COPT Reports First Quarter 2016 Results

COLUMBIA, Md.--()--Corporate Office Properties Trust (“COPT” or the “Company”) (NYSE: OFC) announced financial and operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2016.

Management Comments

“We’ve started the year with a strong first quarter,” stated Roger A. Waesche, Jr., COPT’s President & Chief Executive Officer. “Solid tenant retention and positive rent spreads on renewing leases − 11.4% on a GAAP basis and 2.0% on a cash basis – combined with a 6.4% increase in same office cash NOI all demonstrate the strength of our portfolio.” Stephen E. Budorick, COPT’s Chief Operating Officer added, “We are highly confident in our leasing forecast and, accordingly, are increasing our same office cash NOI guidance range for the year by 50 bps to between 3.5% and 4.0%. We are executing our 2016 plan which, in addition to generating strong same office results, includes enhancing value through select asset sales that will further strengthen our balance sheet and fund our growing development pipeline.”

Financial Highlights

1st Quarter Financial Results:

  • Diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) was $0.03 for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 as compared to $0.10 for the first quarter of 2015.
  • Diluted funds from operations per share (“FFOPS”), as calculated in accordance with NAREIT’s definition, was $0.39 for the first quarter of 2016 as compared to $0.43 for the first quarter of 2015.
  • FFOPS, as adjusted for comparability, was $0.47 for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 as compared to $0.45 for the first quarter of 2015.

Adjustments for comparability encompass items such as acquisition costs, impairment losses and gains on non-operating properties (net of related tax adjustments), gains (losses) on early extinguishment of debt, derivative losses, executive transition costs and write-offs of original issuance costs for redeemed preferred shares.

Operating Performance Highlights

Portfolio Summary:

  • At March 31, 2016, the Company’s core portfolio of 153 operating office properties totaled 16.6 million square feet that were 91.6% occupied and 93.3% leased.
  • During the quarter, the Company placed 200,000 square feet of development in service that was 75% leased. This excludes an additional 191,000 square feet that were completed but being held for future lease to the United States of America.
  • At March 31, 2016, the Company had 21 operating properties and 111 acres of land held for sale. The held for sale properties total 1.3 million square feet and, at March 31, 2016, were 90.6% occupied.

Same Office Performance:

  • At March 31, 2016, COPT’s same office portfolio of 145 buildings were 90.1% occupied and 92.0% leased, and represented 80% of the portfolio’s rentable square feet.
  • For the quarter ended March 31, 2016, the Company’s same office property cash NOI increased 6.4% as compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2015.

Leasing:

  • Square Feet Leased ‒ For the quarter ended March 31, 2016, the Company leased a total of 545,000 square feet, including 163,000 square feet in development projects.
  • Renewal Rates ‒ During the first quarter, the Company renewed 64% of expiring leases.
  • Lease Terms ‒ In the first quarter, lease terms on 248,000 square feet of renewals averaged 5.0 years and 8.2 years on 298,000 square feet of development and other new leasing, for an average lease term of 6.8 years on all leasing completed in the quarter.
  • Strong Rent Spreads on Renewing Leases ‒ For the quarter ended March 31, 2016, GAAP rent on renewed space increased 11.4%; on a cash basis, renewal rates increased 2.0% in the first quarter, as compared to the expiring rents.

Investment Activity Highlights

Development & Redevelopment Projects:

  • The Company has seven properties totaling 983,000 square feet under construction that, at March 31, 2016, were 72% pre-leased. The seven projects have a total estimated cost of $221.5 million, of which $119.9 million has been incurred.
  • COPT has 104,000 square feet in three properties under redevelopment, representing a total expected cost of $27.1 million, of which $16.0 million has been invested. The three projects were 16% leased at quarter end.

Dispositions:

  • During the quarter, the Company disposed of non-strategic land in Colorado Springs, CO, for $5.7 million.

Balance Sheet and Capital Transaction Highlights

  • As of March 31, 2016, the Company’s debt to adjusted book ratio was 43.6%, adjusted debt to in-place adjusted EBITDA ratio was 6.9x, and, for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, its adjusted EBITDA fixed charge coverage ratio was 2.7x.
  • The Company’s weighted average interest rate was 4.1% for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 and, including the effect of interest rate swaps, 88% of the Company’s debt was subject to fixed interest rates and the debt portfolio had a weighted average maturity of 5.8 years.

2016 FFO Guidance

Management is maintaining its previously issued guidance ranges for full year FFOPS, as adjusted for comparability, of $1.95―$2.05, and establishing guidance for the second quarter ending June 30, 2016 at a range of $0.48―$0.50. Reconciliations of projected diluted EPS to projected FFOPS are provided as follows:

   

Three Months Ending
June 30, 2016

Year Ending
December 31, 2016

Low   High Low   High
 
EPS $ 0.18 $ 0.20 $ 0.38 $ 0.48
Real estate depreciation and amortization 0.40 0.40 1.60 1.60
Impairment losses on operating properties - - 0.01 0.01
Gains on sales of operating properties   (0.10 )   (0.10 )   (0.10 )   (0.10 )
FFOPS, NAREIT definition 0.48 0.50 1.89 1.99
Executive transition costs - - 0.04 0.04
Impairment losses on non-operating properties   -     -     0.02     0.02  
FFOPS, as adjusted for comparability $ 0.48   $ 0.50   $ 1.95   $ 2.05  
 

Associated Supplemental Presentation

Prior to today’s call, the Company will post a slide presentation to accompany management’s prepared remarks for its first quarter 2016 conference call, the details of which are provided below. You may access the slide presentation on the ‘Investors’ section of the website (www.copt.com). Please have the slides available to review during management’s comments.

Conference Call Information

Management will discuss first quarter 2016 earnings results on its conference call today at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time, details of which are listed below:

   
Earnings Release Date: Friday, April 29, 2016 at 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time
 
Conference Call Date: Friday, April 29, 2016
 
Time: 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time
 
Telephone Number: (within the U.S.) 800-219-3192
 
Telephone Number: (outside the U.S.) 617-597-5412
 
Passcode: 82207639#
 

Please use the following link to pre-register and view important information about this conference call. Pre-registering is not mandatory but is recommended as it will provide you immediate entry into the call and will facilitate the timely start of the conference. To pre-register, please click on the below link:
https://www.theconferencingservice.com/prereg/key.process?key=PVHE4AGEM

You may also pre-register in the Investors section of the Company’s website at www.copt.com. Alternatively, you may be placed into the call by an operator by calling the number provided above at least 5 to 10 minutes before the start of the call.

Replay Information

A replay of this call will be available beginning Friday, April 29, at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time through Friday, May 13, at midnight Eastern Time. To access the replay within the United States, please call 888-286-8010 and use passcode 93348081. To access the replay outside the United States, please call 617-801-6888 and use passcode 93348081.

The conference call will also be available via live webcast in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.copt.com. A replay of the conference calls will be immediately available via webcast in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website.

Definitions

For definitions of certain terms used in this press release, please refer to the information furnished in our Supplemental Information Package filed as a Form 8-K which can be found on our website (www.copt.com). Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures are included in the attached tables.

Company Information

COPT is an office REIT that owns, manages, develops and selectively acquires office and data center properties in locations that support United States Government agencies and their contractors, most of whom are engaged in national security, defense and information technology (“IT”) related activities servicing priority missions (“Defense/IT Locations”). We also own a complementary portfolio of traditional Class-A office properties located in select urban/urban-like submarkets within our regional footprint (“Regional Office Properties”). As of March 31, 2016, we derived 86% of core portfolio annualized revenue from Defense/IT Locations and 14% from our Regional Office Properties. As of March 31, 2016, our core portfolio of 153 office properties encompassed 16.6 million square feet and was 93.3% leased.

Forward-Looking Information

This press release may contain “forward-looking” statements, as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, that are based on the Company’s current expectations, estimates and projections about future events and financial trends affecting the Company. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “plan” or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which the Company cannot predict with accuracy and some of which the Company might not even anticipate. Accordingly, the Company can give no assurance that these expectations, estimates and projections will be achieved. Future events and actual results may differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements.

Important factors that may affect these expectations, estimates, and projections include, but are not limited to:

  • general economic and business conditions, which will, among other things, affect office property and data center demand and rents, tenant creditworthiness, interest rates, financing availability and property values;
  • adverse changes in the real estate markets including, among other things, increased competition with other companies;
  • governmental actions and initiatives, including risks associated with the impact of a prolonged government shutdown or budgetary reductions or impasses, such as a reduction in rental revenues, non-renewal of leases, and/or a curtailment of demand for additional space by the Company's strategic customers;
  • the Company’s ability to borrow on favorable terms;
  • risks of real estate acquisition and development activities, including, among other things, risks that development projects may not be completed on schedule, that tenants may not take occupancy or pay rent or that development or operating costs may be greater than anticipated;
  • risks of investing through joint venture structures, including risks that the Company’s joint venture partners may not fulfill their financial obligations as investors or may take actions that are inconsistent with the Company’s objectives;
  • changes in the Company’s plans for properties or views of market economic conditions or failure to obtain development rights, either of which could result in recognition of significant impairment losses;
  • the Company’s ability to satisfy and operate effectively under Federal income tax rules relating to real estate investment trusts and partnerships;
  • the Company's ability to achieve projected results;
  • the dilutive effects of issuing additional common shares; and
  • environmental requirements.

The Company undertakes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements. For further information, please refer to the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

Corporate Office Properties Trust

Summary Financial Data

(unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share data)

 
 

For the Three Months
Ended March 31,

2016   2015
Revenues
Real estate revenues $ 133,087 $ 122,710
Construction contract and other service revenues   11,220     38,324  
Total revenues   144,307     161,034  
Expenses
Property operating expenses 51,875 50,681
Depreciation and amortization associated with real estate operations 34,527 31,599
Construction contract and other service expenses 10,694 37,498
Impairment losses 2,446
General and administrative expenses 10,130 6,250
Leasing expenses 1,753 1,641
Business development expenses and land carry costs   2,418     2,790  
Total operating expenses   113,843     130,459  
Operating income 30,464 30,575
Interest expense (23,559 ) (20,838 )
Interest and other income 1,156 1,283
Gain (loss) on early extinguishment of debt   17     (3 )
Income from continuing operations before equity in income of unconsolidated entities and income taxes 8,078 11,017
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities 10 25
Income tax benefit (expense)   8     (55 )
Income from continuing operations 8,096 10,987
Discontinued operations       (238 )
Income before gain on sales of real estate 8,096 10,749
Gain on sales of real estate, net of income taxes       3,986  
Net income 8,096 14,735
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
Common units in the Operating Partnership (“OP”) (127 ) (398 )
Preferred units in the OP (165 ) (165 )
Other consolidated entities   (978 )   (817 )
Net income attributable to COPT 6,826 13,355
Preferred share dividends   (3,552 )   (3,552 )
Net income attributable to COPT common shareholders $ 3,274   $ 9,803  
Earnings per share (“EPS”) computation:
Numerator for diluted EPS:
Net income attributable to common shareholders $ 3,274 $ 9,803
Amount allocable to share-based compensation awards   (118 )   (122 )
Numerator for diluted EPS $ 3,156   $ 9,681  
Denominator:
Weighted average common shares - basic 94,203 93,199
Dilutive effect of share-based compensation awards   95     198  
Weighted average common shares - diluted   94,298     93,397  
Diluted EPS $ 0.03   $ 0.10  
 
 

Corporate Office Properties Trust

Summary Financial Data

(unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share data)

 
 

For the Three Months
Ended March 31,

2016   2015
Net income $ 8,096 $ 14,735
Real estate-related depreciation and amortization 34,527 31,599
Impairment losses on previously depreciated operating properties   847     233  
Funds from operations (“FFO”) 43,470 46,567
Noncontrolling interests - preferred units in the OP (165 ) (165 )
FFO allocable to other noncontrolling interests (1,027 ) (670 )
Preferred share dividends (3,552 ) (3,552 )
Basic and diluted FFO allocable to share-based compensation awards   (166 )   (183 )
Basic and diluted FFO available to common share and common unit holders (“Diluted FFO”) 38,560 41,997
Operating property acquisition costs 1,046
Gain on sales of non-operating properties (3,986 )
Impairment losses on other properties 1,599
(Gain) loss on early extinguishment of debt (17 ) 3
Add: Negative FFO of properties conveyed to extinguish debt in default (1) 4,271
Demolition costs on redevelopment properties 208 175
Executive transition costs 4,137
Diluted FFO comparability adjustments allocable to share-based compensation awards   (31 )   (7 )
Diluted FFO available to common share and common unit holders, as adjusted for comparability 46,007 43,499
Straight line rent adjustments (917 ) (1,271 )
Straight line rent adjustments - properties in default conveyed (72 )
Amortization of intangibles included in net operating income 338 111
Share-based compensation, net of amounts capitalized 1,632 1,552
Amortization of deferred financing costs 1,176 990
Amortization of net debt discounts, net of amounts capitalized 319 264
Recurring capital expenditures   (11,720 )   (7,349 )
Diluted adjusted funds from operations available to common share and common unit holders (“Diluted AFFO”) $ 36,835   $ 37,724  
Diluted FFO per share $ 0.39 $ 0.43
Diluted FFO per share, as adjusted for comparability $ 0.47 $ 0.45
Dividends/distributions per common share/unit $ 0.275 $ 0.275
 
(1)   Interest expense exceeded net operating income from these properties by the amounts in the statement.
 
 

Corporate Office Properties Trust

Summary Financial Data

(unaudited)

(Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

 
  March 31,
2016
  December 31,
2015
Balance Sheet Data
Properties, net of accumulated depreciation $ 3,279,431 $ 3,349,748
Total assets 3,937,908 3,909,312
Debt, net 2,140,212 2,077,752
Total liabilities 2,331,694 2,273,530
Redeemable noncontrolling interest 22,333 19,218
Equity 1,583,881 1,616,564
Debt to adjusted book 43.6 % 42.9 %
 
Core Portfolio Data (as of period end) (1)
Number of operating properties 153 157
Total net rentable square feet owned (in thousands) 16,556 17,038
Occupancy % 91.6 % 92.7 %
Leased % 93.3 % 93.9 %
 

For the Three Months Ended
March 31,

2016 2015
Payout ratios
Diluted FFO 70.1 % 64.3 %
Diluted FFO, as adjusted for comparability 58.8 % 62.1 %
Diluted AFFO 73.4 % 71.6 %
Adjusted EBITDA interest coverage ratio

3.7

x

4.3

x

Adjusted EBITDA fixed charge coverage ratio

2.7

x

2.9

x

Adjusted debt to in-place adjusted EBITDA ratio (2)

6.9

x

6.8

x

 
Reconciliation of denominators for per share measures
Denominator for diluted EPS 94,298 93,397
Weighted average common units   3,677     3,732  
Denominator for diluted FFO per share   97,975     97,129  
 
Reconciliation of FFO to FFO, as adjusted for comparability
FFO, per NAREIT $ 43,470 $ 46,567
Gain on sales of non-operating properties (3,986 )
Impairment losses on non-operating properties 1,599
Operating property acquisition costs 1,046
Loss on interest rate derivatives 1,551
(Gain) loss on early extinguishment of debt, continuing and discontinued operations (17 ) 3
Add: Negative FFO of properties conveyed to extinguish debt in default 4,271
Demolition costs on redevelopment properties 208 175
Executive transition costs   4,137      
FFO, as adjusted for comparability $ 50,948   $ 48,076  
 
(1)   Represents operating properties held for long-term investment.
(2) Represents debt as of period end divided by in-place adjusted EBITDA for the period, as annualized (i.e. three month periods are multiplied by four).
 
 

Corporate Office Properties Trust

Summary Financial Data

(unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)

 
 

For the Three Months
Ended March 31,

2016   2015
Reconciliation of common share dividends to dividends and distributions for payout ratios
Common share dividends $ 26,037 $ 25,998
Common unit distributions   1,011     1,012  
Dividends and distributions for payout ratios $ 27,048   $ 27,010  
 
Reconciliation of GAAP net income to adjusted earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”) and in-place adjusted EBITDA
Net income $ 8,096 $ 14,735
Interest expense on continuing operations 23,559 20,838
Income tax (benefit) expense (8 ) 55
Real estate-related depreciation and amortization 34,527 31,599
Depreciation of furniture, fixtures and equipment 602 492
Impairment losses 2,446 233
(Gain) loss on early extinguishment of debt on continuing and discontinued operations (17 ) 3
Gain on sales of non-operational properties (3,986 )
Net (gain) loss on investments in unconsolidated entities included in interest and other income (23 ) 75
Business development expenses 1,379 861
Operating property acquisition costs 1,046
EBITDA from properties conveyed to extinguish debt in default 90
Demolition costs on redevelopment properties 208 175
Executive transition costs   4,137      
Adjusted EBITDA $ 74,906 $ 66,216
Proforma net operating income adjustment for property changes within period   471     1,573  
In-place adjusted EBITDA $ 75,377   $ 67,789  
 
Reconciliation of interest expense to the denominators for interest coverage-Adjusted EBITDA and fixed charge coverage-Adjusted EBITDA
Interest expense $ 23,559 $ 20,838
Less: Amortization of deferred financing costs (1,176 ) (990 )
Less: Amortization of net debt discount, net of amounts capitalized (319 ) (264 )
Less: Loss on interest rate derivatives (1,551 )
Less: Interest expense on debt in default extinguished via conveyance of properties       (4,182 )
Denominator for interest coverage-Adjusted EBITDA 20,513 15,402
Scheduled principal amortization 1,800 1,649
Capitalized interest 1,753 2,132
Preferred share dividends 3,552 3,552
Preferred unit distributions   165     165  
Denominator for fixed charge coverage-Adjusted EBITDA $ 27,783   $ 22,900  
 
 

Corporate Office Properties Trust

Summary Financial Data

(unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)

 
Reconciliations of tenant improvements and incentives, capital improvements and leasing costs for operating properties to recurring capital expenditures    
Tenant improvements and incentives on operating properties $ 8,766 $ 4,390
Building improvements on operating properties 3,953 3,203
Leasing costs for operating properties 1,183 954
Less: Nonrecurring tenant improvements and incentives on operating properties (1,353 ) (264 )
Less: Nonrecurring building improvements on operating properties (557 ) (875 )
Less: Nonrecurring leasing costs for operating properties   (272 )   (59 )
Recurring capital expenditures $ 11,720   $ 7,349  
 
Same office property cash NOI $ 63,477 $ 59,650
Straight line rent adjustments (1,375 ) 1,708
Add: Amortization of deferred market rental revenue 34 39
Less: Amortization of below-market cost arrangements (218 ) (253 )
Add: Lease termination fee, gross 980 753
Add: Cash NOI on tenant-funded landlord assets   647     416  
Same office property NOI $ 63,545   $ 62,313  
 

March 31,
2016

December 31,
2015
Reconciliation of total assets to adjusted book
Total assets $ 3,937,908 $ 3,909,312
Accumulated depreciation 713,283 700,363
Accumulated depreciation included in assets held for sale 33,143 18,317
Accumulated amortization of real estate intangibles and deferred leasing costs 198,552 195,506
Accumulated amortization of real estate intangibles and deferred leasing costs included in assets held for sale   20,655     17,456  
Adjusted book $ 4,903,541   $ 4,840,954  
 
Reconciliation of debt to adjusted debt
Debt, net $ 2,140,212 $ 2,077,752
Less: Cash and cash equivalents   (62,489 )   (60,310 )
Adjusted debt $ 2,077,723   $ 2,017,442  
 

Contacts

Corporate Office Properties Trust
IR Contacts:
Stephanie Krewson-Kelly, 443-285-5453
stephanie.kelly@copt.com
or
Michelle Layne, 443-285-5452
michelle.layne@copt.com

Contacts

Corporate Office Properties Trust
IR Contacts:
Stephanie Krewson-Kelly, 443-285-5453
stephanie.kelly@copt.com
or
Michelle Layne, 443-285-5452
michelle.layne@copt.com