First Industrial Q4 2023 Earnings Report
Key Takeaways
First Industrial Realty Trust reported a diluted net income available to common stockholders per share (EPS) of $0.67 in the fourth quarter, compared to $0.62 a year ago. The fourth quarter FFO was $0.63 per share/unit on a diluted basis, compared to $0.60 per share/unit a year ago. In service occupancy was 95.5% at the end of the fourth quarter of 2023.
Cash Rental Rates Up 58.3% in 2023, Highest Annual Increase in Company History
39% Cash Rental Rate Increase on Leases Signed To-Date Commencing in 2024
Cash Same Store NOI Growth of 8.4% for Full Year 2023
Leased 100% of the 644,000 Square-Foot and 50% of the 349,000 Square-Foot Old Post Road Buildings in Baltimore
First Industrial
First Industrial
Forward Guidance
First Industrial initiated 2024 NAREIT FFO Guidance at a range of $2.54 to $2.64 Per Share/Unit; $2.56 to $2.66 Per Share/Unit Excluding Accelerated Expense.
Positive Outlook
- Average quarter-end in service occupancy of 96.0% to 97.0%.
- SS NOI growth on a cash basis before termination fees of 8.0% to 9.0%.
- Includes the incremental costs expected in 2024 related to the Company’s completed and under construction developments as of December 31, 2023.
- Company expects to capitalize $0.05 per share of interest in 2024.
- General and administrative expense ("G&A") of $39.5 million to $40.5 million.
Challenges Ahead
- 2024 NAREIT FFO per share/unit guidance is impacted by $0.02 per share/unit of accelerated expense related to accounting rules that require the Company to fully expense the value of granted equity-based compensation for certain tenured employees.
- This range assumes 2024 bad debt expense of $1.0 million and excludes $2.9 million of income related to the 1Q23 accelerated recognition of a tenant improvement reimbursement.
- Guidance does not include the impact of any future investments, property sales, debt repurchases prior to maturity, debt issuances, or equity issuances post the date of this press release.
- Company expects first quarter's G&A to be higher than each of the remaining quarters.
- This includes approximately $3.0 million of accelerated expense related to accounting rules that require the Company to fully expense the value of granted equity-based compensation for certain tenured employees.