BOARDWALK REIT REPORTS STRONG RESULTS FOR Q1 2025 WITH RESILIENT DEMAND FOR QUALITY AFFORDABLE HOUSING
BOARDWALK REIT REPORTS STRONG RESULTS FOR Q1 2025 WITH RESILIENT DEMAND FOR QUALITY AFFORDABLE HOUSING |
| [06-May-2025] |
CALGARY, AB, May 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Boardwalk Real Estate Investment Trust (TSX: BEI.UN) SUMMARY HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE THREE-MONTH PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2025
Boardwalk Real Estate Investment Trust ("Boardwalk", the "REIT" or the "Trust") today announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2025. Sam Kolias; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Boardwalk REIT commented: "We are pleased to report a strong first quarter with significant growth in Net Operating Income, Funds From Operations per Unit and Operating Margin. Our FFO per Unit of $1.06 during the first quarter represents an improvement of 11.6% from the prior year. As our cash flows improve, we continue to reinforce our balance sheet, providing greater ability and flexibility to compound per unit growth further through the Trust's value add capital program, tactical unit repurchases where appropriate and accretive external growth opportunities. Affordability remains a primary driver of rental demand across our portfolio. Occupied rents in the Trust's largest market of Edmonton remain amongst the most affordable compared to household incomes and asking rents in other major centers in Canada. Our largest market in Alberta continues to see a diversification of its economy, as evidenced by growth in employment across many industries outside of traditional energy in recent years. Alberta remains unique amongst Canadian provinces in its ability to attract young workers aged 25-44 from other provinces recently, a critical demographic for driving long-term economic growth. Through the start of our higher volume spring leasing season, we are seeing strong demand and are maintaining occupancy levels at approximately 98% in a market that is more balanced compared to a year ago, as a result of the recent shift in immigration policy and delivery of new supply. Our commitment to delivering a win-win outcome for our Resident Members and our other stakeholders through the self-moderation of our lease renewal rates over the last number of years is supporting ongoing sustainable renewal increases. We continue to further improve the outstanding quality of our portfolio through our best-in-class value add capital program, as well as our capital recycling initiatives. We look forward to continuing our track record of delivering strong results for our Boardwalk Family Forever." FIRST QUARTER FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
In Q1 2025, same property operating margin increased compared to the same period in the prior year as the Trust's same property rental revenue growth remained strong. The Trust anticipates further operating margin improvement throughout the remainder of 2025 as a result of strong revenue growth, execution of various cost containment initiatives, and lower utility costs as a result of the removal of the federal carbon charge.
The Trust's fair value of its investment properties as at March 31, 2025 increased from year end, primarily attributable to an increase in market rents in its largest market of Edmonton, Alberta as well as other affordable markets which was partially offset by an increase to its stabilized vacancy assumption in Calgary. The Trust also added Elbow 5 Eight to its investment properties during the first quarter. The Trust's stabilized capitalization rate ("Cap Rate") of 5.12% for Q1 2025 remained the same as the prior period. The Cap Rate ranges utilized continue to be in line with recently published third party quarterly Cap Rate reports. SOLID OPERATIONAL RESULTS
The Trust retained high occupancy during Q1 2025 by focusing on retention and by leveraging its vertically-integrated operating platform to limit time to complete unit turnovers. The Trust's approach to strategically moderate its lease renewal rates over the last number of years, while markets were heavily undersupplied, also contributes to maintaining higher occupancy in a more balanced market. Positive market rent adjustments were implemented in some communities where rental market fundamentals were strong during the high-volume spring leasing season. In other select communities in Calgary, market rents were adjusted gradually downward in pockets that have experienced higher deliveries of new supply and where rents were on the higher end of the price spectrum. Overall, demand remains very strong for affordable housing. Average occupied rent increased sequentially, and when compared to the same period a year ago, as the Trust focuses on reducing or eliminating incentives on lease renewals, leasing at market rents for new leases and adjusting market rents in communities where appropriate. For the first quarter of 2025, same property rental revenue increased 7.5% while same property total rental expense increased by 3.0%, resulting in same property NOI growth of 10.3% in comparison to the same quarter prior year. Same property rental expenses increased primarily due to higher utilities, wages and salaries from inflation, building repairs and maintenance, advertising costs and property taxes. These were partially offset by lower bad debt expenses and insurance costs, as compared to the same period of the prior year. In Edmonton, NOI growth was 13.0% for the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in the prior year. The overall growth was driven by lower incentives and higher market rents. The overall positive increase was partially offset by higher wages and salaries, utilities, and building repairs and maintenance costs. Saskatchewan's market continues to be strong with the Trust's portfolio in the region realizing 15.9% same property NOI growth in the first quarter of 2025 versus the same period last year, as a result of strong same property revenue growth due to lower incentives as well as market rent increases, partially offset by higher wages and salaries, building repairs and maintenance, and utilities. In Ontario, NOI growth was 8.4% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the first quarter of 2024. The mark-to-market opportunity on turnover contributed to same property rental revenue growth of 6.3%, which was partially offset by increases in wages and salaries, utilities, and property taxes. In Quebec, NOI growth was 1.7% compared to the same quarter in the prior year. The overall growth was driven by increases in occupied rents along with higher occupancy rates, as well as lower insurance premiums relative to the previous year, partially offset by higher heating costs due to colder weather, repairs and maintenance costs and wages and salaries. In British Columbia, higher market rents compared to the prior year, and a same property total rental expense decrease of 2.0%, resulted in same property NOI growth of 6.4% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the first quarter of 2024. As shown in our updated guidance further in this release, Boardwalk remains well positioned for strong revenue and NOI growth in 2025.
STRONG LIQUIDITY POSITION In the first quarter of 2025, Boardwalk renewed $57.0 million of its maturing mortgages at a weighted average interest rate of 3.78% while extending the term of these mortgages by an average of 5.9 years. For the remainder of 2025, the Trust anticipates $505.1 million of mortgages payable maturing with an average in-place interest rate of 2.42% and will continue to renew these mortgages as they mature. Current market 5 and 10-year CMHC financing rates are estimated to be approximately 3.50% and 4.05%, respectively. To date, the Trust has renewed or forward-locked the interest rate on $148.6 million or 26.4% of its maturing mortgages in 2025 at an average interest rate of 3.80% and an average term of 3.9 years. Of note, this includes a short-term renewal of a conventional mortgage in the amount of $45.8 million which is anticipated to be re-financed as a CMHC-insured mortgage in early Q3 2025. Excluding this mortgage, to-date the Trust has renewed or forward-locked $102.8 million in 2025 at an average interest rate of 3.63% and an average term of 5.5 years. The Trust remains well positioned with a laddered maturity schedule within its mortgage program, a disciplined capital allocation program and continued use of CMHC funding, which decreases the renewal risk on its existing mortgages. STRATEGIC CAPITAL ALLOCATION During the first quarter, the Trust closed on the previously announced disposition of three communities in Edmonton totaling 390 suites ("Edmonton Dispositions") for a sales price of $80.0 million, resulting in net proceeds of approximately $58.4 million net of repayment of existing mortgages (excluding transaction costs). The sales price was in line with the Trust's IFRS values for the properties. In Q4 2024 and Q1 2025, the Trust recycled approximately $40.0 million of net proceeds into its Normal Course Issuer Bid ("NCIB") program at a weighted average price of $64.10. This redeployment into the Trust's own high-quality portfolio equated to an implied cap rate of approximately 6.25% on forward NOI. Toward the end of Q1 2025, the Trust closed on the purchase of the previously announced Elbow 5 Eight community in Calgary, Alberta for a purchase price of $93.0 million (excluding transaction costs). The 255-suite community is exceptionally located with lease-up in line with pro forma underwriting. The community adds to the quality of the Trust's portfolio while the purchase price represents a significant discount to the fully stabilized value that the Trust believes it can unlock through lease-up. During Q1 2025, the Trust finalized the purchase agreement for the remaining 50% interest in its joint operation at BRIO in Calgary, Alberta for $37.4 million. The Trust anticipates closing of the sale will occur in Q3 2025, following approval of the assumption of the remaining 50% interest in the existing mortgages. The Trust continues to be active in the private market in sourcing proceeds from non-core assets sales that can be recycled toward accretive opportunities including potential buyback or unique acquisition opportunities. UPDATE TO 2025 FINANCIAL GUIDANCE Boardwalk's current outlook for the remainder of 2025 is for ongoing growth across its portfolio as demand for affordable multi-family housing remains strong. The Trust anticipates outsized revenue and NOI growth in its largest market of Edmonton, as well as some of its more affordable non-price controlled markets on a year-over-year basis, as a result of strong performance year-to-date and ongoing positive blended leasing spreads throughout the remainder of 2025. The Trust is also incorporating the estimated impact of the removal of the federal carbon charge on utility costs for the balance of the year. With Q1 finalized, the Trust is updating and tightening its guidance range as follows:
The reader is cautioned that this information is forward-looking and actual results may vary from those forecasted. The Trust reviews the assumptions used to derive its forecast quarterly, and based on this review, may adjust its outlook accordingly. EXCEPTIONAL VALUE The Trust's current trading price represents exceptional value relative to the quality of the underlying real estate, replacement costs and in the context of strong NOI growth reinforced within our updated guidance range. Recent private market sales transactions of apartment buildings in our core markets have occurred at prices in line with or above Boardwalk's fair value of its assets of approximately $241,000 per suite, when adjusted for suite mix and asset quality. This valuation represents approximately a 4.8% cap rate on Boardwalk's most recent 12 months of investment property NOI. At the current unit price of $65 per Trust Unit, Boardwalk's implied value is approximately $192,000 per suite and represents an attractive 6.0% cap rate on trailing NOI. FIRST QUARTER REGULAR MONTHLY DISTRIBUTION ANNOUNCEMENT The Trust has confirmed its monthly cash distribution for the months of June, July and August 2025 as follows:
In line with Boardwalk's distribution policy of maximum re-investment, the Trust's payout ratio remains conservative at 35.3% of Q1 2025 FFO; and 33.8% of the last 12 months FFO. Boardwalk's regular monthly distribution provides a stable and attractive yield for the Trust's Unitholders. ESG REPORT The Trust is committed to environmental, social and governance ("ESG") objectives and initiatives, including working towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and electricity and natural gas consumption, water conservation, waste minimization, and a continued focus on governance and oversight. Boardwalk published its fifth annual ESG report in April 2024. The ESG report is available digitally on the Trust's website. The Trust anticipates releasing its sixth annual ESG report later in May. FINANCIAL INFORMATION Boardwalk produces quarterly financial statements and management's discussion and analysis that provides detailed information regarding the Trust's activities during the quarter. Financial information is available on Boardwalk's investor website at www.bwalk.com/investors. TELECONFERENCE ON FIRST QUARTER 2025 FINANCIAL RESULTS Boardwalk invites you to participate in the teleconference that will be held to discuss these results tomorrow (May 7, 2025) at 1:00 pm Eastern Time (11:00 am Mountain Time). Senior management will speak to the period's results and provide an update. Presentation materials will be made available on Boardwalk's investor website at www.bwalk.com/investors prior to the call. Teleconference: To join the conference call without operator assistance, you may register and enter your phone number at https://emportal.ink/4hQ7PDo to receive an instant automated call back. Alternatively, you can also dial direct to be entered into the call by an operator using the traditional conference call instructions below. The telephone numbers for the conference are 1-437-900-0527 (local/international callers) or toll-free 1-888-510-2154 (within North America). Note: Please provide the operator with the below Conference Call ID or Topic when dialing in to the call. Webcast: Investors will be able to listen to the call and view Boardwalk's slide presentation by visiting www.bwalk.com/investors prior to the start of the call. An information page will be provided for any software needed and system requirements. The webcast and slide presentation will also be available at: Boardwalk REIT First Quarter Results Webcast Link Replay: An audio recording of the teleconference will be available on the Trust's website: www.bwalk.com/investors CORPORATE PROFILE Boardwalk REIT strives to be Canada's friendliest community provider and the first choice in multi-family communities to work, invest, and call home with our Boardwalk Family Forever. Providing homes in more than 200 communities, with approximately 34,000 residential suites totaling over 29 million net rentable square feet, Boardwalk has a proven long-term track record of building better communities, where love always livesTM. Our three-tiered and distinct brands: Boardwalk Living, Boardwalk Communities, and Boardwalk Lifestyle, cater to a large diverse demographic and have evolved to capture the life cycle of all Resident Members. Boardwalk's disciplined approach to capital allocation, acquisition, development, purposeful re-positioning, and management of apartment communities allows the Trust to provide its brand of community across Canada creating exceptional Resident Member experiences. Differentiated by its peak performance culture, Boardwalk is committed to delivering exceptional service, product quality and experience to our Resident Members who reward us with high retention and market leading operating results, which in turn, lead to higher free cash flow and investment returns, stable monthly distributions, and value creation for all our stakeholders. Boardwalk REIT's Trust Units are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, trading under the symbol BEI.UN. Additional information about Boardwalk REIT can be found on the Trust's website at www.bwalk.com/investors. PRESENTATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES Non-GAAP Financial Measures Funds From Operations
Adjusted Funds From Operations
Adjusted Real Estate Assets Adjusted Real Estate Debt Adjusted Real Estate Debt, net of Cash Net Asset Value
Non-GAAP Ratios The discussion below outlines the non-GAAP ratios used by the Trust. Each non-GAAP ratio has a non-GAAP financial measure as one or more of its components, and, as a result, do not have standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS Accounting Standards and therefore may not be comparable to similar financial measurements presented by other entities. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be construed as alternatives to IFRS Accounting Standards defined measures. FFO per Unit, AFFO per Unit, and NAV per Unit AFFO per Unit includes the non-GAAP financial measure AFFO as a component in the calculation. The Trust uses AFFO per Unit to assess operating performance on a per Unit basis and its distribution paying capacity. NAV per Unit includes the non-GAAP financial measure NAV as a component in the calculation. Management of the Trust believes it is a useful measure in estimating the entity's value on a per Unit basis, which an investor can compare to the entity's Trust Unit price which is publicly traded to help with investment decisions. FFO per Unit and AFFO per Unit, are calculated by taking the non-GAAP ratio's corresponding non-GAAP financial measure and dividing by the weighted average Trust Units outstanding for the period on a fully diluted basis, which assumes conversion of the LP Class B Units and vested deferred units determined in the calculation of diluted per Trust Unit amounts in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards. NAV per Unit is calculated as NAV divided by the Trust Units outstanding as at the reporting date on a fully diluted basis which assumes conversion of the LP Class B Units and vested deferred units outstanding. Debt to EBITDA Debt to Total Assets FFO per Unit Future Financial Guidance AFFO per Unit Future Financial Guidance FFO Payout Ratio CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Information in this news release that is not current or historical factual information may constitute forward-looking statements and information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of securities laws. The use of any of the words "expect", "anticipate", "may", "will", "should", "believe", "intend" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include Boardwalk's financial guidance for fiscal 2025, Boardwalk's ability to accelerate organic growth in 2025, expected distributions for June, July, and August 2025, expectations regarding mortgages payable maturing and its intention to renew these mortgages, Boardwalk's commitment to its capital allocation strategy, accretive capital recycling opportunities, strengthening its long-term development plan in Victoria, BC, and Boardwalk's commitment to ESG initiatives. Implicit in these forward-looking statements, particularly in respect of Boardwalk's objectives for its current and future periods, Boardwalk's strategies to achieve those objectives, as well as statements with respect to management's beliefs, plans, estimates, assumptions, intentions, and similar statements concerning anticipated future events, results, circumstances, performance or expectations are estimates and assumptions subject to risks and uncertainties, including those described in its Management's Discussion & Analysis of Boardwalk under the heading "Risks and Risk Management", which could cause Boardwalk's actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Specifically, Boardwalk has made assumptions surrounding the impact of economic conditions in Canada and globally, Boardwalk's future growth potential, prospects and opportunities, interest costs, access to equity and debt capital markets to fund (at acceptable costs), the future growth program to enable the Trust to refinance debts as they mature, the availability of purchase opportunities for growth in Canada, the impact of accounting principles under IFRS Accounting Standards, general industry conditions and trends, changes in laws and regulations including, without limitation, changes in tax laws, increased competition, the availability of qualified personnel, fluctuations in foreign exchange or interest rates, and stock market volatility. These assumptions, although considered reasonable by the Trust at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect. This news release also contains future-oriented financial information and financial outlook information (collectively "FOFI") about Boardwalk's same property NOI growth, FFO per Unit, and AFFO per Unit guidance for fiscal 2025. Boardwalk has included the FOFI for the purpose of providing further information about the Trust's anticipated future business operation. For more exhaustive information on the risks and uncertainties in respect of forward-looking statements and FOFI you should refer to Boardwalk's Management's Discussion & Analysis and Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2023 under the headings "Risks and Risk Management" and "Challenges and Risks", respectively, which are available at www.sedarplus.ca. Forward-looking statements and FOFI contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and are based on Boardwalk's current estimates, expectations and projections, which Boardwalk believes are reasonable as of the current date. You should not place undue importance on forward-looking statements or FOFI and should not rely upon forward-looking statements or FOFI as of any other date. Except as required by applicable law, Boardwalk undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement or FOFI, whether a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
SOURCE Boardwalk Real Estate Investment Trust | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Company Codes: Toronto:BEI.UN | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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