EQC - Equity Commonwealth Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Results

February, 12 2024 04:15 PM Equity Commonwealth of Beneficial Interest

Equity Commonwealth (NYSE: EQC) today reported financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2023.

Financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2023

Net income attributable to common shareholders was $24.6 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2023. This compares to net income attributable to common shareholders of $18.9 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2022. The increase in net income was primarily due to an increase in interest income from higher average interest rates.

Funds from Operations, or FFO, as defined by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, were $28.8 million, or $0.27 per diluted share. This compares to FFO for the quarter ended December 31, 2022 of $23.5 million, or $0.21 per diluted share. The following item impacted FFO for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, compared to the corresponding 2022 period:

$0.05 per diluted share increase in interest and other income, net.

Normalized FFO was $28.3 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2023. This compares to Normalized FFO for the quarter ended December 31, 2022 of $23.9 million, or $0.21 per diluted share. The following item impacted Normalized FFO for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, compared to the corresponding 2022 period:

$0.05 per diluted share increase in interest and other income, net.

Same property results for the quarter ended December 31, 2023

The company’s same property portfolio at the end of the quarter consisted of 4 properties totaling 1.5 million square feet. Operating results were as follows:

The same property portfolio was 81.2% leased as of December 31, 2023, compared to 80.8% as of September 30, 2023, and 82.8% as of December 31, 2022.
The same property portfolio commenced occupancy was 80.0% as of December 31, 2023, compared to 79.9% as of September 30, 2023, and 78.7% as of December 31, 2022.
Same property NOI decreased 2.3% when compared to the same period in 2022, primarily due to lower lease termination fees and an increase in repairs.
Same property cash NOI decreased 12.0% when compared to the same period in 2022, primarily due to tenant turnover and an increase in free rent.
The company entered into leases for approximately 32,000 square feet, including renewal leases for approximately 27,000 square feet and new leases for approximately 5,000 square feet.
The GAAP rental rate on new and renewal leases was 26.4% higher compared to the prior GAAP rental rate for the same space.
The cash rental rate on new and renewal leases was 7.9% higher compared to the prior cash rental rate for the same space.

The definitions and reconciliations of same property NOI and same property cash NOI to net income (loss), determined in accordance with GAAP, are included at the end of this press release. The same property portfolio at the end of the quarter included properties continuously owned from October 1, 2022 through December 31, 2023.

Financial results for the year ended December 31, 2023

Net income attributable to common shareholders was $83.2 million, or $0.75 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2023. This compares to net income attributable to common shareholders of $29.3 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase in net income was primarily due to an increase in interest income from higher average interest rates.

FFO for the year ended December 31, 2023, was $100.9 million, or $0.91 per diluted share. This compares to FFO for the year ended December 31, 2022 of $46.9 million, or $0.41 per diluted share. The following items impacted FFO for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the corresponding 2022 period:

$0.61 per diluted share increase in interest income and other, net;
$(0.06) per diluted share increase in general and administrative expenses primarily due to accelerated compensation expense related to the passing of our former chairman;
$(0.04) per share decrease in same property NOI;
$(0.01) per diluted share decrease in NOI from properties sold; and
$(0.01) per diluted share increase in income tax expense.

Normalized FFO was $106.7 million, or $0.97 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2023. This compares to Normalized FFO for the year ended December 31, 2022 of $47.2 million, or $0.42 per diluted share. The following items impacted Normalized FFO for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the corresponding 2022 period:

$0.61 per diluted share increase in interest income and other, net;
$(0.04) per diluted share decrease in same property cash NOI and lease termination fees;
$(0.01) per diluted share decrease in NOI from properties sold;
$(0.01) per diluted share increase in income tax expense; and
$(0.01) per diluted share increase in general and administrative expenses.

As of December 31, 2023, the company’s cash and cash equivalents balance was $2.2 billion.

Normalized FFO begins with FFO and eliminates certain items that, by their nature, are not comparable from period to period, non-cash items, and items that obscure the company’s operating performance. Definitions of FFO, Normalized FFO and reconciliations to net income (loss), determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, are included at the end of this press release.

Same property results for the year ended December 31, 2023

The company’s same property portfolio at the end of the year consisted of 4 properties totaling 1.5 million square feet. Operating results were as follows:

Same property NOI decreased 11.5% when compared to the same period in 2022, primarily due to the collection of $1.9 million of a previously reserved receivable in the year ended December 31, 2022, a decrease in average commenced occupancy and an increase in pre-leasing demolition costs, partially offset by higher parking revenue.
Same property cash NOI decreased 11.4% when compared to the same period in 2022, primarily due to the collection of the previously reserved receivable described above, a decrease in average commenced occupancy and an increase in pre-leasing demolition costs, partially offset by higher parking revenue.
Excluding the collection of the previously reserved receivable, same property NOI and same property cash NOI decreased 6.7% and 6.5%, respectively, when compared to the same period in 2022.
The company entered into leases for approximately 214,000 square feet, including renewal leases for approximately 157,000 square feet and new leases for approximately 57,000 square feet.
The GAAP rental rate on new and renewal leases was 13.7% higher compared to the prior GAAP rental rate for the same space.
The cash rental rate on new and renewal leases was 1.6% higher compared to the prior cash rental rate for the same space.

The definitions and reconciliations of same property NOI and same property cash NOI to net income (loss), determined in accordance with GAAP, are included at the end of this press release. The same property portfolio at the end of the year included properties continuously owned from January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2023.

Significant events during the year ended December 31, 2023

On February 13, 2023, the company declared a special, one-time cash distribution of $4.25 per common share, which was paid on March 9, 2023 to shareholders of record on February 23, 2023.
On May 19, 2023, the Board of Trustees appointed David Helfand to serve as the Chair of the Board of Trustees following the passing of our former Chairman, Sam Zell, on May 18, 2023. The Board of Trustees also reduced its size from 8 to 7 trustees.
On June 13, 2023, the Board of Trustees authorized the repurchase of up to $150 million of our outstanding common shares from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024, under the company’s existing share repurchase program.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the company repurchased 3,018,411 of its common shares at a weighted average price of $18.78 per share, for a total investment of $56.7 million. The company has $93.3 million of remaining authorization available under its share repurchase program, as of February 12, 2024.

Earnings Conference Call & Supplemental Operating and Financial Information

Equity Commonwealth will host a conference call to discuss fourth quarter and full year results on Tuesday, February 13, 2023, at 9:00 A.M. CT. The conference call will be available via live audio webcast on the Investor Relations section of the company’s website ( www.eqcre.com ). A replay of the audio webcast will also be available following the call.

A copy of EQC’s Full Year 2023 Supplemental Operating and Financial Information is available in the Investor Relations section of EQC’s website at www.eqcre.com .

About Equity Commonwealth

Equity Commonwealth (NYSE: EQC) is a Chicago based, internally managed and self-advised real estate investment trust (REIT) with commercial office properties in the United States. EQC’s portfolio is comprised of four properties totaling 1.5 million square feet.

Regulation FD Disclosures

We use any of the following to comply with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD: press releases, SEC filings, public conference calls, or our website. We routinely post important information on our website at www.eqcre.com , including information that may be deemed to be material. We encourage investors and others interested in the company to monitor these distribution channels for material disclosures.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release are intended to be made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. You can identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology, including but not limited to, “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” or “potential” or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases which are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and which do not relate solely to historical matters. You can also identify forward-looking statements by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release reflect our current views about future events and are subject to numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and changes in circumstances that may cause our actual results to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. We do not guarantee that the transactions and events described will happen as described (or that they will happen at all). We disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, of new information, data or methods, future events or other changes. For a further discussion of these and other factors that could cause our future results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements, see the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited, amounts in thousands, except share data)

December 31,
ASSETS

2023



2022

Real estate properties:



Land
$
44,060


$
44,060

Buildings and improvements

367,827



364,063



411,887



408,123

Accumulated depreciation

(180,535
)


(169,530
)


231,352



238,593

Cash and cash equivalents

2,160,535



2,582,222

Rents receivable

15,737



16,009

Other assets, net

17,417



18,061

Total assets
$
2,425,041


$
2,854,885





LIABILITIES AND EQUITY



Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other
$
27,298


$
25,935

Rent collected in advance

1,990



2,355

Distributions payable

5,640



2,863

Total liabilities
$
34,928


$
31,153





Shareholders’ equity:



Preferred shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value: 50,000,000 shares authorized;



Series D preferred shares; 6.50% cumulative convertible; 4,915,196 shares issued and outstanding, aggregate liquidation preference of $122,880
$
119,263


$
119,263

Common shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value: 350,000,000 shares authorized; 106,847,438 and 109,428,252 shares issued and outstanding, respectively

1,068



1,094

Additional paid in capital

3,935,873



3,979,566

Cumulative net income

3,926,979



3,835,815

Cumulative common distributions

(4,864,440
)


(4,393,522
)
Cumulative preferred distributions

(733,676
)


(725,688
)
Total shareholders’ equity

2,385,067



2,816,528

Noncontrolling interest

5,046



7,204

Total equity
$
2,390,113


$
2,823,732

Total liabilities and equity
$
2,425,041


$
2,854,885

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited, amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Three Months Ended

Year Ended

December 31,

December 31,


2023



2022



2023



2022

Revenues:







Rental revenue
$
13,824


$
14,628


$
55,336


$
58,763

Other revenue ⁽¹⁾

1,322



1,159



5,188



4,377

Total revenues
$
15,146


$
15,787


$
60,524


$
63,140









Expenses:







Operating expenses
$
6,542


$
6,986


$
27,462


$
24,184

Depreciation and amortization

4,184



4,634



17,444



17,810

General and administrative

7,504



7,137



36,974



30,378

Total expenses
$
18,230


$
18,757


$
81,880


$
72,372









Interest and other income, net

29,670



24,263



114,667



46,945

Gain on sale of properties, net

—



7



—



97

Income before income taxes

26,586



21,300



93,311



37,810

Income tax benefit (expense)

40



(372
)


(1,866
)


(453
)
Net income
$
26,626


$
20,928


$
91,445


$
37,357

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

(77
)


(53
)


(281
)


(94
)
Net income attributable to Equity Commonwealth
$
26,549


$
20,875


$
91,164


$
37,263

Preferred distributions

(1,997
)


(1,997
)


(7,988
)


(7,988
)
Net income attributable to Equity Commonwealth common shareholders
$
24,552


$
18,878


$
83,176


$
29,275

Weighted average common shares outstanding — basic ⁽²⁾

106,905



109,695



108,841



111,674

Weighted average common shares outstanding — diluted ⁽²⁾⁽³⁾

108,015



111,171



110,185



112,825









Earnings per common share attributable to Equity Commonwealth common shareholders:







Basic
$
0.23


$
0.17


$
0.76


$
0.26

Diluted
$
0.23


$
0.17


$
0.75


$
0.26

(1)

Other revenue is primarily comprised of parking revenue that does not represent a component of a lease.

(2)

Weighted average common shares outstanding for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 includes 131 and 86 unvested, earned RSUs, respectively. Weighted average common shares outstanding for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 includes 127 and 105 unvested, earned RSUs, respectively.

(3)

As of December 31, 2023, we had 4,915 series D preferred shares outstanding. The series D preferred shares were convertible into 4,032 common shares as of December 31, 2023 and 3,365 common shares as of December 31, 2022. The series D preferred shares are antidilutive for GAAP EPS for the three months and years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.

CALCULATION OF FUNDS FROM OPERATIONS (FFO) AND NORMALIZED FFO (Unaudited, amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Three Months Ended

Year Ended

December 31,

December 31,


2023



2022



2023



2022

Calculation of FFO







Net income
$
26,626


$
20,928


$
91,445


$
37,357

Real estate depreciation and amortization

4,178



4,594



17,409



17,652

Gain on sale of properties, net

—



(7
)


—



(97
)
FFO attributable to Equity Commonwealth

30,804



25,515



108,854



54,912

Preferred distributions

(1,997
)


(1,997
)


(7,988
)


(7,988
)
FFO attributable to EQC common shareholders and unitholders
$
28,807


$
23,518


$
100,866


$
46,924









Calculation of Normalized FFO







FFO attributable to EQC common shareholders and unitholders
$
28,807


$
23,518


$
100,866


$
46,924

Straight-line rent adjustments

(538
)


389



(93
)


238

Former chairman accelerated compensation expense

—



—



5,957



—

Normalized FFO attributable to EQC common shareholders and unitholders
$
28,269


$
23,907


$
106,730


$
47,162









Weighted average common shares and units outstanding -- basic ⁽¹⁾

107,205



109,975



109,176



111,950

Weighted average common shares and units outstanding -- diluted ⁽¹⁾

108,315



111,451



110,520



113,101

FFO attributable to EQC common shareholders and unitholders per share and unit -- basic
$
0.27


$
0.21


$
0.92


$
0.42

FFO attributable to EQC common shareholders and unitholders per share and unit -- diluted
$
0.27


$
0.21


$
0.91


$
0.41

Normalized FFO attributable to EQC common shareholders and unitholders per share and unit -- basic
$
0.26


$
0.22


$
0.98


$
0.42

Normalized FFO attributable to EQC common shareholders and unitholders per share and unit -- diluted
$
0.26


$
0.21


$
0.97


$
0.42

(1)

Our calculations of FFO and Normalized FFO attributable to EQC common shareholders and unitholders per share and unit - basic for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 include 300 and 280 LTIP/Operating Partnership Units, respectively, that are excluded from the calculation of basic earnings per common share attributable to EQC common shareholders (only). Our calculations of FFO and Normalized FFO attributable to EQC common shareholders and unitholders per share and unit - basic for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 include 335 and 276 LTIP/Operating Partnership Units, respectively, that are excluded from the calculation of basic earnings per common share attributable to EQC common shareholders (only).

We compute FFO in accordance with standards established by Nareit. Nareit defines FFO as net income (loss), calculated in accordance with GAAP, excluding real estate depreciation and amortization, gains (or losses) from sales of depreciable property, impairment of depreciable real estate and our portion of these items related to equity investees and noncontrolling interests. Our calculation of Normalized FFO differs from Nareit’s definition of FFO because we exclude certain items that we view as nonrecurring or impacting comparability from period to period. FFO and Normalized FFO are supplemental non-GAAP financial measures. We consider FFO and Normalized FFO to be appropriate measures of operating performance for a REIT, along with net income (loss), net income (loss) attributable to EQC common shareholders and cash flow from operating activities.

We believe that FFO and Normalized FFO provide useful information to investors because by excluding the effects of certain historical amounts, such as depreciation expense, FFO and Normalized FFO may facilitate a comparison of our operating performance between periods and with other REITs. FFO and Normalized FFO do not represent cash generated by operating activities in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to net income (loss), net income (loss) attributable to EQC common shareholders or cash flow from operating activities, determined in accordance with GAAP, or as indicators of our financial performance or liquidity, nor are these measures necessarily indicative of sufficient cash flow to fund all of our needs. These measures should be considered in conjunction with net income (loss), net income (loss) attributable to EQC common shareholders and cash flow from operating activities as presented in our condensed consolidated statements of operations and condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. Other REITs and real estate companies may calculate FFO and Normalized FFO differently than we do.

CALCULATION OF SAME PROPERTY NET OPERATING INCOME (NOI) AND SAME PROPERTY CASH BASIS NOI (Unaudited, amounts in thousands)

Three Months Ended

12/31/2023

9/30/2023

6/30/2023

3/31/2023

12/31/2022
Calculation of Same Property NOI and Same Property Cash Basis NOI:









Rental revenue
$
13,824


$
13,928


$
13,358


$
14,226


$
14,628

Other revenue ⁽¹⁾

1,322



1,284



1,232



1,350



1,159

Operating expenses

(6,542
)


(6,722
)


(6,942
)


(7,256
)


(6,986
)
NOI
$
8,604


$
8,490


$
7,648


$
8,320


$
8,801

Straight-line rent adjustments

(538
)


(107
)


273



279



389

Lease termination fees

(630
)


(173
)


(33
)


(177
)


(743
)
Cash Basis NOI
$
7,436


$
8,210


$
7,888


$
8,422


$
8,447

Cash Basis NOI from non-same properties ⁽²⁾

7



(5
)


(4
)


(4
)


14

Same Property Cash Basis NOI
$
7,443


$
8,205


$
7,884


$
8,418


$
8,461

Non-cash rental income and lease termination fees from same properties

1,168



280



(240
)


(102
)


354

Same Property NOI
$
8,611


$
8,485


$
7,644


$
8,316


$
8,815











Reconciliation of Same Property NOI to GAAP Net Income:









Same Property NOI
$
8,611


$
8,485


$
7,644


$
8,316


$
8,815

Non-cash rental income and lease termination fees from same properties

(1,168
)


(280
)


240



102



(354
)
Same Property Cash Basis NOI
$
7,443


$
8,205


$
7,884


$
8,418


$
8,461

Cash Basis NOI from non-same properties ⁽²⁾

(7
)


5



4



4



(14
)
Cash Basis NOI
$
7,436


$
8,210


$
7,888


$
8,422


$
8,447

Straight-line rent adjustments

538



107



(273
)


(279
)


(389
)
Lease termination fees

630



173



33



177



743

NOI
$
8,604


$
8,490


$
7,648


$
8,320


$
8,801

Depreciation and amortization

(4,184
)


(4,436
)


(4,514
)


(4,310
)


(4,634
)
General and administrative

(7,504
)


(7,061
)


(13,854
)


(8,555
)


(7,137
)
Interest and other income, net

29,670



29,269



27,352



28,376



24,263

Gain on sale of properties, net

—



—



—



—



7

Income before income taxes
$
26,586


$
26,262


$
16,632


$
23,831


$
21,300

Income tax benefit (expense)

40



(30
)


(796
)


(1,080
)


(372
)
Net income
$
26,626


$
26,232


$
15,836


$
22,751


$
20,928

(1)

Other revenue is primarily comprised of parking revenue that does not represent a component of a lease.

(2)

Cash Basis NOI from non-same properties for all periods presented includes the operations of disposed properties.

CALCULATION OF SAME PROPERTY NET OPERATING INCOME (NOI) AND SAME PROPERTY CASH BASIS NOI (Unaudited, amounts in thousands)

For the Year Ended December 31,


2023



2022

Calculation of Same Property NOI and Same Property Cash Basis NOI:



Rental revenue
$
55,336


$
58,763

Other revenue ⁽¹⁾

5,188



4,377

Operating expenses

(27,462
)


(24,184
)
NOI
$
33,062


$
38,956

Straight-line rent adjustments

(93
)


238

Lease termination fees

(1,013
)


(1,504
)
Cash Basis NOI
$
31,956


$
37,690

Cash Basis NOI from non-same properties ⁽²⁾

(6
)


(1,610
)
Same Property Cash Basis NOI
$
31,950


$
36,080

Non-cash rental income and lease termination fees from same properties

1,106



1,266

Same Property NOI
$
33,056


$
37,346





Reconciliation of Same Property NOI to GAAP Net Income:



Same Property NOI
$
33,056


$
37,346

Non-cash rental income and lease termination fees from same properties

(1,106
)


(1,266
)
Same Property Cash Basis NOI
$
31,950


$
36,080

Cash Basis NOI from non-same properties ⁽²⁾

6



1,610

Cash Basis NOI
$
31,956


$
37,690

Straight-line rent adjustments

93



(238
)
Lease termination fees

1,013



1,504

NOI
$
33,062


$
38,956

Depreciation and amortization

(17,444
)


(17,810
)
General and administrative

(36,974
)


(30,378
)
Interest and other income, net

114,667



46,945

Gain on sale of properties, net

—



97

Income before income taxes
$
93,311


$
37,810

Income tax expense

(1,866
)


(453
)
Net income
$
91,445


$
37,357

(1)

Other revenue is primarily comprised of parking revenue that does not represent a component of a lease.

(2)

Cash Basis NOI from non-same properties for all periods presented includes the operations of disposed properties.

NOI is income from our real estate including lease termination fees received from tenants less our property operating expenses. NOI excludes amortization of capitalized tenant improvement costs and leasing commissions and corporate level expenses. Cash Basis NOI is NOI excluding the effects of straight-line rent adjustments, lease value amortization and lease termination fees. The quarter-to-date same property versions of these measures include the results of properties continuously owned from October 1, 2022 through December 31, 2023. The year-to-date same property versions of these measures include the results of properties continuously owned from January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2023. Properties classified as held for sale within our condensed consolidated balance sheets are excluded from the same property versions of these measures.

We consider these supplemental non-GAAP financial measures to be appropriate supplemental measures to net income (loss) because they may help to understand the operations of our properties. We use these measures internally to evaluate property level performance, and we believe that they provide useful information to investors regarding our results of operations because they reflect only those income and expense items that are incurred at the property level and may facilitate comparisons of our operating performance between periods and with other REITs. Cash Basis NOI is among the factors considered with respect to acquisition, disposition and financing decisions. These measures do not represent cash generated by operating activities in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss), net income (loss) attributable to Equity Commonwealth common shareholders or cash flow from operating activities, determined in accordance with GAAP, or as indicators of our financial performance or liquidity, nor are these measures necessarily indicative of sufficient cash flow to fund all of our needs. These measures should be considered in conjunction with net income (loss), net income (loss) attributable to EQC common shareholders and cash flow from operating activities as presented in our condensed consolidated statements of operations and condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. Other REITs and real estate companies may calculate these measures differently than we do.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240212523176/en/

Bill Griffiths
(312) 646-2801
ir@eqcre.com

Company Name:	Equity Commonwealth of Beneficial Interest
Stock Symbol:	EQC
Market:	NYSE
Website:	eqcre.com

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