RLJ Lodging (RLJ) Q2 FFO Beats by 77%

Core Viewpoint - RLJ Lodging Trust reported strong adjusted FFO results for Q2 2025, significantly exceeding analyst expectations, despite a slight decline in revenue and hotel operating metrics compared to the previous year [1][4]. Financial Performance - Adjusted FFO per diluted share was $0.48, surpassing the estimate of $0.11, but down 5.9% from $0.51 in Q2 2024 [2]. - Revenue for Q2 2025 was $363.1 million, slightly below the expected $365.3 million and down 1.7% from $369.3 million in Q2 2024 [2]. - Net income decreased to $28.6 million, a 23.2% decline from $37.3 million in the same quarter last year [2]. - Adjusted EBITDA was $104.0 million, down 4.6% from $109.0 million in Q2 2024 [2]. Operational Context - Comparable RevPAR fell 2.1% to $155.08, with comparable occupancy dropping to 75.5% and comparable ADR decreasing by 0.5% [2][5]. - Management cited citywide event schedules and property renovations as factors impacting performance, with expectations of continued effects in the next quarter [5]. Strategic Focus - The company targets high-growth urban markets and emphasizes proactive asset management, property improvements, and maintaining a strong balance sheet [3]. - RLJ is focusing on premium-brand conversions, which have shown double-digit RevPAR growth, with 14% growth for initial conversions and 35% for recent ones [6][10]. Capital Management - RLJ has managed its capital structure effectively, refinancing a $200 million term loan to $300 million and eliminating all 2025 debt maturities [7][8]. - The company maintained a corporate liquidity of $974 million, including $374 million in cash [6]. Future Outlook - Management provided cautious guidance for FY2025, expecting comparable RevPAR growth between -1.0% and 1.0%, with adjusted EBITDA projected at $332.5 million to $362.5 million [13]. - The company anticipates stabilization in group bookings and a more favorable event calendar in Q4 [12][14].