UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
__________________________
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2024
or
For the transition period from _____ to _____
Commission File Number: 1-07094
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | ||||||||||
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip code) | ||||||||||
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (601 ) 354-3555
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| ☒ | Accelerated Filer | ☐ | Non-accelerated Filer | ☐ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Smaller Reporting Company | Emerging Growth Company | ||||||||||||||||||||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the Registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes ☐ No ☒
The number of shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value, outstanding as of April 23, 2024 was 48,144,312 .
-2-
EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2024
| Page | ||||||||
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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION.
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA)
(UNAUDITED)
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
| ASSETS | |||||||||||
| Real estate properties | $ | ||||||||||
| Development and value-add properties | |||||||||||
| Less accumulated depreciation | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Unconsolidated investment | |||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | |||||||||||
| Other assets | |||||||||||
| TOTAL ASSETS | $ | ||||||||||
| LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | |||||||||||
| LIABILITIES | |||||||||||
| Unsecured bank credit facilities, net of debt issuance costs | $ | ( | ( | ||||||||
| Unsecured debt, net of debt issuance costs | |||||||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | |||||||||||
| Other liabilities | |||||||||||
| Total Liabilities | |||||||||||
| EQUITY | |||||||||||
| Stockholders’ Equity: | |||||||||||
Common shares; $ and outstanding at March 31, 2024 and | |||||||||||
Excess shares; $ | |||||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | |||||||||||
| Distributions in excess of earnings | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive income | |||||||||||
| Total Stockholders’ Equity | |||||||||||
| Noncontrolling interest in joint ventures | |||||||||||
| Total Equity | |||||||||||
| TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | $ | ||||||||||
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited).
-4-
EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
(UNAUDITED)
| Three Months Ended | |||||||||||
| March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| REVENUES | |||||||||||
| Income from real estate operations | $ | ||||||||||
| Other revenue | |||||||||||
| EXPENSES | |||||||||||
| Expenses from real estate operations | |||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | |||||||||||
| General and administrative | |||||||||||
| Indirect leasing costs | |||||||||||
| OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE) | |||||||||||
| Interest expense | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Gain on sales of real estate investments | |||||||||||
| Other | |||||||||||
| NET INCOME | |||||||||||
| Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in joint ventures | ( | ( | |||||||||
| NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. COMMON STOCKHOLDERS | |||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss) — interest rate swaps | ( | ||||||||||
| TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME | $ | ||||||||||
| BASIC PER COMMON SHARE DATA FOR NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. COMMON STOCKHOLDERS | |||||||||||
| Net income attributable to common stockholders | $ | ||||||||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding — Basic | |||||||||||
| DILUTED PER COMMON SHARE DATA FOR NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. COMMON STOCKHOLDERS | |||||||||||
| Net income attributable to common stockholders | $ | ||||||||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding — Diluted | |||||||||||
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited).
-5-
EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA)
(UNAUDITED)
For the three months ended March 31, 2024:
| Common Shares | Additional Paid-In Capital | Distributions in Excess of Earnings | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Noncontrolling Interest in Joint Ventures | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2023 | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net unrealized change in fair value of interest rate swaps | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common dividends declared — $ share | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation, net of forfeitures | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of stock, common stock offering, net of expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Withheld satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of restricted stock | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Withheld satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with the issuance of common stock | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net distributions to noncontrolling interest | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contributions from noncontrolling interest | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BALANCE, MARCH 31, 2024 | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
For the three months ended March 31, 2023:
| Common Shares | Additional Paid-In Capital | Distributions in Excess of Earnings | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Noncontrolling Interest in Joint Ventures | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2022 | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net unrealized change in fair value of interest rate swaps | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common dividends declared — $ share | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation, net of forfeitures | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of stock, common stock offering, net of expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Withheld satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of restricted stock | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Withheld satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with the issuance of common stock | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net distributions to noncontrolling interest | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BALANCE, MARCH 31, 2023 | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited).
-6-
EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(IN THOUSANDS)
(UNAUDITED)
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| OPERATING ACTIVITIES | |||||||||||
| Net income | $ | ||||||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | |||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | |||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | |||||||||||
| Gain on sales of real estate investments | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Gain on sales of non-operating real estate | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Gain on involuntary conversion and business interruption claims | ( | ||||||||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | |||||||||||
| Accrued income and other assets | |||||||||||
| Accounts payable, accrued expenses and prepaid rent | |||||||||||
| Other | |||||||||||
| NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES | |||||||||||
| INVESTING ACTIVITIES | |||||||||||
| Development and value-add properties | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Purchases of real estate | ( | ||||||||||
| Real estate improvements | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Net proceeds from sales of real estate investments and non-operating real estate | |||||||||||
| Leasing commissions | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Changes in accrued development costs | ( | ||||||||||
| Changes in other assets and other liabilities | ( | ||||||||||
| NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES | ( | ( | |||||||||
| FINANCING ACTIVITIES | |||||||||||
| Proceeds from unsecured bank credit facilities | |||||||||||
| Repayments on unsecured bank credit facilities | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Proceeds from unsecured debt | |||||||||||
| Repayments on unsecured debt | ( | ||||||||||
| Repayments on secured debt | ( | ||||||||||
| Debt issuance costs | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Distributions paid to stockholders (not including dividends accrued) | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Proceeds from common stock offerings | |||||||||||
| Common stock offering related costs | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Other | ( | ( | |||||||||
| NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES | ( | ( | |||||||||
| INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | ( | ||||||||||
| CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD | |||||||||||
| CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD | $ | ||||||||||
| SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION | |||||||||||
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized of $ respectively | $ | ||||||||||
| Cash paid for operating lease liabilities | |||||||||||
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited).
-7-
EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
(1)BASIS OF PRESENTATION
(2)PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of EastGroup, its wholly owned subsidiaries and the investee of any joint ventures in which the Company has a controlling interest.
As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, EastGroup had a 95 % controlling interest in a joint venture arrangement owning 6.5 acres of land in San Diego, known by the Company as Miramar Land. During the year ended December 31, 2023, a joint venture, in which EastGroup owns a 99.5 % interest, acquired 29.3 acres of land in Denver, known by the Company as Arista 36 Business Park 1-3. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, EastGroup continued to hold a controlling interest in these two joint venture arrangements.
The Company records 100% of the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of the buildings and land held in joint ventures with the noncontrolling interests provided for in accordance with the joint venture agreements.
The equity method of accounting is used for the Company’s 50
(3)USE OF ESTIMATES
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses during the reporting period and to disclose material contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
(4)LEASE REVENUE
The Company’s primary source of revenue is rental income from business distribution space. The table below presents the components of Income from real estate operations for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||
| Lease income — operating leases | $ | ||||||||||
Variable lease income (1) | |||||||||||
| Income from real estate operations | $ | ||||||||||
(1)Primarily includes tenant reimbursements for real estate taxes, insurance and common area maintenance.
(5)REAL ESTATE PROPERTIES
EastGroup has one reportable segment – industrial properties, consistent with the Company’s manner of internal reporting, measurement of operating results and allocation of the Company’s resources.
The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future undiscounted net cash flows (including estimated future expenditures necessary to substantially complete the asset) expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. During the three month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company did not identify any impairment charges which should be recorded.
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EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Depreciation of buildings and other improvements is computed using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives of generally 40 years for buildings and 3 to 15 years for improvements. Building improvements are capitalized, while maintenance and repair expenses are charged to expense as incurred. Significant renovations and improvements that improve or extend the useful life of the assets are capitalized. Depreciation expense was $37,205,000 and $33,846,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
The Company’s Real estate properties and Development and value-add properties at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 were as follows:
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||
| Real estate properties: | |||||||||||
| Land | $ | ||||||||||
| Buildings and building improvements | |||||||||||
| Tenant and other improvements | |||||||||||
Right of use assets — Ground leases (operating) (1) | |||||||||||
Development and value-add properties (2) | |||||||||||
| Less accumulated depreciation | ( | ( | |||||||||
| $ | |||||||||||
(1)EastGroup applies the principles of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 842, Leases, and its related Accounting Standards Updates (“ASUs”) to account for its ground leases, which are classified as operating leases. The related operating lease liabilities for ground leases are included in Other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(2)Value-add properties are defined in Note 6.
(6)DEVELOPMENT AND VALUE-ADD PROPERTIES
Development and value-add properties consists of properties in lease-up, under construction, and prospective development (primarily land). Value-add properties are defined as properties that are either acquired but not stabilized or can be converted to a higher and better use. Acquired properties meeting either of the following two conditions are considered value-add properties: (1) Less than 75% leased as of the acquisition date (or will be less than 75% occupied within one year of acquisition date based on near term lease roll), or (2) 20% or greater of the acquisition cost will be spent to redevelop the property.
Costs associated with development (i.e., land, construction costs, interest expense, property taxes and other costs associated with development) are aggregated into the total capitalized costs of the property. Included in these costs are management’s estimates for the portions of internal costs (primarily personnel costs) deemed related to such development activities. The internal costs are allocated to specific development projects based on development activity. As the property becomes occupied, depreciation commences on the occupied portion of the building, and costs are capitalized only for the portion of the building that remains vacant. The Company transfers properties from Development and value-add properties to Real estate properties as follows: (1) for development properties, at the earlier of 90% occupancy or one year after completion of the shell construction, and (2) for value-add properties, at the earlier of 90% occupancy or one year after acquisition. Upon the earlier of 90% occupancy or one year after completion of the shell construction/value-add acquisition date, capitalization of development costs, including interest expense, property taxes and internal personnel costs, ceases and depreciation commences on the entire property (excluding the land).
(7)REAL ESTATE PROPERTY ACQUISITIONS AND ACQUIRED INTANGIBLES
Upon acquisition of real estate properties, EastGroup applies the principles of FASB ASC 805, Business Combinations. The FASB Codification provides a framework for determining whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions of assets or businesses. Under the guidance, companies are required to utilize an initial screening test to determine whether substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets; if so, the set is not a business. Criteria considered in grouping similar assets include geographic location, market and operational risks and the physical characteristics of the assets. EastGroup determined that its real estate property acquisitions in 2023 and the first three months of 2024 are considered to be acquisitions of groups of similar identifiable assets;
-9-
EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
therefore, the acquisitions are not considered to be acquisitions of a business. As a result, the Company capitalized acquisition costs related to its 2023 and 2024 acquisitions.
The FASB Codification also provides guidance on how to properly determine the allocation of the purchase price among the individual components of both the tangible and intangible assets based on their respective fair values. The allocation to tangible assets (land, building and improvements) is based upon management’s determination of the value of the property as if it were vacant using discounted cash flow models. Land is valued using comparable land sales specific to the applicable market, provided by a third party. The Company determines whether any financing assumed is above or below market based upon comparison to similar financing terms for similar properties. The cost of the properties acquired may be adjusted based on indebtedness assumed from the seller that is determined to be above or below market rates.
Amortization of above and below market lease intangibles, which increased rental income by $607,000 and $599,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, is included in Income from real estate operations. Amortization expense for in-place lease intangibles, which was $1,926,000 and $1,962,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, is included in Depreciation and amortization.
During the three months ended March 31, 2024, EastGroup acquired the following property:
REAL ESTATE PROPERTY ACQUIRED IN 2024 | Location | Size | Date Acquired | Cost (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Square feet) | (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating property acquired (2)(3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Spanish Ridge Industrial Park | Las Vegas, NV | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)Cost is calculated in accordance with FASB ASC 805, Business Combinations, and represents the sum of the purchase price, closing costs and capitalized acquisition costs.
(2)Operating properties are defined as stabilized real estate properties (land including buildings and improvements) in the Company’s operating portfolio; included in Real estate properties on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(3)Excludes acquired development land as discussed below.
There were no value-add acquisitions during the three months ended March 31, 2024.
-10-
EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
The following table summarizes the allocation of the total consideration for the acquired assets and assumed liabilities in connection with the acquisition identified in the table above which was acquired during the three months ended March 31, 2024.
ACQUIRED ASSETS AND ASSUMED LIABILITIES IN 2024 | Cost | |||||||
| (In thousands) | ||||||||
| Land | $ | |||||||
| Buildings and building improvements | ||||||||
| Tenant and other improvements | ||||||||
| Total real estate properties acquired | ||||||||
In-place lease intangibles (1) | ||||||||
Above market lease intangibles (1) | ||||||||
Below market lease intangibles (2) | ( | |||||||
| Total assets acquired, net of liabilities assumed | $ | |||||||
(1)In-place lease intangibles and above market lease intangibles are each included in Other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These costs are amortized over the remaining terms of the associated leases in place at the time of acquisition.
(2)Below market lease intangibles are included in Other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These costs are amortized over the remaining terms of the associated leases in place at the time of acquisition.
The leases in the property acquired during the three months ended March 31, 2024 had a weighted average remaining lease term at acquisition of approximately 6.2 years.
Also during the three months ended March 31, 2024, EastGroup purchased 34.3 acres of development land in Atlanta for $3,302,000 .
During 2023, EastGroup acquired the following properties:
REAL ESTATE PROPERTIES ACQUIRED IN 2023 | Location | Size | Date Acquired | Cost (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Square feet) | (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating properties acquired (2)(3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Craig Corporate Center | Las Vegas, NV | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Blue Diamond Business Park | Las Vegas, NV | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| McKinney Logistics Center | Dallas, TX | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Park at Myatt | Nashville, TN | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pelzer Point Commerce Center 1 | Greenville, SC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating property acquisitions | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)Cost is calculated in accordance with FASB ASC 805, Business Combinations, and represents the sum of the purchase price, closing costs and capitalized acquisition costs.
(2)Operating properties are defined as stabilized real estate properties (land including buildings and improvements) in the Company’s operating portfolio; included in Real estate properties on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
There were no value-add acquisitions during the year ended December 31, 2023.
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EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
The following table summarizes the allocation of the total consideration for the acquired assets and assumed liabilities in connection with the acquisitions identified in the table above which were acquired during the year ended December 31, 2023.
ACQUIRED ASSETS AND ASSUMED LIABILITIES IN 2023 | Cost | |||||||
| (In thousands) | ||||||||
| Land | $ | |||||||
| Buildings and building improvements | ||||||||
| Tenant and other improvements | ||||||||
| Total real estate properties acquired | ||||||||
In-place lease intangibles (1) | ||||||||
Below market lease intangibles (2) | ( | |||||||
| Total assets acquired, net of liabilities assumed | $ | |||||||
(1)In-place lease intangibles and above market lease intangibles are each included in Other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These costs are amortized over the remaining terms of the associated leases in place at the time of acquisition.
The leases in the properties acquired during the year ended December 31, 2023 had a weighted average remaining lease term at acquisition of approximately 8.0 years.
Also during 2023, EastGroup purchased 328.3 acres of development land in seven markets for $70,664,000 .
The Company periodically reviews the recoverability of goodwill (at least annually) and the recoverability of other intangibles (on a quarterly basis) for possible impairment. No impairment of goodwill or other intangibles existed during the three month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.
(8)REAL ESTATE SOLD AND HELD FOR SALE
The Company considers a real estate property to be held for sale when it meets the criteria established under ASC 360, Property, Plant and Equipment, including when it is probable that the property will be sold within a year. Real estate properties held for sale are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less estimated costs to sell and are not depreciated while they are held for sale. The Company did not classify any properties as held for sale as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.
Results of operations and gains and losses on sales for properties sold are reported in continuing operations on the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. The gains and losses on sales of operating properties are included in Gain on sales of real estate investments.
-12-
EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
A summary of Gain on sales of real estate investments for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and the year ended December 31, 2023 follows:
| REAL ESTATE PROPERTIES SOLD | Location | Size | Date Sold | Net Sales Price | Basis | Recognized Gain | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Square feet) | (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interchange Business Park and Metro Airport Commerce Center | Jackson, MS | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Houston 23 | Houston, TX | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ettie Business Center | San Francisco, CA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Los Angeles Corporate Center | Los Angeles, CA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total for 2023 | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The table above includes sales of operating properties. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company also sold 3.9 acres of land in San Francisco for $4,000,000 and recognized a gain on the sale of $222,000 . During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company sold 11.9 acres of land in Houston and Fort Worth for $4,750,000 and recognized gains on the sales of $446,000 . The gains on sales of non-operating real estate are included in Other on the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.
(9)OTHER ASSETS
A summary of the Company’s Other assets follows:
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||
| Leasing costs (principally commissions) | $ | ||||||||||
| Accumulated amortization of leasing costs | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Leasing costs (principally commissions), net of accumulated amortization | |||||||||||
| Acquired in-place lease intangibles | |||||||||||
| Accumulated amortization of acquired in-place lease intangibles | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Acquired in-place lease intangibles, net of accumulated amortization | |||||||||||
| Acquired above market lease intangibles | |||||||||||
| Accumulated amortization of acquired above market lease intangibles | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Acquired above market lease intangibles, net of accumulated amortization | |||||||||||
| Straight-line rents receivable | |||||||||||
| Accounts receivable | |||||||||||
| Interest rate swap assets | |||||||||||
| Right of use assets — Office leases (operating) | |||||||||||
| Goodwill | |||||||||||
| Escrow deposits and prepaid costs for pending transactions | |||||||||||
| Prepaid insurance | |||||||||||
| Receivable for insurance proceeds | |||||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other assets | |||||||||||
Total Other assets | $ | ||||||||||
-13-
EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
(10) DEBT
The Company’s debt is detailed below:
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||
| Unsecured bank credit facilities — variable rate, carrying amount | $ | ||||||||||
| Unamortized debt issuance costs | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Unsecured bank credit facilities, net of debt issuance costs | ( | ( | |||||||||
Unsecured debt — fixed rate, carrying amount (1) | |||||||||||
| Unamortized debt issuance costs | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Unsecured debt, net of debt issuance costs | |||||||||||
| Total unsecured debt, net of debt issuance costs | $ | ||||||||||
(1)These loans have a fixed interest rate or an effectively fixed interest rate due to interest rate swaps.
The Company has a $625,000,000 unsecured bank credit facility with a group of 11 banks; the facility has a maturity date of July 30, 2025 . The credit facility contains options for two six-month extensions (at the Company's election) and an additional $125,000,000 accordion (with agreement by all parties). The interest rate on each tranche is reset on a monthly basis and as of March 31, 2024, was Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) plus 76.5 basis points with an annual facility fee of 15 basis points. As of March 31, 2024, the Company had no variable rate borrowings on this unsecured bank credit facility and an interest rate of 6.194 %. The Company has two standby letters of credit totaling $2,655,000 pledged on this facility, which reduces borrowing capacity under the credit facility.
The Company also has a $50,000,000 unsecured bank credit facility with a maturity date of July 30, 2025 , or such later date as designated by the bank; the Company also has two six-month extensions available if the extension options in the $625,000,000 facility are exercised. The interest rate is reset on a daily basis and as of March 31, 2024, was SOFR plus 77.5 basis points with an annual facility fee of 15 basis points. As of March 31, 2024, the interest rate was 6.215 % with no outstanding balance.
For both facilities, the margin and facility fee are subject to changes in the Company's credit ratings. Although the Company’s current credit rating is Baa2, given the strength of the Company’s key credit metrics, initial pricing for the credit facilities is based on the BBB+/Baa1 credit ratings level. This favorable pricing level will be retained provided that the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio, as defined in the applicable agreements, remains less than 32.5% . The $625,000,000 facility also includes a sustainability-linked pricing component pursuant to which the applicable interest margin is reduced by one basis point if the Company meets a certain sustainability performance target. This sustainability metric is evaluated annually and was achieved for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, which allowed for the interest rate reduction in each of the years subsequent to achieving the metric. The margin was effectively reduced on this unsecured bank credit facility by one basis point, from 77.5 to 76.5 basis points.
Scheduled principal payments on long-term debt, including Unsecured debt, net of debt issuance costs (not including Unsecured bank credit facilities, net of debt issuance costs), as of March 31, 2024, are as follows:
| Years Ending December 31, | (In thousands) | |||||||
| 2024 — Remainder of year | $ | |||||||
| 2025 | ||||||||
| 2026 | ||||||||
| 2027 | ||||||||
| 2028 | ||||||||
| 2029 and beyond | ||||||||
| Total | $ | |||||||
-14-
EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
(11) ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED EXPENSES
A summary of the Company’s Accounts payable and accrued expenses follows:
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||
| Property taxes payable | $ | ||||||||||
| Development costs payable | |||||||||||
| Retainage payable | |||||||||||
| Real estate improvements and capitalized leasing costs payable | |||||||||||
| Interest payable | |||||||||||
| Dividends payable | |||||||||||
| Other payables and accrued expenses | |||||||||||
Total Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | ||||||||||
(12) OTHER LIABILITIES
A summary of the Company’s Other liabilities follows:
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||
| Security deposits | $ | ||||||||||
| Prepaid rent and other deferred income | |||||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities — Ground leases | |||||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities — Office leases | |||||||||||
| Acquired below market lease intangibles | |||||||||||
| Accumulated amortization of below market lease intangibles | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Acquired below market lease intangibles, net of accumulated amortization | |||||||||||
| Interest rate swap liabilities | |||||||||||
| Other liabilities | |||||||||||
Total Other liabilities | $ | ||||||||||
(13) COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Total Comprehensive Income is comprised of net income plus all other changes in equity from non-owner sources and is presented on the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. The components of Accumulated other comprehensive income are presented in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity and are summarized below. See Note 14 for information regarding the Company’s interest rate swaps.
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||
| ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME: | |||||||||||
| Balance at beginning of period | $ | ||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss) - interest rate swaps | ( | ||||||||||
| Balance at end of period | $ | ||||||||||
-15-
EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
(14) DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES
The Company is exposed to certain risks arising from both its business operations and economic conditions. The Company principally manages its exposures to a wide variety of business and operational risks through management of its core business activities. The Company manages economic risk, including interest rate, liquidity and credit risk primarily by managing the amount, sources and duration of its debt funding and, to a limited extent, the use of derivative instruments.
Specifically, the Company has entered into derivative instruments to manage exposures that arise from business activities that result in the payment of future known and uncertain cash amounts, the value of which are determined by interest rates. The Company’s derivative instruments, described below, are used to manage differences in the amount, timing and duration of the Company’s known or expected cash payments principally related to certain of the Company’s borrowings.
As of March 31, 2024, the Company had seven interest rate swaps outstanding, all of which are used to hedge the variable cash flows associated with unsecured loans. All of the Company’s interest rate swaps convert the related loans’ SOFR rate components to effectively fixed interest rates, and the Company has concluded that each of the hedging relationships is highly effective.
The changes in the fair value of derivatives designated and qualifying as cash flow hedges are recorded in Other comprehensive income (loss) and are subsequently reclassified into earnings through Interest expense as interest payments are made or received on the Company’s variable-rate debt in the period that the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. The Company estimates that an additional $15,649,000 will be reclassified from Other comprehensive income (loss) as a decrease to Interest expense over the next twelve months.
The Company’s valuation methodology for over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives is to discount cash flows based on SOFR market data. Uncollateralized or partially-collateralized trades include appropriate economic adjustments for funding costs and credit risk. The Company calculates its derivative valuations using mid-market prices.
As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had the following outstanding interest rate derivatives that are designated as cash flow hedges of interest rate risk:
| Notional Value of Interest Rate Derivatives | March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Interest Rate Swap | $ | |||||||||||||
| Interest Rate Swap | ||||||||||||||
| Interest Rate Swap | ||||||||||||||
| Interest Rate Swap | ||||||||||||||
| Interest Rate Swap | ||||||||||||||
| Interest Rate Swap | ||||||||||||||
| Interest Rate Swap | ||||||||||||||
-16-
EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
The table below presents the fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instruments as well as their classification on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023. See Note 18 for additional information on the fair value of the Company’s interest rate swaps.
Derivatives As of March 31, 2024 | Derivatives As of December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance Sheet Location | Fair Value | Balance Sheet Location | Fair Value | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate swap assets | Other assets | $ | Other assets | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate swap liabilities | Other liabilities | Other liabilities | |||||||||||||||||||||
The table below presents the effect of the Company’s derivative financial instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||
| DERIVATIVES IN CASH FLOW HEDGING RELATIONSHIPS | |||||||||||
| Interest Rate Swaps: | |||||||||||
Amount of income (loss) recognized in Other comprehensive income (loss) on derivatives | $ | ( | |||||||||
Amount of (income) reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive income into Interest expense | ( | ( | |||||||||
See Note 13 for additional information on the Company’s Accumulated other comprehensive income resulting from its interest rate swaps.
Derivative financial agreements expose the Company to credit risk in the event of non-performance by the counterparties under the terms of the interest rate hedge agreements. The Company believes it minimizes the credit risk by transacting with financial institutions the Company regards as credit-worthy.
The Company has an agreement with its derivative counterparties containing a provision stating that the Company could be declared in default on its derivative obligations if the Company defaults on any of its indebtedness, including default where repayment of the indebtedness has not been accelerated by the lender. As of March 31, 2024, we had not posted any collateral related to these agreements and were not in breach of any of the provisions of these agreements. If the Company had breached any of these provisions, it would be required to settle its obligations under the agreements at their termination value.
(15) EARNINGS PER SHARE
The Company applies ASC 260, Earnings Per Share, which requires companies to present basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”). Basic EPS represents the amount of earnings for the period attributable to each share of common stock outstanding during the reporting period. The Company’s basic EPS is calculated by dividing Net Income Attributable to EastGroup Properties, Inc. Common Stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. The weighted average number of common shares outstanding does not include any potentially dilutive securities or any unvested restricted shares of common stock. These unvested restricted shares, although classified as issued and outstanding, are considered forfeitable until the restrictions lapse and will not be included in the basic EPS calculation until the shares are vested.
-17-
EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Reconciliation of the numerators and denominators in the basic and diluted EPS computations is as follows:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||
| BASIC EPS COMPUTATION FOR NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. COMMON STOCKHOLDERS | |||||||||||
| Numerator — net income attributable to common stockholders | $ | ||||||||||
| Denominator — weighted average shares outstanding — Basic | |||||||||||
| DILUTED EPS COMPUTATION FOR NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. COMMON STOCKHOLDERS | |||||||||||
| Numerator — net income attributable to common stockholders | $ | ||||||||||
| Denominator: | |||||||||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding — Basic | |||||||||||
| Effect of dilutive securities | |||||||||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding — Diluted | |||||||||||
(16) EQUITY OFFERINGS
Underwriting commissions and offering costs incurred in connection with common stock offerings and at-the-market equity offering programs have been reflected as a reduction of Additional paid-in capital.
Under relevant accounting guidance, sales of common stock under forward equity sale agreements are not deemed to be liabilities, and furthermore, meet the derivatives and hedging guidance scope exception to be accounted for as equity instruments based on the following assessment: (i) none of the agreements’ exercise contingencies were based on observable markets or indices besides those related to the market for our own stock price and operations; and (ii) none of the settlement provisions precluded the agreements from being indexed to our own stock.
On October 25, 2023, we established an at-the-market common stock offering program pursuant to which we are able to sell, from time to time, shares of our common stock having an aggregate gross sales price of up to $750,000,000 (the “Current 2023 ATM Program”). The Current 2023 ATM Program replaces our previous $750,000,000 ATM program, which was established on December 16, 2022, under which we had sold shares of our common stock having an aggregate gross sales price of $464,305,000 through October 25, 2023.
In connection with the Current 2023 ATM Program, we may sell shares of our common stock directly through sales agents or through certain financial institutions acting as forward purchasers whereby, at our discretion, the forward counterparties may borrow from third parties and subsequently sell shares of our common stock. The use of a forward equity sale agreement allows us to lock in a share price on the sale of shares of our common stock but defer settling and receiving the proceeds from the sale of shares until a later date. Additionally, the forward price that we expect to receive upon settlement of an agreement will be subject to adjustment for (i) a floating interest rate factor equal to a specified daily rate less a spread, (ii) the forward purchaser’s stock borrowing costs and (iii) scheduled dividends during the term of the agreement.
Direct Common Stock Issuance Activity
The following table presents the common stock issuance activity sold directly through sales agents pursuant to the Company's ATM programs:
| Period | Common Stock Issued (1) | Weighted Average Price | Net Proceeds | |||||||||||||||||
| (In shares) | (Per share) | (In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||
Three months ended March 31, 2024 | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
Twelve months ended December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||
(1) Excludes shares of common stock sold on a forward basis as described in the following paragraphs.
-18-
EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Forward Equity Offerings
During the three months ended March 31, 2024, EastGroup entered into forward equity sale agreements with certain financial institutions acting as forward purchasers under our Current 2023 ATM Program with respect to 286,671 shares of common stock with an initial weighted average forward price of $181.95 per share. The Company did not receive any proceeds from the sale of common shares by the forward purchasers at the time it entered into forward equity sale agreements.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, EastGroup entered into forward equity sale agreements with respect to 406,041 shares of common stock with an initial weighted average forward price of $183.92 per share. The Company did not receive any proceeds from the sale of common shares by the forward purchasers at the time we entered into forward equity sale agreements.
(17) STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
EastGroup applies the provisions of ASC 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation, to account for its stock-based compensation plans. ASC 718 requires that the compensation cost relating to share-based payment transactions be recognized in the financial statements and that the cost be measured on the fair value of the equity or liability instruments issued. The cost for market-based awards and awards that only require service are expensed on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods. The cost for performance-based awards is determined using the graded vesting attribution method which recognizes each separate vesting portion of the award as a separate award on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. This method accelerates the expensing of the award compared to the straight-line method. For awards with a performance condition, compensation expense is recognized when the performance condition is considered probable of achievement.
The total compensation expense for service and performance based awards is based upon the fair market value of the shares on the grant date. The grant date fair value for awards that have been granted and are subject to a future market condition (total shareholder return) are determined using a Monte Carlo simulation pricing model developed to specifically accommodate the unique features of the awards.
During the restricted period for awards no longer subject to contingencies, the Company accrues dividends and holds the certificates for the shares; however, the employee can vote the shares. Share certificates and dividends are delivered to the employee as they vest. Forfeitures of awards are recognized as they occur.
The Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Committee”) approves long-term and annual equity compensation awards for the Company’s executive officers. The vesting periods of the Company’s restricted stock plans vary, as determined by the Committee. Restricted stock is granted to executive officers subject to both continued service and the satisfaction of certain annual performance goals and multi-year market conditions as determined by the Committee.
The long-term compensation awards include components based on the Company’s total shareholder return over the upcoming three years and the employee’s continued service as of the vesting dates. The total shareholder return component is subject to bright-line tests that compare the Company’s total shareholder return to the Nareit Equity Index and to the member companies of the Nareit industrial index. The Company begins recognizing expense for these awards based on the grant date fair value of the awards which is determined using a simulation pricing model developed to specifically accommodate the unique features of the award. These market-based awards are expensed on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period (75% vests at the end of the three-year performance period and 25% vests the following year). The long-term awards subject only to continuing employment are expensed on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period (25% vests in each of the following four years).
The annual equity compensation awards include components based on certain annual Company performance measures and individual annual performance goals over the upcoming year. The certain Company performance measures for 2024 are: (i) funds from operations (“FFO”) per share, (ii) cash same property net operating income change, (iii) debt-to-EBITDAre ratio, and (iv) fixed charge coverage. The Company begins recognizing expense for its estimate of the shares that could be earned pursuant to these awards on the grant date; the expense is adjusted to estimated performance levels during the performance period and to actual upon the determination of the awards. The shares are expensed using the graded vesting attribution method which recognizes each separate vesting portion of the award as a separate award on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period (34% vests at the end of the one year performance period and 33% vests in each of the following two years). Any shares issued pursuant to the individual annual performance goals are determined by the Committee in its discretion
-19-
EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
following the performance period. The Company begins recognizing the expense for the shares on the grant date and will expense on a straight-line basis over the remaining service period (34% vests at the end of the one year performance period and 33% vests in each of the following two years).
Equity compensation is also awarded to the Company’s non-executive officers and directors, which are subject to service only conditions and expensed on a straight-line basis over the required service period. The total compensation expense is based upon the fair market value of the shares on the grant date.
The Committee has adopted an Equity Award Retirement Policy (the “retirement policy”) which allows for accelerated vesting of unvested shares for retirement-eligible employees (defined as employees who meet certain age and years of service requirements). In order to qualify for accelerated vesting upon retirement, the eligible employees must provide required notification under the retirement policy and must retire from the Company. The Company has adjusted its stock-based compensation expense to accelerate the recognition of expense for retirement-eligible employees.
Stock-based compensation cost for employees was $3,976,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2024, of which $640,000 was capitalized as part of the Company’s development costs. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, stock-based compensation cost for employees was $3,252,000 , of which $693,000 was capitalized as part of the Company’s development costs.
Stock-based compensation expense for directors was $171,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2024, and $225,000 for the same period in 2023.
Following is a summary of the total restricted shares granted, forfeited and delivered (vested) to participants with the related weighted average grant date fair value share prices. Of the shares that vested in the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company withheld 33,381 shares to satisfy the tax obligations for those participants who elected this option as permitted under the applicable equity plan. As of the grant dates, the fair value of shares that were granted during the three months ended March 31, 2024 was $8,891,000 . As of the vesting dates, the aggregate fair value of shares that vested during the three months ended March 31, 2024 was $14,330,000 .
| Award Activity: | Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 | ||||||||||
Shares | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value | ||||||||||
| Unvested at beginning of period | $ | ||||||||||
Granted (1) (2) | |||||||||||
| Forfeited | |||||||||||
| Vested | ( | ||||||||||
| Unvested at end of period | $ | ||||||||||
(1) Includes shares granted in prior years for which performance conditions have been satisfied and the number of shares have been determined.
(18) FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement, defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. ASC 820 also provides guidance for using fair value to measure financial assets and liabilities. The FASB Codification requires disclosure of the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall, including measurements using quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1), quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets or quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active (Level 2) and significant valuation assumptions that are not readily observable in the market (Level 3).
-20-
EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
The following table presents the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments in accordance with ASC 820 at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Carrying Amount (1) | Fair Value | Carrying Amount (1) | Fair Value | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Financial Assets: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate swap assets | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Financial Liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Unsecured debt (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate swap liabilities | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) Carrying amounts shown in the table are included on the Consolidated Balance Sheets under the indicated captions, except as explained below.
(2) Carrying amounts and fair values shown in the table exclude debt issuance costs (see Note 10 for additional information).
The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments:
•Cash and cash equivalents: The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The carrying amounts approximate fair value due to the short maturity of those instruments.
•Interest rate swap assets (included in Other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets): The instruments are recorded at fair value based on models using inputs, such as interest rate yield curves, SOFR swap curves, observable for substantially the full term of the contract (Level 2 input). See Note 14 for additional information on the Company’s interest rate swaps.
•Unsecured debt: The fair value of the Company’s unsecured debt is estimated by discounting expected cash flows at the rates currently offered to the Company for debt of the same remaining maturities, as advised by the Company’s bankers (Level 2 input), excluding the effects of debt issuance costs.
•Interest rate swap liabilities (included in Other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets): The instruments are recorded at fair value based on models using inputs, such as interest rate yield curves, SOFR swap curves, observable for substantially the full term of the contract (Level 2 input). See Note 14 for additional information on the Company’s interest rate swaps.
(19) RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES
(20) LEGAL MATTERS
(21) RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
EastGroup has evaluated all ASUs recently released by the FASB through the date the financial statements were issued and determined that the following ASUs apply to the Company.
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. The primary provision of the ASU is to require disclosure of incremental segment information, such as significant segment expenses regularly provided to the Company’s chief decision makers, the title and position of such individuals, and the manner in which the individuals use such information in assessing segment performance and the allocation of resources. EastGroup has one reportable segment – industrial properties, consistent with the Company’s manner of internal reporting, measurement of operating results and allocation of the Company’s resources. Entities with a single reportable segment are required to provide the disclosures required by the amendment and existing segment disclosure requirements in accordance with
-21-
EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
(22) SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Subsequent to March 31, 2024, EastGroup settled outstanding forward equity sale agreements under our Current 2023 ATM Program by issuing 133,699 shares of common stock in exchange for net proceeds of approximately $24,496,000 .
-22-
ITEM 2.MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
The following discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of the federal securities laws, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) that reflect EastGroup Properties Inc.’s (the “Company” or “EastGroup”) expectations and projections about the Company’s future results, performance, prospects, plans and opportunities. The Company has attempted to identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “seek,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “targets,” “intends,” “should,” “estimates,” “could,” “continue,” “assume,” “projects,” “goals,” “plans” or variations of such words and similar expressions or the negative of such words, although not all forward-looking statements contain such words. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company and are subject to a number of known and unknown assumptions, risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company’s actual results, performance, plans or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These factors include, among other things, those discussed below. The Company intends for all such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act, as applicable by law. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of changes in underlying assumptions or new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.
The following are some, but not all, of the risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those presented in the Company’s forward-looking statements (the Company refers to itself as “we,” “us” or “our” in the following):
•international, national, regional and local economic conditions;
•disruption in supply and delivery chains;
•construction costs could increase as a result of inflation impacting the costs to develop properties;
•the competitive environment in which the Company operates;
•fluctuations of occupancy or rental rates;
•potential defaults (including bankruptcies or insolvency) on or non-renewal of leases by tenants, or our ability to lease space at current or anticipated rents, particularly in light of the impacts of inflation;
•potential changes in the law or governmental regulations and interpretations of those laws and regulations, including changes in real estate laws, real estate investment trust (“REIT”) or corporate income tax laws, potential changes in zoning laws, or increases in real property tax rates, and any related increased cost of compliance;
•our ability to maintain our qualification as a REIT;
•acquisition and development risks, including failure of such acquisitions and development projects to perform in accordance with projections;
•natural disasters such as fires, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes and earthquakes;
•pandemics, epidemics or other public health emergencies, such as the coronavirus pandemic;
•availability of financing and capital, increase in interest rates, and ability to raise equity capital on attractive terms;
•financing risks, including the risks that our cash flows from operations may be insufficient to meet required payments of principal and interest, and we may be unable to refinance our existing debt upon maturity or obtain new financing on attractive terms or at all;
•our ability to retain our credit agency ratings;
•our ability to comply with applicable financial covenants;
•credit risk in the event of non-performance by the counterparties to our interest rate swaps;
•how and when pending forward equity sales may settle;
•lack of or insufficient amounts of insurance;
•litigation, including costs associated with prosecuting or defending claims and any adverse outcomes;
•our ability to attract and retain key personnel;
•risks related to the failure, inadequacy or interruption of our data security systems and processes;
•potentially catastrophic events such as acts of war, civil unrest and terrorism; and
•environmental liabilities, including costs, fines or penalties that may be incurred due to necessary remediation of contamination of properties presently owned or previously owned by us.
-23-
The risks included herein are not exhaustive, and investors should be aware that there may be other factors that could adversely affect our business and financial performance. New risk factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for our management to predict all risk factors, nor can we assess the impact of all risk factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results.
All forward-looking statements should be read in light of the risks identified in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors within the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as such factors may be updated from time to time in the Company’s periodic filings and current reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
OVERVIEW
EastGroup’s goal is to maximize shareholder value by being a leading provider in its markets of functional, flexible and quality business distribution space for location-sensitive customers (primarily in the 20,000 to 100,000 square foot range). The Company develops, acquires and operates distribution facilities, the majority of which are clustered around major transportation features in supply constrained submarkets in major Sunbelt regions. The Company’s core markets are in the states of Florida, Texas, Arizona, California and North Carolina.
During the three months ended March 31, 2024, economic uncertainty and stock market volatility have continued due to a number of factors, including rising inflation, increasing interest rates, and geopolitical conflict. While these factors have not had a significant adverse impact on EastGroup to date, they may adversely impact the Company in the future. Most of the Company’s leases require the tenants to pay their pro rata share of operating expenses, including real estate taxes, insurance and common area maintenance, thereby reducing the Company’s exposure to increases in operating expenses resulting from inflation or other factors. Additionally, most of the Company's leases include scheduled rent increases. In the event inflation causes increases in the Company’s general and administrative expenses, or higher interest rates increase the Company’s cost of doing business, such increased costs would not be passed through to tenants and could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations. The Company continues to monitor these supply chain, inflation and interest rate factors, as well as the uncertainty resulting from the overall economic environment.
EastGroup believes its current operating cash flow and unsecured bank credit facilities provide the capacity to fund the operations of the Company, and the Company also believes it can issue common and/or preferred equity and obtain debt financing on currently acceptable terms. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company settled outstanding forward equity sale agreements that were previously entered into under our current at-the-market common stock offering program (“Current 2023 ATM Program”) by issuing 272,342 shares of common stock in exchange for net proceeds of approximately $49,294,000. EastGroup’s financing and equity issuances are further described in Liquidity and Capital Resources.
The Company’s primary source of revenue is rental income. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, EastGroup executed new and renewal leases on 1,998,000 square feet (representing 3.6% of the operating portfolio’s total square footage of 55,358,000). For new and renewal leases signed during the first three months of 2024, average rental rates increased by 57.8% as compared to the former leases on the same spaces.
On a diluted per share basis, Net Income Attributable to EastGroup Properties, Inc. Common Stockholders was $1.22 for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $1.02 for the same period of 2023, a 19.6% increase. See the Company’s analysis of performance trends below for further details.
Property Net Operating Income (“PNOI”) Excluding Income from Lease Terminations from same properties (defined as operating properties owned during the entire period from January 1, 2023 through March 31, 2024), increased 4.9% for the three months ended March 31, 2024, as compared to the same period in 2023.
EastGroup’s operating portfolio was 98.0% leased and 97.7% occupied as of March 31, 2024, compared to 98.7% and 97.9%, respectively, at March 31, 2023. As of April 23, 2024, the operating portfolio was 97.4% leased and 97.0% occupied. As of March 31, 2024, leases approximating 7.4% of the operating portfolio, based on a percentage of annualized based rent, were scheduled to expire during the remainder of 2024. This percentage was reduced to 6.2% as of April 23, 2024.
The Company generates new sources of leasing revenue through its acquisitions and also its development and value-add program. The Company mitigates risks associated with development through a Board-approved maximum level of land held for development and by adjusting development start dates according to leasing activity.
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During the three months ended March 31, 2024, EastGroup acquired 34.3 acres of development land in Atlanta for $3,302,000. The Company also began construction of two development projects containing a total of 388,000 square feet in Tampa and San Antonio. EastGroup also transferred a development project (133,000 square feet) in Miami from Development and value-add properties to Real estate properties, with costs of $22,228,000 at the date of transfer. As of March 31, 2024, EastGroup’s development and value-add program consisted of 19 projects (4,332,000 square feet) located in 13 markets. The projected total investment for the development projects, which were collectively 29.3% leased as of April 23, 2024, is $611,200,000, of which $203,816,000 remained to be invested as of March 31, 2024.
During the three months ended March 31, 2024, EastGroup acquired an operating property in Las Vegas containing 231,000 square feet for $54,859,000. There were no value-add property acquisitions during the period.
During the three months ended March 31, 2024, EastGroup sold a group of operating properties in the Jackson, Mississippi market containing 159,000 square feet and 3.9 acres of land in San Francisco, generating gross sales proceeds of $18,050,000. The Company recognized $8,751,000 in Gain on sales of real estate investments and $222,000 in gains on sales of non-operating real estate (included in Other on the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income) during the three months ended March 31, 2024.
The Company typically initially funds its development and acquisition programs through its $675,000,000 unsecured bank credit facilities (as discussed in Liquidity and Capital Resources). As market conditions permit, EastGroup issues equity and/or employs fixed-rate debt, including variable-rate debt that has been swapped to an effectively fixed rate through the use of interest rate swaps, to replace short-term bank borrowings. Moody’s Investors Service has assigned the Company’s issuer rating of Baa2 with a stable outlook. A security rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating agency. Each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating. For future debt issuances, the Company intends to issue primarily unsecured fixed-rate debt, including variable-rate debt that has been swapped to an effectively fixed rate through the use of interest rate swaps. The Company may also access the public debt market in the future as a means to raise capital.
EastGroup has one reportable segment – industrial properties, consistent with the Company’s manner of internal reporting, measurement of operating results and allocation of the Company’s resources. The Company’s chief decision makers use two primary measures of operating results in making decisions: (1) funds from operations (“FFO”) attributable to common stockholders, and (2) property net operating income (“PNOI”).
FFO is computed in accordance with standards established by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, Inc. (“Nareit”). Nareit’s guidance allows preparers an option as it pertains to whether gains or losses on sale, or impairment charges, on real estate assets incidental to a REIT’s business are excluded from the calculation of FFO. EastGroup has made the election to exclude activity related to such assets that are incidental to our business.
FFO is calculated as net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders computed in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), excluding gains and losses from sales of real estate property (including other assets incidental to the Company’s business) and impairment losses, adjusted for real estate related depreciation and amortization, and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. FFO is not considered as an alternative to net income (determined in accordance with GAAP) as an indication of the Company’s financial performance, nor is it a measure of the Company’s liquidity or indicative of funds available to provide for the Company’s cash needs, including its ability to make distributions. The Company’s key drivers affecting FFO are changes in PNOI (as discussed below), interest rates, the amount of leverage the Company employs and general and administrative expenses.
PNOI is defined as Income from real estate operations less Expenses from real estate operations (including market-based internal management fee expense) plus the Company’s share of income and property operating expenses from its less-than-wholly-owned real estate investments.
EastGroup sometimes refers to PNOI from Same Properties as “Same PNOI”; the Company also presents Same PNOI Excluding Income from Lease Terminations. Same Properties is defined as operating properties owned during the entire current and prior year reporting periods. Properties developed or acquired are excluded until held in the operating portfolio for both the current and prior year reporting periods. Properties sold during the current or prior year reporting periods are also excluded. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, Same Properties includes properties which were included in the operating portfolio for the entire period from January 1, 2023 through March 31, 2024. The Company presents Same PNOI and Same PNOI Excluding Income from Lease Terminations as a property-level supplemental measure of performance used to evaluate the performance of the Company’s investments in real estate assets and its operating results on a same property basis.
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FFO and PNOI are supplemental industry reporting measurements used to evaluate the performance of the Company’s investments in real estate assets and its operating results. The Company believes that the exclusion of depreciation and amortization in the calculations of PNOI and FFO provides supplemental indicators of the properties’ performance since real estate values have historically risen or fallen with market conditions. PNOI and FFO as calculated by the Company may not be comparable to similarly titled but differently calculated measures for other REITs. Investors should be aware that items excluded from or added back to FFO are significant components in understanding and assessing the Company’s financial performance. These non-GAAP figures should not be considered a substitute for, and should only be considered together with and as a supplement to, the Company’s financial information presented in accordance with GAAP.
The following table presents reconciliations of Net Income to PNOI, Same PNOI and Same PNOI Excluding Income from Lease Terminations for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||
| NET INCOME | $ | 58,658 | 44,704 | ||||||||
| Gain on sales of real estate investments | (8,751) | (4,809) | |||||||||
| Gain on sales of non-operating real estate | (222) | (81) | |||||||||
| Interest income | (275) | (81) | |||||||||
| Other revenue | (150) | (1,061) | |||||||||
| Indirect leasing costs | 177 | 140 | |||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 45,169 | 41,014 | |||||||||
| Company’s share of depreciation from unconsolidated investment | 31 | 31 | |||||||||
| Interest expense | 10,061 | 13,025 | |||||||||
| General and administrative expense | 6,681 | 5,204 | |||||||||
| Noncontrolling interest in PNOI of consolidated joint ventures | (16) | (16) | |||||||||
| PROPERTY NET OPERATING INCOME (“PNOI”) | 111,363 | 98,070 | |||||||||
PNOI from 2023 and 2024 acquisitions | (3,397) | — | |||||||||
PNOI from 2023 and 2024 development and value-add properties | (6,555) | (1,039) | |||||||||
PNOI from 2023 and 2024 operating property dispositions | (177) | (670) | |||||||||
| Other PNOI | 81 | 111 | |||||||||
| SAME PNOI | 101,315 | 96,472 | |||||||||
| Lease termination fee income from same properties | (147) | (55) | |||||||||
| SAME PNOI EXCLUDING INCOME FROM LEASE TERMINATIONS | $ | 101,168 | 96,417 | ||||||||
PNOI was calculated as follows for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||
| Income from real estate operations | $ | 154,074 | 133,964 | ||||||||
| Expenses from real estate operations | (43,003) | (36,186) | |||||||||
| Noncontrolling interest in PNOI of consolidated joint ventures | (16) | (16) | |||||||||
| PNOI from 50% owned unconsolidated investment | 308 | 308 | |||||||||
| PROPERTY NET OPERATING INCOME (“PNOI”) | $ | 111,363 | 98,070 | ||||||||
Income from real estate operations is comprised of rental income, net of reserves for uncollectible rent, expense reimbursement pass-through income and other real estate income including lease termination fees. Expenses from real estate operations is comprised of property taxes, insurance, utilities, repair and maintenance expenses, management fees and other operating costs. Generally, the Company’s most significant operating expenses are property taxes and insurance. Tenant leases may be net leases in which the total operating expenses are recoverable, modified gross leases in which some of the operating expenses
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are recoverable, or gross leases in which no expenses are recoverable (gross leases represent only a small portion of the Company’s total leases). Increases in property operating expenses are fully recoverable under net leases and recoverable to a high degree under modified gross leases. Modified gross leases often include base year amounts, and expense increases over these amounts are recoverable. The Company’s exposure to property operating expenses is primarily due to vacancies and leases for occupied space that limit the amount of expenses that can be recovered.
The following table presents reconciliations of Net Income Attributable to EastGroup Properties, Inc. Common Stockholders to FFO Attributable to Common Stockholders for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| (In thousands, except per share data) | |||||||||||
| NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. COMMON STOCKHOLDERS | $ | 58,644 | 44,690 | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 45,169 | 41,014 | |||||||||
| Company’s share of depreciation from unconsolidated investment | 31 | 31 | |||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization from noncontrolling interest | (1) | (1) | |||||||||
| Gain on sales of real estate investments | (8,751) | (4,809) | |||||||||
| Gain on sales of non-operating real estate | (222) | (81) | |||||||||
| FFO ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS | 94,870 | 80,844 | |||||||||
| Gain on involuntary conversion and business interruption claims | — | (1,027) | |||||||||
| FFO ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS — EXCLUDING GAIN ON INVOLUNTARY CONVERSION AND BUSINESS INTERRUPTION CLAIMS | $ | 94,870 | 79,817 | ||||||||
| Net income attributable to common stockholders per diluted share | $ | 1.22 | 1.02 | ||||||||
| FFO attributable to common stockholders per diluted share | $ | 1.98 | 1.84 | ||||||||
FFO attributable to common stockholders per diluted share — excluding gain on involuntary conversion and business interruption claims | $ | 1.98 | 1.82 | ||||||||
| Diluted shares for earnings per share and funds from operations per share | 47,961 | 43,823 | |||||||||
The Company analyzes the following performance trends in evaluating the revenues and expenses of the Company:
•Net Income Attributable to EastGroup Properties, Inc. Common Stockholders for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was $58,644,000 ($1.23 per basic and $1.22 per diluted share), compared to $44,690,000 ($1.02 per basic and diluted share) for the same period in 2023. See Results of Operations for further analysis.
•The change in FFO per share represents the increase or decrease in FFO per share from the current period compared to the same period in the prior year. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, FFO was $1.98 per share compared with $1.84 per share for the same period of 2023, an increase of 7.6%. FFO increased during the three months ended March 31, 2024, as compared to the same period in 2023, primarily due to the increase in PNOI and the decrease in interest expense.
•For the three months ended March 31, 2024, PNOI increased by $13,293,000, or 13.6%, as compared to the same period in 2023. PNOI increased $5,516,000 from newly developed and value-add properties, $4,843,000 from same property operations, and $3,397,000 from 2023 and 2024 acquisitions; PNOI decreased $493,000 from operating properties sold in 2023 and 2024.
•The change in Same PNOI represents the PNOI increase or decrease for the same operating properties owned during the entire period from January 1, 2023 through March 31, 2024. Same PNOI, excluding income from lease terminations, increased 4.9% for the three months ended March 31, 2024, as compared to the same period in 2023.
•Same property average occupancy represents the average month-end percentage of leased square footage for which the lease term has commenced as compared to the total leasable square footage for the same operating properties owned during the entire current and prior year reporting periods (January 1, 2023 through March 31, 2024). Same property
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average occupancy was 97.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to 98.4% for the same period of 2023.
•The same property average rental rate calculated in accordance with GAAP represents the average annual rental rates of leases in place for the same operating properties owned during the entire current and prior year reporting periods (January 1, 2023 through March 31, 2024). The same property average rental rate was $8.05 per square foot for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $7.60 per square foot for the same period of 2023.
•Occupancy is the percentage of leased square footage for which the lease term has commenced as compared to the total leasable square footage as of the close of the reporting period. Occupancy at March 31, 2024 was 97.7%. Quarter-end occupancy ranged from 97.7% to 98.2% over the previous four quarters ended March 31, 2023 to December 31, 2023.
•Rental rate change represents the rental rate increase or decrease on new and renewal leases compared to the prior leases on the same space. Rental rate increases on new and renewal leases (3.6% of the operating portfolio’s total square footage) averaged 57.8% for the three months ended March 31, 2024.
•Lease termination fee income is included in Income from real estate operations. Lease termination fee income for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was $147,000, compared to $55,000 for the same period of 2023.
•The Company records reserves for uncollectible rent as reductions to Income from real estate operations; recoveries for uncollectible rent are recorded as additions to Income from real estate operations. The Company recorded net reserves for uncollectible rent of $775,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $369,000 for the same period of 2023. We evaluate the collectability of rents and other receivables for individual leases at each reporting period based on factors including, among others, tenant payment history, the financial condition of the tenant, business conditions and trends in the industry in which the tenant operates and economic conditions in the geographic area where the property is located. If evaluation of these factors or others indicates it is not probable we will collect substantially all rent, we recognize an adjustment to rental revenue. If our judgment or estimation regarding probability of collection changes we may adjust or record additional rental revenue in the period such conclusion is reached. The Company followed its normal process for recording reserves for uncollectible rent during the three months ended March 31, 2024.
FINANCIAL CONDITION
EastGroup’s Total Assets were $4,577,005,000 at March 31, 2024, an increase of $57,792,000 from December 31, 2023. Total Liabilities increased $7,067,000 to $1,917,646,000, and Total Equity increased $50,725,000 to $2,659,359,000 during the same period. The following paragraphs explain these changes in additional detail.
Assets
Real Estate Properties
Real estate properties increased $74,373,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2024, primarily due to: (i) the acquisition of one operating property; (ii) the transfer of one project from Development and value-add properties to Real estate properties; (iii) capital improvements at the Company’s properties; and (iv) costs incurred on development and value-add projects subsequent to transfer to Real estate properties discussed below. The increases were partially offset by the sale of a group of operating properties.
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During the three months ended March 31, 2024, EastGroup acquired the following property:
REAL ESTATE PROPERTY ACQUIRED IN 2024 | Location | Size | Date Acquired | Cost (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Square feet) | (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating property acquired (2)(3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Spanish Ridge Industrial Park | Las Vegas, NV | 231,000 | 01/23/2024 | $ | 54,859 | |||||||||||||||||||||
(1)Cost is calculated in accordance with FASB ASC 805, Business Combinations, and represents the sum of the purchase price, closing costs and capitalized acquisition costs. Refer to Note 7 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
(2)Operating properties are defined as stabilized real estate properties (land including buildings and improvements) in the Company’s operating portfolio; included in Real estate properties on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(3)Excludes acquired development land as discussed below.
During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company made capital improvements of $11,691,000 on existing properties (included in the Real Estate Improvements table under Results of Operations). Also, the Company incurred costs of $674,000 on development and value-add properties subsequent to transfer to Real estate properties; the Company records these expenditures as development and value-add costs on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
During the three months ended March 31, 2024, EastGroup sold a group of operating properties in the Jackson, Mississippi market containing 159,000 square feet, generating gross sales proceeds of $14,050,000. The Company recognized $8,751,000 in Gain on sales of real estate investments during the three months ended March 31, 2024.
Development and Value-Add Properties
EastGroup’s investment in Development and value-add properties at March 31, 2024 consisted of projects in lease-up and under construction of $407,384,000 and prospective development (primarily land) of $262,866,000. The Company’s total investment in Development and value-add properties at March 31, 2024 was $670,250,000 compared to $639,647,000 at December 31, 2023. Total capital invested for development during the first three months of 2024 was $57,771,000, which consisted of improvement costs of $53,795,000 on development and value-add properties, $3,302,000 for new land investments, and costs of $674,000 on properties subsequent to transfer to Real estate properties. The capitalized costs incurred on development and value-add properties subsequent to transfer to Real estate properties include capital improvements at the properties and do not include other capitalized costs associated with development (i.e., interest expense, property taxes and internal personnel costs).
The Company capitalized internal development costs of $2,223,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $2,455,000 for the same period of 2023.
There were no value-add acquisitions during the three months ended March 31, 2024.
During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company acquired 34.3 acres of development land in Atlanta for $3,302,000. Costs associated with this acquisition are included in the Development and Value-Add Properties table. These increases were offset by the transfer of one development and value-add project to Real estate properties during the three months ended March 31, 2024 with a total investment of $22,228,000 as of the date of transfer.
During the three months ended March 31, 2024, EastGroup sold 3.9 acres of land in San Francisco, generating gross sales proceeds of $4,000,000. The Company recognized $222,000 in gains on sales of non-operating real estate (included in Other on the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income) during the three months ended March 31, 2024.
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A summary of the Company's Development and Value-Add Properties for the three months ended March 31, 2024 follows:
| Actual or Estimated Building Size | Cumulative Costs Incurred as of 3/31/2024 | Projected Total Costs | |||||||||||||||
| (Square feet) | (In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
| Lease-up | 1,330,000 | $ | 161,965 | $ | 177,800 | ||||||||||||
| Under construction | 3,002,000 | 245,419 | 433,400 | ||||||||||||||
| Total lease-up and under construction | 4,332,000 | 407,384 | $ | 611,200 | |||||||||||||
| Prospective development (primarily land) | 10,633,000 | 262,866 | |||||||||||||||
Total Development and value-add properties as of March 31, 2024 | 14,965,000 | $ | 670,250 | ||||||||||||||
Total Development and value-add properties transferred to Real estate properties during the three months ended March 31, 2024 | 133,000 | $ | 22,228 | (1) | |||||||||||||
(1) Represents cumulative costs at the date of transfer.
Accumulated Depreciation
Accumulated depreciation on real estate, development and value-add properties increased $26,182,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2024, primarily due to depreciation expense, partially offset by the sale of operating properties.
Other Assets
Other assets increased $3,359,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2024. See Note 9 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
Liabilities
Unsecured bank credit facilities, net of debt issuance costs increased $239,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2024, mainly due to borrowings of $19,564,000 and the amortization of debt issuance costs during the period, partially offset by repayments of $19,564,000 during the period. The Company’s credit facilities are described in greater detail under Liquidity and Capital Resources.
Unsecured debt, net of debt issuance costs increased $226,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2024, primarily due to the amortization of debt issuance costs during the period. The borrowings and repayments on Unsecured debt, net of debt issuance costs are described in greater detail under Liquidity and Capital Resources.
Accounts payable and accrued expenses increased $8,918,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2024. Refer to Note 11 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
Other liabilities decreased $2,316,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2024. Refer to Note 12 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
Equity
Additional paid-in capital increased $47,303,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2024, primarily due to the issuance of common stock under the Company’s Current 2023 ATM Program (as discussed in Liquidity and Capital Resources) and activity related to stock-based compensation (as discussed in Note 17 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company settled outstanding forward equity sale agreements that were previously entered into under our Current 2023 ATM Program by issuing 272,342 shares of common stock in exchange for net proceeds of approximately $49,294,000.
For the three months ended March 31, 2024, Distributions in excess of earnings increased $2,481,000 as a result of dividends on common stock of $61,125,000 exceeding Net Income Attributable to EastGroup Properties, Inc. Common Stockholders of $58,644,000.
Accumulated other comprehensive income increased $5,894,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2024. The increase resulted from the change in fair value of the Company’s interest rate swaps (cash flow hedges) which are further discussed in Notes 13 and 14 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Net Income Attributable to EastGroup Properties, Inc. Common Stockholders for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was $58,644,000 ($1.23 per basic and $1.22 per diluted share), compared to $44,690,000 ($1.02 per basic and diluted share) for the same period in 2023. The following paragraphs provide further details with respect to these changes:
•PNOI increased by $13,293,000 ($0.28 per diluted share), or 13.6%, for the three months ended March 31, 2024, as compared to the same period in 2023. PNOI increased $5,516,000 from newly developed and value-add properties, $4,843,000 from same property operations, and $3,397,000 from 2023 and 2024 acquisitions; PNOI decreased $493,000 from operating properties sold in 2023 and 2024. Lease termination fee income was $147,000 and $55,000 for the three month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The Company recorded net reserves for uncollectible rent of $775,000 and $369,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Straight-lining of rent increased Income from real estate operations by $2,483,000 and $3,442,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
•EastGroup recognized Gains on sales of real estate investments of $8,751,000 ($0.18 per diluted share) during the three months ended March 31, 2024. The Company recognized Gains on sales of real estate investments of $4,809,000 ($0.11 per diluted share) during the same period of 2023. The Company’s 2023 and 2024 sales transactions are described in Note 8 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
•Depreciation and amortization expense increased by $4,155,000 ($0.09 per diluted share) during the three months ended March 31, 2024, as compared to the same period in 2023. The increase is primarily due to the operating properties acquired by the Company in 2023 and 2024 and the properties transferred from Development and value-add properties in 2023 and 2024, partially offset by operating properties sold in 2023 and 2024.
•Interest expense decreased by $2,964,000 ($0.06 per diluted share) during the three months ended March 31, 2024, as compared to the same period of 2023. Refer to the table below for additional details.
•EastGroup recognized no gains on involuntary conversion and business interruption claims during the three months ended March 31, 2024. During the same period of 2023, the Company recognized gains on involuntary conversion and business interruption claims of $1,027,000 ($0.02 per diluted share).
EastGroup entered into 33 leases with certain rent concessions on 1,542,000 square feet during the three months ended March 31, 2024, with total rent concessions of $2,569,000 over the terms of the leases. During the same period of 2023, the Company entered into 18 leases with certain rent concessions on 1,196,000 square feet with total rent concessions of $3,168,000 over the terms of the leases.
The Company’s percentage of leased square footage for the operating portfolio was 98.0% at March 31, 2024, compared to 98.7% at March 31, 2023. Occupancy for the Company’s operating portfolio at March 31, 2024 was 97.7% compared to 97.9% at March 31, 2023.
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The following table presents the components of Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | Increase (Decrease) | |||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| VARIABLE RATE INTEREST EXPENSE | |||||||||||||||||
Unsecured bank credit facilities interest — variable rate (excluding amortization of facility fees and debt issuance costs) | $ | 42 | 1,139 | (1,097) | |||||||||||||
| Amortization of facility fees — unsecured bank credit facilities | 252 | 242 | 10 | ||||||||||||||
| Amortization of debt issuance costs — unsecured bank credit facilities | 253 | 244 | 9 | ||||||||||||||
| Total variable rate interest expense | 547 | 1,625 | (1,078) | ||||||||||||||
| FIXED RATE INTEREST EXPENSE | |||||||||||||||||
Unsecured debt interest (excluding amortization of debt issuance costs) (1) | 14,141 | 14,876 | (735) | ||||||||||||||
Secured debt interest (excluding amortization of debt issuance costs) | — | 19 | (19) | ||||||||||||||
| Amortization of debt issuance costs — unsecured debt | 226 | 239 | (13) | ||||||||||||||
| Amortization of debt issuance costs — secured debt | — | 1 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| Total fixed rate interest expense | 14,367 | 15,135 | (768) | ||||||||||||||
| Total interest | 14,914 | 16,760 | (1,846) | ||||||||||||||
| Less capitalized interest | (4,853) | (3,735) | (1,118) | ||||||||||||||
| TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE | $ | 10,061 | 13,025 | (2,964) | |||||||||||||
(1)Includes interest on the Company’s unsecured debt with fixed interest rates per the debt agreements or effectively fixed interest rates due to interest rate swaps, as discussed in Note 14 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
The Company’s variable rate interest expense decreased by $1,078,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2024, as compared to the same period in 2023, primarily due to a decrease in average borrowings, partially offset by an increase in the Company’s weighted average variable interest rates on its unsecured bank credit facilities, as shown in the following table:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | Increase (Decrease) | |||||||||||||||
| (In thousands, except rates of interest) | |||||||||||||||||
| Average borrowings on unsecured bank credit facilities - variable rate | $ | 2,704 | 86,795 | (84,091) | |||||||||||||
Weighted average variable interest rates (excluding amortization of facility fees and debt issuance costs) | 6.29 | % | 5.32 | % | |||||||||||||
The Company’s fixed rate interest expense decreased by $768,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2024, as compared to the same period in 2023, primarily as a result of the unsecured debt activity described below. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, EastGroup did not obtain, repay, or refinance any unsecured debt.
The following table presents the details of unsecured debt repayments during the year ended December 31, 2023:
UNSECURED DEBT REPAID IN 2023 | Interest Rate | Date Repaid | Payoff Amount | |||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| $65 Million Senior Unsecured Term Loan | 2.31% | 03/31/2023 | $ | 65,000 | ||||||||||||||||
| $50 Million Senior Unsecured Notes | 3.80% | 08/28/2023 | 50,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Weighted Average/Total Amount for 2023 | 2.96% | $ | 115,000 | |||||||||||||||||
In September 2023, the Company refinanced a $100,000,000 senior unsecured term loan, reducing the effectively fixed interest rate by approximately 45 basis points.
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The decrease in interest expense from unsecured debt repayments and refinancing was partially offset by new unsecured debt obtained during the year ended December 31, 2023:
NEW UNSECURED DEBT IN 2023 | Margin | Effectively Fixed Interest Rate | Date Obtained | Maturity Date | Amount | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
$100 Million Senior Unsecured Term Loan (1) | 1.35% | 5.27% | 01/13/2023 | 01/13/2030 | $ | 100,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) The interest rate on this unsecured term loan is comprised of Term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) plus a margin, which is subject to a pricing grid for changes in the Company’s coverage ratings. The Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement (further described in Note 14 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements) to convert the loan’s Term SOFR rate to an effectively fixed interest rate. The interest rate in the table above is the effectively fixed interest rate for the loan, including the effect of the interest rate swap, as of March 31, 2024.
EastGroup’s financing and debt maturities are further described in Liquidity and Capital Resources.
Interest costs during the period of construction of real estate properties are capitalized and offset against interest expense. Capitalized interest increased $1,118,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2024, as compared to the same period of 2023, due to increased borrowing rates and changes in development spending.
Real Estate Improvements
Real estate improvements for EastGroup’s operating properties for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 were as follows:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| Estimated Useful Life | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| Upgrade on acquisitions | 40 yrs | $ | 37 | 270 | |||||||||||||
| Tenant improvements: | |||||||||||||||||
| New tenants | Lease term | 2,337 | 5,441 | ||||||||||||||
| Renewal tenants | Lease term | 835 | 911 | ||||||||||||||
| Other: | |||||||||||||||||
| Building improvements | 5-40 yrs | 3,075 | 2,203 | ||||||||||||||
| Roofs | 5-15 yrs | 3,810 | 7,070 | ||||||||||||||
| Parking lots | 3-5 yrs | 759 | 842 | ||||||||||||||
| Other | 5 yrs | 838 | 150 | ||||||||||||||
Total real estate improvements (1) | $ | 11,691 | 16,887 | ||||||||||||||
(1)Reconciliation of Total real estate improvements to Real estate improvements on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Total real estate improvements | $ | 11,691 | 16,887 | |||||||||||
| Change in real estate property payables | (649) | (887) | ||||||||||||
| Change in construction in progress | 3,787 | (223) | ||||||||||||
Real estate improvements on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows | $ | 14,829 | 15,777 | |||||||||||
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Capitalized Leasing Costs
The Company’s leasing costs (principally commissions) are capitalized and included in Other assets. The costs are amortized over the terms of the associated leases, and the amortization is included in Depreciation and amortization expense. Capitalized leasing costs for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 were as follows:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| Estimated Useful Life | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| Development and value-add | Lease term | $ | 1,991 | 4,550 | |||||||||||||
| New tenants | Lease term | 4,051 | 2,137 | ||||||||||||||
| Renewal tenants | Lease term | 2,523 | 2,363 | ||||||||||||||
Total capitalized leasing costs (1) | $ | 8,565 | 9,050 | ||||||||||||||
| Amortization of leasing costs | $ | 6,038 | 5,206 | ||||||||||||||
(1)Reconciliation of Total capitalized leasing costs to Leasing commissions on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Total capitalized leasing costs | $ | 8,565 | 9,050 | |||||||||||
| Change in leasing commissions payables | (2,270) | (1,129) | ||||||||||||
Leasing commissions on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows | $ | 6,295 | 7,921 | |||||||||||
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
We closely monitor our liquidity and capital resources. The Company anticipates that its current cash balance, operating cash flows, borrowings under its unsecured bank credit facilities, proceeds from new debt and/or proceeds from the issuance of equity instruments will be adequate for (i) operating and administrative expenses, (ii) normal repair and maintenance expenses at its properties, (iii) debt service obligations, (iv) maintaining compliance with its debt covenants, (v) distributions to stockholders, (vi) capital improvements, (vii) purchases of properties, (viii) development, and (ix) any other normal business activities of the Company, both in the short-term and long-term. The Company expects liquidity sources and needs in the coming year to be consistent in nature with those for the three months ended March 31, 2024.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $116,900,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The primary other sources of cash were proceeds from common stock offerings; borrowings on unsecured bank credit facilities; and net proceeds from sales of real estate investments and non-operating real estate. The Company distributed $61,442,000 in common stock dividends during the three months ended March 31, 2024. Other primary uses of cash were for the construction and development of properties; purchases of real estate; repayments on unsecured bank credit facilities; and capital improvements at various properties.
As of March 31, 2024, the Company was contractually obligated to pay the dividend declared in March 2024, which was paid in April 2024. An amount for dividends payable of $62,076,000 was included in Accounts payable and accrued expenses at March 31, 2024, which includes dividends payable on unvested restricted stock of $1,201,000, which are subject to continued service and will be paid upon vesting in future periods.
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The following table summarizes certain information with respect to our indebtedness outstanding as of March 31, 2024:
UNSECURED DEBT (FIXED RATE) (1) | Weighted Average Interest Rate | Principal Payments Maturing | ||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| August 30, 2024 | 4.08% | $ | 50,000 | |||||||||||
| December 13, 2024 | 3.46% | 60,000 | ||||||||||||
| December 15, 2024 | 3.48% | 60,000 | ||||||||||||
| Year 2025 | 3.13% | 145,000 | ||||||||||||
| Year 2026 | 2.56% | 140,000 | ||||||||||||
| Year 2027 | 2.74% | 175,000 | ||||||||||||
| Year 2028 | 3.10% | 160,000 | ||||||||||||
| Year 2029 and beyond | 3.66% | 890,000 | ||||||||||||
Total Unsecured Debt (Fixed Rate) (1) | 3.37% | $ | 1,680,000 | |||||||||||
(1) These loans have a fixed interest rate or an effectively fixed interest rate due to interest rate swaps.
The Company’s $625,000,000 unsecured bank credit facility is with a group of 11 banks and has a maturity date of July 30, 2025. The credit facility contains options for two six-month extensions (at the Company’s election) and an additional $125,000,000 accordion (with agreement by all parties). The interest rate on each tranche is reset on a monthly basis and as of March 31, 2024, was SOFR plus 76.5 basis points with an annual facility fee of 15 basis points. As of March 31, 2024, the Company had no variable rate borrowings on this unsecured bank credit facility and an interest rate of 6.194%. The Company has two standby letters of credit totaling $2,655,000 pledged on this facility, which reduces borrowing capacity under the credit facility.
The Company's $50,000,000 unsecured bank credit facility has a maturity date of July 30, 2025, or such later date as designated by the bank; the Company also has two six-month extensions available if the extension options in the $625,000,000 facility are exercised. The interest rate is reset on a daily basis and as of March 31, 2024, was SOFR plus 77.5 basis points with an annual facility fee of 15 basis points. As of March 31, 2024, the interest rate was 6.215% with no outstanding balance.
For both facilities, the margin and facility fee are subject to changes in the Company’s credit ratings. Although the Company’s current credit rating is Baa2, given the strength of the Company’s key credit metrics, initial pricing for the credit facilities is based on the BBB+/Baa1 credit ratings level. This favorable pricing level will be retained provided that the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio, as defined in the applicable agreements, remains less than 32.5%. The $625,000,000 facility also includes a sustainability-linked pricing component pursuant to which the applicable interest rate margin is reduced by one basis point if the Company meets a certain sustainability performance target. This sustainability metric is evaluated annually and was achieved for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, which allowed for the interest rate reduction in each of the years subsequent to achieving the metric. The margin was effectively reduced on this unsecured bank credit facility by one basis point, from 77.5 to 76.5 basis points.
The Company’s unsecured bank credit facilities have certain restrictive covenants, such as maintaining minimum debt service coverage and leverage ratios and maintaining insurance coverage, and the Company was in compliance with all of its financial debt covenants at March 31, 2024.
As market conditions permit, EastGroup issues equity and/or employs fixed-rate debt, including variable-rate debt that has been swapped to an effectively fixed rate through the use of interest rate swaps, to replace the short-term bank borrowings. The Company believes its current operating cash flow and unsecured bank credit facilities provide the capacity to fund the operations of the Company. The Company also believes it can obtain debt financing and issue common and/or preferred equity.
For future debt issuances, the Company intends to issue primarily unsecured fixed-rate debt, including variable-rate debt that has been swapped to an effectively fixed rate through the use of interest rate swaps. The Company may also access the public debt or convertible bond markets in the future as a means to raise capital.
As of March 31, 2024, EastGroup had total immediate liquidity of approximately $764,105,000, comprised of $15,625,000 of cash and cash equivalents, $672,345,000 of availability on our unsecured credit facilities, and approximately $76,135,000 of net proceeds available on our outstanding forward equity sale agreements.
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On October 25, 2023, we established the Current 2023 ATM Program pursuant to which we are able to sell, from time to time, shares of our common stock having an aggregate gross sales price of up to $750,000,000. The Current 2023 ATM Program replaced our previous $750,000,000 ATM program, which was established on December 16, 2022, under which we had sold shares of our common stock having an aggregate gross sales price of $464,305,000 through October 25, 2023.
In connection with the Current 2023 ATM Program, we may sell shares of our common stock through sales agents or through certain financial institutions acting as forward purchasers whereby, at our discretion, the forward counterparties may borrow from third parties and subsequently sell shares of our common stock. The use of a forward equity sale agreement allows us to lock in a share price on the sale of shares of our common stock but defer settling and receiving the proceeds from the sale of shares until a later date. Additionally, the forward price that we expect to receive upon settlement of an agreement will be subject to adjustment for (i) a floating interest rate factor equal to a specified daily rate less a spread, (ii) the forward purchaser’s stock borrowing costs and (iii) scheduled dividends during the term of the agreement.
During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company did not sell any shares of our common stock directly through sales agents under the Current 2023 ATM Program.
During the three months ended March 31, 2024, EastGroup entered into forward equity sale agreements with certain financial institutions acting as forward purchasers under our Current 2023 ATM Program with respect to 286,671 shares of common stock with an initial weighted average forward price of $181.95 per share. The Company did not receive any proceeds from the sale of common shares by the forward purchasers at the time it entered into forward equity sale agreements.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, EastGroup entered into forward equity sale agreements with respect to 406,041 shares of common stock with an initial weighted average forward price of $183.92 per share. The Company did not receive any proceeds from the sale of common shares by the forward purchasers at the time we entered into forward equity sale agreements.
During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company settled outstanding forward equity sale agreements that were previously entered into under our Current 2023 ATM Program by issuing 272,342 shares of common stock in exchange for net proceeds of approximately $49,294,000.
Subsequent to March 31, 2024, EastGroup settled outstanding forward equity sale agreements that were previously entered into under our Current 2023 ATM Program by issuing 133,699 shares of common stock in exchange for net proceeds of approximately $24,496,000. As of April 23, 2024, the Company has 286,671 shares of common stock, or approximately $52,160,000 of gross proceeds, available for settlement prior to the expiration of the applicable settlement period, ranging from February 2025 through April 2025.
Under the Current 2023 ATM Program, approximately $388,162,000 of common stock remains available to be sold. Future sales, if any, will depend on a variety of factors, including among others, market conditions, the trading price of our common stock, determinations by us of the appropriate sources of funding for us and potential uses of funding available to us.
EastGroup’s other material cash requirements from known contractual and other obligations, including real estate property obligations, development and value-add obligations and tenant improvements as of December 31, 2023, did not materially change during the three months ended March 31, 2024.
The Company has no material off-balance sheet arrangements that have had or are reasonably likely to have a material current or future effect on its financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
The Company’s management considers the following accounting policies and estimates to be critical to the reported operations of the Company.
Acquisition and Development of Real Estate Properties
The FASB Codification provides guidance on how to properly determine the allocation of the purchase price among the individual components of both the tangible and intangible assets based on their respective fair values. Factors considered by management in allocating the cost of the properties acquired include an estimate of carrying costs during the expected lease-up periods considering current market conditions and costs to execute similar leases. The allocation to tangible assets (land, building and improvements) is based upon management’s determination of the value of the property as if it were vacant using discounted cash flow models. Land is valued using comparable land sales specific to the applicable market, provided by a third party. The Company determines whether any financing assumed is above or below market based upon comparison to similar
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financing terms for similar properties. The cost of the properties acquired may be adjusted based on indebtedness assumed from the seller that is determined to be above or below market rates.
The purchase price is also allocated among the following categories of intangible assets: the above or below market component of in-place leases and the value of leases in-place at the time of acquisition. The value allocable to the above or below market component of an acquired in-place lease is determined based upon the present value (using a discount rate reflecting the risks associated with the acquired leases) of the difference between (i) the contractual amounts to be paid pursuant to the lease over its remaining term and (ii) management’s estimate of the amounts that would be paid using current market rents over the remaining term of the lease. The amounts allocated to above and below market lease intangibles are included in Other assets and Other liabilities, respectively, on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are amortized to rental income over the remaining terms of the respective leases. In-place lease intangibles are valued based upon management’s assessment of factors such as an estimate of foregone rents and avoided leasing costs during the expected lease-up periods considering current market conditions and costs to execute similar leases. These intangible assets are included in Other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are amortized over the remaining term of the existing lease.
The significance of this accounting policy will fluctuate given the transaction activity during the period.
For properties under development and value-add properties acquired in the development stage, costs associated with development (i.e., land, construction costs, interest expense, property taxes and other costs associated with development) are aggregated into the total capitalized costs of the property. Included in these costs are management’s estimates for the portions of internal costs (primarily personnel costs) deemed related to such development activities. The internal costs are allocated to specific development properties based on development activity.
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
See Note 21 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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ITEM 3.QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
The Company is exposed to interest rate changes primarily as a result of its unsecured bank credit facilities and long-term debt maturities. This debt is used to maintain liquidity and fund capital expenditures and expansion of the Company’s real estate investment portfolio and operations. The Company’s objective for interest rate risk management is to limit the impact of interest rate changes on earnings and cash flows and to lower its overall borrowing costs. The Company has two variable rate unsecured bank credit facilities as discussed under Liquidity and Capital Resources. As market conditions permit, EastGroup issues equity and/or employs fixed-rate debt, including variable-rate debt that has been swapped to an effectively fixed rate through the use of interest rate swaps, to replace the short-term bank borrowings. The Company’s interest rate swaps are discussed in Note 14 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
The table below presents the principal payments due and weighted average interest rates, which include the impact of interest rate swaps, for both the fixed-rate and variable-rate debt as of March 31, 2024.
April – December 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | Thereafter | Total | Fair Value | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unsecured bank credit facilities — variable rate (in thousands) | $ | — | — | (1) | — | — | — | — | — | — | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted average interest rate | — | 6.20 | % | (3) | — | — | — | — | 6.20 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unsecured debt — fixed rate (in thousands) | $ | 170,000 | 145,000 | 140,000 | 175,000 | 160,000 | 890,000 | 1,680,000 | 1,572,339 | (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted average interest rate | 3.65 | % | 3.13 | % | 2.56 | % | 2.74 | % | 3.10 | % | 3.66 | % | 3.37 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)The variable-rate unsecured bank credit facilities mature in July 2025 and, as of March 31, 2024, have zero drawn on both the $625,000,000 unsecured bank credit facility and the $50,000,000 unsecured bank credit facility. These balances fluctuate based on Company operations and capital activity, as discussed in Liquidity and Capital Resources.
(2)The fair value of the Company’s variable rate debt is estimated by discounting expected cash flows at current market rates, excluding the effects of debt issuance costs.
(3)Represents the weighted average interest rate for the Company’s variable rate unsecured bank credit facilities as of March 31, 2024.
(4)The fair value of the Company’s fixed-rate debt, including variable-rate debt that has been swapped to an effectively fixed rate through the use of interest rate swaps, is estimated by discounting expected cash flows at the rates currently offered to the Company for debt of the same remaining maturities, as advised by the Company’s bankers, excluding the effects of debt issuance costs.
As the table above incorporates only those exposures that existed as of March 31, 2024, it does not consider those exposures or positions that could arise after that date. Assuming there was a $100,000,000 balance on the unsecured bank credit facilities, and if interest rates change by 10% or approximately 62 basis points, interest expense and cash flows would increase or decrease by approximately $620,000 annually. This does not include variable-rate debt that has been effectively fixed through the use of interest rate swaps.
Most of the Company’s leases include scheduled rent increases. Additionally, most of the Company’s leases require the tenants to pay their pro rata share of operating expenses, including real estate taxes, insurance and common area maintenance, thereby reducing the Company’s exposure to increases in operating expenses resulting from inflation or other factors. In the event inflation causes increases in the Company’s general and administrative expenses or the level of interest rates, such increased costs would not be passed through to tenants and could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations.
EastGroup’s financial results are affected by general economic conditions in the markets in which the Company’s properties are located. The state of the economy or other adverse changes in general or local economic conditions could result in the inability of some of the Company’s existing tenants to make lease payments and may therefore increase the reserves for uncollectible rent. It may also impact the Company’s ability to (i) renew leases or re-lease space as leases expire, or (ii) lease development space. In addition, an economic downturn or recession could also lead to an increase in overall vacancy rates or a decline in rents the Company can charge to re-lease properties upon expiration of current leases. In all of these cases, EastGroup’s cash flows would be adversely affected.
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ITEM 4.CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
(i) Disclosure Controls and Procedures.
The Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of March 31, 2024, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to the Company (including its consolidated subsidiaries) required to be included in the Company’s periodic SEC filings.
(ii) Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.
There was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the Company’s first fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2024, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION.
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
The Company is not presently involved in any material litigation nor, to its knowledge, is any material litigation threatened against the Company or its properties, other than routine litigation arising in the ordinary course of business or which is expected to be covered by the Company’s liability insurance. The Company cannot predict the outcome of any litigation with certainty, and some lawsuits, claims or proceedings may be disposed of unfavorably to the Company, which could materially affect its financial condition or results of operations.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.
There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in EastGroup’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, except to the extent factual information disclosed elsewhere in this Form 10-Q relates to such risk factors. For a full description of these risk factors, please refer to “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
| Period | Total Number of Shares Purchased | Average Price Paid Per Share | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs | Maximum Number of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs | ||||||||||||||||||||||
January 1, 2024 through January 31, 2024 (1) | 16,253 | $ | 183.54 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
February 1, 2024 through February 29, 2024 (1) | 17,162 | 183.47 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
March 1, 2024 through March 31, 2024 (1) | 34 | 180.21 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 33,449 | $ | 183.50 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) As permitted under the Company’s equity compensation plan, these shares were withheld by the Company to satisfy the tax withholding obligations in connection with the issuance of shares of common stock or the vesting of shares of restricted stock.
ITEM 3.DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.
None.
ITEM 4.MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.
Not applicable.
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ITEM 5.OTHER INFORMATION.
During the three months ended March 31, 2024, none of the Company’s directors or officers (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) of the Exchange Act) adopted, terminated or modified a Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement or non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement (as such terms are defined in Item 408 of Regulation S-K).
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ITEM 6.EXHIBITS.
The following exhibits are included in or incorporated by reference into, this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2024: | ||||||||
| Exhibit Number | Description | ||||
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications (pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) of Marshall A. Loeb, Chief Executive Officer (filed herewith). | |||||
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications (pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) of Brent W. Wood, Chief Financial Officer (filed herewith). | |||||
Section 1350 Certifications (pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) of Marshall A. Loeb, Chief Executive Officer (furnished herewith). | |||||
Section 1350 Certifications (pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) of Brent W. Wood, Chief Financial Officer (furnished herewith). | |||||
| 101.1.SCH | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document (filed herewith). | ||||
| 101.2.CAL | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document (filed herewith). | ||||
| 101.3.DEF | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document (filed herewith). | ||||
| 101.4.LAB | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document (filed herewith). | ||||
| 101.5.PRE | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document (filed herewith). | ||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL with applicable taxonomy extension information contained in Exhibits 101.*) (filed herewith). | ||||
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date: April 24, 2024
| EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. | |||||
| /s/ STACI H. TYLER | |||||
| Staci H. Tyler | |||||
Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer, Chief Administrative Officer and Secretary | |||||
| /s/ BRENT W. WOOD | |||||
| Brent W. Wood | |||||
| Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | |||||
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