Public - Private Valuation Disconnect

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Safehold (SAFE) - 2025 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-05-07 14:02
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q1 2025, GAAP revenue was $97.7 million, net income was $29.4 million, and earnings per share (EPS) was $0.41, with a year-over-year decline in GAAP earnings primarily due to a nonrecurring loss of $1.9 million on a preferred equity investment [11][12] - The total portfolio at quarter end was $6.8 billion, with estimated unrealized capital appreciation (UCA) at $8.9 billion and a ground lease-to-value (GLTV) ratio of 52% [9][15] - The portfolio currently earns a 3.7% cash yield and a 5.4% annualized yield, with an economic yield of 5.8% that can increase to 7.4% when factoring in unrealized capital appreciation [12][13][14] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company funded a total of $20 million in Q1, consisting of $16 million in ground lease fundings with a 6.7% economic yield and $4 million related to leasehold loans [10] - The ground lease portfolio has grown significantly, with 147 assets and an increase in multifamily ground leases from 8% at IPO to 58% today [10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has nonbinding letters of intent (LOIs) totaling approximately $386 million for potential commitments across 11 ground leases and four loans, with six of the ground leases focused on affordable housing [8][9] - The GLTV increased from 49% to 52% quarter over quarter, reflecting the revaluation of the office portfolio [15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to reach a scale that unlocks the full value of the business for shareholders while expanding its customer base to provide long-term lower-cost capital [5][6] - The management is focused on capital recycling and evaluating opportunities to address the public versus private valuation disconnect [35][21] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that while the market remains volatile, there are signs of stabilization, and they are optimistic about the pipeline of deals [19][62] - The management expressed a cautious optimism regarding the ability to close deals, emphasizing the importance of controlling the entire capital stack [75][76] Other Important Information - The company has approximately $1.3 billion of liquidity and a well-structured capital base with no near-term maturities [17][20] - The company is rated A3 by Moody's, A- by Fitch, and BBB+ by S&P, with ongoing discussions to improve its credit rating [17][80] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide more details on the sponsors and markets related to the LOIs? - The pipeline includes a diverse range of sponsors and markets, with a majority in multifamily, including existing deals and construction projects [25][26] Question: What are the benefits of ground leases versus leasehold loans? - Leasehold loans provide more certainty in volatile markets and can help kickstart transactions that are stalled [27] Question: Can you quantify the closed deals from the LOIs? - The majority of the deals are expected to close this year, with timing varying based on the type of deal [32][33] Question: What is the company's strategy regarding potential joint ventures? - The company is considering joint ventures to unlock value from its existing portfolio while also focusing on new transactions [65][66] Question: How does the company view the current market volatility? - Management acknowledged the ongoing volatility but noted that it has tightened, allowing sponsors to make clearer long-term decisions [44][62] Question: What is the conversation like with S&P regarding credit ratings? - The company is in dialogue with S&P and aims to demonstrate its stability and prudent capital management to achieve a higher rating [80]