Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. quarterly report, Q3 FY2019

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. — Q3 2019 Form 10-Q

Reporting period: Quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2019; unaudited. Hudson Pacific is a REIT focused on office and studio properties, primarily in California, the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada. It reported 54 consolidated properties totaling 14.6 million square feet, plus a 20% interest in the unconsolidated Bentall Centre venture.

Financial performance

MetricQ3 2019Q3 2018Nine months 2019Nine months 2018
Total revenue$208.2 million$180.7 million$602.3 million$530.0 million
Net income$63.0 million$20.3 million$38.9 million$92.5 million
Net income attributable to common stockholders$58.8 million$17.4 million$29.8 million$82.1 million
Diluted EPS$0.38$0.11$0.19$0.52
Property NOI$129.8 million$112.9 million$381.5 million$336.8 million
Operating cash flowNot provided quarterlyNot provided quarterly$233.6 million$197.9 million
FFO attributable to common stockholders and unitholders$79.2 million$73.1 million$231.1 million$214.1 million

Q3 revenue rose 15.2% and NOI rose 15.0%; same-store NOI increased 9.4%. For the first nine months, revenue increased 13.6% and NOI increased 13.3%, including same-store NOI growth of 10.0%. Q3 NOI was approximately 62.3% of revenue, versus 62.5% a year earlier. Office occupancy and rent growth, acquisitions and studio activity contributed to operating growth.

Net income for the nine months declined 58.0%, principally reflecting a $52.2 million Campus Center impairment and the comparison of real estate sale gains. Q3 earnings included a $47.1 million gain on sale of Campus Center developable land. FFO, which excludes real estate sale gains and impairment adjustments, increased in both comparison periods.

Balance sheet, debt and liquidity

  • At September 30, total assets were $7.43 billion; real estate, net, was $6.32 billion. Cash and cash equivalents were $56.8 million and restricted cash was $12.6 million.
  • Unsecured and secured debt, net, was $2.73 billion; additional obligations included $135.8 million of in-substance defeased debt and $66.1 million of joint-venture partner debt. Debt to total consolidated market capitalization was 34.3% under the company’s stated definition.
  • The $600 million unsecured revolver had $80 million drawn and $520 million available. A separate $235 million secured revolving facility had $5 million drawn. The company reported compliance with debt covenants; disclosed covenant ratios were within required limits.
  • Operating cash flow of $233.6 million was offset by $207.2 million of investing outflows and $25.2 million of financing outflows. Capital spending on real estate was $275.1 million; common stock and unit distributions paid were $118.7 million.

Material changes, outlook and risks

  • On October 3, 2019, after quarter-end, the operating partnership issued $400 million of 3.25% senior notes due 2030. Proceeds repaid the $300 million term loan due in 2020 and the remaining $80 million revolver balance. Moody’s upgraded the company to Baa2 with a stable outlook in October.
  • The company sold Campus Center office property and developable land for stated gross prices of $70.3 million and $78.1 million, respectively. The office property had a $52.2 million impairment recorded in Q1; the land sale generated the $47.1 million gain recognized in Q3.
  • ASC 842 adoption added a $270.3 million operating lease right-of-use asset and a $273.6 million operating lease liability at quarter-end. The new presentation combines office rental income and tenant recoveries, so reported revenue classifications are not directly comparable with 2018; management provided a supplemental breakdown on the prior presentation basis.
  • Development and redevelopment include One Westside, EPIC Hollywood and Harlow; expected completion and stabilization dates are estimates and subject to change. No quantitative earnings or operating guidance is provided in the filing.
  • Key risks cited include economic and real-estate-market weakness, tenant defaults or non-renewals, vacancy and rent pressure, interest-rate and operating-cost changes, access to financing, leverage and dividend coverage, development and acquisition execution, REIT qualification, and foreign-currency exposure. The Bentall Centre investment carries Canadian currency exposure, and the company guaranteed $95.2 million of related debt.
  • Other commitments include $65.5 million remaining on the Washington 1000 purchase, expected to be settled in 2021, and $17.2 million remaining on a venture-capital fund commitment. Ground-lease liabilities had a $273.6 million present value. Management said ordinary-course legal matters were not expected to have a material adverse effect.

Important facts for investors to verify

  • How much of revenue and NOI growth reflects same-store performance versus acquisitions, lease-up and other non-same-store assets.
  • The sustainability of leasing and occupancy: consolidated in-service office portfolio was 94.3% leased; same-store studio occupancy averaged 92.8% over the trailing 12 months.
  • Debt maturities and refinancing outcomes, including the post-quarter 2030 notes, and sensitivity to floating rates despite interest-rate hedges.
  • Cash requirements for development, tenant improvements, leasing costs and the Washington 1000 and investment-fund commitments.
  • The impact of ASC 842 presentation changes when comparing reported office revenues with prior periods, and the assumptions underlying the Campus Center impairment and sale gains.