Core Insights - UMH Properties, Inc. (UMH) reported strong second-quarter performance driven by rental home conversions, rising occupancy, and increased rental income [1] Group 1: Rental Home Performance - UMH converted 188 homes from inventory to revenue-generating rental units in Q2, bringing the total to 10,600 rental homes with a 94.4% occupancy rate [2][11] - Year-to-date, UMH has transitioned 305 homes into rental units and aims to reach a full-year goal of 800 new rental homes, with over 500 homes in the setup pipeline [3] Group 2: Sales and Revenue - The company achieved $10.3 million in gross home sales revenues for the quarter, a 17% increase from the previous year, setting a new quarterly sales record [4][11] Group 3: Refinancing Activities - UMH refinanced ten communities through its Fannie Mae credit facility, generating $101.4 million in proceeds from properties appraised at $163.5 million, reflecting a 146% appreciation from its $66.6 million investment [5] - The refinancing resulted in approximately $56 million in excess proceeds, which can be reinvested in rental home programs, expansions, and capital upgrades [6] Group 4: Acquisitions - UMH acquired two manufactured home communities in Conowingo, MD, for $14.625 million, adding 191 developed homesites and enhancing operational synergies with existing properties [7][8] - The total year-to-date community purchases amount to four, representing 457 sites for $39.2 million [8] Group 5: Overall Strategy and Market Position - The second-quarter performance underscores the effectiveness of UMH's rental home strategy and disciplined capital deployment, with rising occupancy and record home sales [9] - Shares of UMH have increased by 6.3% over the past year, contrasting with a 1.3% decline in the industry [10]

Industry Overview - The Zacks REIT and Equity Trust - Residential industry includes companies that own, develop, and manage various residential properties, generating revenues by renting spaces to tenants [3] - The demand for student housing is closely tied to enrollment growth at educational institutions, making it a key driver for this market segment [3] Current Market Dynamics - Strong rental demand is supported by a resilient labor market, demographic trends driving household formation, and rising homeownership costs making renting more attractive [1][4] - Residential REITs are leveraging technology to enhance tenant experience and improve operational efficiency [5] - Economic uncertainty and regional oversupply of apartments are creating challenges, potentially dampening consumer confidence and affecting renter affordability [2][6][7] Performance Metrics - The REIT and Equity Trust - Residential industry has underperformed the broader Zacks Finance sector and the S&P 500 over the past year, returning 0.5% compared to the S&P 500's increase of 9.6% [11] - The industry is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-FFO ratio of 16.46, above the Finance sector's forward P/E of 16.11 but below the S&P 500's forward P/E of 21.89 [14] Future Outlook - The industry is positioned in the top 38% of around 250 Zacks industries, indicating robust near-term prospects [8][9] - Analysts are gaining confidence in the growth potential of the industry, as reflected in upward revisions of funds from operations (FFO) per share estimates [10] Investment Opportunities - Veris Residential focuses on Class A multifamily properties in high-demand Northeast markets, with upward revisions in FFO per share estimates suggesting growth potential [19][21] - Elme Communities targets value-oriented multifamily assets in supply-constrained markets, with a projected net operating income upside in 2025 [23][24][25] - NexPoint Residential Trust offers exposure to middle-income multifamily assets in high-growth Sunbelt markets, with upward revisions in FFO per share estimates indicating strong performance [26][27][28]

Core Insights - Veris Residential (VRE) reported revenue of $67.76 million for Q1 2025, a year-over-year increase of 0.6% [1] - The EPS for the same period was $0.16, compared to -$0.06 a year ago, indicating a significant improvement [1] - The reported revenue was slightly below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $68.51 million, resulting in a surprise of -1.09% [1] - The company delivered an EPS surprise of +23.08%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.13 [1] Financial Performance Metrics - Other income was reported at $1.32 million, which is -34.8% year-over-year and below the average estimate of $1.55 million [4] - Management fees were reported at $0.72 million, representing a year-over-year decline of -22.1% and below the average estimate of $0.88 million [4] - Net Earnings Per Share (Diluted) was -$0.12, slightly worse than the estimated -$0.11 [4] Stock Performance - Over the past month, shares of Veris have returned -2.9%, while the Zacks S&P 500 composite experienced a -6.6% change [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), suggesting it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term [3]

Core Viewpoint - Veris Residential, Inc. reported strong operational results in Q1 2025, despite market volatility, with a focus on asset sales and portfolio simplification to unlock value [3][4]. Financial Performance - Net income (loss) per diluted share was $(0.12) in Q1 2025, compared to $(0.04) in Q1 2024 [2]. - Core FFO per diluted share increased to $0.16 from $0.14 year-over-year [2]. - Core AFFO per diluted share decreased slightly to $0.17 from $0.18 [2]. - The dividend per diluted share was $0.08, up from $0.0525 [2]. Operational Highlights - The company achieved a Same Store occupancy rate of 94.0%, up from 93.9% [4]. - Same Store blended rental growth rate for the quarter was 2.4%, compared to 0.5% in the previous quarter, reflecting a 1.9% increase [4]. - Average rent per home decreased slightly to $4,019 from $4,033 [4]. Asset Management - The company has closed or is under contract for $79 million in non-strategic asset sales in 2025 [3]. - Year-to-date, $45 million of non-strategic asset sales have been completed, with an additional $34 million under contract [7][8]. - The acquisition of the remaining interest in the Jersey City property, now named "Sable," was completed for $38.5 million, expected to generate over $1 million in annualized synergies [9][10]. Financial Position - The company maintains a weighted average effective interest rate of 4.96% on its debt, with a maturity of 2.8 years [5][6]. - As of April 21, 2025, liquidity stood at approximately $146 million [6]. - Net debt was reported at $1,643,411, with a TTM Net Debt to EBITDA ratio of 11.4x [6]. Guidance - The company maintains its 2025 guidance for Same Store revenue growth between 2.1% and 2.7%, and Same Store NOI growth between 1.7% and 2.7% [13].

Rebrands 762-Unit, Class A Waterfront Property to Sable JERSEY CITY, N.J., April 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Veris Residential, Inc. ("Veris Residential" or the "Company") (NYSE: VRE), a forward-thinking, Northeast-focused, Class A multifamily REIT, and Urby, a design-forward, hospitality-driven multifamily development brand, today announced that Veris Residential has acquired Ironstate Holdings' ("Ironstate") 15% stake in Jersey City Urby, a 762-unit, Class A multifamily property located on the Jersey City Wa ...