Core Insights - Texas is emerging as a significant cold chain hub in North America, with substantial investments in temperature-controlled infrastructure from cold-storage developers, produce importers, third-party logistics (3PLs), and tech-forward warehouse operators [1][5] Group 1: Trade and Economic Context - Mexico remains the top trading partner with the U.S., with trade valued at $226.4 billion for the year, slightly surpassing Canada [1] - The cold chain industry is noticing Texas's rapid developments, positioning it as a new competitor alongside established states like New Jersey and California [2] Group 2: Geographic Advantages - Texas benefits from strategic location along major freight routes, including north-south interstates to the Midwest and east-west lanes to the coasts, as well as two busy air cargo gateways in Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston [3] - Proximity to Mexico enhances Texas's role as a key entry point for perishable goods, with cities like Laredo, Pharr, and McAllen evolving into advanced cold-chain ecosystems [4] Group 3: Infrastructure and Technology - New cold storage facilities in Texas are equipped with advanced automation, sensor networks, and real-time monitoring systems, enhancing operational efficiency [6] - RealCold has opened a 14 million cubic foot temperature-controlled warehouse near Austin, emphasizing flexibility in design to meet diverse customer needs [7]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The third-quarter AFFO per share was reported at $0.35, aligning with expectations despite ongoing industry challenges from lower consumer demand and increased supply [17][22] - Same-store economic occupancy decreased to 75.5%, reflecting continued demand pressure, while same-store throughput saw a slight sequential increase due to the annual agricultural harvest [22][23] - Same-store NOI contracted from the prior quarter primarily due to seasonal increases in power costs, although rent and storage revenue per economic pallet increased both sequentially and year-over-year [22][23] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Approximately 30% of capacity and revenue comes from production-attached facilities, which are viewed as valuable assets for future expansion [10] - Four distribution centers account for about 50% of capacity and 40% of revenue, facing pricing competition due to excess capacity [12] - Retail distribution centers represent about 10% of capacity and 20% of revenues, with growth expected as the company expands capabilities overseas [14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Asia-Pacific region's total warehouse NOI increased by approximately 16% year-to-date, with economic occupancy well over 90% [18] - The macro environment remains challenging, with customer commentary indicating constrained demand, particularly among lower-income consumers [19] - The company anticipates that excess capacity will take a couple of years to be fully absorbed, with pricing gains expected to moderate in the fourth quarter [26][54] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to grow market share in the fast-turning retail sector and expand its quick service restaurant business into new geographies [6] - A focus on maintaining fixed-commitment contracts is emphasized, as they provide stable cash flows and long-term customer relationships [8][23] - The company is actively managing its real estate portfolio, exiting low-occupancy facilities while evaluating triple-net lease arrangements to drive occupancy levels [20][24] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management believes that current headwinds are largely transitory, with expectations for pricing and occupancy pressures in 2026 [19][25] - The company is confident in the long-term trajectory of the cold storage industry, citing unique value propositions and mission-critical infrastructure [21][27] - Management is focused on identifying new sales opportunities and expanding into potential new sectors, including both food and non-food categories [20][54] Other Important Information - The company has a development pipeline of approximately $1 billion in attractive opportunities, balancing capital allocation with maintaining dividends and an investment-grade profile [24][62] - The company is trading at a significant discount to intrinsic value, with a historically high cap rate of around 10% [29][30] Q&A Session Summary Question: How should we think about throughput over the next 12 months? - Management indicated that throughput is expected to remain challenged due to lower demand, particularly from lower and middle-income consumers, with muted seasonal demand anticipated [32][33] Question: What are you doing to control costs in the business? - Management highlighted effective cost control measures, including matching direct labor to throughput, which has helped maintain handling margins above 12% [35][37] Question: Should we expect more fixed commitment contracts to be up for renewal in the beginning of the year? - Management clarified that contract renewals are spread throughout the year based on when they are signed, rather than being concentrated in specific quarters [41] Question: What happens to low-occupancy facilities from a P&L perspective? - Management explained that costs associated with low-occupancy facilities are generally minimal and may be capitalized once removed from active status, with customers often moved to owned infrastructure [44] Question: How do you see the new competition in the industry? - Management noted that many new market entrants are struggling with unsustainable business models, which could lead to accelerated exits from the market [50][52]

Company Overview - Americold is a global leader in the cold storage industry, operating an integrated network of strategically located warehouses[6, 79] - The company possesses significant scale with a global footprint, including 1,232 million cubic feet of capacity in North America and 114 million cubic feet in Europe[10] - Americold has approximately 13,000 associates and serves around 3,000 customers[10] Financial Performance - The company's LTM PF Core EBITDA is $615 million[12] - Adjusted FFO has grown by 34%, from $299 million in 2021 to $406 million in LTM Q3 2025[14] - Total Segment Contribution NOI has grown by 40%, from $630 million in 2021 to $834 million in LTM Q3 2025[14] Strategic Initiatives - Americold focuses on designing solutions that fit customer needs, supported by an in-house design engineering team[21] - The company leverages strategic partnerships with CPKC and DP World to enhance its service offerings and expand its network[45] - Americold is implementing Project Orion to standardize processes, reduce manual work, and improve analytics[50] Market Position and Growth - Americold holds 18% of the North American cold storage market and 6% of the global market[56] - The company is transitioning from on-demand contracts to fixed storage committed contracts, which now account for 60% of total warehouse rent and storage revenues[63] - Americold is committed to sustainability initiatives, including reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 9.48% from 2021, with a goal of 30% in 2030[75]