Farmland Investment

Search documents
WisdomTree(WT) - 2025 Q2 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-08-01 17:00
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported revenues of $112.6 million for the quarter, an increase of 4.2% from the first quarter and up approximately 5.2% year-over-year driven by higher average AUM [24] - Year-to-date revenues have grown 8.3% due to higher average AUM and increased other revenues from European listed products, partially offset by lower average fee capture [25] - Adjusted net income for the quarter was $25.9 million or $0.18 per share, excluding $2 million of acquisition-related costs [25] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company generated $6.6 billion of inflows year-to-date through June, with approximately $3 billion into U.S. listed products, $3.3 billion into European products, and over $300 million in digital assets [21][22] - The European Defense Fund, with AUM of approximately $3.5 billion, attracted nearly $2.1 billion of flows in the quarter and over $2.8 billion year-to-date [23] - AUM in digital assets has more than doubled since last quarter, reaching $350 million at June 30 and approximately $500 million today [24] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company’s AUM reached a record high of $126 billion at June 30, with U.S. listed AUM at $85.2 billion and Europe at $40.5 billion, both all-time highs [23] - The farmland investment market is valued at $3.5 trillion, which is highly fragmented and under-institutionalized, presenting a significant growth opportunity [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The acquisition of Cerus Partners is aimed at enhancing the company’s capabilities in farmland investment, which is seen as a stable and underpenetrated asset class [5][7] - The company plans to raise at least $750 million into farmland-focused strategies by 2030, which would more than double current performance fee revenues [6][20] - The company is focused on leveraging its distribution capabilities to scale the farmland investment business and expects to manage $10 billion in farmland assets within ten years [10][70] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the growth potential of farmland investments, highlighting its low correlation with traditional asset classes and its role in risk mitigation and inflation protection [11][12] - The company is optimistic about the integration of Cerus and the potential for significant revenue growth driven by the farmland investment strategy [15][70] - Management noted that the stablecoin market is projected to grow significantly, and the company is well-positioned to benefit from this trend [34][80] Other Important Information - The acquisition consideration includes $275 million upfront in cash and an earn-out of up to $225 million contingent on achieving a five-year revenue CAGR of 12% to 22% [17] - The company is monitoring foreign exchange headwinds that could impact expense guidance, but overall impacts are expected to be immaterial [26] Q&A Session Summary Question: Inquiry about Cerus' fund structure and fundraising plans - Management clarified that Cerus operates a combination of evergreen funds and has a strong distribution team to help raise capital [42][44] Question: Durability of performance fees from Cerus - Management explained that performance fees are driven by rental income and market appreciation of farmland, with historical stability in the asset class [45][50] Question: Competitive landscape in farmland investment - Management acknowledged minimal competition from major asset managers and highlighted the opportunity to scale in a fragmented market [56] Question: Digital asset strategy and growth expectations - Management expressed excitement about the growth potential in digital assets, particularly in stablecoins and tokenized funds, and emphasized the importance of regulatory compliance [87][90] Question: Distribution strategy for farmland investments - Management indicated that the RIA channel is expected to be a primary focus for distributing farmland investments, leveraging existing client relationships [84][85] Question: Regulatory changes needed for Cerus' assets - Management confirmed that no regulatory changes are necessary to distribute Cerus' assets [95] Question: Mark-to-market process for farmland assets - Management detailed that Cerus marks their farms annually using a structured appraisal process [96] Question: Inclusion of private equity investments in the acquisition - Management clarified that while some private equity investments will remain with the former sellers, the water strategy will be retained [100]
X @The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal· 2025-07-31 20:48
Investment & Acquisition - WisdomTree agreed to acquire Ceres Partners, a farmland-investment specialist [1] - The acquisition signifies WisdomTree's push into private markets [1]
Farmland Partners(FPI) - 2025 Q2 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-07-24 16:00
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q2 2025, net income was $7.8 million or $0.15 per share, an increase from the same period in 2024, primarily due to gains on the sale of 32 properties and lower general and administrative costs [21][22] - Adjusted Funds from Operations (AFFO) was $1.3 million or $0.03 per share, higher than the same period in 2024, positively impacted by lower interest expenses and increased interest income [22][23] - Year-to-date net income was $9.9 million or $0.18 per share, also higher than the prior year, driven by 34 property dispositions and significant debt reductions [22][23] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The gain on asset dispositions was higher due to the sale of 34 properties in 2025, resulting in a net gain of $25 million compared to a loss in 2024 [23] - Fixed farm rent decreased due to property dispositions, while solar, wind, and recreation revenues increased due to a solar revenue-sharing arrangement [25][26] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Land values in the Midwest remained strong, contributing to gains from asset sales [5] - California faced challenges, leading to write-downs on several farms due to water issues and regulatory concerns [6][20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on long-term investments and is cautious about acquisitions, preferring to buy back stock and reduce debt [30][31] - The strategy includes exiting markets with long-term concerns, such as Colorado, while concentrating on stable regions like the Midwest [5][31] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in farmland as a reliable long-term investment despite short-term challenges in specific regions [19][20] - The company anticipates continued demand for farmland as an asset class, supported by high-net-worth individuals investing in this sector [18][19] Other Important Information - The company recorded impairments totaling $16.8 million on two farms in California, primarily due to regulatory water access issues [20][21] - The company has undrawn capacity on lines of credit of approximately $160 million as of June 30, 2025, with no debt subject to interest rate resets [24] Q&A Session Summary Question: How much more can the company sell in 2025 given the multiyear disposition program? - The company has four more transactions planned and is relying on the safe harbor based on seven transactions rather than the dollar amount [28] Question: Will the company need to pay a special dividend at the end of the year? - It is difficult to predict as it depends on the dynamics between GAAP accounting and tax accounting [29] Question: How is the company thinking about acquisitions versus repaying debt and buying back stock? - The company is disciplined in its acquisition strategy and is currently more focused on stock buybacks [30][31] Question: What is driving the increase in legal and accounting guidance? - An ongoing tenant dispute in Louisiana is driving the increase in legal and accounting expenses [33][34] Question: What are the thoughts on the preferred units eligible for conversion? - The company is unlikely to convert preferred units into shares and plans to pay them off with cash from asset sales or borrowings [35] Question: What is the outlook on variable payments and crop sales? - Variable payments increased due to improved crop yield expectations, while crop sales were adjusted based on crop type performance [37][56] Question: Are there any other farms at risk of water access issues? - Currently, there are no immediate needs for further write-downs, but the regulatory environment remains a concern [62] Question: How is the company utilizing its cash balance? - The company is optimizing its cash balance for stock repurchases and debt repayment while currently earning a positive spread on cash [67][68]
Gladstone Land(LAND) - 2025 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-05-13 13:32
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For the first quarter, the company reported net income of approximately $15.1 million and net income to common shareholders of $9.1 million, or $0.25 per share [26] - Adjusted FFO was about $2 million or $0.06 per share, compared to $5.1 million or $0.14 per share in the same quarter last year, indicating a year-over-year decrease [26][27] - Dividends declared per common share remained at $0.14 for both quarters [26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Fixed base cash rents decreased by about $5.7 million compared to the prior year quarter due to vacancies and structural changes in leases [27] - The company expects a total year-over-year decline of about $17 million in fixed base rents for fiscal year 2025 compared to 2024, primarily due to lease adjustments [29] - Participation rents recorded during the current quarter amounted to approximately $465,000, primarily from cash collected on wine grape sales [28] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has about 103,000 acres of farmland across 15 states, with 29 different growing regions, and holds approximately 55,000 acre-feet of water assets [7][8] - The nut sector is vulnerable to tariffs, with 78% of U.S. grown almonds and pistachios exported annually, and the company is monitoring the impact of tariffs on pricing [21][22] - The weakening of the U.S. dollar may help mitigate some negative impacts from tariffs, as it could stabilize prices for U.S. nuts [24] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is cautious with new investments due to high interest rates and costs of capital, leading to a slow acquisition activity [9][35] - The current strategy includes adjusting lease structures to minimize fixed costs for tenants while allowing the company to participate in crop revenues [11][12] - The company plans to maintain liquidity and evaluate its dividend based on the 2025 harvest outcomes [33][57] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed concerns about high interest rates affecting farming operations and the ability to borrow for planting and harvesting crops [35][80] - The company anticipates inflation in the food sector to continue increasing, which may positively impact the value of underlying farmland over time [38] - Management remains optimistic about the potential for strong crop production in the upcoming year, particularly for almonds and pistachios [14][37] Other Important Information - The company has access to over $180 million of capital, including about $40 million in cash, and nearly $150 million of unpledged properties [31] - The company is currently evaluating options for vacant farms and considering potential new crops to plant [51] - The company has no immediate plans for share repurchases, prioritizing liquidity to manage potential future obligations [55][57] Q&A Session Summary Question: Clarification on $17 million lower revenues in '25 versus '24 - Management confirmed that an additional farm was added to the participation rent structure, contributing to the increased revenue loss estimate for '25 [40] Question: Total participation rents expected in 2025 - Management indicated that the expected participation rents would include the $17 million plus additional amounts based on last year's run rate, but some participation rent would be lower due to lease adjustments [41][43] Question: Details on the $2.4 million termination fee - The termination fee was related to three almond farms that are now vacant, and management is exploring options to generate income from these properties [44] Question: Future asset sales and vacant properties - Management stated that they have listed some farms for sale but do not have contracts in place yet, and they are evaluating options for the vacant properties [49][50] Question: Thoughts on repurchasing shares given cash on hand - Management emphasized the importance of maintaining liquidity and being prepared for future obligations rather than repurchasing shares at this time [55][57] Question: Financing for upcoming preferred stock maturity - Management is considering options for financing the preferred stock due in January 2026, including potential asset sales and refinancing discussions with banks [67][71]