SITE Centers Corp. (SITC) Reports Robust Gains in Q4 2023 Earnings
Net Income: Q4 net income attributable to common shareholders surged to $193.6 million, a significant increase from $25.4 million in the same period last year.
Operating FFO: Operating Funds From Operations (OFFO) for Q4 stood at $54.0 million, down from $62.5 million year-over-year.
Leased Rate: The leased rate as of December 31, 2023, was 94.5%, showing a slight decrease from 95.4% at the end of 2022.
Acquisitions and Dispositions: SITE Centers engaged in significant transaction activity, including the sale of 14 properties and the acquisition of four new shopping centers.
Dividend: A dividend of $0.13 per share was declared for the first quarter of 2024.
Spin-Off Plans: The planned spin-off of the Companys Convenience assets into a separate REIT, Curbline Properties, is underway.
On February 13, 2024, SITE Centers Corp. (NYSE:SITC) released its 8-K filing, detailing the financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2023. The United States-based REIT, which specializes in the ownership and management of open-air shopping centers in high-income suburban communities, reported a substantial increase in net income attributable to common shareholders for the fourth quarter, reaching $193.6 million, or $0.92 per diluted share. This marks a stark contrast to the $25.4 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, reported in the same quarter of the previous year. The increase was primarily due to higher gains on sale from dispositions.
However, the company's Operating FFO for the fourth quarter decreased to $54.0 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, compared to $62.5 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, in the year-ago period. The decrease was mainly attributed to the impact of property dispositions, partially offset by property net operating income (NOI) growth and the net impact of property acquisitions.
Financial Highlights and Strategic Transactions
Throughout the fourth quarter, SITE Centers engaged in significant transaction activity, selling 14 wholly-owned shopping centers for an aggregate price of $818.6 million, which included 12 properties sold during the quarter for $736.2 million. The company also acquired four convenience shopping centers for a total of $62.4 million, expanding its portfolio and strategic presence in key markets.
One of the most notable strategic moves was the announcement of the expected spin-off of the company's Convenience assets into a separate publicly-traded REIT, Curbline Properties Corp. ("CURB"). This transaction is anticipated to be completed around October 1, 2024, subject to certain conditions.
Additionally, SITE Centers declared a dividend on its common stock of $0.13 per share for the first quarter of 2024, payable on April 5, 2024, to shareholders of record as of March 14, 2024.
Operational Performance and Future Outlook
The company reported a slight increase of 0.3% in same-store net operating income (SSNOI) on a pro rata basis for the fourth quarter of 2023, including redevelopment. This growth was impacted by the bankruptcy of Bed Bath & Beyond, which posed a 240 basis-point headwind to SSNOI growth for the quarter.
Looking ahead, SITE Centers provided projections for 2024 property level NOI, anticipating $260.7 to $269.8 million for SITE Centers and $73.9 to $77.9 million for Curbline Properties. These projections are based on several assumptions, including a 3.5% to 5.5% SSNOI growth for Curbline Properties.
The company's balance sheet as of December 31, 2023, showed total assets of $4.06 billion, with a net real estate value of $3.26 billion after accounting for depreciation. The total liabilities stood at $1.89 billion, with equity at $2.18 billion.
Overall, SITE Centers' financial results reflect a period of robust gains and strategic transactions that position the company for future growth and value creation for its stakeholders. The planned spin-off of Curbline Properties is a significant step in optimizing the company's asset portfolio and focusing on its core open-air shopping center business.
For more detailed information, investors and interested parties are encouraged to review the full 8-K filing and supplemental materials provided by SITE Centers Corp.
Explore the complete 8-K earnings release (here) from SITE Centers Corp for further details.
This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
