2026 is here, and in my view, it will be a volatile year in the stock market. This is not a year for passive investment but for active portfolio management. I continue to hold onto the macro view that stocks will end the yearWith combined experience of covering technology companies on Wall Street and working in Silicon Valley, and serving as an outside adviser to several seed-round startups, Gary Alexander has exposure to many of the themes shaping the industry today. He has been a regular contributor on Se ...

Core Viewpoint - The stock markets are expected to remain volatile as 2026 approaches, necessitating active portfolio management strategies for the upcoming year [1]. Group 1: Market Outlook - There is skepticism regarding large-cap technology and growth stocks following a significant increase in their valuations this year [1]. Group 2: Analyst Background - The analyst, Gary Alexander, has extensive experience in covering technology companies on Wall Street and has worked in Silicon Valley, providing insights into current industry trends [1]. - He has been contributing to Seeking Alpha since 2017 and has been featured in various web publications, with his articles reaching audiences through popular trading apps like Robinhood [1].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Annualized base rent (ABR) decreased to $61.3 million as of September 30, compared to $63.2 million at June 30, primarily due to being a net seller of assets during the quarter [15] - Total cash rental income totaled $15.4 million, down from $15.7 million in the previous quarter [16] - Net debt to adjusted EBITDAre reduced to 5.3 times, the lowest leverage since the IPO, with a loan-to-value (LTV) of 33% based on bank covenants [17] - Cash interest expense declined by $100,000 sequentially to $4.2 million [16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company acquired three properties for approximately $15.8 million at an average cap rate of 7.5% during the third quarter [7] - Disposed of 15 properties for $32.9 million, with an average cash cap rate of approximately 6.78% [9] - The current portfolio occupancy improved to over 98%, with only six vacant assets [10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The acquisition market remains open, with competitive advantages allowing the company to capitalize on buy-side opportunities [8] - The company has eliminated exposure to several casual dining concepts, focusing on optimizing the portfolio [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to build a best-in-class net lease REIT that can grow faster and maximize shareholder returns [14] - A $75 million convertible preferred equity investment was announced to fund net acquisitions in 2026, with favorable terms compared to comparable instruments [12][18] - The strategy includes focusing on necessity-driven retail and service tenancies, which are less sensitive to economic cycles [5] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the recovery of the Tricolor property and the overall portfolio's strength, expecting minimal downtime [11] - The company raised its AFFO per share guidance for the year, reflecting disciplined capital allocation and active portfolio management [12] - The anticipated AFFO per share for 2026 is projected to be in the range of $1.26-$1.30, representing a 3.2% year-over-year growth [22] Other Important Information - The company has enhanced disclosures in its investor presentation to provide deeper insights into asset quality and productivity [15] - The company is now shelf-eligible and plans to file an S3 registration statement shortly [18] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide more details on the 2026 guidance and lease expirations? - Management indicated that the guidance reflects a solid baseline and expects favorable outcomes from lease expirations, with a historical recovery rate of 105% on renewals [24][25] Question: What is the current deal pipeline and cap rate trends? - The market remains fluid, with expected cap rates for Q4 similar to Q3, around 7.5% [26][28] Question: Can you elaborate on the preferred equity investment and its relationship with Maewyn? - The relationship with Maewyn has been longstanding, and the terms were negotiated to ensure accretive capital growth for shareholders [33][34] Question: What are the expectations for bad debt in 2026? - Management believes the 50 basis points estimate for bad debt is conservative, given the optimized portfolio [38] Question: What categories is the company looking to expand in? - The company is focusing on medical, financial, automotive service, and fitness sectors while being cautious with certain restaurants and pharmacy concepts [40] Question: Can you discuss the pipeline regarding WALT and escalators? - The company aims to maintain longer-term weighted average lease terms and embedded rent bumps as critical components of acquisition criteria [44]

Core Insights - Closed-end funds (CEFs) are favored by income investors due to their potential for returns from active portfolio management strategies [1] Group 1: Investment Characteristics - CEFs are publicly traded, providing liquidity and accessibility for investors [1] - They offer opportunities for investors to benefit from defined investment strategies managed by professionals [1] Group 2: Author's Background - The author possesses an honors degree in economics and politics, focusing on economic development, and has 36 years of executive management experience [1] - The author has extensive knowledge in insurance/reinsurance, global and Asia Pacific markets, climate change, and ESG [1]