Board of Trustees Authorizes $50 Million Share Repurchase Program Company Announces Transition to Quarterly Dividend Payments HOUSTON, Dec. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Whitestone REIT (NYSE: WSR) (“Whitestone” or the “Company”) today announced that its Board of Trustees has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.1425 per share on the Company's common shares and operating partnership units for the first quarter of 2026. The new dividend represents a 5.6% increase over the previous quarterly dividend amoun ...

To ensure this doesn’t happen in the future, please enable Javascript and cookies in your browser.If you have an ad-blocker enabled you may be blocked from proceeding. Please disable your ad-blocker and refresh. ...

Core Insights - Whitestone REIT received $33.4 million from Pillarstone Capital REIT Operating Partnership following a bankruptcy court-approved settlement agreement [1] - The settlement directs the Partnership to distribute remaining funds after specific payments, enhancing Whitestone's financial position [2] - Whitestone expects to receive an additional $4.0 million in cash and excess reserves in 2026, alongside a prior payment of $13.6 million [3] - The company aims for consistent long-term growth of 5-7% annual Core FFO per share, with the recent settlement strengthening its balance sheet [4] - Whitestone has acquired two properties and disposed of one, indicating a strategic focus on growth and value creation [5] Company Overview - Whitestone REIT is a community-centered real estate investment trust that operates open-air retail centers in rapidly growing markets [6] - The company's centers focus on convenience and feature a mix of service-oriented tenants, which are crucial for its success [7]

Group 1 - The real estate investment trust (REIT) sector valuations have significantly decreased, attracting interest from activist investment firms and private equity companies [2] - Leonberg Capital, led by Jussi Askola, specializes in consulting hedge funds, family offices, and private equity firms on REIT investing, showcasing a strong focus on value-oriented strategies [3] - The investment group High Yield Landlord, associated with Jussi Askola, offers real-time insights into REIT portfolios, including buy/sell alerts and direct access to analysts [3]

NEW YORK, Dec. 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- H/Advisors Abernathy, a leading strategic communications advisor, today announced that Amy Feng has rejoined the firm as Managing Director. Ms. Feng, who brings more than 25 years of experience in financial and strategic communications, started her career on Wall Street as a sell-side analyst, transitioning to senior corporate advisory and in-house investor relations roles. In those capacities, she advised senior leaders and Boards on critical communications matte ...

Achievement a direct result of Company’s strategic plan to remerchandise the asset to better serve the community’s interests Salon Suites, Milkshake Factory and Spooner Physical Therapy among the 9 retailers who have opened over the past 36 months HOUSTON, Nov. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Whitestone REIT (NYSE: WSR), a neighborhood-focused owner and operator of open-air shopping centers in Texas and Arizona, today announced it has reached 99 percent occupancy at The Promenade at Fulton Ranch in Chandler, ...

Group 1 - The company has received over 500 five-star reviews from members who are benefiting from its investment strategies [1] - The company invests significant resources, over $100,000 annually, into researching profitable real estate investment opportunities [1] - The latest investment picks have been released, offering immediate access to opportunities and a promotional discount of $100 for new members [2] Group 2 - The company is associated with Jussi Askola, President of Leonberg Capital, who has expertise in REIT investing and has authored award-winning academic papers [2] - The investment group led by Jussi Askola includes features such as three portfolios (core, retirement, international), buy/sell alerts, and a chat room for direct interaction with analysts [2]

Core Insights - Whitestone REIT has acquired the World Cup Plaza in Frisco, Texas, strategically located near the 21,000-seat Toyota Stadium, which will serve as a base camp for the 2026 FIFA World Cup [1][5][6] - The acquisition aligns with Whitestone's strategy of investing in well-located neighborhood shopping centers in rapidly growing markets, enhancing its presence in the affluent Dallas submarket [1][5][6] Property Details - World Cup Plaza spans 90,391 square feet and is located at a high-traffic intersection with approximately 135,000 vehicles per day [2] - The center is in proximity to Frisco Square, a mixed-use development with 1.5 million square feet of office space and 1,400 apartments, and is supported by local high schools that drive consistent traffic [2] Financial and Market Position - The center serves over 293,951 people within a 5-mile radius, with an average household income of $149,335, indicating a strong consumer base [5] - Whitestone expects to leverage its leasing relationships and market knowledge to drive rent growth and enhance customer experience [5] Strategic Importance - The acquisition is expected to increase traffic significantly in 2026 due to the World Cup, providing a unique opportunity to enhance portfolio value and cash flow durability [6] - Whitestone also owns four other shopping centers in the vicinity, further solidifying its market presence [6]

Core Viewpoint - Shopping center REITs are positioned to exploit a partial arbitrage opportunity between private and public real estate markets, which can enhance earnings and shareholder value [1][5]. Group 1: Arbitrage Mechanics - Arbitrage occurs when the same asset trades at different prices across markets, leading to profit opportunities [2]. - Current real estate markets exhibit a partial arbitrage, with private real estate values being 10%-40% higher than public market prices [3]. - The valuation gap between private and public markets has persisted for about two years, allowing REITs to capitalize on this discrepancy [5]. Group 2: REIT Strategies - REITs can buy back their stock and sell properties at higher private market prices, effectively closing the valuation gap [6][11]. - The implied cap rate of a REIT can be calculated by dividing its forward net operating income (NOI) by its enterprise value, which can then be compared to market cap rates for similar properties [7]. - For example, if a shopping center REIT has an implied cap rate of 8% while similar properties sell at 6%, the REIT can sell assets and use the proceeds to buy back stock, resulting in increased NOI per share [8][10]. Group 3: Case Studies - Kite Realty (KRG) plans to sell $500 million in assets to repurchase shares, highlighting the strategy of redeploying capital for shareholder value [11]. - Brixmor (BRX) is also considering buybacks as its share price remains below NAV, with a recent 7% increase in its annual dividend [23]. - CTO Realty Growth (CTO) has already begun executing buybacks, having repurchased $9.3 million in common stock in 3Q25 [24]. Group 4: Market Conditions - The shopping center sector is experiencing a significant disconnect between positive fundamentals and negative stock pricing, leading to mispricing opportunities [30][31]. - Many shopping center REITs are trading at implied cap rates of 7.5%-9%, while high-quality assets could be valued closer to 6% cap rates [32].

Core Viewpoint - Whitestone REIT has received an unsolicited proposal from MCB Real Estate to acquire all outstanding shares for $15.20 per share, with MCB owning 9.2% of the company's stock [1][2]. Company Overview - Whitestone REIT is a neighborhood-focused real estate investment trust (REIT) that operates open-air shopping centers in Texas and Arizona, particularly in rapidly growing markets such as Phoenix, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio [3]. - The company emphasizes community-centered retail centers that feature a mix of service-oriented tenants, including food, self-care, services, education, and entertainment [4]. Proposal Evaluation - The Board of Trustees will evaluate the acquisition proposal in consultation with financial and legal advisors to determine its alignment with the best interests of all shareholders [2]. - Shareholders are not required to take any action regarding the proposal at this time [2].