on operations and guidance.

Investment Activity

In February 2021, we completed the acquisition of a portfolio of 11 marinas, containing 3,986 slips and 181 RV sites located in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky and Ohio. The purchase price of these properties was $262.0 million, which was funded with proceeds from the Loan discussed below.

Balance Sheet Activity

In February 2021, we entered into a $300.0 million unsecured term loan agreement ("Loan"). In March 2021, we entered into a three year LIBOR Swap Agreement ("Swap"), with a notional amount of $300.0 million, allowing us to trade LIBOR indexed variable rate debt for fixed rate debt. In April 2021, we closed on an amended revolving line of credit with borrowing capacity of $500.0 million and a $300.0 million term loan ("Term Loan"). We used the net proceeds from the Term Loan to repay the Loan. The Swap will fix the variable interest rate associated with the Term Loan at 1.8% per annum.

In March 2021, we entered into a secured financing transaction generating gross proceeds of $270.0 million. The loan is secured by two RV communities and one MH community, has a fixed interest rate of 2.4% per annum and matures in 10 years. The net proceeds from the transaction were used to repay two loans scheduled to mature in 2022, as well as to repay a portion of the outstanding balance on our existing line of credit. The two loans had an outstanding principal balance of $67.0 million and a weighted average interest rate of 5.10% per annum. As part of the transaction, we incurred $1.9 million of prepayment penalties.

About Equity LifeStyle Properties

We are a self-administered, self-managed real estate investment trust (“REIT”) with headquarters in Chicago. As of April 19, 2021, we own or have an interest in 434 quality properties in 33 states and British Columbia consisting of 165,507 sites.

For additional information, please contact our Investor Relations Department at (800) 247-5279 or at investor_relations@equitylifestyle.com.

Conference Call

A live webcast of our conference call discussing these results will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, April 20, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. Central Time. Please visit the Investor Relations section at www.equitylifestyleproperties.com for the link. A replay of the webcast will be available for two weeks at this site.

Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to historical information, this press release includes certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used, words such as "anticipate," "expect," "believe," "project," "intend," "may be" and "will be" and similar words or phrases, or the negative thereof, unless the context requires otherwise, are intended to identify forward-looking statements and may include without limitation, information regarding our expectations, goals or intentions regarding the future, and the expected effect of our acquisitions. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to:

• our ability to control costs and real estate market conditions, our ability to retain customers, the actual use of sites by customers and our success in acquiring new customers at our properties (including those that we may acquire);
• our ability to maintain historical or increase future rental rates and occupancy with respect to properties currently owned or that we may acquire;
• our ability to attract and retain customers entering, renewing and upgrading membership subscriptions;
• our assumptions about rental and home sales markets;
• our assumptions and guidance concerning 2021 growth rates and Net Income and Normalized FFO per share data;
• our ability to manage counterparty risk;
• our ability to renew our insurance policies at existing rates and on consistent terms;
• in the age-qualified properties, home sales results could be impacted by the ability of potential home buyers to sell their existing residences as well as by financial, credit and capital markets volatility;
• results from home sales and occupancy will continue to be impacted by local economic conditions, lack of affordable manufactured home financing and competition from alternative housing options including site-built single-family housing;
• impact of government intervention to stabilize site-built single-family housing and not manufactured housing;
• effective integration of recent acquisitions and our estimates regarding the future performance of recent acquisitions;
• the completion of future transactions in their entirety, if any, and timing and effective integration with respect thereto;
• unanticipated costs or unforeseen liabilities associated with recent acquisitions;
• our ability to obtain financing or refinance existing debt on favorable terms or at all;
• the effect of interest rates;
• the effect from any breach of our, or any of our vendors', data management systems;
• the dilutive effects of issuing additional securities;
• the outcome of pending or future lawsuits or actions brought against us, including those disclosed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and
• other risks indicated from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Our guidance acknowledges the existence of volatile economic conditions, which may impact our current guidance assumptions. Factors impacting 2021 guidance include, but are not limited to the following: (i) the mix of site usage within the portfolio; (ii) yield management on our short-term resort and marina sites; (iii) scheduled or implemented rate increases on community, res

FAQ

What are the Q1 2021 financial results for Equity LifeStyle Properties (ELS)?

Equity LifeStyle Properties reported total revenues of $296.0 million for Q1 2021, a 5.5% increase year-over-year. However, net income decreased to $65.2 million.

How did Equity LifeStyle Properties' Funds from Operations (FFO) perform in Q1 2021?

In Q1 2021, Equity LifeStyle Properties' FFO increased to $120.6 million, representing a $8.3 million rise from the previous year.

What acquisition did Equity LifeStyle Properties complete in February 2021?

In February 2021, Equity LifeStyle Properties acquired a portfolio of 11 marinas for $262.0 million.

What financial activities were undertaken by Equity LifeStyle Properties in March 2021?

In March 2021, Equity LifeStyle Properties entered a $300.0 million term loan agreement and secured financing generating $270.0 million.