UDR, Inc. quarterly report, Q1 FY2024

UDR, Inc. — Q1 2024 Form 10-Q

Business context and period. UDR is a U.S. multifamily REIT. This unaudited report covers the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared with Q1 2023. At quarter-end, UDR owned and consolidated 168 communities with 55,386 homes, and held interests in 10,045 additional completed or planned homes through unconsolidated ventures and partnerships.

Financial results and key metrics

MetricQ1 2024Q1 2023Change / context
Total revenue$413.6 million$399.5 millionUp 3.5%
Net income attributable to UDR$43.1 million$31.0 millionUp; includes property-sale gain
Net income attributable to common stockholders$41.9 million$29.8 millionUp 40.8%
Diluted EPS$0.13$0.09Up $0.04
Total property NOI$279.4 million$275.5 millionUp 1.4%
Same-store NOI$261.8 million$258.6 millionUp 1.2%; revenue up 3.1%, expenses up 7.5%
Same-store occupancy97.1%96.5%Up 0.6 percentage points
Same-store operating margin68.7%69.9%Down 1.2 percentage points
FFO per diluted share and unit$0.60$0.59Up $0.01
FFOA per diluted share and unit$0.61$0.60Up $0.01
AFFO per diluted share and unit$0.56$0.57Down $0.01

Net income includes a $16.9 million gain on the sale of an Arlington, Virginia community. FFO, FFOA, AFFO, and NOI are non-GAAP measures; the filing cautions that they are not substitutes for GAAP earnings or cash flow.

  • Cash flow: Operating activities provided $167.6 million, versus $168.0 million. Investing activities provided $18.4 million, versus $117.3 million used. Financing activities used $188.9 million, versus $51.7 million used.
  • Capital spending and distributions: Capital expenditures excluding development were $54.3 million, down 1.2%. Cash distributions to common stockholders were $138.2 million; the quarter’s declared common distribution was $0.425 per share.
  • Balance sheet and debt: Total assets were $11.19 billion and total liabilities $6.33 billion. Net secured and unsecured debt was $5.76 billion, with a weighted-average interest rate of 3.38% and 5.4 years’ weighted-average maturity. Approximately 87% of real estate, by gross book value, was unencumbered. UDR reported compliance with debt covenants.
  • Liquidity: Cash and cash equivalents were $2.1 million, with $29.9 million of restricted cash. The $1.3 billion revolving facility had no borrowings and $1.3 billion of stated unused capacity, excluding letters of credit; the $75 million working-capital facility had $47.9 million unused. Commercial paper capacity was $700 million, of which $390 million was outstanding.

Material changes versus the prior comparable period

  • Common-stockholder income rose primarily due to the $16.9 million property-sale gain, a $3.9 million increase in total property NOI, and higher interest income and other income. Higher interest expense and other operating expenses partly offset those gains.
  • Interest expense increased to $48.1 million from $43.7 million, reflecting higher average interest rates and debt balances. Interest income and other income increased to $5.9 million from $1.0 million, principally due to increased interest income on notes receivable.
  • Same-store rental income increased 3.1%, but property operating expenses rose 7.5%, including higher personnel, repairs and maintenance, and real estate taxes. Total monthly income per occupied same-store home increased 2.5% to $2,527.
  • Operating cash flow was broadly unchanged. Investing cash flow improved mainly because of property-sale proceeds, lower development spending, equity-security sale proceeds, and lower net note-receivable issuance.

Outlook, management commentary, risks, and unusual items

  • The filing gives no numerical earnings, rent-growth, or other financial guidance. Management expects operating cash flow and available borrowing capacity to support operating needs and REIT distributions, while noting that longer-term needs may be funded with cash flow, debt or equity issuance, and property dispositions.
  • Approximately $502.9 million of debt maturities, including amortization, were scheduled for the remainder of 2024: $97.2 million secured and $405.6 million unsecured. Management expects to address these through operating cash flow, financing, dispositions, or available credit and commercial-paper programs.
  • UDR sold a 214-home Arlington community in February for $100.0 million gross proceeds, recognizing a $16.9 million gain. It also acquired its partner’s interest in a 173-home Oakland community for $1.4 million.
  • One wholly owned development community had 330 planned homes, with 19 completed by quarter-end; remaining homes were estimated for completion in Q2 2024. The project budget was $134.0 million. UDR reported no communities undergoing substantial redevelopment at quarter-end.
  • Unusual expenses included $6.3 million of net casualty-related charges and $6.8 million of other operating expenses, the latter increase attributed primarily to legal-related expenses and political contributions. UDR also recorded $2.5 million of legal and other costs in its FFOA reconciliation.
  • UDR is a defendant in consolidated litigation alleging antitrust violations related to RealPage revenue-management software, as well as a similar District of Columbia case; governmental investigations are also noted. The cases are in early stages, and the company says it cannot predict an outcome or estimate any potential loss.
  • Key disclosed risks include apartment supply, rents and occupancy; inflation and operating costs; interest rates and refinancing; concentrated exposure to certain markets; development and counterparty risks; insurance and severe weather; rent regulation; cybersecurity; and REIT qualification. UDR said it had no material impairment charges on real estate or unconsolidated ventures in the quarter.

Important facts for investors to verify

  • How much of the year-over-year earnings increase is attributable to the one-time Arlington sale gain, and how recurring property performance develops.
  • Whether same-store revenue growth can outpace operating-cost growth, given the margin decline and higher property expenses.
  • Refinancing terms and funding plans for the $502.9 million of 2024 maturities, including short-term commercial paper exposure.
  • Development completion, lease-up, and budget performance for the 330-home project, and performance of UDR’s notes receivable and preferred-equity investments.
  • Developments in the RealPage-related litigation and investigations, including any change in the company’s ability to estimate potential exposure.