Phillips Edison Q3 2025 Earnings Transcript

Core Insights - The company remains committed to its unlevered return targets and is confident in achieving its full-year acquisition guidance, having acquired $96 million of assets since June 30 [1][2] - Year-to-date gross acquisitions at the company's share have reached $376 million, with strong leasing activity and occupancy rates [2][4] - The company has the highest ownership percentage of grocery-anchored neighborhood shopping centers among peers, with 70% of annual base rent (ABR) coming from necessity-based goods, providing predictable cash flows [3][4] Financial Performance - The third quarter NAREIT FFO increased to $89.3 million or $0.64 per diluted share, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 6.7% [10] - Core FFO for the third quarter rose to $90.6 million or $0.65 per diluted share, showing a year-over-year growth of 4.8% [10] - The company has approximately $977 million of liquidity to support acquisition plans, with no significant maturities until 2027 [10][11] Acquisition Strategy - The company has been selective in acquisitions during the second half of the year, focusing on tougher underwriting and maintaining a disciplined approach [41][43] - The acquisition pipeline includes 18 assets acquired this year for $376 million, with expectations to close additional deals before year-end [20][21] - The company plans to sell $50 million to $100 million of assets in 2025, with an active pipeline for further dispositions [13][56] Leasing and Occupancy - The company achieved a high tenant retention rate of 94% in the third quarter, with record-high comparable renewal rent spreads of 23.2% [7][8] - Portfolio occupancy remained high at 97.6%, with anchor occupancy at 99.2% [8][9] - Leasing deals executed during the third quarter achieved average annual rent bumps of 2.6%, contributing to long-term growth [8] Development and Redevelopment - The company has 22 projects under active construction, with an estimated total investment of $75.9 million and expected yields between 9-12% [9][30] - The development pipeline is expected to contribute $50 million to $60 million annually over the next three years [30] - The company is actively expanding its development and redevelopment pipeline, including acquiring land for grocery-anchored retail developments [6][30] Market Outlook - The operating environment for grocery-anchored shopping centers remains competitive, with strong demand from retailers [2][4] - The company anticipates continued strong leasing activity and expects inline occupancy to remain high throughout the year [8][34] - Feedback from grocers indicates a resilient customer base, with positive long-term growth expectations despite economic uncertainties [49][50]