Michael Mueller's questions to SmartStop Self Storage REIT (SMA) leadership • Q2 2025
Question
Michael Mueller of JPMorgan Chase & Co. asked if the new partnership with Orchard Securities signals a long-term commitment to the managed REIT platform and inquired about the acquisition pipeline's focus on existing versus new markets.
Answer
CEO H. Michael Schwartz clarified the managed REIT business is a short- to mid-term strategy, not a long-term one, and the partner change was a tactical move to improve economics. Regarding acquisitions, Schwartz stated the focus is on high-quality, smaller deals with management upside. CFO James Barry added that the strategy is to build scale in existing clusters, citing recent deals in Houston and Alberta as prime examples.