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Essential Properties Announces Fourth Quarter 2023 Results

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Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (EPRT) reported a strong fourth quarter with net income per share of $0.31 and AFFO per share of $0.42. The company closed investments totaling $314.9 million at a 7.9% weighted average cash cap rate. They reiterated their 2024 AFFO guidance of $1.71 to $1.75 per share. The full year 2023 saw significant growth in net income, FFO, Core FFO, and AFFO per share. The CEO highlighted the strong investment activity and liquidity position of nearly $800 million, positioning the company well for future growth.
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Insights

The disclosed fourth quarter net income per share of $0.31 and AFFO per share of $0.42 by Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. reflects a robust fiscal performance, particularly noting the AFFO per share growth of 8%. The company's reiteration of the 2024 AFFO guidance of $1.71 to $1.75 per share is a significant indicator for investors, projecting a stable outlook. The emphasis on AFFO, rather than just net income or FFO, is critical as AFFO provides a clearer picture of the company's operational efficiency by excluding non-cash expenses such as depreciation and amortization, which are less relevant for real estate investment trusts (REITs).

The reported weighted average cash cap rate on closed investments of 7.9% is above the industry norm, which typically ranges between 4% to 6% for stable properties. This may suggest that Essential Properties is engaging in higher-yield, potentially higher-risk investments, which could be attractive to investors seeking growth in a low-interest-rate environment. However, it is important to monitor whether these cap rates reflect the market's current risk assessment or if they are an outlier.

Additionally, the increase in net income per share by 24% and the company's strategic use of sale-leaseback transactions, which account for 97% of the quarter's investment activity, demonstrate a focused approach to portfolio growth and capital recycling. The 99.8% occupancy rate and diversified tenant base across 16 industries also contribute to the company's resilience and risk mitigation strategies.

The investment activity of Essential Properties, with a total investment volume of $1.0 billion across 293 properties, signifies aggressive expansion within the real estate market. This level of activity is particularly noteworthy in the context of the current economic environment where many businesses are exercising caution. The weighted average lease term (WALT) of 14.0 years provides long-term visibility into the company's revenue stream, which is highly valued by investors seeking stability.

Furthermore, the high percentage of service-oriented or experience-based cash ABR (92.9%) underlines a strategic focus on recession-resistant property types, which are less susceptible to e-commerce disruption. This is a prudent approach in the face of retail sector volatility and could position the company favorably amidst changing consumer behaviors.

It is also essential to recognize the forward equity sales and the company's liquidity position, with nearly $800 million in available liquidity. This indicates a strong balance sheet and the ability to capitalize on future investment opportunities or weather economic downturns. The leverage ratio of net debt to annualized adjusted EBITDAre at 4.0x is within a reasonable range for REITs, suggesting a balanced approach to leveraging without overextending financial risk.

The performance of Essential Properties offers insights into the broader economic landscape, particularly in the commercial real estate sector. The company's ability to raise equity at favorable share prices and maintain high occupancy rates points to a robust demand for commercial properties, especially those catering to service-oriented businesses. This demand is reflective of the broader economic recovery and the resilience of certain market segments post-pandemic.

Moreover, the company's leverage and balance sheet strength, with substantial liquidity, suggest that the commercial real estate market remains liquid and that there is investor confidence in the sector. This confidence is bolstered by the company's proactive management of its portfolio through strategic dispositions and investments.

The guidance for 2024 AFFO per share, along with the consistent investment activity and strong liquidity position, signals that Essential Properties is well-equipped to navigate potential economic headwinds. It also suggests that the company anticipates continued growth and stability in its operations, which can be seen as a positive indicator for the commercial real estate sector as a whole.

- Fourth Quarter Net Income per Share of $0.31 and AFFO per Share of $0.42 -

- Closed Investments of $314.9 million at a 7.9% Weighted Average Cash Cap Rate -

- Reiterates 2024 AFFO Guidance of $1.71 to $1.75 per Share -

PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: EPRT; “Essential Properties” or the “Company”) today announced operating results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2023.

Fourth Quarter 2023 Financial and Operating Highlights:

Operating Results (compared to Fourth Quarter 2022):

 

 

  • Investments (93 properties)

$ Invested

$314.9 million

 

Weighted Avg Cash Cap Rate

7.9%

  • Dispositions (9 properties)

Net Proceeds

$30.6 million

 

Weighted Avg Cash Cap Rate

6.6%

  • Net Income per Share

Increased by 24%

$0.31

  • Funds from Operations ("FFO") per Share

Increased by 18%

$0.46

  • Core Funds from Operations ("Core FFO") per Share

Increased by 18%

$0.46

  • Adjusted Funds from Operations ("AFFO") per Share

Increased by 8%

$0.42

Debt, Equity & Leverage Update:

 

 

  • Drew Remaining Principal on $450mm 2029 Term Loan

Additional Draws

$75.0 million

  • Equity Raised (Gross) - ATM Program (1)

$24.72/share

$47.9 million

  • Pro Form Net Debt to Annualized Adjusted EBITDAre (2)

As of Quarter End

4.0x

_________________

1.

All shares were sold on a forward basis and are currently unsettled.

2.

See page 12 for detailed calculation.

Full Year 2023 Financial and Operating Highlights:

Operating Results (compared to 2022):

 

 

  • Investments (293 properties)

$ Invested

$1.0 billion

 

Weighted Avg Cash Cap Rate

7.6%

  • Dispositions (52 properties)

Net Proceeds

$138.0 million

 

Weighted Avg Cash Cap Rate

6.3%

  • Net Income per share

Increased by 25%

$1.24

  • FFO per share

Increased by 13%

$1.77

  • Core FFO per share

Increased by 12%

$1.77

  • AFFO per share

Increased by 8%

$1.65

Debt & Equity Activity:

 

 

  • Equity Raised (Gross) - Follow-On Offerings

$23.68/share

$493.9 million

  • Equity Raised (Gross) - ATM Program

$24.48/share

$145.2 million

Activity Subsequent to Fourth Quarter 2023:

  • Investments (17 properties)

$ Invested

$40.9 million

  • Dispositions (4 properties)

$ Gross Proceeds

$9.1 million

CEO Comments

Commenting on the fourth quarter and full year 2023 results, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, Pete Mavoides, said, “We were pleased to close out the year with a great fourth quarter, highlighted by strong AFFO per share growth of 8%, reflecting a strong and consistent year of investment activity. With substantial liquidity of nearly $800 million, we remain well-positioned to capitalize on an increasingly attractive investment landscape as we continue to deploy sale-leaseback capital supporting the growth of our middle-market tenant relationships.”

Portfolio Highlights

The Company’s investment portfolio as of December 31, 2023 is summarized as follows:

Number of properties

 

1,873

Weighted average lease term (WALT)

 

14.0 years

Weighted average rent coverage ratio

 

3.8x

Number of tenants

 

374

Number of concepts (i.e., brands)

 

588

Number of industries

 

16

Number of states

 

48

Weighted average occupancy

 

99.8%

Total square feet of rentable space

 

18,661,836

Cash ABR - service-oriented or experience-based

 

92.9%

Cash ABR - properties subject to master lease

 

65.7%

Portfolio Update

Investments

The Company’s investment activity during the three months and year ended December 31, 2023 is summarized as follows:

 

 

Quarter Ended

December 31, 2023

 

Year Ended

December 31, 2023

Investments:

 

 

 

 

Investment volume

 

$314.9 million

 

$1.0 billion

Number of transactions

 

43

 

126

Property count

 

93

 

293

Weighted average cash / GAAP cap rate

 

7.9%/9.1%

 

7.6%/8.9%

Weighted average lease escalation

 

1.9%

 

1.9%

% Subject to master lease

 

72%

 

68%

% Sale-leaseback transactions

 

97%

 

99%

% Existing relationship

 

96%

 

85%

% Required financial reporting (tenant/guarantor)

 

100%

 

100%

WALT

 

17.6 years

 

18.3 years

Dispositions

The Company’s disposition activity during the three months and year ended December 31, 2023 is summarized as follows:

 

 

Quarter Ended

December 31, 2023

 

Year Ended

December 31, 2023

Dispositions:

 

 

 

 

Net proceeds

 

$30.6 million

 

$138.0 million

Number of properties sold

 

9

 

52

Net gain / (loss)

 

$4.8 million

 

$24.2 million

Weighted average cash cap rate (excluding vacant properties and sales subject to a tenant purchase option )

 

6.6%

 

6.3%

Loan Repayments

Loan repayments to the Company during the three months and year ended December 31, 2023 are summarized as follows:

 

 

Quarter Ended

December 31, 2023

 

Year Ended

December 31, 2023

Loan Repayments:

 

 

 

 

Proceeds—Principal

 

$4.6 million

 

$26.9 million

Proceeds—Prepayment penalties

 

$0.1 million

$0.4 million

Number of properties

 

3

 

19

Weighted average cash cap rate

 

7.8%

 

7.4%

Leverage and Balance Sheet and Liquidity

The Company's leverage, balance sheet and liquidity are summarized in the following table.

 

 

December 31, 2023

 

Pro Forma (1)

December 31, 2023

Leverage:

 

 

 

 

Net debt to Annualized Adjusted EBITDAre

 

4.4x

 

4.0x

 

 

 

 

 

Balance Sheet and Liquidity:

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash

 

$49.0 million

 

$179.6 million

Unused revolving credit facility capacity

 

$600.0 million

 

$600.0 million

Forward equity sales - unsettled

 

$130.6 million

 

Total available liquidity

 

$779.6 million

 

$779.6 million

 

 

 

 

 

ATM Program:

 

 

 

 

2022 ATM Program initial availability

 

$500.0 million

 

 

Aggregate gross sales under the 2022 ATM Program

 

$220.6 million

 

 

Availability remaining under the 2022 ATM Program

 

$279.4 million

 

 

Average price per share of gross sales since inception in May 2022

 

$23.62

 

 

___________________

1.

Pro forma adjustments have been made to reflect 5,778,363 shares sold on a forward basis in the Company's September 2023 follow-on offering or ATM Program as if they had been physically settled for cash on December 31, 2023.

Guidance

2024 Guidance

The Company reiterates its previously issued expectation that 2024 AFFO per share on a fully diluted basis will be within a range of $1.71 to $1.75.

Note: The Company does not provide guidance for the most comparable GAAP financial measure, net income, or a reconciliation of the forward-looking non-GAAP financial measure of AFFO to net income computed in accordance with GAAP, because it is unable to reasonably predict, without unreasonable efforts, certain items that would be contained in the GAAP measure, including items that are not indicative of the Company's ongoing operations, such as, without limitation, potential impairments of real estate assets, net gain/loss on dispositions of real estate assets, changes in allowance for credit losses and stock-based compensation expense. These items are uncertain, depend on various factors, and could have a material impact on the Company's GAAP results for the guidance period.

Dividend Information

As previously announced, on December 1, 2023, Essential Properties' board of directors declared a cash dividend of $0.285 per share of common stock for the quarter ended December 31, 2023. The dividend was paid on January 12, 2024 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 29, 2023.

Conference Call Information

In conjunction with the release of Essential Properties’ operating results, the Company will host a conference call on Thursday, February 15, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. EST to discuss the results. To access the conference, dial 877-407-9208 (International: 201-493-6784). A live webcast will also be available in listen-only mode by clicking on the webcast link in the Investor Relations section at www.essentialproperties.com.

A telephone replay of the conference call can also be accessed by calling 844-512-2921 (International: 412-317-6671) and entering the access code: 13743572. The telephone replay will be available through February 29, 2024.

A replay of the conference call webcast will be available on our website approximately two hours after the conclusion of the live broadcast. The webcast replay will be available for 90 days. No access code is required for this replay.

Supplemental Materials

The Company’s Supplemental Operating & Financial Data—Fourth Quarter Ended December 31, 2023 is available on Essential Properties’ website at investors.essentialproperties.com.

About Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc.

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. is an internally managed REIT that acquires, owns and manages primarily single- tenant properties that are net leased on a long-term basis to companies operating service-oriented or experience-based businesses. As of December 31, 2023, the Company’s portfolio consisted of 1,873 freestanding net lease properties with a weighted average lease term of 14.0 years and a weighted average rent coverage ratio of 3.8x. In addition, as of December 31, 2023, the Company’s portfolio was 99.8% leased to 374 tenants operating 588 different concepts in 16 industries across 48 states.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. When used in this press release, the words “estimate,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “believe,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seek,” “approximately” or “plan,” or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases that are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and that do not relate solely to historical matters are intended to identify forward-looking statements. You can also identify forward-looking statements by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions of management. Forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and you should not rely on them as predictions of future events. Forward-looking statements depend on assumptions, data or methods that may be incorrect or imprecise and the Company may not be able to realize them. The Company does not guarantee that the transactions and events described will happen as described (or that they will happen at all). You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. While forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s good faith beliefs, they are not guarantees of future performance. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law. In light of these risks and uncertainties, the forward-looking events discussed in this press release might not occur as described, or at all.

Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements is contained in the company’s Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission”) filings, including, but not limited to, the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. Copies of each filing may be obtained from the Company or the Commission. Such forward-looking statements should be regarded solely as reflections of the Company’s current operating plans and estimates. Actual operating results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecast in this press release.

The results reported in this press release are preliminary and not final. There can be no assurance that these results will not vary from the final results reported in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 that it will file with the Commission.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Certain Definitions

The Company’s reported results are presented in accordance with GAAP. The Company also discloses the following non-GAAP financial measures: FFO, Core FFO, AFFO, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”), EBITDA further adjusted to exclude gains (or losses) on sales of depreciable property and real estate impairment losses (“EBITDAre”), adjusted EBITDAre, annualized adjusted EBITDAre, net debt, net operating income (“NOI”) and cash NOI (“Cash NOI”). The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures are industry measures used by analysts and investors to compare the operating performance of REITs.

FFO, Core FFO and AFFO

The Company computes FFO in accordance with the definition adopted by the Board of Governors of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts ("NAREIT"). NAREIT defines FFO as GAAP net income or loss adjusted to exclude extraordinary items (as defined by GAAP), net gain or loss from sales of depreciable real estate assets, impairment write-downs associated with depreciable real estate assets and real estate-related depreciation and amortization (excluding amortization of deferred financing costs and depreciation of non-real estate assets), including the pro rata share of such adjustments of unconsolidated subsidiaries. FFO is used by management, and may be useful to investors and analysts, to facilitate meaningful comparisons of operating performance between periods and among the Company’s peers primarily because it excludes the effect of real estate depreciation and amortization and net gains and losses on sales (which are dependent on historical costs and implicitly assume that the value of real estate diminishes predictably over time, rather than fluctuating based on existing market conditions).

The Company computes Core FFO by adjusting FFO, as defined by NAREIT, to exclude certain GAAP income and expense amounts that it believes are infrequent and unusual in nature and/or not related to its core real estate operations. Exclusion of these items from similar FFO-type metrics is common within the equity REIT industry, and management believes that presentation of Core FFO provides investors with a metric to assist in their evaluation of our operating performance across multiple periods and in comparison to the operating performance of our peers, because it removes the effect of unusual items that are not expected to impact our operating performance on an ongoing basis.

Core FFO is used by management in evaluating the performance of our core business operations. Items included in calculating FFO that may be excluded in calculating Core FFO include certain transaction related gains, losses, income or expenses or other non-core amounts as they occur.

To derive AFFO, the Company modifies its computation of Core FFO to include other adjustments to GAAP net income related to certain items that it believes are not indicative of the Company’s operating performance, including straight-line rental revenue, non-cash interest expense, non-cash compensation expense, other amortization expense, other non-cash charges (including changes to our provision for loan losses following the adoption of ASC 326), capitalized interest expense and transaction costs. Such items may cause short-term fluctuations in net income but have no impact on operating cash flows or long-term operating performance. The Company believes that AFFO is an additional useful supplemental measure for investors to consider when assessing the Company’s operating performance without the distortions created by non-cash items and certain other revenues and expenses.

FFO, Core FFO and AFFO do not include all items of revenue and expense included in net income, they do not represent cash generated from operating activities and they are not necessarily indicative of cash available to fund cash requirements; accordingly, they should not be considered alternatives to net income as a performance measure or cash flows from operations as a liquidity measure and should be considered in addition to, and not in lieu of, GAAP financial measures. Additionally, our computation of FFO, Core FFO and AFFO may differ from the methodology for calculating these metrics used by other equity REITs and, therefore, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other equity REITs.

EBITDA and EBITDAre

The Company computes EBITDA as earnings before interest, income taxes and depreciation and amortization. In 2017, NAREIT issued a white paper recommending that companies that report EBITDA also report EBITDAre. The Company computes EBITDAre in accordance with the definition adopted by NAREIT. NAREIT defines EBITDAre as EBITDA (as defined above) excluding gains (or losses) from the sales of depreciable property and real estate impairment losses. The Company presents EBITDA and EBITDAre as they are measures commonly used in its industry and the Company believes that these measures are useful to investors and analysts because they provide supplemental information concerning its operating performance, exclusive of certain non-cash items and other costs. The Company uses EBITDA and EBITDAre as measures of its operating performance and not as measures of liquidity.

EBITDA and EBITDAre do not include all items of revenue and expense included in net income, they do not represent cash generated from operating activities and they are not necessarily indicative of cash available to fund cash requirements; accordingly, they should not be considered alternatives to net income as a performance measure or cash flows from operations as a liquidity measure and should be considered in addition to, and not in lieu of, GAAP financial measures. Additionally, the Company’s computation of EBITDA and EBITDAre may differ from the methodology for calculating these metrics used by other equity REITs and, therefore, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other equity REITs.

Net Debt

The Company calculates its net debt as its gross debt (defined as total debt plus net deferred financing costs on its secured borrowings) less cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash available for future investment. The Company believes excluding cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash available for future investment from gross debt, all of which could be used to repay debt, provides an estimate of the net contractual amount of borrowed capital to be repaid, which it believes is a beneficial disclosure to investors and analysts.

NOI and Cash NOI

The Company computes NOI as total revenues less property expenses. NOI excludes all other items of expense and income included in the financial statements in calculating net income or loss. Cash NOI further excludes non-cash items included in total revenues and property expenses, such as straight-line rental revenue and other amortization and non-cash charges. The Company believes NOI and Cash NOI provide useful information because they reflect only those revenue and expense items that are incurred at the property level and present such items on an unlevered basis.

NOI and Cash NOI are not measures of financial performance under GAAP. You should not consider the Company’s NOI and Cash NOI as alternatives to net income or cash flows from operating activities determined in accordance with GAAP. Additionally, the Company’s computation of NOI and Cash NOI may differ from the methodology for calculating these metrics used by other equity REITs and, therefore, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other equity REITs.

Adjusted EBITDAre / Adjusted NOI / Adjusted Cash NOI

The Company further adjusts EBITDAre, NOI and Cash NOI i) based on an estimate calculated as if all investment and disposition activity that took place during the quarter had occurred on the first day of the quarter, ii) to exclude certain GAAP income and expense amounts that the Company believes are infrequent and unusual in nature and iii) to eliminate the impact of lease termination or loan prepayment fees and contingent rental revenue from its tenants which is subject to sales thresholds specified in the lease. The Company then annualizes these estimates for the current quarter by multiplying them by four, which it believes provides a meaningful estimate of the Company’s current run rate for all investments as of the end of the current quarter. You should not unduly rely on these measures, as they are based on assumptions and estimates that may prove to be inaccurate. The Company’s actual reported EBITDAre, NOI and Cash NOI for future periods may be significantly less than these estimates of current run rates.

Cash ABR

Cash ABR means annualized contractually specified cash base rent in effect as of the end of the current quarter for all of the Company’s leases (including those accounted for as direct financing leases) commenced as of that date and annualized cash interest on its mortgage loans receivable as of that date.

Cash Cap Rate

Cash Cap Rate means annualized contractually specified cash base rent for the first full month after investment or disposition divided by the purchase or sale price, as applicable, for the property.

GAAP Cap Rate

GAAP Cap Rate means annualized rental income computed in accordance with GAAP for the first full month after investment divided by the purchase price, as applicable, for the property.

Rent Coverage Ratio

Rent coverage ratio means the ratio of tenant-reported or, when unavailable, management’s estimate based on tenant-reported financial information, annual EBITDA and cash rent attributable to the leased property (or properties, in the case of a master lease) to the annualized base rental obligation as of a specified date.

 

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

 

 

Three months ended December 31,

 

Year ended December 31,

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

2023

 

 

 

2022

 

 

 

2023

 

 

 

2022

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

(Unaudited)

 

(Unaudited)

 

(Audited)

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rental revenue1,2

 

$

92,937

 

 

$

70,101

 

 

$

339,897

 

 

$

269,827

 

Interest on loans and direct financing lease receivables

 

 

4,580

 

 

 

4,009

 

 

 

18,128

 

 

 

15,499

 

Other revenue

 

 

217

 

 

 

166

 

 

 

1,570

 

 

 

1,180

 

Total revenues

 

 

97,734

 

 

 

74,276

 

 

 

359,595

 

 

 

286,506

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General and administrative

 

 

7,335

 

 

 

6,508

 

 

 

30,678

 

 

 

29,464

 

Property expenses3

 

 

1,317

 

 

 

784

 

 

 

4,663

 

 

 

3,452

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

27,440

 

 

 

24,121

 

 

 

102,219

 

 

 

88,562

 

Provision for impairment of real estate

 

 

1,903

 

 

 

9,623

 

 

 

3,548

 

 

 

20,164

 

Change in provision for credit losses

 

 

(14

)

 

 

(48

)

 

 

(99

)

 

 

88

 

Total expenses

 

 

37,981

 

 

 

40,988

 

 

 

141,009

 

 

 

141,730

 

Other operating income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gain on dispositions of real estate, net

 

 

4,847

 

 

 

12,565

 

 

 

24,167

 

 

 

30,647

 

Income from operations

 

 

64,600

 

 

 

45,853

 

 

 

242,753

 

 

 

175,423

 

Other (expense)/income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss on debt extinguishment4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(116

)

 

 

(2,138

)

Interest expense

 

 

(15,760

)

 

 

(12,128

)

 

 

(52,597

)

 

 

(40,370

)

Interest income

 

 

595

 

 

 

2,025

 

 

 

2,011

 

 

 

2,825

 

Income before income tax expense

 

 

49,435

 

 

 

35,750

 

 

 

192,051

 

 

 

135,740

 

Income tax expense

 

 

164

 

 

 

229

 

 

 

636

 

 

 

998

 

Net income

 

 

49,271

 

 

 

35,521

 

 

 

191,415

 

 

 

134,742

 

Net income attributable to non-controlling interests

 

 

(176

)

 

 

(171

)

 

 

(708

)

 

 

(612

)

Net income attributable to stockholders

 

$

49,095

 

 

$

35,350

 

 

$

190,707

 

 

$

134,130

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic weighted-average shares outstanding

 

 

157,561,157

 

 

 

142,378,451

 

 

 

152,140,735

 

 

 

134,941,188

 

Basic net income per share

 

$

0.31

 

 

$

0.25

 

 

$

1.25

 

 

$

0.99

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding

 

 

159,196,777

 

 

 

143,375,819

 

 

 

153,521,854

 

 

 

135,855,916

 

Diluted net income per share

 

$

0.31

 

 

$

0.25

 

 

$

1.24

 

 

$

0.99

 

_________________

1.

Includes contingent rent (based on a percentage of the tenant's gross sales at the leased property) of $225, $156 ,$743 and $682 for the three months and year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

2.

Includes reimbursable income from the Company’s tenants of $674, $497, $2,867 and $2,081 for the three months and year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

3.

Includes reimbursable expenses from the Company’s tenants $674, $497, $2,867 and $2,081 for the three months and year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

4.

During the year ended December 31, 2023, includes debt extinguishment costs associated with the full repayment of the Company’s 2024 Term Loan and during the year ended December 31, 2022, includes debt extinguishment costs associated with the Company's restructuring of its credit and term loan facilities.

 

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

(in thousands, expect share and per share amounts)

 

December 31, 2023

 

December 31, 2022

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

(Audited)

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

Investments:

 

 

 

 

Real estate investments, at cost:

 

 

 

 

Land and improvements

 

$

1,542,302

 

 

$

1,228,687

 

Building and improvements

 

 

2,938,012

 

 

 

2,440,630

 

Lease incentive

 

 

17,890

 

 

 

18,352

 

Construction in progress

 

 

96,524

 

 

 

34,537

 

Intangible lease assets

 

 

89,209

 

 

 

88,364

 

Total real estate investments, at cost

 

 

4,683,937

 

 

 

3,810,570

 

Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

 

(367,133

)

 

 

(276,307

)

Total real estate investments, net

 

 

4,316,804

 

 

 

3,534,263

 

Loans and direct financing lease receivables, net

 

 

223,854

 

 

 

240,035

 

Real estate investments held for sale, net

 

 

7,455

 

 

 

4,780

 

Net investments

 

 

4,548,113

 

 

 

3,779,078

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

39,807

 

 

 

62,345

 

Restricted cash

 

 

9,156

 

 

 

9,155

 

Straight-line rent receivable, net

 

 

107,545

 

 

 

78,587

 

Derivative assets

 

 

30,980

 

 

 

47,877

 

Rent receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets, net

 

 

32,660

 

 

 

22,991

 

Total assets

 

$

4,768,261

 

 

$

4,000,033

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

 

 

 

Unsecured term loans, net of deferred financing costs

 

$

1,272,772

 

 

$

1,025,492

 

Senior unsecured notes, net

 

 

395,846

 

 

 

395,286

 

Revolving credit facility

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intangible lease liabilities, net

 

 

11,206

 

 

 

11,551

 

Dividend payable

 

 

47,182

 

 

 

39,398

 

Derivative liabilities

 

 

23,005

 

 

 

2,274

 

Accrued liabilities and other payables

 

 

31,248

 

 

 

29,261

 

Total liabilities

 

 

1,781,259

 

 

 

1,503,262

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders' equity:

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 150,000,000 authorized; none issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.01 par value; 500,000,000 authorized; 164,635,150 and 142,379,655 issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively

 

 

1,646

 

 

 

1,424

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

3,078,459

 

 

 

2,563,305

 

Distributions in excess of cumulative earnings

 

 

(105,545

)

 

 

(117,187

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

4,019

 

 

 

40,719

 

Total stockholders' equity

 

 

2,978,579

 

 

 

2,488,261

 

Non-controlling interests

 

 

8,423

 

 

 

8,510

 

Total equity

 

 

2,987,002

 

 

 

2,496,771

 

Total liabilities and equity

 

$

4,768,261

 

 

$

4,000,033

 

 

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

 

 

Three months ended December 31,

 

Year ended December 31,

(unaudited, in thousands except per share amounts)

 

 

2023

 

 

 

2022

 

 

 

2023

 

 

 

2022

 

Net income

 

$

49,271

 

 

$

35,521

 

 

$

191,415

 

 

$

134,742

 

Depreciation and amortization of real estate

 

 

27,402

 

 

 

24,096

 

 

 

102,103

 

 

 

88,459

 

Provision for impairment of real estate

 

 

1,903

 

 

 

9,623

 

 

 

3,548

 

 

 

20,164

 

Gain on dispositions of real estate, net

 

 

(4,847

)

 

 

(12,565

)

 

 

(24,167

)

 

 

(30,647

)

Funds from Operations

 

 

73,729

 

 

 

56,675

 

 

 

272,899

 

 

 

212,718

 

Non-core expenses1

 

 

78

 

 

 

 

 

 

(510

)

 

 

2,388

 

Core Funds from Operations

 

 

73,807

 

 

 

56,675

 

 

 

272,389

 

 

 

215,106

 

Adjustments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Straight-line rental revenue, net

 

 

(9,636

)

 

 

(4,005

)

 

 

(30,375

)

 

 

(20,615

)

Non-cash interest

 

 

992

 

 

 

621

 

 

 

3,187

 

 

 

2,616

 

Non-cash compensation expense

 

 

2,170

 

 

 

2,232

 

 

 

9,192

 

 

 

9,489

 

Other amortization expense

 

 

263

 

 

 

735

 

 

 

1,507

 

 

 

2,912

 

Other non-cash charges

 

 

28

 

 

 

(52

)

 

 

(73

)

 

 

74

 

Capitalized interest expense

 

 

(665

)

 

 

(394

)

 

 

(2,430

)

 

 

(757

)

Adjusted Funds from Operations

 

$

66,959

 

 

$

55,812

 

 

$

253,397

 

 

$

208,825

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per share2:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.31

 

 

$

0.25

 

 

$

1.25

 

 

$

0.99

 

Diluted

 

$

0.31

 

 

$

0.25

 

 

$

1.24

 

 

$

0.99

 

FFO per share2:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.47

 

 

$

0.40

 

 

$

1.78

 

 

$

1.57

 

Diluted

 

$

0.46

 

 

$

0.39

 

 

$

1.77

 

 

$

1.56

 

Core FFO per share2:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.47

 

 

$

0.40

 

 

$

1.78

 

 

$

1.58

 

Diluted

 

$

0.46

 

 

$

0.39

 

 

$

1.77

 

 

$

1.58

 

AFFO per share2:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.42

 

 

$

0.39

 

 

$

1.66

 

 

$

1.54

 

Diluted

 

$

0.42

 

 

$

0.39

 

 

$

1.65

 

 

$

1.53

 

____________________

1.

Includes the following during the: i) three months ended December 31, 2023 — $0.1 million of accelerated expense related to the departure of a board member; ii) year ended December 31, 2023 — $0.1 million loss on debt extinguishment, $0.9 million of insurance recovery income and $0.3 million of separation costs and non-cash compensation expense in connection with the departure of a junior executive and board member; iii) year ended December 31, 2022 — $0.2 million of fees incurred in conjunction with a term loan amendment and our $2.1 million loss on debt extinguishment.

2.

Calculations exclude $103, $94, $407 and $374 from the numerator for the three months and year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, related to dividends paid on unvested restricted stock awards and restricted stock units.

 

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

(in thousands)

 

Three months ended December 31, 2023

Net income

 

$

49,271

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

27,440

 

Interest expense

 

 

15,760

 

Interest income

 

 

(595

)

Income tax expense

 

 

164

 

EBITDA

 

 

92,040

 

Provision for impairment of real estate

 

 

1,903

 

Gain on dispositions of real estate, net

 

 

(4,847

)

EBITDAre

 

 

89,096

 

Adjustment for current quarter re-leasing, acquisition and disposition activity1

 

 

4,506

 

Adjustment to exclude other non-core or non-recurring activity2

 

 

185

 

Adjustment to exclude termination/prepayment fees and certain percentage rent3

 

 

(144

)

Adjusted EBITDAre - Current Estimated Run Rate

 

 

93,643

 

General and administrative expense

 

 

7,015

 

Adjusted net operating income ("NOI")

 

 

100,658

 

Straight-line rental revenue, net1

 

 

(10,278

)

Other amortization expense

 

 

263

 

Adjusted Cash NOI

 

$

90,643

 

 

 

 

Annualized EBITDAre

 

$

356,384

 

Annualized Adjusted EBITDAre

 

$

374,572

 

Annualized Adjusted NOI

 

$

402,632

 

Annualized Adjusted Cash NOI

 

$

362,572

 

_________________

1.

Adjustment is made to reflect EBITDAre, NOI and Cash NOI as if all re-leasing activity, investments in and dispositions of real estate and loan repayments completed during the three months ended December 31, 2023 had occurred on October 1, 2023.

2.

Adjustment is made to i) exclude non-core expenses added back to compute Core FFO, ii) exclude changes in the Company's provision for credit losses and iii) eliminate the impact of seasonal fluctuation in certain non-cash compensation expense recorded in the period.

3.

Adjustment excludes lease termination or loan prepayment fees and contingent rent (based on a percentage of the tenant's gross sales at the leased property) where payment is subject to exceeding a sales threshold specified in the lease, if any.

 

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

December 31, 2023

 

Rate

 

Wtd. Avg. Maturity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unsecured debt:

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 2027 term loan1

 

$

430,000

 

 

2.4%

 

3.1 years

January 2028 term loan1

 

 

400,000

 

 

4.6%

 

4.1 years

February 2029 term loan1,2

 

 

450,000

 

 

4.3%

 

5.2 years

Senior unsecured notes due July 2031

 

 

400,000

 

 

3.1%

 

7.5 years

Revolving credit facility3

 

 

 

 

—%

 

2.1 years

Total unsecured debt

 

 

1,680,000

 

 

3.6%

 

4.9 years

Gross debt

 

 

1,680,000

 

 

 

 

 

Less: cash & cash equivalents

 

 

(39,807

)

 

 

 

 

Less: restricted cash available for future investment

 

 

(9,156

)

 

 

 

 

Net debt

 

 

1,631,037

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock & OP units (165,188,997 shares @ $25.56/share as of 12/31/23)4

 

 

4,208,074

 

 

 

 

 

Total equity

 

 

4,208,074

 

 

 

 

 

Total enterprise value ("TEV")

 

$

5,839,111

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro forma adjustments to Net Debt and TEV:5

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net debt

 

$

1,631,037

 

 

 

 

 

Less: Unsettled forward equity (5,778,363 shares @ $22.60 /share as of 12/31/23)

 

 

(130,591

)

 

 

 

 

Pro forma net debt

 

 

1,500,446

 

 

 

 

 

Total equity

 

 

4,208,074

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock — unsettled forward equity (5,778,363 shares @ $25.56/share as of 12/31/23)

 

 

147,695

 

 

 

 

 

Pro forma TEV

 

$

5,856,215

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross Debt / Undepreciated Gross Assets

 

 

32.7

%

 

 

 

 

Net Debt / TEV

 

 

27.9

%

 

 

 

 

Net Debt / Annualized Adjusted EBITDAre

 

4.4x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro Forma Gross Debt / Undepreciated Gross Assets

 

 

31.9

%

 

 

 

 

Pro Forma Net Debt / Pro Forma TEV

 

 

25.6

%

 

 

 

 

Pro Forma Net Debt / Annualized Adjusted EBITDAre

 

4.0x

 

 

 

 

1.

Rates presented for the Company's term loans are fixed at the stated rates after giving effect to its interest rate swaps, applicable margin of 85bps (for 2027 and 2028 Term Loans) or 95bps (for 2029 Term Loan) and SOFR premium of 10bps.

2.

Weighted average maturity calculation is made after giving effect to extension options exercisable at the Company's election.

3.

The Company's revolving credit facility provides a maximum aggregate initial original principal amount of up to $600 million and includes an accordion feature to increase, subject to certain conditions, the maximum availability of the facility by up to $600 million. Borrowings bear interest at Term SOFR plus applicable margin of 77.5bps and SOFR premium of 10bps.

4.

Common stock & OP units as of December 31, 2023, based on 164,635,150 common shares outstanding and 553,847 OP units held by non-controlling interests.

5.

Pro forma adjustments have been made to reflect shares sold on a forward basis in the Company's September 2023 follow-on offering or ATM Program as if they had been physically settled on December 31, 2023.

 

Investor/Media:

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc.

Robert W. Salisbury, CFA

Senior Vice President, Capital Markets

609-436-0619

investors@essentialproperties.com

Source: Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc.

FAQ

What was Essential Properties Realty Trust's net income per share for the fourth quarter of 2023?

Essential Properties Realty Trust reported a net income per share of $0.31 for the fourth quarter of 2023.

What was the AFFO per share for Essential Properties Realty Trust in the fourth quarter of 2023?

Essential Properties Realty Trust's AFFO per share for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $0.42.

What was the total investment amount closed by Essential Properties Realty Trust in the fourth quarter of 2023?

Essential Properties Realty Trust closed investments totaling $314.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2023.

What was the weighted average cash cap rate for Essential Properties Realty Trust's investments in the fourth quarter of 2023?

Essential Properties Realty Trust's investments in the fourth quarter of 2023 had a weighted average cash cap rate of 7.9%.

What is Essential Properties Realty Trust's 2024 AFFO guidance range per share?

Essential Properties Realty Trust reiterated their 2024 AFFO guidance range of $1.71 to $1.75 per share.

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc.

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