Equity Residential(US:EQR) ZACKS·2026-02-03 16:05Core Viewpoint - Equity Residential (EQR) is expected to report growth in revenues and funds from operations (FFO) per share for the fourth quarter and full year of 2025, despite a softening apartment market [1][7]. Company Performance - In the last reported quarter, Equity Residential achieved an in-line performance for normalized FFO per share, with increases in same-store revenues and physical occupancy year-over-year [2]. - Over the past four quarters, Equity Residential surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate once and met expectations three times, with an average positive surprise of 0.54% [2]. Market Conditions - The US apartment market experienced a softening in fundamentals during Q4 2025, with net move-outs of approximately 40,400 units, marking the first seasonal pullback in three years [3]. - A total of about 409,500 units were delivered in 2025, contributing to elevated competition and a decline in occupancy to 94.8% [4]. - Effective asking rents decreased by 1.7% quarter-over-quarter and 0.6% year-over-year, with over 23% of units offering incentives averaging 7% [4]. Projections for Equity Residential - For Q4 2025, same-store revenues are projected to increase by 2.6% year-over-year, with same-store net operating income (NOI) expected to grow by 2.3% [7]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues is $789.34 million, with normalized FFO per share anticipated in the range of $1.02-$1.06, indicating a 4% year-over-year growth [8][9]. - For the full year 2025, normalized FFO per share is expected to be between $3.98-$4.02, with same-store revenue growth projected at 2.5-3.0% [9][10]. Financial Position and Strategy - Equity Residential's strategic portfolio diversification across urban and suburban markets, along with a focus on higher-income renters, is expected to support its performance amid current market pressures [6]. - The company maintains a strong balance sheet and leverages technology and operational efficiency to drive growth [6].