-Increase in Net Income Attributable to Whitestone of 70% From Prior Year Quarter to $3.3 Million-
-Anthem Marketplace Pad Site Development Completed-
-Affirms 2019 Full Year Guidance-
HOUSTON, July 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Whitestone REIT (NYSE:WSR) ("Whitestone" or the "Company") today announced operating and financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2019. Whitestone is a pure-play community-centered retail REIT that acquires, owns, manages, develops and redevelops high quality "E-Commerce Resistant" neighborhood, community and lifestyle retail centers principally located in the largest, fastest-growing and most affluent markets in the Sunbelt. Whitestone's optimal mix of national, regional and local tenants provide daily necessities, needed services and entertainment to the communities in which they are located.
Highlights*
*All per share amounts presented in this news release are on a diluted per common share and operating partnership ("OP") unit basis unless stated otherwise.
Second Quarter 2019 Compared to Second Quarter 2018:
- Net Income attributable to Whitestone REIT was $3.33 million, or $0.08 per share, compared to $1.95 million, or $0.05 per share
- Annualized Base Rent per leased squared foot grew 4.0% to $19.53
- Funds from Operations ("FFO") grew to $10.0 million or $0.24 per share, compared to $9.0 million or $0.21 per share
- Grew rental rates 7.5% (on a GAAP basis) on new and renewal leases signed for the trailing twelve month period
Jim Mastandrea, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Whitestone REIT commented, "Our team continues to perform on all fronts as evidenced by our quarterly leasing activity, value-add pad development completion, and progress toward our long term goals." Mr. Mastandrea added, "Looking ahead, we remain focused on building on these results to maximize long term shareholder value."
Financial Results
Reconciliations of Net Income to FFO and FFO Core are included herein.
Net Income attributable to Whitestone REIT was $3.33 million, or $0.08 per share, for the second quarter of 2019, compared to $1.95 million, or $0.05 per share, for the same period in 2018. FFO was $10.0 million, or $0.24 per share, for the second quarter of 2019, compared to $9.0 million, or $0.21 per share, for the same period in 2018. FFO Core was $11.1 million, or $0.27 per share, in the second quarter of 2019, compared to $12.4 million, or $0.30 per share, in the same period of 2018.
Operating Results
For the period ending June 30, 2019, the Company's operating highlights were as follows:
(1) Rental rate growth represents the percentage increase on rental rates per square foot, on comparable leases signed during the period, compared to rental rates per square foot on the previous leases. Growth rates are calculated on a GAAP basis.
Real Estate Portfolio Update
Community Centered PropertiesTM Portfolio Statistics:
Leasing Activity:
During the second quarter of 2019, the leasing team signed 92 leases totaling 283,777 square feet in new, expansion and renewal leases, compared to 65 leases totaling 179,274 square feet in the second quarter of 2018. The total lease value was $26.1 million compared to $16.7 million during the same period last year.
The Company's total portfolio occupancy stood at 89.4% at quarter end compared to 91.3% at the end the second quarter 2018.
Development:
We had completed construction at our Anthem Marketplace pad site development property. The 6,853 square foot Community Centered Property® was 58% occupied and is located in Phoenix, Arizona, and adjacent to Anthem Marketplace.
Balance Sheet and Liquidity
Balance Sheet:
Reflecting the Company's acquisition and disposition activity during the year and selective development and redevelopment, undepreciated real estate assets were $1.06 billion and $1.05 billion at June 30, 2019 and June 30, 2018, respectively.
Liquidity, Debt and Credit Facility:
At quarter end, Whitestone had $5.4 million of cash available on its balance sheet and $164.0 million of available capacity under its credit facility.
Dividend
On May 15, 2019, the Company declared a quarterly cash distribution of $0.285 per common share and OP unit for the third quarter of 2019, to be paid in three equal installments of $0.095 in July, August, and September of 2019.
(1) Source: Claritas, as of April 2017.
2019 Guidance
The Company affirms its previously released guidance for 2019 and expects net income per share to be in the range of $0.21 - $0.25, FFO, as defined by NAREIT, per share to be in the range of $0.90 - $0.94 and FFO Core (as defined by the Company) to be in the range of $1.06 - $1.10.
Conference Call Information
In conjunction with the issuance of its financial results, you are invited to listen to the Company's earnings release conference call to be broadcast live on Thursday, August 1, 2019 at 10:00 A.M. Central Time. The call will be led by James C. Mastandrea, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and David K. Holeman, Chief Financial Officer. Conference call access information is as follows:
The conference call will be recorded and a telephone replay will be available through Thursday, August 15, 2019. Replay access information is as follows:
The second quarter earnings release and supplemental data package will be located in the Investor Relations section of the Company's website. For those without internet access, the earnings release and supplemental data package will be available by mail upon request. To receive a copy, please call the Company's Investor Relations line at (713) 435-2219.
Supplemental Financial Information
Supplemental materials and details regarding Whitestone's results of operations, communities and tenants are available on the Company's website at www.whitestonereit.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company cannot guarantee the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements contained in this press release, and the Company does not intend to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This release contains supplemental financial measures that are not calculated pursuant to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") including FFO, FFO Core, and NOI. Following are explanations and reconciliations of these metrics to their most comparable GAAP metric.
Other REITs may use different methodologies for calculating FFO, and accordingly, the Company's FFO may not be comparable to other REITs. The Company presents FFO per diluted share calculations that are based on the outstanding dilutive common shares plus the outstanding OP units for the periods presented.
Whitestone REIT Contacts:
Investors Contact:
Kevin Reed, Director of Investor Relations
Whitestone REIT
(713) 435-2219
[email protected]
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