Equity Residential(US:EQR)2026-02-06 16:00Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - 2025 Same Store NOI results matched initial guidance, but the path to those results was not straightforward, with stronger rental growth in the first half followed by a deceleration in the latter half of the year [4][5] - The company purchased approximately $206 million of its stock during Q4 2025, totaling $300 million in stock purchases for the year [10] - The normalized FFO per share for 2025 was $3.99, with a guidance midpoint for 2026 at $4.08, reflecting a 2.25% improvement [27] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The blended rate for Q4 was 0.5%, driven by a strong renewal rate of 4.5%, while new lease rates were negative across most markets except San Francisco [14] - Other income growth was slightly below expectations due to less income from the bulk internet rollout and bad debt net improvement [14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Coastal markets, particularly New York and San Francisco, showed strong performance, while Southern California markets and expansion markets experienced muted growth [14][21] - The company expects a significant decline in competitive new supply, with deliveries projected to decrease by 35% or about 40,000 units in 2026 compared to 2025 [11][12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company remains committed to a diversified portfolio strategy, investing in renovations, acquisitions, and development activities selectively [9] - The focus is on maximizing shareholder returns through a well-earning renter portfolio across various metropolitan areas [7] - The company plans to sell properties with lower forward return profiles and use proceeds for stock buybacks, enhancing forward growth rates [10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted heightened policy and geopolitical uncertainty impacted consumer and employer confidence, leading to a slowdown in job and rent growth [5] - The outlook for 2026 includes a broad range of possible outcomes for the U.S. economy, with expectations for steady demand and improved supply conditions [6][12] - The company anticipates a return to a more normalized peak leasing season due to reduced competitive supply and stable job growth [17] Other Important Information - The company returned over $1.3 billion to shareholders in 2025 through dividends and stock repurchases [11] - The company expects Same Store expense growth in 2026 to range between 3%-4%, with controllable expenses remaining stable [25] Q&A Session Questions and Answers Question: Can you talk about the assets you're selling and the fund that repurchases? - The assets being sold are typically older, non-core properties with higher CapEx loads, which are expected to improve the growth rate of the existing portfolio [35] Question: Can you provide more color on your comment around the renewals at 4.5%? - The renewal quotes are around 6%, with confidence in landing at 4.5% due to a strong centralized process and low economic hardship among residents [42][44] Question: On the 2026 supply outlook, can you give us some background on how you come up with your competitive supply set? - The company uses both data from providers and a boots-on-the-ground approach to evaluate competitive supply, confirming a meaningful decline in 2026 [46][47] Question: Are you factoring in regulatory costs when assessing different markets? - Yes, the company considers litigation costs and regulatory conditions in its underwriting and portfolio allocation decisions [51][53] Question: What is the expected cadence of Same Store revenue growth through the year? - The second half of the year is expected to be stronger than the first, primarily due to reduced competitive supply [83]