Vesta Real Estate (VTMX) - 2025 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total income for Q3 2025 reached $72.4 million, a 13.7% year-over-year increase, while total income excluding energy reached $69.9 million, a 14.5% increase [6][17] - Adjusted net operating income increased 14.7% to $66.1 million, with an adjusted NOI margin of 94.4%, reflecting higher operating leverage [17] - Adjusted EBITDA totaled $59.7 million, a 15% increase year-over-year, with a margin expansion of 34 basis points to 85.3% [17] - FFO, including current tax, increased 16.5% year-over-year to $47.4 million [17] - The company revised its full-year 2025 guidance, expecting EBITDA margin to reach 84.5% and revenue growth between 10% and 11% [16][17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total leasing activity for Q3 2025 reached 1.7 million sq ft, with 597,000 sq ft in new leases and 1.1 million sq ft in renewals [7] - The overall portfolio occupancy reached 89.7%, with stabilized and same-store occupancy at 94.3% and 94.8% respectively [8] - The retention rate remains high, and rents on rollovers continue to trend upward, indicating strong tenant relationships [5] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Monterrey, the company completed construction of Apodaca Park, with strong interest from advanced manufacturing and logistics companies [9] - Ciudad Juárez saw a market turnaround with a 130 basis point contraction in overall vacancy and 1.3 million sq ft of net absorption [10] - Tijuana is experiencing slower recovery due to high vacancy from recent supply influx, but early signs of reactivation are noted [11] - Guadalajara maintained a healthy 2.8% vacancy rate, while Mexico City reported record absorption year-to-date, with a low vacancy of 2% [12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on its Route 2030 growth strategy, emphasizing land acquisitions and infrastructure readiness [9][15] - Vesta aims to be selective in tenant selection, particularly in high-demand areas like Monterrey [9] - The company is prioritizing markets with visible tenant demand and plans to direct capital towards land and infrastructure readiness [15] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted encouraging signs of improvement in leasing momentum and tenant demand, indicating a normalization of the market [5] - The company is confident in its ability to capture anticipated demand in 2026, supported by improving demand indicators [8] - Management highlighted the importance of energy supply and collaboration with federal authorities to enhance reliability for industrial users [14][58] Other Important Information - The company completed a $500 million senior unsecured notes offering, enhancing liquidity and extending maturity profiles [18] - Vesta sold an 80,604 sq ft building in Ciudad Juárez for $5.5 million, aligning with its strategy to recycle assets [15][19] - The company has nearly completed its land bank to support the Route 2030 strategy [9] Q&A Session Summary Question: Long-term development pipeline acceleration - Management indicated positive demand signals across most markets, with a focus on mid to long-term growth for Route 2030, while being cautious ahead of the USMCA review [21][23] Question: Demand from existing vs. new tenants - Demand is coming from both existing tenants and new companies, particularly in sectors like electronics and aerospace [24][26] Question: Update on leasing activity in October - Management confirmed leasing activity has picked up, with successful leases in various regions [30][31] Question: Sustainability of improved EBITDA margins - Management expects EBITDA margins to remain strong, with a focus on maintaining a low-cost base [40][41] Question: Indicators for launching new developments - Decisions are based on internal data, occupancy trends, and demand from existing tenants [64][66] Question: Trends in real estate taxes and insurance costs - No major adjustments in insurance costs or real estate taxes are expected, with costs being competitive for tenants [88][90]