Kite Realty Group Trust Upgraded by S&P to BBB with Stable Outlook
Kite Realty Group Trust (NYSE: KRG) has been upgraded by S&P Ratings to a 'BBB' credit rating from 'BBB-', with a stable outlook. The upgrade is attributed to the company's deleveraged balance sheet following its merger with RPAI. S&P also noted that KRG's well-located, open-air centers are expected to maintain healthy demand, potentially improving leased occupancy and rents in the coming years.
KRG is a real estate investment trust (REIT) headquartered in Indianapolis. It owns and operates grocery-anchored shopping centers and mixed-use assets in high-growth Sun Belt and strategic gateway markets. As of March 31, 2024, KRG owns interests in 180 U.S. open-air shopping centers and mixed-use assets, totaling approximately 28.1 million square feet of leasable space.
- S&P upgraded Kite Realty Group Trust's credit rating to 'BBB' from 'BBB-'.
- KRG's balance sheet has been further deleveraged following its merger with RPAI.
- S&P anticipates improvement in KRG's leased occupancy and rents due to healthy demand for its properties.
- None.
Insights
Upgrading the credit rating to BBB from BBB- is a significant marker for Kite Realty Group Trust (KRG). It indicates that the company is on a stronger financial footing, which can lead to lower borrowing costs. This is particularly relevant for a REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) because these entities often rely on debt financing to fund their acquisitions and development projects. Lower interest expenses can improve KRG's
Moreover, the mention of further deleveraging of its balance sheet post-merger with RPAI underscores a prudent financial strategy. Deleveraging reduces financial risk and positions the company favorably to navigate potential economic downturns. For investors, this provides a layer of security and a signal that the management is focused on sustainable growth and stability.
KRG's strategic focus on grocery-anchored centers and mixed-use assets located in high-growth markets is noteworthy. Grocery-anchored centers are generally resilient to economic cycles because people always need groceries. This stability can translate into more reliable rental income. Additionally, mixed-use assets can drive higher foot traffic and diversified revenue streams, bolstering occupancy rates and rent growth.
The S&P's reference to limited supply in key markets suggests that KRG's properties could command higher rents and maintain high occupancy levels, making them attractive investments. Retail demand remaining healthy further implies that KRG's tenant mix and property locations are well-positioned to capitalize on consumer behavior trends. This bodes well for future revenue and profitability.
INDIANAPOLIS, June 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kite Realty Group Trust (NYSE: KRG) announced today that S&P Ratings (“S&P”) upgraded its issuer credit rating for Kite Realty Group Trust and the Company’s Operating Partnership, Kite Realty Group L.P., to ‘BBB’ from ‘BBB-’, with a stable outlook.
In its public announcement on the matter, S&P cited “Kite Realty Group Trust has further deleveraged its balance sheet following its merger with RPAI” and noted “the Company will likely improve its leased occupancy and rents over the next couple of years due to our view that demand for its well-located, open-air centers will remain healthy amid limited supply in some markets.”
About Kite Realty Group Trust
Kite Realty Group Trust (NYSE: KRG) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) headquartered in Indianapolis, IN that is one of the largest publicly traded owners and operators of open-air shopping centers and mixed-use assets. The Company’s primarily grocery-anchored portfolio is located in high-growth Sun Belt and select strategic gateway markets. The combination of necessity-based grocery-anchored neighborhood and community centers, along with vibrant mixed-use assets makes the KRG portfolio an ideal mix for both retailers and consumers. Publicly listed since 2004, KRG has nearly 60 years of experience in developing, constructing and operating real estate. Using operational, investment, development, and redevelopment expertise, KRG continuously optimizes its portfolio to maximize value and return to shareholders. As of March 31, 2024, the Company owned interests in 180 U.S. open-air shopping centers and mixed-use assets, comprising approximately 28.1 million square feet of gross leasable space. For more information, please visit kiterealty.com.
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Safe Harbor
This release, together with other statements and information publicly disseminated by us, contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements are based on assumptions and expectations that may not be realized and are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which cannot be predicted with accuracy and some of which might not even be anticipated. Future events and actual results, performance, transactions or achievements, financial or otherwise, may differ materially from the results, performance, transactions or achievements, financial or otherwise, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
Risks, uncertainties and other factors that might cause such differences, some of which could be material, include but are not limited to: economic, business, banking, real estate and other market conditions, particularly in connection with low or negative growth in the U.S. economy as well as economic uncertainty (including a potential economic slowdown or recession, rising interest rates, inflation, unemployment, or limited growth in consumer income or spending); our ability to satisfy or surpass environmental, social, and governance goals set by the Company or third-party constituencies on the anticipated timeline or at all; financing risks, including the availability of, and costs associated with, sources of liquidity; the Company’s ability to refinance, or extend the maturity dates of, the Company’s indebtedness; the level and volatility of interest rates; the financial stability of tenants; the competitive environment in which the Company operates, including potential oversupplies of and reduction in demand for rental space; acquisition, disposition, development and joint venture risks; property ownership and management risks, including the relative illiquidity of real estate investments, and expenses, vacancies or the inability to rent space on favorable terms or at all; the Company’s ability to maintain the Company’s status as a real estate investment trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes; potential environmental and other liabilities; impairment in the value of real estate property the Company owns; the attractiveness of our properties to tenants, the actual and perceived impact of e-commerce on the value of shopping center assets and changing demographics and customer traffic patterns; business continuity disruptions and a deterioration in our tenant’s ability to operate in affected areas or delays in the supply of products or services to us or our tenants from vendors that are needed to operate efficiently, causing costs to rise sharply and inventory to fall; risks related to our current geographical concentration of the Company’s properties in the states of Texas, Florida, and North Carolina and the metropolitan statistical areas of New York, Atlanta, Seattle, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.; civil unrest, acts of violence, terrorism or war, acts of God, climate change, epidemics, pandemics, natural disasters and severe weather conditions, including such events that may result in underinsured or uninsured losses or other increased costs and expenses; changes in laws and government regulations including governmental orders affecting the use of the Company’s properties or the ability of its tenants to operate, and the costs of complying with such changed laws and government regulations; possible short-term or long-term changes in consumer behavior due to COVID-19 and the fear of future pandemics; our ability to satisfy environmental, social or governance standards set by various constituencies; insurance costs and coverage, especially in Florida and Texas coastal areas; risks associated with cybersecurity attacks and the loss of confidential information and other business disruptions; other factors affecting the real estate industry generally; and other risks identified in reports the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“the SEC”) or in other documents that it publicly disseminates, including, in particular, the section titled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, and in the Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Contact Information: Kite Realty Group Trust
Tyler Henshaw
SVP, Capital Markets & Investor Relations
317.713.7780
thenshaw@kiterealty.com
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