Weingarten Realty Investors (WRI) Misses Q2 EPS by 6c

Weingarten Realty Investors (NYSE: WRI) reported Q2 EPS of $0.09, $0.06 worse than the analyst estimate of $0.15.

Second Quarter Operating and Financial Highlights

• Net income attributable to common shareholders (“Net Income”) for the quarter was $0.09 per diluted share (hereinafter “per share”) compared to $0.65 per share in the same quarter of 2019;
• Core Funds From Operations Attributable to Common Shareholders ("Core FFO") for the quarter was $0.34 per share compared to $0.53 per share a year ago;
• Bad debt expense/uncollectible revenue primarily related to COVID-19 for the quarter was $19.3 million or $0.15 per share and included $4.8 million or $0.04 per share of non-cash straight line rent receivables; and
• Dispositions to date totaled $131 million, including property sales closed subsequent to quarter-end totaling $43 million.

“Given the headwinds of the pandemic, we had a relatively good quarter. With the reopening of the economy in our markets, most of our tenants have been able to restart operations as they learn to operate in this challenging environment. Accordingly, we have experienced continued improvement in our cash collections and rent deferrals. Our balance sheet remains strong and our liquidity position is more than adequate. We remain focused on the safety and well-being of our associates, tenants, stakeholders and the broader community. With a transformed portfolio of primarily grocery-anchored centers providing basic goods and services, we are optimistic our centers will perform well, on a relative basis, in this crisis,” said Drew Alexander, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.

COVID-19 Update

The coronavirus pandemic continues to impact the Company’s operations. At the end of the second quarter, approximately 95% of the Company’s tenants were open for business though conditions are ever changing. Cash collections in April, May and June totaled 77%, 73% and 79%, respectively of prorata base rent and expense recoveries. For the second quarter, overall cash collections were 77%. These strong cash collections are a definitive reflection of the Company’s successful transformation of its portfolio over the last several years. Cash collections in July are trending up with 82% collected to-date. Deferrals of rent payments to future periods executed in April, May and June represent an additional 14%, 18% and 10%, respectively. Deferrals for the second quarter were 13% and bad debt expense/uncollectible revenue on a prorata basis applied against these deferrals was $4.7 million or 30% of the amounts deferred at June 30, 2020. Abatements of rent for the quarter were 1% of total rent and the Company continues to work closely with all of its tenants.

The reopening of the economy has not been without challenges as the pace of new COVID-19 infections has increased at an alarming rate which has resulted in a temporary reversal of tenants reopening efforts in some markets. Nevertheless, the Company is confident that collections will remain strong as rents from tenants deemed “essential” represent 63% of total rents for the quarter. Cash collections from these essential tenants were 86% for the second quarter.

“We continue to devote a tremendous amount of effort in assisting our tenants in their reopening efforts and to obtaining rent payments. We are extremely pleased with our cash collection results which continue to improve. We remain confident that our transformed portfolio of quality properties will enable us to weather this storm,” said Johnny Hendrix, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

For earnings history and earnings-related data on Weingarten Realty Investors (WRI) click here.

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