Saul Centers, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2024 Earnings

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Nov 07, 2024, 16:13 ET

BETHESDA, Md., Nov. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Saul Centers, Inc. (NYSE: BFS), an equity real estate investment trust ("REIT"), announced operating results for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 ("2024 Quarter"). Total revenue for the 2024 Quarter increased to $67.3 million from $63.8 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 ("2023 Quarter"). Net income increased to $19.6 million for the 2024 Quarter from $16.7 million for the 2023 Quarter primarily due to (a) higher base rent of $2.2 million, (b) higher lease termination fees of $0.6 million, (c) higher expense recoveries, net of expenses, of $0.2 million and (d) higher percentage rent of $0.1 million, partially offset by (e) higher general and administrative costs of $0.5 million. Net income available to common stockholders increased to $11.7 million, or $0.48 per basic and diluted share, for the 2024 Quarter from $10.0 million, or $0.42 per basic and diluted share, for the 2023 Quarter.

Same property revenue increased $3.5 million, or 5.5%, and same property operating income increased $3.2 million, or 6.8%, for the 2024 Quarter compared to the 2023 Quarter. The $3.5 million increase in same property revenue for the 2024 Quarter compared to the 2023 Quarter was primarily due to (a) higher base rent of $2.2 million, (b) higher expense recoveries of $0.6 million and (c) higher lease termination fees of $0.6 million. Shopping Center same property operating income for the 2024 Quarter totaled $36.4 million, an increase of $2.3 million compared to the 2023 Quarter. Shopping Center same property operating income increased primarily due to (a) higher base rent of $1.1 million, (b) higher lease termination fees of $0.5 million and (c) higher expense recoveries, net of expenses, of $0.4 million. Mixed-Use same property operating income totaled $13.2 million, an increase of $0.9 million compared to the 2023 Quarter. Mixed-Use same property operating income increased primarily due to (a) higher base rent of $1.1 million partially offset by (b) lower parking income, net of expenses, of $0.3 million. No properties were excluded from same property results. Reconciliations of (a) total revenue to same property revenue and (b) net income to same property operating income are attached to this press release.

Same property revenue and same property operating income are non-GAAP financial measures of performance and improve the comparability of these measures by excluding the results of properties that were not in operation for the entirety of the comparable reporting periods. We define same property revenue as total revenue minus the revenue of properties not in operation for the entirety of the comparable reporting periods. We define same property operating income as net income plus (a) interest expense, net and amortization of deferred debt costs, (b) depreciation and amortization of deferred leasing costs, (c) general and administrative expenses, (d) change in fair value of derivatives and (e) loss on early extinguishment of debt minus (f) gains on property dispositions and (g) the operating income of properties that were not in operation for the entirety of the comparable periods.

Funds from operations ("FFO") available to common stockholders and noncontrolling interests (after deducting preferred stock dividends) increased to $28.9 million, or $0.84 and $0.83 per basic and diluted share, respectively, in the 2024 Quarter compared to $26.0 million, or $0.78 and $0.76 per basic and diluted share, respectively, in the 2023 Quarter. FFO is a non-GAAP supplemental earnings measure that the Company considers meaningful in measuring its operating performance. A reconciliation of net income to FFO is attached to this press release. The increase in FFO available to common stockholders and noncontrolling interests was primarily the result of (a) higher base rent of $2.2 million, (b) higher lease termination fees of $0.6 million, (c) higher expense recoveries, net of expenses, of $0.2 million and (d) higher percentage rent of $0.1 million, partially offset by (e) higher general and administrative costs of $0.5 million.

As of September 30, 2024, 95.7% of the commercial portfolio was leased compared to 94.2% as of September 30, 2023. As of September 30, 2024, the residential portfolio was 98.8% leased compared to 97.5% as of September 30, 2023.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2024 ("2024 Period"), total revenue increased to $200.9 million from $190.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 ("2023 Period"). Net income increased to $57.3 million for the 2024 Period from $51.6 million for the 2023 Period. The increase in net income was primarily due to (a) higher base rent of $5.0 million and (b) higher termination fees of $2.3 million, partially offset by (c) higher general and administrative costs of $1.4 million and (d) lower parking revenue, net of expenses, of $0.4 million. Net income available to common stockholders increased to $34.2 million, or $1.42 per basic and diluted share, for the 2024 Period compared to $31.1 million, or $1.29 per basic and diluted share, for the 2023 Period.

Same property revenue increased $10.4 million, or 5.5%, and same property operating income increased $7.3 million, or 5.2%, for the 2024 Period compared to the 2023 Period. Shopping Center same property operating income increased by $5.6 million to $109.1 million primarily due to (a) higher lease termination fees of $2.8 million and (b) higher base rent of $2.6 million. Mixed-Use same property operating income increased by $1.7 million to $38.6 million primarily due to (a) higher base rent of $2.4 million, partially offset by (b) lower lease termination fees of $0.5 million. No properties were excluded from same property results.

FFO available to common stockholders and noncontrolling interests, after deducting preferred stock dividends, increased to $84.9 million, or $2.46 per basic and diluted share, in the 2024 Period from $79.4 million, or $2.38 and $2.33 per basic and diluted share, respectively, in the 2023 Period. FFO available to common stockholders and noncontrolling interests increased primarily due to (a) higher base rent of $5.0 million and (b) higher lease termination fees of $2.3 million partially offset by (c) higher general and administrative costs of $1.4 million and (d) lower parking revenue, net of expenses, of $0.4 million.

Saul Centers, Inc. is a self-managed, self-administered equity REIT headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, which currently operates and manages a real estate portfolio of 61 properties, which includes (a) 50 community and neighborhood shopping centers and seven mixed-use properties with approximately 9.8 million square feet of leasable area and (b) four non-operating land and development properties. Over 85% of the Saul Centers' property operating income is generated by properties in the metropolitan Washington, D.C./Baltimore area.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain matters discussed within this press release may be deemed to be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. For these statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained. These factors include, but are not limited to, the risk factors described in our Annual Report on (i) Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and (ii) our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 and include the following: (i) the ability of our tenants to pay rent, (ii) our reliance on shopping center "anchor" tenants and other significant tenants, (iii) our substantial relationships with members of the B. F. Saul Company and certain other affiliated entities, each of which is controlled by B. Francis Saul II and his family members, (iv) risks of financing, such as increases in interest rates, restrictions imposed by our debt, our ability to meet existing financial covenants and our ability to consummate planned and additional financings on acceptable terms, (v) our development activities, (vi) our access to additional capital, (vii) our ability to successfully complete additional acquisitions, developments or redevelopments, or if they are consummated, whether such acquisitions, developments or redevelopments perform as expected, (viii) adverse trends in the retail, office and residential real estate sectors, (ix) risks relating to cybersecurity, including disruption to our business and operations and exposure to liabilities from tenants, employees, capital providers, and other third parties, (x) risks generally incident to the ownership of real property, including adverse changes in economic conditions, changes in the investment climate for real estate, changes in real estate taxes and other operating expenses, adverse changes in governmental rules and fiscal policies, the relative illiquidity of real estate and environmental risks, and (xi) risks related to our status as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, such as the existence of complex regulations relating to our status as a REIT, the effect of future changes to REIT requirements as a result of new legislation and the adverse consequences of the failure to qualify as a REIT. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements that we make, including those in this press release. Except as may be required by law, we make no promise to update any of the forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You should carefully review the risks and risk factors included in (i) our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and (ii) our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2024.

Saul Centers, Inc. Consolidated Balance Sheets *(Unaudited)*

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)	September 30, 2024	December 31, 2023
Assets
Real estate investments
Land	$ 501,787	$ 511,529
Buildings and equipment	1,608,995	1,595,023
Construction in progress	653,176	514,553
	2,763,958	2,621,105
Accumulated depreciation	(758,105)	(729,470)
Total real estate investments, net	2,005,853	1,891,635
Cash and cash equivalents	7,197	8,407
Accounts receivable and accrued income, net	59,824	56,032
Deferred leasing costs, net	25,474	23,728
Other assets	14,676	14,335
Total assets	$ 2,113,024	$ 1,994,137
Liabilities
Mortgage notes payable, net	$ 1,027,386	$ 935,451
Revolving credit facility payable, net	187,296	274,715
Term loan facility payable, net	99,642	99,530
Construction loans payable, net	178,558	77,305
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	59,211	57,022
Deferred income	28,889	22,748
Dividends and distributions payable	23,358	22,937
Total liabilities	1,604,340	1,489,708
Equity
Preferred stock, 1,000,000 shares authorized:
Series D Cumulative Redeemable, 30,000 shares issued and outstanding	75,000	75,000
Series E Cumulative Redeemable, 44,000 shares issued and outstanding	110,000	110,000
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 50,000,000 and 40,000,000 shares authorized, respectively, 24,279,719 and 24,082,887 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	241	241
Additional paid-in capital	453,074	449,959
Distributions in excess of accumulated net income	(297,498)	(288,825)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	1,029	2,014
Total Saul Centers, Inc. equity	341,846	348,389
Noncontrolling interests	166,838	156,040
Total equity	508,684	504,429
Total liabilities and equity	$ 2,113,024	$ 1,994,137

Saul Centers, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Operations *(Unaudited)*

	Three Months Ended September 30,		Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts	2024	2023	2024	2023
Revenue
Rental revenue	$ 65,550	$ 62,369	$ 194,544	$ 186,199
Other	1,738	1,397	6,379	4,325
Total revenue	67,288	63,766	200,923	190,524
Expenses
Property operating expenses	10,111	9,720	30,312	27,502
Real estate taxes	7,620	7,641	22,852	22,589
Interest expense, net and amortization of deferred debt costs	12,213	12,419	36,928	36,518
Depreciation and amortization of deferred leasing costs	12,072	12,096	36,102	36,227
General and administrative	5,680	5,179	17,565	16,125
Total expenses	47,696	47,055	143,759	138,961
Gain on disposition of property	—	—	181	—
Net Income	19,592	16,711	57,345	51,563
Noncontrolling interests
Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(5,111)	(3,892)	(14,786)	(12,080)
Net income attributable to Saul Centers, Inc.	14,481	12,819	42,559	39,483
Preferred stock dividends	(2,798)	(2,798)	(8,395)	(8,395)
Net income available to common stockholders	$ 11,683	$ 10,021	$ 34,164	$ 31,088
Per share net income available to common stockholders
Basic and diluted	$ 0.48	$ 0.42	$ 1.42	$ 1.29

Reconciliation of net income to FFO available to common stockholders and noncontrolling interests (1)
	Three Months Ended September 30,		Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)	2024	2023	2024	2023
Net income	$ 19,592	$ 16,711	$ 57,345	$ 51,563
Subtract:
Gain on disposition of property	—	—	(181)	—
Add:
Real estate depreciation and amortization	12,072	12,096	36,102	36,227
FFO	31,664	28,807	93,266	87,790
Subtract:
Preferred stock dividends	(2,798)	(2,798)	(8,395)	(8,395)
FFO available to common stockholders and noncontrolling interests	$ 28,866	$ 26,009	$ 84,871	$ 79,395
Weighted average shares and units:
Basic	34,560	33,357	34,469	33,341
Diluted (2)	34,582	34,068	34,479	34,049
Basic FFO per share available to common stockholders and noncontrolling interests	$ 0.84	$ 0.78	$ 2.46	$ 2.38
Diluted FFO per share available to common stockholders and noncontrolling interests	$ 0.83	$ 0.76	$ 2.46	$ 2.33


(1)	The National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts ("Nareit") developed FFO as a relative non-GAAP financial measure of performance of an equity REIT in order to recognize that income-producing real estate historically has not depreciated on the basis determined under GAAP. FFO is defined by NAREIT as net income, computed in accordance with GAAP, plus real estate depreciation and amortization, and excluding impairment charges on real estate assets and gains or losses from real estate dispositions. FFO does not represent cash generated from operating activities in accordance with GAAP and is not necessarily indicative of cash available to fund cash needs, which is disclosed in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the applicable periods. There are no material legal or functional restrictions on the use of FFO. FFO should not be considered as an alternative to net income, its most directly comparable GAAP measure, as an indicator of the Company's operating performance, or as an alternative to cash flows as a measure of liquidity. Management considers FFO a meaningful supplemental measure of operating performance because it primarily excludes the assumption that the value of the real estate assets diminishes predictably over time (i.e. depreciation), which is contrary to what the Company believes occurs with its assets, and because industry analysts have accepted it as a performance measure. FFO may not be comparable to similarly titled measures employed by other REITs.
(2)	Beginning March 5, 2021, fully diluted shares and units includes 1,416,071 limited partnership units that were held in escrow related to the contribution of Twinbrook Quarter. Half of the units held in escrow were released on October 18, 2021. The remaining units held in escrow were released on October 18, 2023.

Reconciliation of revenue to same property revenue (1)
	Three Months Ended September 30,		Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)	2024	2023	2024	2023
Total revenue	$ 67,288	$ 63,766	$ 200,923	$ 190,524
Less: Acquisitions, dispositions and development properties	—	—	—	—
Total same property revenue	$ 67,288	$ 63,766	$ 200,923	$ 190,524

Shopping Centers	$ 46,463	$ 44,014	$ 140,161	$ 132,214
Mixed-Use properties	20,825	19,752	60,762	58,310
Total same property revenue	$ 67,288	$ 63,766	$ 200,923	$ 190,524

Total Shopping Center revenue	$ 46,463	$ 44,014	$ 140,161	$ 132,214
Less: Shopping Center acquisitions, dispositions and development properties	—	—	—	—
Total same Shopping Center revenue	$ 46,463	$ 44,014	$ 140,161	$ 132,214

Total Mixed-Use property revenue	$ 20,825	$ 19,752	$ 60,762	$ 58,310
Less: Mixed-Use acquisitions, dispositions and development properties	—	—	—	—
Total same Mixed-Use property revenue	$ 20,825	$ 19,752	$ 60,762	$ 58,310

(1)

Same property revenue is a non-GAAP financial measure of performance that management believes improves the comparability of reporting periods by excluding the results of properties that were not in operation for the entirety of the comparable reporting periods. Same property revenue adjusts property revenue by subtracting the revenue of properties not in operation for the entirety of the comparable reporting periods. Same property revenue is a measure of the operating performance of the Company's properties but does not measure the Company's performance as a whole. Same property revenue should not be considered as an alternative to total revenue, its most directly comparable GAAP measure, as an indicator of the Company's operating performance. Management considers same property revenue a meaningful supplemental measure of operating performance because it is not affected by the cost of the Company's funding, the impact of depreciation and amortization expenses, gains or losses from the acquisition and sale of operating real estate assets, general and administrative expenses or other gains and losses that relate to ownership of the Company's properties. Management believes the exclusion of these items from same property revenue is useful because the resulting measure captures the actual revenue generated by operating the Company's properties. Other REITs may use different methodologies for calculating same property revenue. Accordingly, the Company's same property revenue may not be comparable to those of other REITs.

Mixed-Use same property revenue is composed of the following:

	Three Months Ended September 30,		Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	2024	2023	2024	2023
Office mixed-use properties (1)	$ 10,596	$ 9,805	$ 30,411	$ 28,806
Residential mixed-use properties (residential activity) (2)	9,047	8,774	26,853	26,043
Residential mixed-use properties (retail activity) (3)	1,182	1,173	3,498	3,461
Total Mixed-Use same property revenue	$ 20,825	$ 19,752	$ 60,762	$ 58,310


(1)	Includes Avenel Business Park, Clarendon Center – North and South Blocks, 601 Pennsylvania Avenue and Washington Square
(2)	Includes Clarendon South Block, The Waycroft and Park Van Ness
(3)	Includes The Waycroft and Park Van Ness

Reconciliation of net income to same property operating income (1)
	Three Months Ended September 30,		Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	2024	2023	2024	2023
Net income	$ 19,592	$ 16,711	$ 57,345	$ 51,563
Add: Interest expense, net and amortization of deferred debt costs	12,213	12,419	36,928	36,518
Add: Depreciation and amortization of deferred leasing costs	12,072	12,096	36,102	36,227
Add: General and administrative	5,680	5,179	17,565	16,125
Less: Gain on disposition of property	—	—	(181)	—
Property operating income	49,557	46,405	147,759	140,433
Less: Acquisitions, dispositions and development properties	—	—	—	—
Total same property operating income	$ 49,557	$ 46,405	$ 147,759	$ 140,433

Shopping Centers	$ 36,362	$ 34,069	$ 109,143	$ 103,547
Mixed-Use properties	13,195	12,336	38,616	36,886
Total same property operating income	$ 49,557	$ 46,405	$ 147,759	$ 140,433

Shopping Center operating income	$ 36,362	$ 34,069	$ 109,143	$ 103,547
Less: Shopping Center acquisitions, dispositions and development properties	—	—	—	—
Total same Shopping Center operating income	$ 36,362	$ 34,069	$ 109,143	$ 103,547

Mixed-Use property operating income	$ 13,195	$ 12,336	$ 38,616	$ 36,886
Less: Mixed-Use acquisitions, dispositions and development properties	—	—	—	—
Total same Mixed-Use property operating income	$ 13,195	$ 12,336	$ 38,616	$ 36,886

(1)

Same property operating income is a non-GAAP financial measure of performance that management believes improves the comparability of reporting periods by excluding the results of properties that were not in operation for the entirety of the comparable reporting periods. Same property operating income adjusts property operating income by subtracting the results of properties that were not in operation for the entirety of the comparable periods. Same property operating income is a measure of the operating performance of the Company's properties but does not measure the Company's performance as a whole. Same property operating income should not be considered as an alternative to property operating income, its most directly comparable GAAP measure, as an indicator of the Company's operating performance. Management considers same property operating income a meaningful supplemental measure of operating performance because it is not affected by the cost of the Company's funding, the impact of depreciation and amortization expenses, gains or losses from the acquisition and sale of operating real estate assets, general and administrative expenses or other gains and losses that relate to ownership of the Company's properties. Management believes the exclusion of these items from property operating income is useful because the resulting measure captures the actual revenue generated and actual expenses incurred by operating the Company's properties. Other REITs may use different methodologies for calculating same property operating income. Accordingly, same property operating income may not be comparable to those of other REITs.

Mixed-Use same property operating income is composed of the following:

	Three Months Ended September 30,		Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	2024	2023	2024	2023
Office mixed-use properties (1)	$ 6,847	$ 6,177	$ 19,644	$ 18,354
Residential mixed-use properties (residential activity) (2)	5,489	5,297	16,412	16,023
Residential mixed-use properties (retail activity) (3)	859	862	2,560	2,509
Total Mixed-Use same property operating income	$ 13,195	$ 12,336	$ 38,616	$ 36,886


(1)	Includes Avenel Business Park, Clarendon Center – North and South Blocks, 601 Pennsylvania Avenue and Washington Square
(2)	Includes Clarendon South Block, The Waycroft and Park Van Ness
(3)	Includes The Waycroft and Park Van Ness