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COPT Reports Second Quarter 2021 Results; Raises Midpoint of Full Year Guidance by 4-Cents, Implying 6.6% Growth in FFOPS, as Adjusted for Comparability

Corporate Office Properties Trust (“COPT” or the “Company”) (NYSE: OFC) announced results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2021.

Management Comments

Stephen E. Budorick, COPT’s President & Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Our differentiated portfolio of office and data center properties that support priority missions at U.S. defense installations continues to produce strong results. Existing operations generated better than expected same-property results, vacancy leasing for Defense/IT Locations was solid, and development leasing was strong. Having completed 694,000 square feet of development leasing through July, we are confident we will achieve our one million square feet development leasing goal for the year. Additionally, we expect to deliver three major development projects early, thereby accelerating our lease commencements. Due to excellent execution on development projects and an improved outlook for same-property operations, we are increasing the midpoint of our full-year guidance for FFO per share, as adjusted for comparability, from $2.22 to $2.26. The midpoint of our updated full year guidance is seven-cents above our original midpoint and represents 6.6% growth over 2020 elevated results.”

Financial Highlights

2nd Quarter Financial Results:

  • Diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) was $0.38 for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 compared to $0.21 for the second quarter of 2020.
  • Diluted funds from operations per share (“FFOPS”), as calculated in accordance with Nareit’s definition, was $0.35 for the second quarter of 2021 compared to $0.51 for second quarter 2020.
  • FFOPS, as adjusted for comparability, was $0.58 for the second quarter of 2021 compared to $0.51 for the second quarter of 2020.

Operating Performance Highlights

Operating Portfolio Summary:

  • At June 30, 2021, the Company’s core portfolio of 181 operating office and data center shell properties was 93.7% occupied and 94.6% leased.
  • During the quarter, the Company placed into service 197,000 square feet that were 60% leased.

Same-Property Performance:

  • At June 30, 2021, COPT’s same-property portfolio of 158 buildings was 92.6% occupied and 93.5% leased.
  • For the quarter ended June 30, 2021, the Company’s same-property cash NOI increased 2.4% over the prior year’s comparable period.

Leasing:

  • Total Square Feet Leased: For the quarter ended June 30, 2021, the Company leased 1.4 million total square feet, including 661,000 square feet of renewals, 630,000 square feet in development projects, and 111,000 square feet of new leases on vacant space. For the six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company executed 1.7 million square feet of total leasing, including 815,000 square feet of renewals, 641,000 square feet in development projects, and 205,000 square feet of vacancy leasing.
  • Renewal Rates: During the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company renewed 88.9% and 78.3%, respectively, of expiring square feet.
  • Rent Spreads & Average Escalations on Renewing Leases: For the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2021, cash rents on renewed space increased 0.1% and decreased 0.2%, respectively. For the same time periods, annual escalations on renewing leases averaged 2.6%.
  • Lease Terms: In the second quarter of 2021, lease terms averaged 4.6 years on renewing leases, 12.9 years on development leasing, and 7.3 years on new leasing of vacant space. For the first six months, lease terms averaged 4.3 years on renewing leases, 12.8 years on development leasing, and 7.8 years on vacancy leasing.

Investment Activity Highlights

  • Development Pipeline: At June 30, 2021, the Company’s development pipeline consisted of 13 properties totaling 1.9 million square feet that were 87% leased. These projects have a total estimated cost of $628.9 million, of which $239.7 million has been incurred.
  • During the quarter, the Company also moved 6740 Alexander Bell Drive, a 57,000 square foot building in Columbia Gateway into redevelopment. COPT intends to invest $11.6 million to reposition the property.

Balance Sheet and Capital Transaction Highlights

  • In April, the Company redeemed the remaining $166 million of its 3.6% senior notes due 2023 and $104 million of its 5.25% senior notes due 2024.
  • In June, the Company sold two data center shells to a new, 90%/10% joint venture with Blackstone Real Estate, generating approximately $107 million of equity.
  • At June 30, 2021, the Company’s net debt to adjusted book ratio was 39.4% and its net debt to in-place adjusted EBITDA ratio was 6.3x. As of the same date, net debt adjusted for fully-leased development plus preferred equity to in-place adjusted EBITDA ratio was 5.8x. For the quarter ended June 30, 2021, the Company’s adjusted EBITDA fixed charge coverage ratio was 4.9x.
  • At June 30, 2021, and including the effect of interest rate swaps, the Company’s weighted average effective interest rate on its consolidated debt portfolio was 2.99% with a weighted average maturity of 4.9 years; additionally, 80.9% of the Company’s debt was subject to fixed interest rates.

Associated Supplemental Presentation

Prior to the call, the Company will post a slide presentation to accompany management’s prepared remarks for its second quarter 2021 conference call, the details of which are provided below. The accompanying slide presentation can be viewed on and downloaded from the ‘Latest Updates’ section of COPT’s Investors website: https://investors.copt.com/

2021 Guidance

Management is increasing its full-year guidance for EPS and FFOPS, per Nareit and as adjusted for comparability from the prior ranges of $0.28-$0.34, $1.68-$1.74, and $2.19-$2.25, respectively, to new ranges of $0.72-$0.76, $1.73-$1.77, and $2.24-$2.28, respectively. Management is establishing guidance ranges for EPS and FFOPS (per Nareit and as adjusted for comparability) for third quarter at $0.19-$0.21 and $0.54-$0.56, respectively, and fourth quarter at $0.21-$0.23 and $0.56-$0.58, respectively. Reconciliations of projected EPS to projected FFOPS, in accordance with Nareit and as adjusted for comparability are as follows:

Table 1: Reconciliation of EPS to FFOPS, per Nareit Quarter ending  Quarter ending  Year ending
and As Adjusted for Comparability September 30, 2021  December 31, 2021  December 31, 2021
 Low  High  Low  High  Low  High
            
EPS 

$ 0.19

  

$ 0.21

  

$ 0.21

  

$ 0.23

  

$ 0.72

  

$ 0.76

Real estate-related depreciation and amortization 

0.35

  

0.35

  

0.35

  

0.35

  

1.36

  

1.36

Gain on sales of real estate 

-

  

-

  

-

  

-

  

(0.35)

  

(0.35)

FFOPS, Nareit definition 

0.54

  

0.56

  

0.56

  

0.58

  

1.73

  

1.77

Loss on early extinguishment of debt 

-

  

-

  

-

  

-

  

0.51

  

0.51

            
FFOPS, as adjusted for comparability 

$ 0.54

  

$ 0.56

  

$ 0.56

  

$ 0.58

  

$ 2.24

  

$ 2.28

Conference Call Information

Management will discuss second quarter 2021 results on its conference call tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time, details of which are listed below:

Conference Call Date:Friday, July 30, 2021
Time:12:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Telephone Number: (within the U.S.)855-463-9057
Telephone Number: (outside the U.S.)661-378-9894
Passcode:

8848821

The conference call will also be available via live webcast in the ‘Latest Updates’ section of COPT’s Investors website: https://investors.copt.com/

Replay Information

A replay of the conference call will be immediately available via webcast on the Investors website. Additionally, a telephonic replay of this call will be available beginning at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, July 30, through 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, August 13. To access the replay within the United States, please call 855-859-2056; to access it from outside the United States, please call 404-537-3406. In either case, use passcode 8848821.

Definitions

For definitions of certain terms used in this press release, please refer to the information furnished in the Company’s Supplemental Information Package furnished on a Form 8-K which can be found on its website (www.copt.com). Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures are included in the attached tables.

About COPT

COPT is a REIT that owns, manages, leases, develops and selectively acquires office and data center properties. The majority of its portfolio is in locations that support the United States Government and its contractors, most of whom are engaged in national security, defense and information technology (“IT”) related activities servicing what it believes are growing, durable, priority missions (“Defense/IT Locations”). The Company also owns a portfolio of office properties located in select urban/urban-like submarkets in the Greater Washington, DC/Baltimore region with durable Class-A office fundamentals and characteristics (“Regional Office Properties”). As of June 30, 2021, the Company derived 88% of its core portfolio annualized rental revenue from Defense/IT Locations and 12% from its Regional Office Properties. As of the same date and including 19 properties owned through unconsolidated joint ventures, COPT’s core portfolio of 181 office and data center shell properties encompassed 21.0 million square feet and was 94.6% leased; the Company also owned one wholesale data center with a critical load of 19.25 megawatts that was 86.7% leased.

Forward-Looking Information

This press release may contain “forward-looking” statements, as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, that are based on the Company’s current expectations, estimates and projections about future events and financial trends affecting the Company. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “plan” or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which the Company cannot predict with accuracy and some of which the Company might not even anticipate. Although the Company believes that the expectations, estimates and projections reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions at the time made, the Company can give no assurance that these expectations, estimates and projections will be achieved. Future events and actual results may differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements.

The areas of risk that may affect these expectations, estimates and projections include, but are not limited to, those risks described in Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Category: Quarterly Results

Source: Corporate Office Properties Trust

Corporate Office Properties Trust

Summary Financial Data

(unaudited)

(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

 

For the Three Months
Ended June 30,

For the Six Months Ended
June 30,

2021

2020

2021

2020

Revenues

Revenues from real estate operations

$

144,423

$

132,538

$

289,587

$

264,654

Construction contract and other service revenues

19,988

12,236

36,546

25,917

Total revenues

164,411

144,774

326,133

290,571

Operating expenses

Property operating expenses

54,616

50,204

111,590

100,203

Depreciation and amortization associated with real estate operations

37,555

33,612

74,876

66,208

Construction contract and other service expenses

19,082

11,711

34,875

24,832

General and administrative expenses

7,293

6,511

13,355

11,814

Leasing expenses

1,929

1,647

4,273

3,830

Business development expenses and land carry costs

1,372

1,262

2,466

2,380

Total operating expenses

121,847

104,947

241,435

209,267

Interest expense

(15,942)

(16,797)

(33,461)

(33,637)

Interest and other income

2,228

2,282

4,093

3,487

Credit loss (expense) recoveries

(193)

(615)

714

(1,304)

Gain on sales of real estate

40,233

39,743

5

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

(25,228)

(58,394)

Income before equity in income of unconsolidated entities and income taxes

43,662

24,697

37,393

49,855

Equity in income of unconsolidated entities

260

454

482

895

Income tax expense

(24)

(30)

(56)

(79)

Net income

43,898

25,121

37,819

50,671

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests:

Common units in the Operating Partnership (“OP”)

(559)

(284)

(474)

(571)

Preferred units in the OP

(77)

(154)

Other consolidated entities

(938)

(1,263)

(1,613)

(2,395)

Net income attributable to COPT common shareholders

$

42,401

$

23,497

$

35,732

$

47,551

Earnings per share (“EPS”) computation:

Numerator for diluted EPS:

Net income attributable to COPT common shareholders

$

42,401

$

23,497

$

35,732

$

47,551

Amount allocable to share-based compensation awards

(125)

(109)

(235)

(206)

Redeemable noncontrolling interests

(20)

7

Numerator for diluted EPS

$

42,256

$

23,388

$

35,504

$

47,345

Denominator:

Weighted average common shares - basic

111,974

111,800

111,931

111,762

Dilutive effect of share-based compensation awards

297

321

280

280

Dilutive effect of redeemable noncontrolling interests

133

125

Weighted average common shares - diluted

112,404

112,121

112,336

112,042

Diluted EPS

$

0.38

$

0.21

$

0.32

$

0.42

Corporate Office Properties Trust

Summary Financial Data

(unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

For the Three Months
Ended June 30,

For the Six Months Ended
June 30,

2021

2020

2021

2020

Net income

$

43,898

$

25,121

$

37,819

$

50,671

Real estate-related depreciation and amortization

37,555

33,612

74,876

66,208

Gain on sales of real estate

(40,233)

(39,743)

(5)

Depreciation and amortization on unconsolidated real estate JVs

476

818

930

1,636

Funds from operations (“FFO”)

41,696

59,551

73,882

118,510

FFO allocable to other noncontrolling interests

(1,302)

(1,525)

(2,329)

(13,540)

Basic FFO allocable to share-based compensation awards

(193)

(254)

(353)

(447)

Noncontrolling interests - preferred units in the OP

(77)

(154)

Basic FFO available to common share and common unit holders (“Basic FFO”)

40,201

57,695

71,200

104,369

Dilutive preferred units in the OP

77

154

Redeemable noncontrolling interests

11

37

70

69

Diluted FFO available to common share and common unit holders
(“Diluted FFO”)

40,212

57,809

71,270

104,592

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

25,228

58,394

Diluted FFO comparability adjustments allocable to share-based
compensation awards

(137)

(1)

(304)

(51)

Demolition costs on redevelopment and nonrecurring improvements

302

9

302

52

FFO allocation to other noncontrolling interests resulting from capital event

11,090

Diluted FFO available to common share and common unit holders, as
adjusted for comparability

65,605

57,817

129,662

115,683

Straight line rent adjustments and lease incentive amortization

(1,288)

2,523

(4,645)

1,671

Amortization of intangibles and other assets included in net operating income

41

(73)

81

(147)

Share-based compensation, net of amounts capitalized

2,009

1,638

3,913

3,027

Amortization of deferred financing costs

811

642

1,604

1,217

Amortization of net debt discounts, net of amounts capitalized

520

390

1,062

776

Replacement capital expenditures

(13,095)

(16,132)

(25,325)

(33,886)

Other diluted AFFO adjustments associated with real estate JVs

178

(115)

419

(156)

Diluted adjusted funds from operations available to common share and
common unit holders (“Diluted AFFO”)

$

54,781

$

46,690

$

106,771

$

88,185

Diluted FFO per share

$

0.35

$

0.51

$

0.63

$

0.92

Diluted FFO per share, as adjusted for comparability

$

0.58

$

0.51

$

1.14

$

1.02

Dividends/distributions per common share/unit

$

0.275

$

0.275

$

0.550

$

0.550

Corporate Office Properties Trust

Summary Financial Data

(unaudited)

(Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

 

June 30,
2021

December 31,
2020

Balance Sheet Data

Properties, net of accumulated depreciation

$

3,530,717

$

3,562,549

Total assets

4,052,032

4,077,023

Debt, per balance sheet

2,109,640

2,086,918

Total liabilities

2,354,680

2,357,881

Redeemable noncontrolling interests

26,040

25,430

Equity

1,671,312

1,693,712

Net debt to adjusted book

39.4

%

39.1

%

Core Portfolio Data (as of period end) (1)

Number of operating properties

181

179

Total operational square feet (in thousands)

20,978

20,802

% Occupied

93.7

%

94.3

%

% Leased

94.6

%

95.0

%

 

For the Three Months Ended
June 30,

For the Six Months Ended
June 30,

 

2021

2020

2021

2020

 

Payout ratios

 

Diluted FFO

77.5

%

53.9

%

87.4

%

59.6

%

 

Diluted FFO, as adjusted for comparability

47.5

%

53.9

%

48.1

%

53.9

%

 

Diluted AFFO

56.9

%

66.8

%

58.4

%

70.7

%

 

Adjusted EBITDA fixed charge coverage ratio

4.9

x

3.8

x

4.6

x

3.8

x

 

Net debt plus preferred equity to in-place adjusted EBITDA ratio (2)

6.3

x

6.4

x

N/A

N/A

 

Net debt adj. for fully-leased development plus pref. equity to in-place
adj. EBITDA ratio (3)

5.8

x

5.9

x

N/A

N/A

 

 

Reconciliation of denominators for per share measures

 

Denominator for diluted EPS

112,404

112,121

112,336

112,042

 

Weighted average common units

1,262

1,237

1,254

1,232

 

Redeemable noncontrolling interests

157

133

 

Dilutive convertible preferred units

176

176

 

Denominator for diluted FFO per share and as adjusted for comparability

113,666

113,691

113,590

113,583

(1)

 Represents Defense/IT Locations and Regional Office properties.

(2)

 Represents net debt plus the total liquidation preference of preferred equity as of period end divided by in-place adjusted EBITDA for the period, as annualized (i.e. three month periods are multiplied by four).

(3)

 Represents net debt less costs incurred on properties under development that were 100% leased as of period end plus the total liquidation preference of preferred equity divided by in-place adjusted EBITDA for the period, as annualized (i.e. three month periods are multiplied by four).

Corporate Office Properties Trust

Summary Financial Data

(unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

For the Three Months
Ended June 30,

For the Six Months Ended
June 30,

2021

2020

2021

2020

Reconciliation of common share dividends to dividends and
distributions for payout ratios

Common share dividends - unrestricted shares and deferred shares

$

30,811

$

30,761

$

61,616

$

61,515

Common unit distributions - unrestricted units

347

341

694

680

Distributions on dilutive preferred units

77

154

Dividends and distributions for payout ratios

$

31,158

$

31,179

$

62,310

$

62,349

Reconciliation of GAAP net (loss) income to earnings before
interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization for real estate
(“EBITDAre”), adjusted EBITDA and in-place adjusted EBITDA

Net income

$

43,898

$

25,121

$

37,819

$

50,671

Interest expense

15,942

16,797

33,461

33,637

Income tax expense

24

30

56

79

Real estate-related depreciation and amortization

37,555

33,612

74,876

66,208

Other depreciation and amortization

1,045

448

1,600

867

Gain on sales of real estate

(40,233)

(39,743)

(5)

Adjustments from unconsolidated real estate JVs

711

1,270

1,404

2,540

EBITDAre

58,942

77,278

109,473

153,997

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

25,228

58,394

Net (gain) loss on other investments

(63)

2

(63)

2

Credit loss expense (recoveries)

193

615

(714)

1,304

Business development expenses

584

678

1,132

1,216

Demolition costs on redevelopment and nonrecurring improvements

302

9

302

52

Adjusted EBITDA

85,186

78,582

$

168,524

$

156,571

Proforma net operating income adjustment for property changes within period

(379)

959

Change in collectability of deferred rental revenue

1,007

In-place adjusted EBITDA

$

84,807

$

80,548

Reconciliation of interest expense to the denominators for fixed
charge coverage-Adjusted EBITDA

Interest expense

$

15,942

$

16,797

$

33,461

$

33,637

Less: Amortization of deferred financing costs

(811)

(642)

(1,604)

(1,217)

Less: Amortization of net debt discounts, net of amounts capitalized

(520)

(390)

(1,062)

(776)

COPT’s share of interest expense of unconsolidated real estate JVs,
excluding deferred financing costs

236

442

470

883

Scheduled principal amortization

959

1,023

1,921

2,044

Capitalized interest

1,707

3,174

3,512

6,532

Preferred unit distributions

77

154

Denominator for fixed charge coverage-Adjusted EBITDA

$

17,513

$

20,481

$

36,698

$

41,257

Corporate Office Properties Trust

Summary Financial Data

(unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

For the Three Months
Ended June 30,

For the Six Months Ended
June 30,

2021

2020

2021

2020

Reconciliations of tenant improvements and incentives, building
improvements and leasing costs for operating properties to
replacement capital expenditures

Tenant improvements and incentives

$

8,303

$

8,870

$

15,442

$

20,227

Building improvements

6,771

13,662

10,399

16,137

Leasing costs

2,805

2,222

3,934

4,984

Net additions to tenant improvements and incentives

(988)

329

1,912

2,355

Excluded building improvements and leasing costs

(3,796)

(8,951)

(6,362)

(9,817)

Replacement capital expenditures

$

13,095

$

16,132

$

25,325

$

33,886

Same Properties cash NOI

$

77,241

$

75,414

$

149,604

$

149,874

Straight line rent adjustments and lease incentive amortization

(2,272)

(1,131)

(2,231)

(1,115)

Amortization of acquired above- and below-market rents

98

97

197

193

Amortization of intangibles and other assets to property operating expenses

(23)

(46)

Lease termination fees, net

1,094

200

2,456

238

Tenant funded landlord assets and lease incentives

441

(20)

620

348

Cash NOI adjustments in unconsolidated real estate JV

40

49

82

102

Same Properties NOI

$

76,642

$

74,586

$

150,728

$

149,594

June 30,
2021

December 31,
2020

Reconciliation of total assets to adjusted book

Total assets

$

4,052,032

$

4,077,023

Accumulated depreciation

1,182,432

1,124,253

Accumulated amortization of real estate intangibles and deferred leasing costs

219,666

217,124

COPT’s share of liabilities of unconsolidated real estate JVs

27,529

26,710

COPT’s share of accumulated depreciation and amortization of unconsolidated real estate JVs

2,578

1,489

Less: Property - operating lease liabilities

(29,909)

(30,746)

Less: Property - finance lease liabilities

(18)

(28)

Less: Cash and cash equivalents

(17,182)

(18,369)

Less: COPT’s share of cash of unconsolidated real estate JVs

(373)

(152)

Adjusted book

$

5,436,755

$

5,397,304

June 30,
2021

December 31,
2020

June 30,
2020

Reconciliation of debt outstanding to net debt and net debt adjusted for
fully-leased development plus preferred equity

Debt outstanding (excluding net debt discounts and deferred financing costs)

$

2,157,325

$

2,127,715

$

2,073,351

Less: Cash and cash equivalents

(17,182)

(18,369)

(21,596)

Less: COPT’s share of cash of unconsolidated real estate JVs

(373)

(152)

(627)

Net debt

$

2,139,770

$

2,109,194

$

2,051,128

Preferred equity

8,800

Net debt plus preferred equity

$

2,139,770

$

2,109,194

$

2,059,928

Costs incurred on fully-leased development properties

(171,453)

(114,532)

(152,557)

Net debt adjusted for fully-leased development plus preferred equity

$

1,968,317

$

1,994,662

$

1,907,371

Contacts:

IR Contacts:
Stephanie Krewson-Kelly
443-285-5453
stephanie.kelly@copt.com

Michelle Layne
443-285-5452
michelle.layne@copt.com

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