Realty Income Announces Operating Results For Fourth Quarter And 2018

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 20, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Realty Income Corporation (Realty Income, NYSE: O), The Monthly Dividend Company^®, today announced operating results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2018. All per share amounts presented in this press release are on a diluted per common share basis unless stated otherwise.

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS:

For the year ended December 31, 2018:

• Net income per share was $1.26
• AFFO per share increased 4.2% to $3.19, compared to 2017
• Invested $1.8 billion in 764 new properties and properties under development or expansion
• Dividends paid per common share increased 4.1%, compared to 2017

For the quarter ended December 31, 2018:

• Net income per share was $0.29
• AFFO per share increased 3.9% to $0.79, compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2017
• Invested $332.1 million in 180 new properties and properties under development or expansion
• Raised $538.7 million from the sale of common stock
• Closed on a new $3.25 billion unsecured credit facility to replace the previous $2.25 billion unsecured credit facility

CEO Comments

"We completed another year of strong operating performance in 2018 which further positions the company for continued success in 2019," said Sumit Roy, Realty Income's President & Chief Executive Officer. "We invested $332 million in high-quality real estate during the fourth quarter, bringing us to approximately $1.8 billion in real estate investments for the year. Our portfolio continues to perform well with year-end occupancy of 98.6% and a rent recapture rate of 103% on re-leasing activity during the year. We remain conservatively capitalized, ending the year with a 5.3x Debt-to-EBITDA ratio, and we enter 2019 with ample liquidity and flexibility to continue growing earnings and dividends.

Our investment pipeline remains solid, and we anticipate completing between $1.5 and $2.0 billion in real estate investments during 2019. Based on the strength of our operations and financial position, we are introducing 2019 AFFO per share guidance of $3.25 to $3.31, representing annual growth of approximately 2% to 4%."

Financial Results

Revenue
Revenue for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, increased 10.3% to $342.6 million, as compared to $310.7 million for the same quarter in 2017. Revenue for 2018 increased 9.2% to $1.328 billion, as compared to $1.216 billion for 2017.

Net Income Available to Common Stockholders
Net income available to common stockholders for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, was $85.1 million, as compared to $60.9 million for the same quarter in 2017. Net income per share for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, was $0.29, as compared to $0.22 for the same quarter in 2017.

Net income available to common stockholders for 2018 was $363.6 million, as compared to $301.5 million for 2017. Net income per share for 2018 was $1.26, as compared to $1.10 for 2017.

Net income available to common stockholders and FFO in 2018 were impacted by a severance payment made to our former chief executive officer (CEO) in October 2018. The total value of cash, stock compensation and professional fees incurred as a result of this severance was $28.3 million; however, the net amount, after incorporating accruals for CEO compensation previous to this severance, was $18.7 million, equivalent to $0.06 per share.

The calculation to determine net income for a real estate company includes impairments and gains on property sales. These items can vary from quarter to quarter and can significantly impact net income and period to period comparisons.

Funds From Operations Available to Common Stockholders (FFO)
FFO for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, increased to $217.7 million, as compared to $171.0 million for the same quarter in 2017. FFO per share for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, increased to $0.73, as compared to $0.61 for the same quarter in 2017.

FFO for 2018 increased to $903.3 million, as compared to $772.7 million for 2017. FFO per share for 2018 increased to $3.12, as compared to $2.82 for 2017.

Adjusted Funds From Operations Available to Common Stockholders (AFFO)
AFFO for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, increased 10.0% to $236.8 million, as compared to $215.3 million for the same quarter in 2017. AFFO per share for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, increased 3.9% to $0.79, as compared to $0.76 for the same quarter in 2017.

AFFO for 2018 increased 10.3% to $924.6 million, as compared to $838.6 million for 2017. AFFO per share for 2018 increased 4.2% to $3.19, as compared to $3.06 for 2017.

The company considers FFO and AFFO to be appropriate supplemental measures of a Real Estate Investment Trust's (REIT's) operating performance. Realty Income defines FFO, a non-GAAP measure, consistent with the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts' (NAREIT's) definition, as net income available to common stockholders, plus depreciation and amortization of real estate assets, plus impairments of real estate assets, and reduced by gains on property sales. AFFO further adjusts FFO for unique revenue and expense items, which the company believes are not as pertinent to the measurement of the company's ongoing operating performance. Presentation of the information regarding FFO and AFFO is intended to assist the reader in comparing the operating performance of different REITs, although it should be noted that not all REITs calculate FFO and AFFO in the same way, so comparisons with other REITs may not be meaningful. FFO and AFFO should not be considered as alternatives to reviewing our cash flows from operating, investing, and financing activities. In addition, FFO and AFFO should not be considered as measures of liquidity, our ability to make cash distributions, or our ability to pay interest payments. See the reconciliations of net income available to common stockholders to FFO and AFFO on pages seven and eight of this press release.

Dividend Increases
In December 2018, Realty Income announced the 85^th consecutive quarterly dividend increase, which is the 99^th increase in the amount of the dividend since the company's listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in 1994. The annualized dividend amount as of December 31, 2018 was $2.652 per share. The company distributed $761.6 million in common dividends to shareholders in 2018, representing 82.4% of our 2018 AFFO of $924.6 million, and the amount of monthly dividends paid per share increased 4.1% to $2.631 in 2018, as compared to $2.527 in 2017.

In January 2019, Realty Income announced an increase to the amount of the February annualized dividend to $2.706 per share, as compared to the February 2018 annualized dividend amount of $2.628 per share, which represents an increase of 3.0%. The new monthly dividend amount of $0.2255 per share was paid on February 15, 2019.

Real Estate Portfolio Update

As of December 31, 2018, Realty Income's portfolio of freestanding, single-tenant properties consisted of 5,797 properties located in 49 states and Puerto Rico, leased to 262 different commercial tenants, and doing business in 48 industries. The properties are leased under long-term, net lease agreements with a weighted average remaining lease term of 9.2 years.

Asset Management Activities
The company's portfolio of commercial real estate, owned primarily under long-term net leases, continues to perform well and provides dependable rental revenue supporting the payment of monthly dividends. As of December 31, 2018, portfolio occupancy was 98.6% with 80 properties available for lease out of a total of 5,797 properties in the portfolio, as compared to 98.8% as of September 30, 2018 and 98.4% as of December 31, 2017. Economic occupancy, or occupancy as measured by rental revenue, was 99.0% as of December 31, 2018, as compared to 99.1% as of September 30, 2018 and 98.5% as of December 31, 2017.

Since September 30, 2018, when the company reported 71 properties available for lease, the company had 76 lease expirations, re-leased 62 properties and sold five vacant properties during the quarter ended December 31, 2018. Of the 62 properties re-leased during the fourth quarter of 2018, 60 properties were re-leased to the same tenants and two were re-leased to new tenants after a period of vacancy. The annual new rent on these re-leases was $8.01 million, as compared to the previous annual rent of $8.55 million on the same properties, representing a rent recapture rate of 93.7% on the properties re-leased during the quarter ended December 31, 2018.

Since December 31, 2017, when the company reported 83 properties available for lease, the company had 267 lease expirations, re-leased 228 properties and sold 42 vacant properties during 2018. Of the 228 properties re-leased during 2018, 215 properties were re-leased to the same tenants, three were re-leased to new tenants without vacancy, and ten were re-leased to new tenants after a period of vacancy. The annual new rent on these re-leases was $46.15 million, as compared to the previous annual rent of $44.66 million on the same properties, representing a rent recapture rate of 103.3% on the properties re-leased during 2018.

Rent Increases
During the quarter ended December 31, 2018, same store rents on 4,629 properties under lease increased 0.8% to $272.1 million, as compared to $270.0 million for the same quarter in 2017. During 2018, same store rents on 4,629 properties under lease increased 0.9% to $1.08 billion, as compared to $1.07 billion for 2017.

Investments in Real Estate
During the quarter ended December 31, 2018, Realty Income invested $332.1 million in 180 new properties and properties under development or expansion, located in 30 states. These properties are 100% leased with a weighted average lease term of approximately 16.2 years and an initial average cash lease yield of 6.5%. The tenants occupying the new properties operate in 13 industries, and are 97.1% retail and 2.9% industrial, based on rental revenue. Approximately 24% of the rental revenue generated from acquisitions during the fourth quarter of 2018 is from investment grade rated tenants and their subsidiaries.

During 2018, Realty Income invested $1.8 billion in 764 new properties and properties under development or expansion, located in 39 states. These properties are 100% leased with a weighted average lease term of approximately 14.8 years and an initial average lease yield of 6.4%. The tenants occupying the new properties operate in 21 industries, and the property types are 96.3% retail and 3.7% industrial, based on rental revenue. Approximately 59% of the rental revenue generated from acquisitions during 2018 is from investment grade rated tenants and their subsidiaries.

Property Dispositions
During the quarter ended December 31, 2018, Realty Income sold 68 properties for $59.3 million, with a gain on sales of $5.8 million. During 2018, Realty Income sold 128 properties for $142.3 million, with a gain on sales of $24.6 million.

Liquidity and Capital Markets

Capital Raising
During the quarter ended December 31, 2018, Realty Income raised $538.7 million from the sale of common stock at a weighted average price of $63.05 per share. During 2018, Realty Income raised $1.1 billion from the sale of common stock at a weighted average price of $58.77 per share.

Credit Facility
In October 2018, we entered into a new $3.25 billion unsecured credit facility to amend and restate our previous $2.25 billion unsecured credit facility, of which $2.0 billion was due to expire in June 2019. This new credit facility includes a $3.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facility and a new $250 million unsecured term loan due March 2024. The new revolving credit facility matures in March 2023 and includes two six-month extensions that can be exercised at our option. The new revolving credit facility also has a $1.0 billion expansion feature. Under the new revolving credit facility, our current investment grade credit ratings provide for financing at the London Interbank Offered Rate, commonly referred to as LIBOR, plus 0.775% with a facility commitment fee of 0.125%, for all-in drawn pricing of 0.90% over LIBOR. This compares favorably to our previous $2.25 billion unsecured credit facility, which had all-in drawn pricing of 0.975% over LIBOR. As of December 31, 2018, we had a borrowing capacity of $2.75 billion on the revolving credit facility.

In conjunction with our new revolving credit facility and as referenced above, we entered into a $250.0 million senior unsecured term loan, which matures in March 2024. Borrowing under this term loan bears interest at the current one-month LIBOR, plus 0.85%. In conjunction with this term loan, we also entered into an interest rate swap which effectively fixes our per annum interest on this term loan at 3.89%.

2019 Earnings Guidance

We estimate AFFO per share for 2019 of $3.25 to $3.31. AFFO adjusts FFO for unique revenue and expense items, which are not as pertinent to the measurement of Realty Income's ongoing operating performance.

We estimate FFO per share for 2019 of $3.23 to $3.29. FFO per share for 2019 is based on a net income per share range of $1.36 to $1.42, plus estimated real estate depreciation and impairments of $1.92 per share, and reduced by potential estimated gains on sales of investment properties of $0.05 per share (in accordance with NAREIT's definition of FFO).

Additional earnings guidance detail can be found in Realty Income's supplemental materials available on Realty Income's corporate website at www.realtyincome.com/investors/financial-information/quarterly-results.

Conference Call Information

In conjunction with the release of Realty Income's operating results, the company will host a conference call on February 21, 2019 at 11:30 a.m. PT to discuss the results. To access the conference, dial (800) 458-4148. When prompted, provide the conference ID 5871002.

A telephone replay of the conference call can also be accessed by calling (888) 203-1112 and entering the passcode 5871002. The telephone replay will be available through March 7, 2019. A live webcast will be available in listen-only mode by clicking on the webcast link on the company's home page or in the investors section at www.realtyincome.com.

A replay of the conference call webcast will be available approximately two hours after the conclusion of the live broadcast. The webcast replay will be available through March 7, 2019. No access code is required for this replay.

Supplemental Materials

Supplemental materials on fourth quarter and 2018 operating results are available on Realty Income's corporate website at www.realtyincome.com/investors/financial-information/quarterly-results.

About Realty Income

Realty Income, The Monthly Dividend Company^®, is an S&P 500 company dedicated to providing stockholders with dependable monthly income. The company is structured as a REIT, and its monthly dividends are supported by the cash flow from over 5,700 real estate properties owned under long-term lease agreements with regional and national commercial tenants. To date, the company has declared 584 consecutive common stock monthly dividends throughout its 50-year operating history and increased the dividend 100 times since Realty Income's public listing in 1994 (NYSE: O). Additional information about the company can be obtained from the corporate website at www.realtyincome.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical are "forward-looking" statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, which may cause the company's actual future results to differ materially from expected results. These risks include, among others, general economic conditions, local real estate conditions, tenant financial health, the availability of capital to finance planned growth, continued volatility and uncertainty in the credit markets and broader financial markets, property acquisitions and the timing of these acquisitions, charges for property impairments, and the outcome of any legal proceedings to which the company is a party, as described in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Consequently, 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 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 these statements were made.

FUNDS FROM OPERATIONS (FFO)
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

We define FFO, a non-GAAP measure, consistent with NAREIT's definition, as net income available to common stockholders, plus depreciation and amortization of real estate assets, plus impairments of real estate assets, reduced by gains on real estate sales.

ADJUSTED FUNDS FROM OPERATIONS (AFFO)
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

We define AFFO as FFO adjusted for unique revenue and expense items, which the company believes are not as pertinent to the measurement of the company's ongoing operating performance.  Most companies in our industry use a similar measurement to AFFO, but they may use the term "CAD" (for Cash Available for Distribution) or "FAD" (for Funds Available for Distribution).

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SOURCE Realty Income Corporation