M&A Activity & Market Outlook - M&A activity experienced a slow start in the first half of 2025, but a strong July suggests a potential increase in momentum for the second half of the year [1][2] - Confidence in capital markets is growing, contributing to the elevated M&A activity [4] - The bid-ask gap has narrowed from approximately two points to about a half a point, making deals more affordable and aligning buyer and seller expectations [5] Interest Rates & Economic Factors - A lower cost of capital is desired to sustain deal-making activity, although current rates haven't stopped deals entirely [6] - The market anticipates two interest rate cuts (two turns down) this year, fueling optimism [7][12] - The base case economic backdrop anticipates flat or declining inflation and a slight increase in GDP [12] Sector Focus - Technology is expected to remain a key sector for M&A activity for the next 5 years, driven by the race to acquire sophisticated AI technology [8][9] - Oil and gas, life sciences (due to strong cash reserves and the need to build R&D pipelines), and media and entertainment are also expected to see continued M&A activity [10] Regulatory Environment - Deregulation is considered a potential tailwind for companies seeking to consolidate [3] - The current administration's approach to regulation may be facilitating certain deals with fewer compromises [4]

Mitch, this is something you watch very closely, the M&A activity and and what it means for the overall economy. What has the first seven months of 2025 told you about how much momentum we can see in the back half of the year for M&A. >> Well, the year got off to a a sort of slow start, Dom, but we are seeing a very strong July and hopefully that will lead into the second half of the year with a continued increase.You know, if you look at January through June, it looked like the Swiss Alps. It was up, it wa ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company's adjusted FFO for the quarter was $1.26 per share, an increase from $1.22 in the prior year, representing a growth of 3.3% [18] - AFFO for the quarter was $1.24 per share compared to $1.20 in the prior year, also reflecting a 3.3% increase [18] - Total revenue for the quarter was $178.1 million, up from $173.1 million in the prior year [18] - Rental revenue increased by $5.3 million year-over-year, primarily due to investment spending and higher percentage rents [19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The experiential portfolio comprises 274 properties, accounting for 94% of total investments, which stood at approximately $6.5 billion [8] - The education portfolio consists of 55 properties, all of which were 100% leased at the end of the quarter [8] - The box office in Q2 was $2.7 billion, a 37% increase compared to Q2 2024, driven by strong performing titles [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The North American box office for the first half of the year was $4.1 billion, a 15% increase over 2024 [11] - The company estimates the North American box office for the calendar year 2025 to be between $9.3 billion and $9.7 billion [11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on a disciplined approach to capital allocation and has a robust pipeline of opportunities, including over $100 million committed to experiential development and redevelopment projects [5] - The strategy includes capital recycling to position the portfolio with productive and diversified experiential assets [6] - The company is particularly bullish on the fitness and wellness space, anticipating high-quality opportunities for acquisition and development [16] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism regarding the box office recovery and consumer demand for theatrical exhibitions, with expectations for the Regal master lease to meet percentage rent expectations [7] - Despite macroeconomic pressures, the company believes its differentiated strategy provides resilience and opportunity [7] - Management noted that the cost of capital has improved, allowing for a more aggressive growth posture in pursuing new opportunities [5] Other Important Information - The company sold a vacant former Regal Theater to Costco for net proceeds of $24 million, demonstrating the value of good real estate [17] - Year-to-date, the company has sold approximately $130 million of assets and revised its 2025 disposition guidance to a range of $130 million to $145 million [18] Q&A Session Summary Question: Is there a significant amount of assets for sale at reasonable prices? - Management indicated that there are still robust opportunities in the market, with over half of the pipeline being acquisitions, while being discerning in capital deployment [30][31] Question: How are dispositions planned for the back half of the year? - Management stated that they are close to achieving their targeted disposition range and will continue to look for opportunities to lower theater exposure [34][36] Question: How is the balance sheet strategy being approached? - Management highlighted flexibility in the balance sheet, with plans for a bond transaction to reduce line balance and prepare for upcoming maturities [40][41] Question: What is the demand for core assets? - Management noted that there is increasing interest in the theater space, with more activity and acceptance of it as an asset class [45] Question: How does the company view its exposure to Six Flags? - Management expressed confidence in their relationship with Six Flags, noting that the company is rationalizing its fleet and creating opportunities for accretive transactions [98]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported AFFO per share of $0.44, which is up 2.8% from Q2 last year [20] - Rental income for Q2 was $64.5 million, representing growth of over 11% compared to the same quarter last year [20] - The net debt to adjusted EBITDAre was 4.5 times, which is below the stated guidance of 5.5 to 6 times [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q2, the company acquired 24 properties for $84 million at a blended cap rate of 6.7% [12] - The automotive sector accounted for 68% of total acquisition volume, indicating a strong focus on this area [12] - The company has diversified its portfolio, with 34% of rent now coming from sectors outside casual dining [8] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted that same-store sales for Olive Garden and LongHorn grew nearly 7% for the quarter ended May 2025 [8] - Chili's reported a same-store sales growth of 32% for the quarter ended March 2025, indicating strong performance in the casual dining sector [7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to maintain a defensive portfolio focused on central retail and services, which are seen as tariff resistant [9] - The strategy includes modulating acquisitions based on the cost of capital, allowing the company to protect spreads without compromising portfolio quality [6] - The company is committed to maintaining high-quality standards in acquisitions and has a strong competitive advantage in its ability to fluctuate acquisition volumes [6][7] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the portfolio's resilience, highlighting a strong track record with low bad debt expense and effective releasing results [65] - The company anticipates a pullback in consumer spending due to potential recession or high inflation but believes it is well-positioned with low rents [9] - Management indicated that the current market conditions allow for continued execution of the company's strategy, with significant available capital for acquisitions [65] Other Important Information - The company has raised nearly $505 million in equity over the last twelve months, providing significant capacity for acquisitions [17] - The portfolio occupancy remains strong at 99.4%, with 99.8% of base rent collected for Q2 [22] Q&A Session Summary Question: Inquiry about acquisition team capacity - Management stated that the company is appropriately staffed and has the capacity to do more acquisitions if favorable pricing is available [25][27] Question: Impact of cap rate changes on acquisition opportunities - Management indicated that a 25 basis point decrease in cap rates could significantly increase acquisition opportunities, potentially by $100 million to $200 million [29][30] Question: Darden exposure and acquisition strategy - Management confirmed that while they have diversified Darden exposure, they will not hesitate to acquire Darden-related assets if the pricing is favorable [31][32] Question: Deal flow and competitive landscape - Management noted that deal flow has been consistent, but pricing remains a key factor in determining acquisition activity [48][49] Question: Future of veterinary retail property acquisitions - Management expressed interest in the veterinary retail sector, indicating it is a space they are comfortable exploring further [61]

Summary of W. P. Carey (WPC) 2025 Conference Call Company Overview - W. P. Carey is the second largest net lease REIT, ranking in the top 25 of all REITs by market cap with a current market cap of approximately $14 billion and an enterprise value of about $22 billion [4][5] - The company has been investing in net lease properties for over 50 years and has a diversified portfolio primarily in single-tenant net lease properties, including industrial, warehouse, and retail properties [4][5] - Approximately two-thirds of the portfolio is in North America, with the majority in the U.S., and one-third in Europe, focusing on developed countries in Northern and Western Europe [6][7] Financial Performance and Growth Drivers - W. P. Carey aims for growth through two main drivers: same-store bumps and external spread investing [7] - The company has an investment-grade balance sheet rated BBB+ by Moody's and A- by S&P, with well-laddered debt maturities and no need to access capital markets in 2025 [8] - The company plans to sell a non-core portfolio of assets, primarily operating self-storage, to fund its investment program [8][9] Investment Activity and Market Conditions - The investment market is currently strong, with expectations of continued activity despite potential tariff impacts [11][12] - Year-to-date, W. P. Carey has completed $450 million in deals and anticipates a total deal volume visibility of $570 million, trending towards the higher end of its initial guidance of $1 billion to $1.5 billion for the year [16][17] - The average cap rate for new deals is expected to be in the mid-7% range, consistent with previous years [13][14] Returns and Yield Expectations - The company targets initial cash yields in the mid-7% range, with average yields over the life of leases projected to be in the 9% range due to contractual increases and CPI-based escalators [20][21] - The GAAP cap rate is noted to be above 9%, contributing to internal growth [22] Capital Structure and Cost of Debt - W. P. Carey has a weighted average cost of debt around 3%, benefiting from lower euro bond rates compared to U.S. debt [25] - The company has a construction loan yielding 6% and a significant stake in Lineage, valued at approximately $250 million, providing additional capital sources [57][58] Tenant and Portfolio Management - The company has expanded its disclosure of tenant quality, now reporting on the top 25 tenants [66] - Recent tenant issues include a bankruptcy case with Hearth, which continued to pay rent during bankruptcy, and a restructuring with True Value, which has maintained 100% rent payments [67][68][70] - W. P. Carey is actively managing exposure to Helveg, a struggling retailer in Germany, with plans to reduce exposure and retenant properties [73][74] Future Outlook - The company expects to generate at least $100 million in proceeds from the sale of non-core assets, with a disposition guidance range of $500 million to $1 billion [52][59] - W. P. Carey is focused on maintaining long lease terms, typically between 15 to 25 years, providing visibility into cash flows and downside protection [48][49] Conclusion - W. P. Carey is well-positioned for growth in 2025, with a strong investment pipeline, diversified portfolio, and effective management of tenant relationships and capital sources, despite facing some challenges in specific tenant situations [62][64]

Financial Performance - Edison International's Q1 2025 GAAP EPS was $3.73[6], while Core EPS was $1.37[6] - The company reaffirmed its 2025 Core EPS guidance of $5.94–6.34[6] - Edison International anticipates a 5–7% Core EPS Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) from 2025 to 2028, projecting EPS of $6.74–7.14 in 2028[5] Regulatory and Capital Investments - The company has a capital program of $38–43 billion for 2023–2028, supporting a projected rate base growth of approximately 6–8%[25] - SCE filed for a 2026 Cost of Capital, requesting an ROE of 11.75% compared to the 2025 authorized ROE of 10.33%[11] - SCE's 2025 General Rate Case (GRC) requests annual revenue requirement increases of approximately $1.9 billion in 2025, $670 million in 2026, $750 million in 2027, and $730 million in 2028[12] Wildfire and Legal Matters - The TKM settlement was approved, leading to a one-time Core EPS impact of approximately $0.30 and an annual interest expense reduction of $0.14[31] - SCE is pursuing cost recovery for the Woolsey fire, with a request of approximately $5.4 billion[28] - Approximately $1.6 billion will be recovered through securitization of AB 1054 capital expenditures[34]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported net income of $1.7 million or $0.02 per diluted share for Q1 2025, with core FFO of $24.6 million or $0.30 per diluted share, and AFFO of $26.2 million or $0.32 per diluted share, representing a 3.2% increase year-over-year [15] - Total recurring G&A expenses increased by 5% year-over-year to $5.1 million, but represented 11% of total revenues compared to 13% in the prior year [15] - Adjusted net debt was $724 million with a weighted average interest rate of 4.57% and a weighted average debt maturity of 4.1 years [16][17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company completed $90.7 million of gross investments at a blended cash yield of 7.7%, with a weighted average lease term of 9.2 years [7][8] - The top five tenant concentration declined by 70 basis points to 28.2% of ABR, with Dollar General's share reducing by 50 basis points to 8.1% [9] - 71% of total ABR is leased to investment grade or investment grade profile tenants, with just 1.3% of ABR expiring through 2026 [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company ended the quarter with investments in 695 properties leased to 101 tenants across 26 industries in 45 states [8] - The company is seeing strong demand for properties, particularly in necessity, discount, and service-oriented industries, which drive 88% of ABR [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to reduce tenant concentrations and diversify its portfolio, with a goal to have all tenants below 5% by December 31 [21] - The company is focused on maintaining a low leverage balance sheet and is prepared to accelerate investment activity if cost of equity improves [7][13] - The company continues to avoid specialized real estate and sectors more susceptible to distress during economic downturns [10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving diversification goals and noted that the portfolio is resilient enough to weather economic challenges [10][12] - The company has maintained zero credit losses during COVID and continues to perform well despite negative headlines in the retail sector [11] - Management is optimistic about the operations of Family Dollar and Walgreens under new leadership, expecting them to operate with low leverage [12] Other Important Information - The Board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.21 per share, payable on June 16, with an AFFO payout ratio of 66% for Q1 [18] - The company is increasing the low end of its AFFO per share guidance to a range of $1.28 to $1.30, assuming net investment activity of $75 million to $125 million [17] Q&A Session Summary Question: Update on appetite for pharmacy and dollar stores - Management expects to reduce exposures to Dollar General, CVS, and Walgreens below target levels by year-end, with strong interest from institutional buyers [21] Question: Expectations for ratings upgrade - Preliminary discussions for a ratings upgrade are planned for the latter half of the year, with potential savings of at least 30 basis points on debt [23][26] Question: Clarification on net investment activity - Management indicated that they would not increase acquisitions unless equity prices improve, but they are actively engaged in capital recycling [29][30] Question: Update on Big Lots asset in Maryland - There is significant interest from retailers, and management is negotiating attractive LOIs while waiting for market dynamics to play out [37] Question: Impact of Walgreens take-private on risk profile - Management believes the focus on retail operations will be beneficial and does not expect significant risk to their assets [40] Question: Expectations for portfolio changes and cap rates - Dispositions are expected to occur at mid to high 6% cap rates, while acquisitions may continue at yields above 7.5% [48] Question: New store opening appetite and tariffs - Tenants are still in growth mode, but uncertainty from tariffs may slow decision-making [80][111] Question: Changes in credit underwriting criteria - No significant changes in underwriting criteria, but the focus remains on cash flow generation and location quality [100][102]

Core Viewpoint - California Water Service Group reported strong operational and financial performance for 2024, highlighting significant revenue growth and capital investments aimed at enhancing water supply sustainability [3][6]. Financial Results - Q4 2024 operating revenue reached $222.2 million, up from $214.5 million in Q4 2023, marking an increase of $7.7 million [7]. - Full year 2024 operating revenue was $1.037 billion, compared to $794.6 million in 2023, reflecting a $242.4 million increase [6][26]. - Diluted earnings per share for 2024 were $3.25, a significant rise from $0.91 in 2023 [6][26]. - Net income attributable to the Group for Q4 2024 was $19.7 million, down from $30.1 million in Q4 2023 [7]. - Full year net income attributable to the Group was $190.8 million, compared to $51.9 million in 2023 [6][26]. Capital Investment - The company achieved a record capital investment of $471.0 million in water system infrastructure for 2024, a 23% increase from the previous year [6][10]. - The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) authorized Cal Water to issue up to $1.3 billion in new debt and equity securities [9]. Regulatory Activity - The 2024 General Rate Case (GRC) was filed, proposing over $1.6 billion in investments from 2025-2027 to enhance water supply reliability and sustainability [11][13]. - Proposed rate adjustments include an increase of $140.6 million (17.1%) in 2026, $74.2 million (7.7%) in 2027, and $83.6 million (8.1%) in 2028 [11]. Emergency Response and Preparedness - The company maintained emergency response leadership throughout 2024, conducting training and drills to prepare for potential emergencies [17]. - Investments of nearly $55 million over the past five years have been made to mitigate wildfire risks through infrastructure upgrades and strategic management [19].