Phillips Edison & Company(US:PECO)2026-02-06 18:02Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported Nareit FFO per share growth of 7.2% and Core FFO per share growth of 7% for 2025, with same-center NOI growth of 3.8% [5][18] - For 2026, guidance indicates mid-single digit growth rates for Nareit FFO and Core FFO per share [5][20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company executed 1,026 leases totaling approximately 6 million square feet in 2025, with portfolio occupancy ending the year at 97.3% leased [12][13] - Comparable renewal rent spreads were reported at 20% in Q4, while new leasing rent spreads were strong at 34.3% [13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted strong demand for necessity-based retail, with no signs of slowing, and high retention rates of 93% [11][12] - The company anticipates bad debt in 2026 to be in line with 2025, which was approximately 78 basis points of revenue [14][56] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The core business focuses on grocery-anchored shopping centers, with a disciplined acquisition strategy targeting an unlevered IRR of 9% for grocery-anchored acquisitions and above 10% for everyday retail centers [8][10] - The company plans to continue its development and redevelopment projects, with 20 projects under active construction and an estimated total investment of approximately $70 million [15] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the resilience of the consumer and the strength of their portfolio, despite market concerns about consumer health and tariffs [5][9] - The company believes it can consistently deliver 3%-4% same-center NOI growth and achieve mid to high single-digit core FFO per share growth on a long-term basis [22] Other Important Information - The company has approximately $925 million of liquidity to support acquisition plans and aims to sell between $100 million and $200 million in assets in 2026 [18][20] - The company sold approximately $145 million of assets in 2025 at PECO share [20] Q&A Session Summary Question: Expectations for acquisition volume and competition for grocery-anchored assets - Management acknowledged increased competition but noted a high level of confidence in reaching acquisition targets due to a balanced market [25][26] Question: Update on the Ocala development parcel and timing - Management expressed excitement about the Ocala market, with expectations for unlevered returns above 9.5%-10% on the project [28][29] Question: Occupancy levels and leverage in renewal negotiations - Management indicated that high occupancy levels provide leverage in negotiations, with expectations for continued growth in inline stores [32][35] Question: Capital deployment and stock buybacks - Management stated that while they consider share buybacks, they believe better returns can be achieved through acquisitions and redevelopment [45][46] Question: Impact of Amazon's store closures on grocery demand - Management noted that Amazon's struggles with brick-and-mortar retail do not significantly impact their grocery demand, as traditional grocers maintain strong market positions [49][50] Question: Bad debt expectations and visibility - Management confirmed that bad debt levels are consistent with previous expectations, with no significant concerns moving into 2026 [56][57] Question: Credit rating and cost of debt - Management believes they are an underrated credit and that scale will help improve their credit rating, which could lower their cost of debt [60][61] Question: Disposition strategy and cap rates - Management outlined a strategy focused on trading out stabilized assets for higher return opportunities, with expectations for cap rates in the 5.5% to sub-5 range [68][70]