Summary
Equity Residential (EQR) reported strong performance for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, driven by robust rental revenue growth and effective cost management, particularly in its core coastal markets. The company is undergoing a significant portfolio repositioning, divesting from non-core markets to concentrate on high-barrier-to-entry urban locations, a strategy supported by favorable market conditions and demographic trends. A substantial portion of the proceeds from planned property sales is earmarked for a special dividend to shareholders, signaling a commitment to returning capital while optimizing the portfolio for long-term value creation.
Financial Highlights
36 data pointsBeta
Financial Statements
Beta
| Revenue | $696.29M |
| Operating Expenses | $438.69M |
| Operating Income | $257.59M |
| Interest Expense | $114.30M |
| Net Income | $196.69M |
| EPS (Basic) | $0.54 |
| EPS (Diluted) | $0.53 |
| Shares Outstanding (Basic) | 363.58M |
| Shares Outstanding (Diluted) | 380.66M |
Key Highlights
- 1Equity Residential reported a substantial increase in diluted earnings per share/unit to $1.80 for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, up from $1.13 in the prior year, largely due to higher gains on property sales and improved operational performance.
- 2Same-store revenue increased by 5.1% and Net Operating Income (NOI) by 6.3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, reflecting strong rental rate growth and effective expense management.
- 3The company announced a major strategic shift, agreeing to sell a portfolio of 72 properties (23,262 units) to Starwood Capital Group for $5.365 billion, along with plans to sell an additional 26 properties for approximately $700 million, exiting South Florida, Denver, and New England submarkets.
- 4A significant portion of the proceeds from these planned dispositions, estimated between $9.00 and $11.00 per share, is intended to be distributed to shareholders as a special dividend in the second quarter of 2016.
- 5The company projects continued positive same-store revenue growth for 2015 (5.2%) and 2016 (4.5% to 5.25%), driven by favorable demographics, household formation, and a preference for rental housing, although Washington D.C. is experiencing slower growth due to new supply.
- 6Total debt stood at $10.8 billion as of September 30, 2015, with a weighted average interest rate of 4.53% and a weighted average maturity of 8.1 years, indicating a well-managed capital structure.
- 7Funds From Operations (FFO) available to common shareholders and units increased by 12.8% to $972.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, demonstrating solid operating cash flow generation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Equity Residential is actively repositioning its portfolio, focusing on high-barrier-to-entry core coastal markets such as Boston, New York, Washington D.C., Southern California, San Francisco, and Seattle. This involves divesting properties in non-core markets like Denver, South Florida, and New England to concentrate on areas with strong demand drivers and limited new supply.
The majority of the proceeds from the large-scale property sales, including the $5.365 billion sale to Starwood Capital Group, are intended to be distributed to shareholders as a special dividend. The remaining proceeds are slated for debt reduction, aiming for a leverage-neutral transaction.
The company anticipates continued growth in same-store revenue for 2015 and 2016, driven by strong demand, improving labor markets, and household formation. Occupancy levels remain high, although specific market performance, such as Washington D.C., may be impacted by new supply.
As of September 30, 2015, Equity Residential had $10.8 billion in total debt with a weighted average interest rate of 4.53% and an average maturity of 8.1 years. The company has access to revolving credit facilities and commercial paper programs, and has recently issued unsecured notes to manage its debt profile. The planned use of disposition proceeds also includes debt reduction.