Investor Relations

Press Release Details

Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. Reports Strong Third Quarter Results

10/25/2016

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 25, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. (NASDAQ:ROIC) announced today financial and operating results for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2016.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • $7.4mm of net income attributable to common stockholders ($0.07 per diluted share)

  • $0.26 in Funds From Operations(1) per diluted share

  • $332 million of grocery-anchored shopping centers acquired year-to-date

  • 5.5% increase in same-center cash net operating income (1st 9 months)

  • 4.0% increase in same-center cash net operating income (3Q'16 vs. 3Q'15)

  • 35.5% increase in same-space comparative cash rents on new leases during 3Q'16

  • 97.0% portfolio leased rate at September 30, 2016

  • $224.1 million of common equity raised year-to-date ($133.0 million in 3Q'16)

  • $200 million of 3.95%, 10-year senior unsecured notes privately placed during 3Q'16

  • 29.0% debt-to-total market capitalization ratio at September 30, 2016

  • 4.2x interest coverage for 3Q'16

  • Quarterly cash dividend of $0.18 per share declared

        __________________________
(1) A reconciliation of GAAP net income to Funds From Operations (FFO) is provided at the end of this press release.

Stuart A. Tanz, President and Chief Executive Officer of Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. stated, "We continue to capitalize on the strong fundamentals across our core West Coast markets to grow our portfolio and enhance value.  Year to date, we have acquired $332 million of grocery-anchored shopping centers.  In addition, through the first nine months of 2016, we increased same-center net operating income by 5.5%, including a 4% increase in the third quarter alone, driven in part by our leasing initiatives whereby we achieved a 35.5% increase in same-space rent on new leases signed during the third quarter.  Importantly, we also continue to maintain our solid financial position.  At quarter-end, our debt ratio was a conservative 29% and our interest coverage was a strong 4.2 times for the third quarter." Tanz concluded, "With all of our accomplishments year-to-date, we are poised for a strong finish to 2016 and positioned to enter 2017 with great momentum."

FINANCIAL SUMMARY

For the three months ended September 30, 2016, GAAP net income attributable to common stockholders was $7.4 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, as compared to GAAP net income of $7.5 million, or $0.08 per diluted share for the three months ended September 30, 2015.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, GAAP net income attributable to common stockholders was $23.1 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, as compared to GAAP net income of $16.9 million, or $0.18 per diluted share for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

FFO for the third quarter of 2016 was $31.3 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, as compared to $25.9 million in FFO, or $0.26 per diluted share for the third quarter of 2015.  FFO for the first nine months of 2016 was $91.6 million, or $0.80 per diluted share, as compared to $70.2 million in FFO, or $0.71 per diluted share for the first nine months of 2015, representing an 12.7% increase on a per diluted share basis. ROIC reports FFO as a supplemental performance measure in accordance with the definition set forth by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts.  A reconciliation of GAAP net income to FFO is provided at the end of this press release.

At September 30, 2016, ROIC had a total market capitalization of approximately $3.7 billion with approximately $1.1 billion of principal debt outstanding, equating to a 29.0% debt-to-total market capitalization ratio.  ROIC's debt outstanding was comprised of $70.9 million of mortgage debt and approximately $1.0 billion of unsecured debt, including $8.0 million outstanding on its unsecured revolving credit facility at September 30, 2016.  For the third quarter of 2016, ROIC's interest coverage was 4.2 times and 94.4% of its portfolio was unencumbered (based on gross leasable area) at September 30, 2016.

ACQUISITION SUMMARY

Year-to-date in 2016, ROIC has acquired eight grocery-anchored shopping centers totaling $332.0 million.  During the first quarter, ROIC acquired a two-property portfolio for $63.3 million.  During the second quarter, ROIC acquired two grocery-anchored shopping centers for a total of $181.8 million.  During the third quarter, ROIC acquired the following two grocery-anchored shopping centers for a total of $24.9 million.

Monterey Center

In July 2016, ROIC acquired Monterey Center for $12.1 million.  The shopping center is approximately 26,000 square feet and is anchored by Trader Joe's and Pharmaca Pharmacy.  The property is located in downtown Monterey, California and is currently 100% leased.

Rose City Center

In September 2016, ROIC acquired Rose City Center for $12.8 million.  The shopping center is approximately 61,000 square feet and is anchored by Safeway Supermarket.  The property is located in Portland, Oregon and is currently 100% leased.

To date in the fourth quarter, ROIC has acquired the following two grocery-anchored shopping centers, totaling $62.0 million.

Trader Joe's at the Knolls

In October 2016, ROIC acquired Trader Joe's at the Knolls for $29.2 million.  The shopping center is approximately 52,000 square feet and is anchored by Trader Joe's.  The property is located in Long Beach, California and is currently 100% leased.

Bridle Trails Shopping Center

In October 2016, ROIC acquired Bridle Trails Shopping Center for $32.8 million.  The shopping center is approximately 106,000 square feet and is anchored by Red Apple (Unified) Supermarket and Bartell Drugs, a Seattle-based regional pharmacy.  The property is located in Kirkland, Washington, within the Seattle metropolitan area, and is currently 100% leased.

PROPERTY OPERATIONS SUMMARY

At September 30, 2016, ROIC's portfolio was 97.0% leased.  For the third quarter of 2016, same-center net operating income (NOI) was $33.2 million, as compared to $31.9 million in same-center NOI for the third quarter of 2015, representing a 4.0% increase.  The third quarter comparative same-center NOI includes all of the properties owned by ROIC as of July 1, 2015, totaling 65 shopping centers. For the first nine months of 2016, same-center NOI was $93.4 million, as compared to $88.5 million in same-center NOI for the first nine months of 2015, representing a 5.5% increase.  The first nine months comparative same-center NOI includes all of the properties owned by ROIC as of January 1, 2015, totaling 61 shopping centers.  ROIC reports same-center NOI on a cash basis.  A reconciliation of GAAP operating income to same-center NOI is provided at the end of this press release.

During the third quarter of 2016, ROIC executed 95 leases, totaling 452,797 square feet, achieving a 16.5% increase in same-space comparative base rent, including 41 new leases, totaling 156,997 square feet, achieving a 35.5% increase in same-space comparative base rent, and 54 renewed leases, totaling 295,800 square feet, achieving a 6.9% increase in base rent.  ROIC reports same-space comparative base rent on a cash basis.

CAPITAL MARKETS SUMMARY

Year-to-date, ROIC has raised a total of approximately $224.1 million in common equity.  In March 2016, ROIC issued $46.1 million of ROIC common equity in the form of operating partnership units in connection with shopping center acquisitions.  Additionally, thus far in 2016 ROIC has issued approximately 2.2 million shares of common stock through its ATM program, raising approximately $45.0 million in net proceeds.  Furthermore, in July 2016, ROIC issued approximately 6.6 million shares of common stock through an underwritten public offering, raising approximately $133.0 million in net proceeds.

In September 2016, ROIC sold, through a direct private placement, $200 million principal amount of 3.95% senior unsecured notes due 2026.

CASH DIVIDEND

On September 29, 2016, ROIC distributed to stockholders an $0.18 per share cash dividend.  On October 25, 2016, ROIC's board of directors declared a cash dividend of $0.18 per share, payable on December 29, 2016 to stockholders of record on December 15, 2016.

2016 FFO GUIDANCE

ROIC currently estimates that FFO for the full year 2016 will be within the range of $1.05 to $1.07 per diluted share, and net income to be approximately $0.31 per diluted share.  The following table provides a reconciliation of GAAP net income to FFO.

  For the year ending
December 31, 2016
  Low End High End
     
GAAP net income applicable to common stockholders $ 35,489  $ 36,165 
Plus:    
Depreciation & Amortization $ 86,311  $ 87,955 
Funds From Operations (FFO) applicable to common stockholders $ 121,800  $ 124,120 
     
Diluted Shares   116,000    116,000 
     
     
Earnings per share (diluted) $ 0.31  $ 0.31 
     
FFO per share (diluted) $ 1.05  $ 1.07 
         

ROIC's estimates are based on numerous underlying assumptions.  ROIC's management will discuss the company's guidance and underlying assumptions on its October 26, 2016 conference call.  ROIC's guidance is a forward-looking statement and is subject to risks and other factors described elsewhere in this press release.

CONFERENCE CALL

ROIC will conduct a conference call and audio webcast to discuss its quarterly results on Wednesday, October 26, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time / 6:00 a.m. Pacific Time.  Those interested in participating in the conference call should dial (877) 312-8783 (domestic), or (408) 940-3874 (international) at least ten minutes prior to the scheduled start of the call. When prompted, provide the Conference ID: 71404857. A live webcast will also be available in listen-only mode at http://www.roireit.net/.  The conference call will be recorded and available for replay beginning at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on October 26, 2016 and will be available until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on November 2, 2016. To access the conference call recording, dial (855) 859-2056 (domestic) or (404) 537-3406 (international) and use the Conference ID: 71404857. The conference call will also be archived on http://www.roireit.net/ for approximately 90 days.

ABOUT RETAIL OPPORTUNITY INVESTMENTS CORP.

Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. (NASDAQ:ROIC), is a fully-integrated, self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT) that specializes in the acquisition, ownership and management of grocery-anchored shopping centers located in densely-populated, metropolitan markets across the West Coast.  As of September 30, 2016, ROIC owned 79 shopping centers encompassing approximately 9.2 million square feet.  ROIC is the largest publicly-traded, grocery-anchored shopping center REIT focused exclusively on the West Coast.  ROIC is a member of the S&P SmallCap 600 Index and has investment-grade corporate debt ratings from Moody's Investor Services and Standard & Poor's.  Additional information is available at: www.roireit.net.

When used herein, the words "believes," "anticipates," "projects," "should," "estimates," "expects," "guidance" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements with the meaning of that term in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and in Section 21F of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Certain statements contained herein may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results of ROIC to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.   Information regarding such risks and factors is described in ROIC's filings with the SEC, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is available at: www.roireit.net.

    
RETAIL OPPORTUNITY INVESTMENTS CORP.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands)
    
 September 30,  2016 December 31,  2015
ASSETS   
Real Estate Investments:   
Land$741,255  $669,307 
Building and improvements 1,859,178   1,627,310 
  2,600,433   2,296,617 
Less:  accumulated depreciation 176,398   134,311 
Real Estate Investments, net 2,424,035   2,162,306 
Cash and cash equivalents 10,447   8,844 
Restricted cash 161   227 
Tenant and other receivables, net 31,100   28,652 
Deposits 4,500   500 
Acquired lease intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization 79,282   66,942 
Prepaid expenses 827   1,953 
Deferred charges, net of accumulated amortization 34,388   30,129 
Other 1,761   1,895 
Total assets$2,586,501  $2,301,448 
    
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY   
Liabilities:   
Term loan$299,094  $298,802 
Credit facility 5,373   132,028 
Senior Notes Due 2026 199,732    
Senior Notes Due 2024 245,222   244,833 
Senior Notes Due 2023 244,893   244,426 
Mortgage notes payable 71,634   62,156 
Acquired lease intangible liabilities, net of accumulated amortization 153,140   124,861 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 25,197   13,205 
Tenants' security deposits 5,778   5,085 
Other liabilities 12,327   11,036 
Total liabilities 1,262,390   1,136,432 
    
Commitments and contingencies     
    
Non-controlling interests - redeemable OP Units    33,674 
    
Equity:   
Preferred stock, $.0001 par value 50,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding     
Common stock, $.0001 par value 500,000,000 shares authorized, 109,156,012 and 99,531,034 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively 11   10 
Additional paid-in-capital 1,355,523   1,166,395 
Accumulated dividends in excess of earnings (155,854)  (122,991)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (5,284)  (6,743)
Total Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. stockholders' equity 1,194,396   1,036,671 
Non-controlling interests 129,715   94,671 
Total equity 1,324,111   1,131,342 
Total liabilities and equity$2,586,501  $2,301,448 
 

 

          
RETAIL OPPORTUNITY INVESTMENTS CORP.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
 (In thousands, except per share data)
          
  Three Months Ended September 30,
  Nine Months Ended September 30, 
   2016   2015    2016   2015 
Revenues         
Base rents $45,429  $37,654   $134,929  $108,884 
Recoveries from tenants  13,271   10,279    37,642   29,809 
Other income  654   2,144    1,548   2,721 
Total revenues  59,354   50,077    174,119   141,414 
          
Operating expenses         
Property operating  8,053   7,285    23,761   21,064 
Property taxes  6,594   4,933    18,302   14,351 
Depreciation and amortization  23,102   18,059    65,856   52,567 
General and administrative expenses  3,220   3,092    10,055   9,387 
Acquisition transaction costs  179   91    613   507 
Other (income) expenses  (10)  254    361   507 
Total operating expenses  41,138   33,714    118,948   98,383 
          
Operating income  18,216   16,363    55,171   43,031 
Non-operating expenses         
Interest expense and other finance expenses  (10,001)  (8,526)   (29,393)  (25,407)
Net income  8,215   7,837    25,778   17,624 
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest  (813)  (295)   (2,645)  (681)
Net Income Attributable to Retail Opportunity Investments Corp.  $7,402  $7,542   $23,133  $16,943 
          
Earnings per share - basic and diluted: $0.07  $0.08   $0.22  $0.18 
          
Dividends per common share  $0.18  $0.17   $0.54  $0.51 
          


      
CALCULATION OF FUNDS FROM OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
      
   Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
    2016   2015   2016   2015 
          
Net income attributable to ROIC  $7,402  $7,542  $23,133  $16,943 
Plus:  Depreciation and amortization   23,102   18,059   65,856   52,567 
Funds from operations - basic   30,504   25,601   88,989   69,510 
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests   813   295   2,645   681 
Funds from operations - diluted  $31,317  $25,896  $91,634  $70,191 
 


    
SAME-CENTER CASH NET OPERATING INCOME ANALYSIS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except number of shopping centers and percentages)
    
  Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended 
 9/30/16 9/30/15 $ Change % Change 9/30/16 9/30/15 $ Change % Change
                
Number of shopping centers included in same-center analysis   65     65         61     61     
Same-center occupancy 96.6%  97.1%    (0.5%)  96.4%  97.0%    (0.6%)
                
Revenues:               
Base rents $  34,447  $  33,401  $  1,046   3.1% $  96,291  $  92,365  $  3,926   4..3%
Percentage rent   128     171     (43)  (25.1%)    448     340     108   31.8%
Recoveries from tenants    10,800     10,077     723   7.2%    30,667     28,441     2,226   7.8%
Other property income   298     238     60   25.2%    953     782     171   21.9%
Total Revenues   45,673     43,887     1,786   4.1%    128,359     121,928     6,431   5.3%
                
Operating Expenses               
Property operating expenses$  7,326  $  6,900  $  426   6.2% $  20,031  $  19,029  $  1,002   5.3%
Bad debt expense   48     266     (218)  (82.0%)    837     908     (71)  (7.8%)
Property taxes    5,147     4,829     318   6.6%    14,133     13,502     631   4.7%
Total Operating Expenses   12,521     11,995     526   4.4%    35,001     33,439     1,562   4.7%
                
Same-Center Cash Net Operating Income$  33,152  $  31,892  $  1,260   4.0% $  93,358  $  88,489  $  4,869   5.5%
                

 

 


SAME-CENTER CASH NET OPERATING INCOME RECONCILIATION

(Unaudited)
(In thousands)

 Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,
  2016   2015     2016   2015 
          
Same-center cash NOI$33,152  $31,892    $93,358  $88,489 
Adjustments         
Depreciation and amortization (23,102)  (18,059)    (65,856)  (52,567)
General and administrative expenses (3,220)  (3,092)    (10,055)  (9,387)
Acquisition transaction costs (179)  (91)    (613)  (507)
Other income (expense) 10   (254)    (361)  (507)
Property revenues and expenses (1) 3,318   5,321     14,252   12,469 
Non same-center cash NOI 8,237   646     24,446   5,041 
GAAP operating income$18,216  $16,363    $55,171  $43,031 
 

_____________________

 

(1)     Includes straight-line rents, amortization of above and below-market lease intangibles, anchor lease termination fees, net of contractual amounts, and expense and recovery adjustments related to prior periods.

NON-GAAP DISCLOSURES

Funds from operations ("FFO"), is a widely recognized non-GAAP financial measure for REITs that the Company believes when considered with financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP, provides additional and useful means to assess its financial performance.  FFO is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties to evaluate the performance of REITs, most of which present FFO along with net income as calculated in accordance with GAAP.  The Company computes FFO in accordance with the "White Paper" on FFO published by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts ("NAREIT"), which defines FFO as net income attributable to common stockholders (determined in accordance with GAAP) excluding gains or losses from debt restructuring, sales of depreciable property and impairments, plus real estate related depreciation and amortization, and after adjustments for partnerships and unconsolidated joint ventures.

The Company uses cash net operating income ("NOI") internally to evaluate and compare the operating performance of the Company's properties.  The Company believes cash NOI provides useful information to investors regarding the Company's financial condition and results of operations because it reflects only those income and expense items that are incurred at the property level, and when compared across periods, can be used to determine trends in earnings of the Company's properties as this measure is not affected by the non-cash revenue and expense recognition items, 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 the Company's ownership of properties.  The Company believes the exclusion of these items from operating income is useful because the resulting measure captures the actual revenue generated and actual expenses incurred in operating the Company's properties as well as trends in occupancy rates, rental rates and operating costs.  Cash NOI is a measure of the operating performance of the Company's properties but does not measure the Company's performance as a whole and is therefore not a substitute for net income or operating income as computed in accordance with GAAP.  The Company defines cash NOI as operating revenues (base rent and recoveries from tenants), less property and related expenses (property operating expenses and property taxes), adjusted for non-cash revenue and operating expense items such as straight-line rent and amortization of lease intangibles, debt-related expenses and other adjustments.  Cash NOI also excludes general and administrative expenses, depreciation and amortization, acquisition transaction costs, other expense, interest expense, gains and losses from property acquisitions and dispositions, extraordinary items, tenant improvements and leasing commissions.  Other REITs may use different methodologies for calculating cash NOI, and accordingly, the Company's cash NOI may not be comparable to other REITs.

Contact:
Ashley Rubino, Investor Relations
858-255-4913
arubino@roireit.net