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    Richard Hightower's questions to Invitation Homes Inc (INVH) leadership

    Richard Hightower's questions to Invitation Homes Inc (INVH) leadership •

    Question

    Richard Hightower asked for the company's view on the thesis that the core multifamily renter cohort is expanding and whether this creates a more zero-sum competition between multifamily and single-family rentals.

    Answer

    President and Chief Operating Officer Charles Young responded that Invitation Homes serves a unique market segment of families who need 3-5 bedroom homes in good school districts, a product distinct from typical multifamily offerings. He emphasized the value proposition, noting it's nearly $1,100 cheaper per month to lease with INVH than to own in their markets. He believes the demand for their product is healthy and differentiated, as evidenced by low turnover, high renewal rates, and an average length of stay of 38 months.

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    Richard Hightower's questions to Invitation Homes Inc (INVH) leadership • Q1 2025

    Question

    Richard Hightower of Barclays PLC questioned the potential risk to demand from a release of 'pent-up demand' for homeownership if mortgage rates were to fall significantly.

    Answer

    CEO Dallas Tanner expressed confidence, reminding that the business thrived with high occupancy even during periods of historically low mortgage rates. He views a healthier for-sale market as a net positive, as it improves price discovery and rising home values are a leading indicator for future rent growth. A return to normal move-out-to-buy rates would be a sign of a healthy housing market, not a threat to their model.

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    Richard Hightower's questions to Realty Income Corp (O) leadership

    Richard Hightower's questions to Realty Income Corp (O) leadership • Q1 2025

    Question

    Richard Hightower from Barclays asked for specifics on the types of higher-yielding opportunities the company has avoided and requested an update on the investment in the indoor farming company, Plenty.

    Answer

    CEO Sumit Roy explained that the company is cautious about discretionary sectors, assets with highly specialized use, and tenants with purely financial private equity sponsors. Regarding Plenty, he stated the company is restructuring to emerge stronger, the capital at risk is circa $40 million, and the site has alternative use potential as a distribution or data center.

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    Richard Hightower's questions to Camden Property Trust (CPT) leadership

    Richard Hightower's questions to Camden Property Trust (CPT) leadership • Q1 2025

    Question

    Richard Hightower of Barclays asked for projections on Class A versus Class B asset performance in the Sunbelt and inquired about the buyer pool, cap rates, and capital sources for the planned $750 million in dispositions.

    Answer

    President and CFO Alex Jessett noted that while Class B suburban assets previously outperformed, Class A and urban assets are now performing slightly better as supply dynamics shift. Regarding dispositions, he described the buyers as value-add funds, often local operators, with a cap rate spread of about 100 basis points on an FFO basis compared to acquisitions. Chairman and CEO Ric Campo added that there is ample capital from private equity, family offices, and agency lenders for these assets.

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    Richard Hightower's questions to Camden Property Trust (CPT) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Richard Hightower questioned the risk of the market being incorrect about the anticipated decline in new supply and asked how much of a buffer for this risk is incorporated into Camden's current same-store guidance.

    Answer

    An executive, likely Chairman and CEO Ric Campo, responded that the supply pipeline for the next two years is largely fixed, with new construction starts down 50-60%. He sees minimal risk of a supply surge due to persistent high construction and financing costs. He identified a potential economic recession as a greater risk to the outlook than a miscalculation of future supply deliveries.

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    Richard Hightower's questions to American Homes 4 Rent (AMH) leadership

    Richard Hightower's questions to American Homes 4 Rent (AMH) leadership • Q1 2025

    Question

    Richard Hightower of Barclays asked about the drivers of recurring CapEx per home and how that metric influences disposition decisions. He also inquired if AMH acquires properties directly from other homebuilders.

    Answer

    COO Lincoln Palmer attributed the year-over-year CapEx increase to a low prior-year comp and incremental move-outs from the lease expiration initiative. CEO Bryan Smith confirmed that home age and expected CapEx are factors in disposition decisions. CFO Christopher Lau added that while AMH actively screens thousands of properties from national builders, over 80% fall outside their buy box, and yields are less attractive than their in-house development, underscoring the value of their development program.

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    Richard Hightower's questions to American Homes 4 Rent (AMH) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Richard Hightower of Barclays asked about the key drivers for the moderation in property tax growth and the potential risks from state and municipal budget pressures. He also inquired about opportunities in non-rental revenue for the upcoming year.

    Answer

    CFO Chris Lau explained that property tax moderation was driven by better-than-expected final values from large states like Texas, Florida, and Georgia, bringing growth back to the long-term run rate of 4-5%. While monitoring budget pressures, he noted the value side is the larger driver. Regarding other income, Lau stated it had a modest 8-10 basis point contribution to same-store revenue in 2024 and expects similar modest growth in 2025, likely in line with overall rent growth.

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    Richard Hightower's questions to AvalonBay Communities Inc (AVB) leadership

    Richard Hightower's questions to AvalonBay Communities Inc (AVB) leadership • Q1 2025

    Question

    Richard Hightower requested a detailed breakdown of the cost of capital math for the Texas portfolio acquisition relative to its yield, considering the equity issuance and potential future CapEx for the 11-year-old assets.

    Answer

    CEO Benjamin Schall clarified the Dallas portion was funded with downREIT units at a cost of capital around 5%, aligning with the 5.1% stabilized yield, and highlighted the strategic benefits of scale. CIO Matthew Birenbaum confirmed that initial CapEx was included in the stabilized yield calculation and that ongoing CapEx is expected to be below the portfolio average.

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    Richard Hightower's questions to AvalonBay Communities Inc (AVB) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Richard Hightower requested a breakdown of the new and renewal lease blend expectations for established versus expansion markets. He also asked about the competitive dynamics in the Structured Investment Program (SIP) or mezz lending market and how AvalonBay can remain selective while still hitting its growth targets.

    Answer

    COO Sean Breslin provided a detailed breakdown, stating that established regions will see healthier rent growth. He gave specific forecasts for expansion markets like Dallas (positive 2-3%) and urban Charlotte (flat to negative). CIO Matthew Birenbaum explained that for SIP, the main challenge is finding quality deals, not competition. He noted their unique development expertise makes them a preferred capital provider for deals they target, and their growth goal of 3-4 deals per year is modest and achievable.

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    Richard Hightower's questions to VICI Properties Inc (VICI) leadership

    Richard Hightower's questions to VICI Properties Inc (VICI) leadership • Q1 2025

    Question

    Richard Hightower from Barclays PLC requested details on the Red Rock deal's collateral, the borrower's identity, and the broader evolution of the tribal lending landscape for REITs.

    Answer

    CFO David Kieske clarified that the borrower is the tribe, with Red Rock providing a completion guarantee. Executive Samantha Gallagher added that the collateral includes a first priority security interest in the casino's future cash flows. CEO Edward Pitoniak and President John W. Payne explained that VICI's entry into tribal lending is not new but the result of years of study, with this specific deal being compelling due to the high-quality partner and location.

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    Richard Hightower's questions to VICI Properties Inc (VICI) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Richard Hightower requested clarification on which loan fundings are included in the 2025 AFFO guidance and asked about the drivers behind the quarterly swings in the allowance for credit losses.

    Answer

    CFO David Kieske explained that guidance does not include funding for loans that lack an identified draw schedule. He noted ongoing funding for projects like Great Wolf Northeast and Canyon Ranch Austin. Kieske also clarified that the Q4 increase in the allowance for credit losses was driven by macro-economic forecasts from their third-party service provider, Moody's, reflecting a 'higher for longer' interest rate environment, rather than specific tenant issues.

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    Richard Hightower's questions to Essex Property Trust Inc (ESS) leadership

    Richard Hightower's questions to Essex Property Trust Inc (ESS) leadership • Q1 2025

    Question

    Richard Hightower sought confirmation that the decision not to raise guidance was a conservative risk overlay rather than a sign of operational weakness. He also asked for an explanation of the large difference in resident turnover rates between Essex and a peer.

    Answer

    Executive Angela Kleiman confirmed his summary was 'excellent,' stating that fundamentals are in good shape and the guidance decision was based on macro uncertainty. Regarding turnover, she explained the large delta is likely due to definitional differences in how companies calculate the metric, similar to variations in calculating blended lease rates. She noted Essex's 35% turnover was actually low relative to its own history.

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    Richard Hightower's questions to Essex Property Trust Inc (ESS) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Richard Hightower of Barclays asked about the transaction market, noting the implication of negative leverage with cap rates in the mid-4s and financing in the mid-5s. He also inquired about the outlook for the next insurance renewal cycle, given the timing of the wildfires.

    Answer

    Executive Rylan Burns confirmed that buyers are underwriting negative leverage in year one, but the market remains healthy and competitive with deep bidder pools. Executive Barb Pak addressed insurance, stating that since their policy was renewed in December, there is no risk to 2025 results. She noted it's too early to predict the next renewal's outcome but highlighted that Essex's insurance costs had already risen 50% over the prior two years.

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    Richard Hightower's questions to Equity Residential (EQR) leadership

    Richard Hightower's questions to Equity Residential (EQR) leadership • Q1 2025

    Question

    Richard Hightower of Barclays requested a deeper analysis of the Washington, D.C. market amid potential government layoffs and asked if the current record-low resident turnover represents a 'new normal'.

    Answer

    CEO Mark Parrell and COO Michael Manelis quantified their D.C. exposure at 10-15% of residents tied to government and related consulting jobs, but stressed the market's growing economic diversification. Manelis attributed the low turnover to both macro uncertainty causing residents to 'bunker down' and the success of the company's centralized renewal process and customer experience initiatives, which they expect to continue.

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    Richard Hightower's questions to Equity Residential (EQR) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Richard Hightower sought clarification that the 'asking 7%, achieve 5%' renewal rate comment was for the entire portfolio and asked for a prediction on when new lease growth might turn positive in the Sunbelt expansion markets.

    Answer

    COO Michael Manelis confirmed the renewal rate guidance applied to the whole portfolio. CEO Mark Parrell declined to predict the exact timing of positive new lease growth in the Sunbelt, stating the recovery will be uneven and that a sustained improvement in same-store revenue growth for those markets is more of a 2026 or 2027 story.

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    Richard Hightower's questions to Agree Realty Corp (ADC) leadership

    Richard Hightower's questions to Agree Realty Corp (ADC) leadership • Q1 2025

    Question

    Richard Hightower of Barclays followed up on why Agree Realty didn't issue more equity given its strong stock performance and growing acquisition pipeline. He also asked for clarification on whether the bad debt forecast is a bottoms-up calculation or includes a general overlay.

    Answer

    CEO Joey Agree explained that after accounting for settled forward equity, the company's position was effectively neutral for the quarter, and they maintain substantial liquidity and hedged capital to execute their strategy. CFO Peter Coughenour clarified that the bad debt forecast is a bottoms-up calculation based on specific, identified tenant situations like Big Lots, with an added cushion for other monitored tenants, rather than a broad macroeconomic overlay.

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    Richard Hightower's questions to Agree Realty Corp (ADC) leadership • Q1 2025

    Question

    Richard Hightower of Barclays questioned why Agree Realty didn't issue more equity in the quarter, given the strong stock performance and growing acquisition pipeline. He also asked for clarification on whether the bad debt guidance is a bottoms-up calculation or includes a general credit overlay.

    Answer

    CEO Joey Agree explained that while deploying significant capital, the company's equity issuance and settlement activity resulted in a neutral leverage position, maintaining a strong balance sheet with nearly $2 billion in liquidity and over $1.2 billion in hedged capital. CFO Peter Coughenour clarified the bad debt guidance, stating it is a location-by-location, tenant-by-tenant buildup based on known issues, but the 50 basis point total also includes a cushion for other potential issues not yet identified.

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    Richard Hightower's questions to Agree Realty Corp (ADC) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Richard Hightower from Barclays asked about the gating factors for scaling the Developer Funding Platform (DFP) and the likelihood of a 'do-nothing scenario' in 2026.

    Answer

    CEO Joey Agree identified achieving appropriate risk-adjusted returns as the key gating factor for DFP, as longer-duration projects require a premium. He expressed high confidence that 2026 would not be a 'do-nothing' year, citing the company's 'pole position' with its pre-funded balance sheet.

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    Richard Hightower's questions to Agree Realty Corp (ADC) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Richard Hightower of Barclays asked about the gating factors that would allow the Developer Funding Platform (DFP) to scale into a larger part of the business and questioned the likelihood of a "do-nothing scenario" in 2026.

    Answer

    CEO Joey Agree explained that the primary gating factor for DFP growth is achieving appropriate risk-adjusted returns, which must be higher for longer-duration development projects compared to acquisitions. He expressed high confidence that 2026 would not be a "do-nothing scenario," citing the company's "unprecedented" balance sheet strength and pre-funded capital position.

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    Richard Hightower's questions to Essential Properties Realty Trust Inc (EPRT) leadership

    Richard Hightower's questions to Essential Properties Realty Trust Inc (EPRT) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Richard Hightower questioned the company's capital needs for the year, asking for details on any remaining equity required to meet investment targets. He also asked for guidance on how to model the timing and cadence of acquisition volume throughout the year.

    Answer

    CFO Mark Patten stated that minimal new equity issuance is needed, citing growing retained free cash flow, disposition proceeds, and a significant unsettled forward equity balance as primary funding sources. He noted that the guidance could be achieved with just normal ATM activity, placing the company in an opportunistic position. Executive Robert Salisbury addressed acquisition timing, suggesting that while Q4 has historically been larger, modeling a ratable pace over the course of the year is a reasonable assumption given current visibility.

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    Richard Hightower's questions to Four Corners Property Trust Inc (FCPT) leadership

    Richard Hightower's questions to Four Corners Property Trust Inc (FCPT) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Richard Hightower asked how potential policy changes are affecting underwriting for new investment verticals and inquired about the company's philosophy on not providing forward guidance.

    Answer

    CEO William Lenehan responded that while they are monitoring policy changes, nothing has yet altered their acquisition scorecard or sourcing strategy. He explained that FCPT does not provide guidance because its core strategy is to modulate acquisition volume based on its cost of capital (i.e., stock price), which is inherently unpredictable and would make any guidance difficult to provide meaningfully.

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    Richard Hightower's questions to Independence Realty Trust Inc (IRT) leadership

    Richard Hightower's questions to Independence Realty Trust Inc (IRT) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Richard Hightower questioned the 55% resident retention assumption for 2025 and asked for an explanation on why controllable expenses are projected to grow faster than non-controllables.

    Answer

    CFO James Sebra clarified that 55% retention is a consistent annual target, with quarterly figures fluctuating around that level in 2024. He explained that the non-controllable expense growth rate is lower primarily because the guidance assumes a 0% increase in property taxes for 2025.

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    Richard Hightower's questions to WP Carey Inc (WPC) leadership

    Richard Hightower's questions to WP Carey Inc (WPC) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Richard Hightower inquired about the expected cadence of same-store rent growth through 2025 and the strategy for allocating capital to Europe, given the advantageous debt costs.

    Answer

    CFO ToniAnn Sanzone confirmed that same-store rent growth is expected to be highest in Q1 2025 in the low-to-mid 2% range, before moderating to the low 2s for the full year. CEO Jason Fox added that Europe remains a key market where WPC can generate wider investment spreads, noting that euro-denominated debt is currently about 150 basis points cheaper than U.S. debt, which accounts for any perceived incremental risk.

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    Richard Hightower's questions to NNN REIT Inc (NNN) leadership

    Richard Hightower's questions to NNN REIT Inc (NNN) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Richard Hightower asked for details on the tenant mix that is backfilling the vacant Badcock spaces. He also questioned whether NNN's properties leased to top tenants like Mister Car Wash, Dave & Buster's, and Camping World have unique characteristics that make them less risky than average.

    Answer

    CFO Kevin Habicht and CEO Stephen Horn explained that the Badcock spaces are attracting a variety of users, including home furniture, medical, and hardware tenants. Horn elaborated that their exposure to tenants like Mister Car Wash is de-risked by a very low cost basis from early investments and strong property-level rent coverage (over 4x). Similarly, long-term relationships with Camping World and Dave & Buster's have allowed for portfolio culling to retain only strong, desirable assets.

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