Netstreit Corp (NTST) Q4 2024 Earnings Call Highlights: Record Investments and Strategic Tenant ...

GuruFocus.com
26 Feb
  • Gross Investments: Over $195 million, highest quarter on record.
  • Blended Cash Yield: 7.4% or 8.1% on a straight-line basis.
  • Weighted Average Lease Term: 14 years for new investments.
  • Portfolio Properties: 687 properties leased to 98 tenants.
  • Investment Grade Tenants: 71% of total ABR leased to investment grade or investment grade profile tenants.
  • Net Loss: $5.4 million or $0.07 per diluted share for Q4 2024.
  • Core FFO: $26.5 million or $0.32 per diluted share for Q4 2024.
  • AFFO: $25.9 million or $0.32 per diluted share for Q4 2024, a 3.2% increase over last year.
  • Full Year 2024 Net Loss: $0.16 per diluted share.
  • Full Year 2024 Core FFO and AFFO: $1.26 per diluted share, representing 3.3% growth over 2023.
  • Recurring G&A Expenses: Declined 10% year over year to $4.3 million for Q4 2024.
  • Pro Forma Total Adjusted Net Debt: $848 million.
  • Weighted Average Debt Maturity: 4.3 years.
  • Weighted Average Interest Rate: 4.53%.
  • Pro Forma Liquidity: $635 million at year end.
  • Leverage Ratio: Adjusted net debt to annualized adjusted EBITDAre was 4.5 times.
  • 2025 AFFO Guidance: $1.27 to $1.30 per share.
  • Quarterly Dividend: $0.21 per share, with an AFFO payout ratio of 66% for Q4 2024.
  • Warning! GuruFocus has detected 6 Warning Signs with NTST.

Release Date: February 25, 2025

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

  • Netstreit Corp (NYSE:NTST) completed over $195 million of gross investments in Q4 2024, marking their highest quarter on record.
  • The company achieved a blended cash yield of 7.4% or 8.1% on a straight-line basis with a 14-year weighted average lease term.
  • 71% of Netstreit Corp's total ABR is leased to investment grade or investment grade profile tenants.
  • The company reported a 3.2% increase in AFFO per diluted share over the previous year.
  • Netstreit Corp successfully reduced its top 10 tenant concentration by 410 basis points, with plans to have no tenant above 5% of ABR by year-end.

Negative Points

  • Netstreit Corp reported a net loss of $5.4 million or $0.07 per diluted share for Q4 2024.
  • The company continues to face challenges with investment grade opportunities, seeing less attractive returns.
  • There is a shift in the mix of investment grades and non-investment grade opportunities due to market dynamics.
  • Netstreit Corp's AFFO guidance for 2025 assumes roughly 100 basis points of unknown rent loss.
  • The company has a high concentration of tenants like Dollar General and CVS, which they are working to reduce.

Q & A Highlights

Q: How should we think about the use of equity forwards this year and optimizing potential investment spreads with your capital sources? A: You should expect us to settle the equity in the back half of 2025. The agreement calls for us to sell them by the end of the year, but we could push it out further if needed. We are taking a more measured approach to investing this year, focusing on risk-adjusted returns.

Q: Can you talk about the cap rates you're seeing in the market for Dollar General, CVS, and Walgreens? A: Cap rates for Walgreens have varied widely depending on asset quality and lease term. CVS opportunities can move at lower cap rates, and there's a robust market for Dollar stores, attracting both individual and institutional buyers.

Q: How do you view your acquisition criteria today, and what can we expect for a minimum acquisition spread in the current environment? A: Our investment criteria remain unchanged, focusing on the best risk-adjusted returns. We assess corporate credit, unit-level cash flow, and real estate quality. Currently, spreads are less than 100 basis points relative to where we're acquiring.

Q: What are your target exposure levels for tenants like Walgreens and CVS, and do you have any further color on Big Lots? A: We aim to have all tenants below 5% exposure, with Walgreens already at 3.8%. For Big Lots, we expect six of seven locations to be assumed by Variety Wholesalers, which has an investment-grade profile.

Q: What categories are you prioritizing for acquisitions, and who are the new tenant relationships? A: We are focusing on convenience stores, quick service restaurants, auto service, grocery, and farm supplies. The new tenant relationships are within these categories.

Q: How do you balance getting better returns for shareholders with market sentiment and expectations? A: We focus on underwriting quality assets and reducing tenant concentration to avoid being impacted by market headlines. This approach allows us to maintain economic stability despite external perceptions.

Q: What are your cap rate expectations for 2025, and how do you see consumer trends affecting your tenant base? A: We expect cap rates to be at or above current levels in the next quarter. Inflation has softened, but consumer health remains a focus, particularly as the lower end continues to struggle.

Q: What kind of investors are buying your Walgreens properties, and what have you learned about the appetite for these assets? A: Most buyers are 1031 exchange investors. It requires more handholding due to Walgreens' news presence, but once investors are comfortable with the asset's stability, the appetite is strong.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.

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