Industrial Logistics Properties Trust (NASDAQ:ILPT) Q1 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

Industrial Logistics Properties Trust (NASDAQ:ILPT) Q1 2023 Earnings Call Transcript April 26, 2023

Industrial Logistics Properties Trust beats earnings expectations. Reported EPS is $-0.36, expectations were $-0.47.

Operator: Hello and welcome to the Industrial Logistics Properties Trust First Quarter 2023 Financial Results Conference Call. All participants will be in listen-only mode. Please note today’s event is being recorded. I would now like to turn the conference over to Stephen Colbert, Director of Investor Relations. Please go ahead, sir.

Stephen Colbert: Good morning. Joining me on today’s call are Yael Duffy, President and Chief Operating Officer, and Brian Donley, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer. Today’s call includes the presentation by management followed by a question-and-answer session with analysts. Please note that the recording and re-transmission of today’s conference call is prohibited without the prior written consent of the company. Also note that today’s conference call contains forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other securities laws. These forward-looking statements are based on ILPT’s beliefs and expectations as of today, April 26, 2023, and actual results may differ materially from those that we project.

The company undertakes no obligation to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to the forward-looking statements made in today’s conference call. Additional information concerning factors that could cause those differences is contained in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, which can be accessed from our website, ilptreit.com or the SEC’s website. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements. In addition, we will be discussing non-GAAP financial numbers during this call, including normalized funds from operations or normalized FFO, adjusted EBITDA and cash-based net operating income or cash basis NOI. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP figures to net income and the components to calculate cash available for distribution are available in our supplemental operating and financial data package which can be found on our website.

With that I will now turn the call over to Yael.

Yael Duffy: Thank you, Stephen and good morning. I would like to begin by highlighting the enhanced earnings release format that we issued last night. We believe this combined presentation of information will be helpful for analysts and investors to efficiently digest information about our company and results. On today’s call, I will review ILPT’s operating and leasing performance and then turn the call over to Brian to provide an update on our financial results. We started the year with continued demand for our high quality portfolio consistent with the trends we saw throughout 2022. Same property cash basis NOI grew by 3.2% compared to the same period last year. We executed new and renewal leases for $1.1 million square feet and total occupancy remained healthy at 98.7%.

Before we get into the details of the quarter, we wanted to make you aware that Home Depot, our third largest tenant exercised its termination right on a 2.2 million square foot land parcel in Hawaii that they agreed to lease from us last year. The lease was executed in June of 2022 in the lab for a due diligence period that was scheduled to expire on March 31. We remain in active discussions with Home Depot regarding the site, but have also reengaged broader leasing efforts. This lease termination had no impact on our financial results as we continue to recognize rents from an existing tenant that leases the site through March 2024, which we believe gives us ample time to release the property prior to the tenants lease maturity. Turning to our operating and leasing results.

ILPT’s consolidated portfolio includes 413 warehouse and distribution properties in 39 states totaling approximately 60 million square feet with a weighted average remaining lease term of approximately eight years. During the first quarter, we entered 12 new and renewal leases for approximately 1.1 million square feet and a weighted average lease term of 8.9 year. This activity resulted in gap in cash leasing spreads of 15.1% and 9.5% respectively. The impact of this activity is an increase of $1.4 million, an annualized rental revenue of what 75% will go into effect in 2023. These results continue to showcase our ability to generate organic cash flow growth while maintaining portfolio stability. Renewals on the mainland drove most of our leasing for the quarter including three renewals with FedEx our largest tenants that total 587,000 square feet with weighted average roll ups in GAAP and cash rents of 14.1% and 12.6% respectively.

Earlier this month and its drive investor events, FedEx announced that it plans to consolidate its operating companies into one organization, which will emerge FedEx Express, Ground and several other of its operating companies into Federal Express Corporation. Our leasing and asset management teams have a strong relationship with FedEx decision makers who have committed to having an open dialogue with us as they work through their plans. Furthermore, over 75% of our FedEx portfolio in the associated $96.9 million in annualized revenue is secure given its long term lease with expirations in 2027 and beyond. Looking ahead, approximately 18% of ILPT’s portfolio is scheduled to roll by the end of 2025 primarily driven by our mainland properties.

We are currently tracking 27 deals in our pipeline for more than 2.5 million square feet. We anticipate a near term conversion of 62% of our pipeline given that 1.6 million square feet of current activity is in advanced stages of negotiation or lease documentation. Once executed, we expect these leases will yield average roll-ups in rent of 20% on the mainland and 30% in Hawaii, further illustrating the strength of our portfolio. Before turning the call over to Brian, I wanted to make you aware of the recent publication of the RMR group’s annual sustainability report. The report highlights insights, accomplishments and data regarding our managements’ commitment to long term ESG goals. We are proud of the progress made to strengthen ILPT sustainability practices and enhance our ESG transparency and disclosure.

You can find links to the complete report as well as an ILPT’s specific cash sheet on our website at ILPTreit.com. Brian?

Brian Donley: Thank you Yael and good morning. Starting with our consolidated financial results for the first quarter of 2023. Normalized funds from operations were $7.9 million, or $0.12 per share a decline of $19.7 million compared to the prior year quarter. The major drivers impacted normalized FFO over the prior year quarter was higher interest expense partially offset by a $29.3 million increase in NOI. Adjusted EBITDAre increased 53.6% year-over-year to $80.7 million. These changes were a result of our acquisition and related financing activities of Monmouth in 2022. Total portfolio same property cash basis NOI for the first quarter increased 3.2% year-over-year. The increase this quarter was driven by the favorable change to reserve for uncollectible rents of approximately $850,000 and an increase in percentage rents earned at one of our Hawaii properties.

Interest expense increased $29.8 million of the prior year quarter as a result of our financing activities related to Monmouth acquisition in 2022. As a reminder, we have interest rate cap for $2.6 billion of floating rate loans and rates continue to exceed the strike rates fixing our interest through the initial maturities in 2024. Our current estimated quarterly interest expense run rate is approximately $71 million consisting of $58 million of cash interest expense and $30 million of non-cash amortization of financing costs including the interest rate caps. Turning to our balance sheet. Including extension options, ILPT’s weighted average debt maturity in six years with no maturities until 2027. As of March 31, our total debt either carried a fixed rate or fixed to interest rate caps with a total weighted average interest rate of 5.4%.

We currently have $61 million of cash on hand excluding the cash held by our consolidated joint venture and amounts debt agreements. Capital expenditures for the fourth quarter were $4.9 million, including $2.5 million of development cost, $2 million of tenant improvements and leasing costs and $400,000 of building improvements. In closing, we’re focused on our operations and continue to monitor market conditions for potential dispositions and de-leveraging opportunities. Our portfolio remains strong with an exceptional tenant roster near full occupancy and rising rents across our portfolio. We expect ILPT will continue to benefit from industry demand for high quality industrial real estate. That concludes our prepared remarks. Operator, please open the line for questions.

Q&A Session

Operator: Yes, thank you. At this time, we will begin the question and answer session. And the first question comes from Bryan Maher with B. Riley FBR.

Bryan Maher: Thank you. Good morning Yael and Brian. Maybe a question for Brian to start. On the interest rate, it’s a big topic these days, and you kind of walk through the cash component and the non-cash component. As we think out to 2024 and let’s assume that you exercise your extension options and you have to make pay for new caps. How should we think about that non-cash component of the amortization and the cost of the new caps and let’s just say assume you have to do that at today’s rates. How should we think about interest expense next year under that scenario?

Brian Donley: Thanks, Brian. Good morning. This is a good question. As we look at the interest rate caps and how that accounting works, you’re essentially buying down the interest to maintain the same strike rate for the next one year period. If we were to buy a cap today I would estimate a one year cap based on today’s show for curve anywhere from $10 million to $20 million, it’s a very volatile market and interest rates, as you know, can change on a whim. But the way that will work is the amortization of the current cap will expire. And I will know especially on the CMBS loan we did in September, that cap was very expensive; $50 million. So the amortization of that cap, there could be a favorable change in what we’re recognizing for interest expense if the cap for one year is cheaper.

So that’s the best guidance I can give today that hopefully the rates continue, the forward curve continues to decline. And the price of those caps declined, because they’re not cheap today.

Bryan Maher: All right. That’s helpful. And another company that we cover here last year bought some caps or some hedges or did something and have to go look it up last year. Knowing that caps on it would expire this year on loans that they were going to extend. Is there anything that you’re looking at given the tenure at 340 today, that you could do today that would lock in something for an extension for next year?

Brian Donley: Yes. That’s a good question. It’s not something we’re considering. I think all pundits would say that interest rates are expected to clients at some point in the future and the forward curve is what drives the pricing on a cap. It’s something we talked to different people on what that could look like in a year. And for us we’re going to give it some more time. And let the backdrop settle in, hopefully over the next few quarters.

Bryan Maher: Okay, and maybe shifting gears. Can you elaborate a little bit more maybe Yael on the Home Depot termination? It seems like you’re still engaged with them? Are they just simply looking for a lower price? And maybe how deep is the bench of potential tenants to take that space if you can come to an agreement with them?

Yael Duffy: Thanks, Bryan. This was a unique circumstance. We generally don’t allow for diligence periods and termination rights in our leases. And with Home Depot this is a very large parcel, 2.2 million square feet, and they had done a diligence. As I think we mentioned earlier, they were planning on putting a warehouse and distribution facility on this site. So they just needed a little more time on their planning. And so, as I mentioned, they didn’t give us the reason why they terminated but I think they realized that that site would be really essential as they grow their network and they remain interested. But as I mentioned, we have started engaging the broader market. And I think the reasons why Home Depot like this site and other mainland retailer would also find it attractive.

And I think our chances are good in this parcels in James Campbell Industrial Park and as of Q1 it has less than a half percent of vacancy. So I think that provides us with a competitive advantage to release them.

Bryan Maher: And just last for me, you mentioned the 27 deals and that you’re tracking 2.5 million square feet for the next couple of years releasing you said something about 62% conversion anticipated. Am I to assume from that at the properties or tenants that you’ve engaged in that 38% are looking to renew and what are the prospects for those properties?

Yael Duffy: No. That’s actually not not what I meant. So we have in our pipeline, in ’23, ’24 explorations. We actually have very minimal expirations in the next couple of years. And so that’s mostly ’23 and ’24. And we just have we’ve engaged with them early, and the ones that are 62% likely to execute are just the ones that we have a signed LIBOR and we’re negotiating a lease.

Bryan Maher: Okay, if you had to put some kind of probability on the level of renewals from those that are expiring give or take five percentage points. What do you anticipate that being?

Yael Duffy: Yes. So currently today, we only know of three properties where the tenants likely to vacate and it represents less than half a percent of ILPT’s annualized revenue about 240,000 square feet.

Bryan Maher: Perfect. Thank you.

Yael Duffy: Yes.

Operator: Thank you. And the next question comes from Mitch Germain with JMP Securities.

Mitch Germain: Good morning. Appreciate the new disclosures. I wanted to talk about revenues. Brian, I know you talked about a reserve and a percentage rent from Hawaii. So assuming the reserves a kind of a one timer. What about the percentage rent? Is that just going to be a onetime benefit in the quarter?

Brian Donley: Yes, that tenant pays percentage rent annually. And the tenant had a significant increase in their revenues that there were a lot in the percentage rent and it could repeat next year, but it’s a percentage rent that could disappear as well. So it’s not something we’ll necessarily project for. But we’ve received some form of percentage ramp in that time, annually.

Mitch Germain: What’s the dollar there?

Brian Donley: We had an increase of $680,000 and change year-over-year for a quarter.

Mitch Germain: Okay, so about 1.5 million of revenues this quarter that are non-recurring. Is that the way to think about it?

Brian Donley: Yes.

Mitch Germain: Okay. I saw par Pacific entered your top tenant list. Anything, you can provide some perspective there?

Yael Duffy: No, I think it’s just with Home Depot with that leaves terminating that was 2.2 million square feet, they just moved up in the ranks.

Mitch Germain: Got you. Okay. And you talked about the leasing spreads Yael, 9%. But then your reference, FedEx was a bit higher. I think it was 12. So what, and I think it looks like FedEx was about half of your leasing in the quarter. So kind of what was on the lower end, anything specific that we should be noting there or any trends that we should be worried about?

Yael Duffy: No. When we do renewal, leasing, sometimes, especially in Hawaii, those are smaller rents and so, in certain instances, the roll up just aren’t as big and we had a couple leases in Hawaii on the renewal.

Mitch Germain: Okay. Given where your cost of debt is today, is there any thought about maybe pursuing someone off sales now that the market is at least kind of digesting the higher rates and seems to be stabilizing a bit?

Yael Duffy: Yes. We’re constantly evaluating opportunities. We’ve had a lot of inbound inquiries from opportunistic buyers looking and we’re evaluating all of those on a case by case basis. I think there is still a period of price discovery transaction volume is considerably down year-over-year, I think upwards of 55%. So I think if the opportunity presents itself and it makes sense, we will, but I think we’re still holding tight. And we’re going to be patient until we have a little more data.

Mitch Germain: Thank you.

Yael Duffy: Thank you.

Operator: Thank you. And the next question comes from DG Balachandran with RBC Capital Markets.

DG Balachandran: Hi, good morning. Can you talk a little bit more about what you’re seeing the transaction market right now and what exactly what needs to happen or change for you to bring something to the market?

Yael Duffy: Yes. I mean, we have really a big network of brokers, capital market brokers. We have a acquisitions and dispositions team where they’re very close to the market. And there just hasn’t been a lot of deals closing. And so, again I think until there’s more price discovery, I think we’re just waiting. So I mean, again I think from what we hear things might start to open up in Q2, Q3 and interest rates kind of settle I think the banking crisis, kind of put a little bit of a slowdown in the process. So hopefully, in the next quarter or two, we’ll have more data.

DG Balachandran: Okay, got it. And is it fair to assume that you’re thinking about, like some of the outright asset pool or what were you? What are your thoughts on that?

Yael Duffy: I think any way we can maximize value. I think we’re open to a portfolio but again, I think with financing being hard to come by, I think that’s a limited buyer pool. So again, we have a robust team that can execute on individual sales and we’re fine to go that route if we can maximize value.

DG Balachandran: Okay, great. Thank you.

Yael Duffy: Yes.

Operator: Thank you. And next question is a follow-up from Mitch Germain with JMP Securities.

Mitch Germain: Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. Yael, what happened with Home Depot in Illinois? I know you talked about Hawaii.

Yael Duffy: Yes. So they came to their natural lease expiration. When we actually bought them on this portfolio we knew that to be unknown vacate. We’re in active discussions with another tenant and we’re hoping to be able to lease it this quarter.

Mitch Germain: Great. Appreciate it.

Yael Duffy: Yes.

Operator: Thank you. And we have follow-up from Bryan Maher with B. Riley FBR.

Bryan Maher: Yes. Just a quick one. As it comes to thinking about potential dispositions or JV partner, or putting assets into the JV that you’ve already established. Are you still actively engaged in those JV partners, sovereign wealth funds that you’ve had dialogue with or worked within the past? And what’s their level of interest currently?

Yael Duffy: As you know, we have a couple of JVs in place and we’re in active discussions with them, because we’re managing the JVs with that for them. But for bringing on additional partner, especially for the JV, there has been no discussions. As you can see from our financial supplemental disclosures that JV is not currently cash flowing. So it would be hard to make it attractive for a new partner.

Bryan Maher: And would you ever entertain bringing on a new JV related to the Hawaii assets? I know there’s been kind of the Crown Jewels in the RMR complex for 20-ish years. But given the fixed rate debt on that, and evaluation you can tell me, maybe north of a what would the appetite be there for ILPT?

Yael Duffy: Yes, I think we’re, I mean, we’re really evaluating anything that can help with our deleveraging. So that’s not off the table, but we’re not in any active conversations right now.

Bryan Maher: And can you share with us what you think that that property is worth currently in Hawaii and maybe give or take 100 million?

Yael Duffy: I think your assumption was correct, if not a little low.

Bryan Maher: Perfect, thank you.

Operator: Thank you. And this concludes our question-and-answer session. I would like to turn the call to Yael Duffy, President and Chief Operating Officer for any closing remarks.

Yael Duffy: Thank you, everyone for joining us on the call today. We look forward to speaking with many of you at in June.

Operator: Thank you. The conference is now concluded. Thank you for attending today’s presentation. You may now disconnect your phone lines.