W. P. Carey(US:WPC) ZACKSยท2025-06-13 17:16Core Insights - W.P. Carey (WPC) has announced a 1.1% increase in its quarterly cash dividend, raising it to 90 cents per share from 89 cents, effective July 15, 2025, for shareholders on record as of June 30, 2025, resulting in an annualized yield of 5.7% based on a closing price of $63.36 on June 12 [1][6] Dividend History and Strategy - In December 2023, WPC reduced its dividend from $1.07 to 86 cents as part of a strategic plan to exit office assets and maintain a lower payout ratio, but has since adopted a disciplined capital distribution strategy leading to gradual increases [2] - The company has a strong dividend history, with nearly all base rent stemming from leases with contractual rent increases, which enhances cash flow stability [7] Portfolio and Financial Health - W.P. Carey holds one of the largest portfolios of single-tenant net lease commercial real estate in the U.S. and Europe, with a portfolio occupancy rate of 98.3% as of March 31, 2025, contributing to better risk-adjusted returns [3] - The portfolio is diversified by tenant, industry, property type, and geography, with over 99% of annualized base rent linked to leases with contractual rent increases, including 49.8% tied to the consumer price index, and a same-store rent growth of 2.4% in Q1 2025 [4] - As of March 31, 2025, W.P. Carey had total liquidity of $2.0 billion, including $1.8 billion available under its senior unsecured credit facility and $187.8 million in cash, with a pro rata net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio of 5.8X [5] Market Performance - W.P. Carey shares have gained 16.3% over the past three months, outperforming the industry growth of 4.1%, indicating strong fundamentals and earnings performance [6]