R.J. Milligan

R.J. Milligan asked for a breakdown of the components contributing to the -$0.02 timing impact from net capital allocation activity, noting that early-year buybacks and acquisitions, combined with later-year asset sales, might suggest a positive impact. He also inquired about the appetite for additional asset sales and the possibility of larger dispositions in the second half of the year that could negatively impact 2027 earnings growth.

Answer

EVP and CFO Heath Fear explained that the -$0.02 drag results from the timing of $300 million in buybacks (partially in 2025), utilization of the line of credit, and later 1031 acquisitions, combined with the immediate removal of disposition NOI from 2026. Chairman and CEO John Kite stated that while it's too early to predict 2027, the possibility of another larger transaction (similar in type to last year's dispositions) is being considered. Such a move would aim to significantly increase the 'cruising speed' of embedded rent growth and would only be pursued if it's accretive or minimally dilutive to earnings, depending on opportunities and tax harvesting.

R.J. Milligan asked for a breakdown of the components contributing to the -$0.02 timing impact from net capital allocation activity. He also inquired about Kite Realty Group's appetite for selling additional assets and the possibility of larger dispositions in the second half of 2026 potentially impacting 2027 earnings growth.

Answer

Chairman and CEO John Kite explained that the timing impact stems from the $300 million buyback (split between 2025 and 2026), line of credit utilization, and the timing of $110 million in 1031 acquisitions. He noted that disposition NOI from 2025 is absent in 2026, which is being backfilled by buybacks and 1031s. Regarding future dispositions, John Kite stated it's too early to comment on 2027, but the company would consider another larger transaction, similar in type to last year's, if it significantly increases embedded rent growth and is accretive or minimally dilutive to earnings.

R.J. Milligan inquired about the specifics of the lease termination fee's impact on guidance and the rationale for choosing the Legacy West acquisition over stock buybacks.

Answer

CFO Heath Fear clarified that guidance was raised by $0.01 from termination fees because the actual fee received ($0.03/share) was higher than the $0.02/share originally anticipated. CEO John Kite explained that the Legacy West deal was a long-term process initiated when KRG's stock was at a higher price, and the rare opportunity to acquire an iconic, high-growth asset represented the best long-term value creation.

RJ Milligan asked about Alpine's long-term strategy for its loan book, specifically whether the 20% allocation would be maintained by redeploying capital as loans are paid off, or if it's expected to decrease over time. He also requested clarification on one-time items in the fourth quarter's financial results to help determine a normalized run rate for the first quarter.

Answer

President and CEO John Albright confirmed that Alpine intends to maintain the 20% loan allocation long-term, citing a strong pipeline that supports refilling loans as they mature. CFO Philip Mays identified non-recurring items in Q4, including management fees and a prepayment penalty, totaling over $300,000, which impacted earnings by a couple of cents. He suggested a Q1 run rate of $0.50-$0.51 per share, considering these one-time items and the full burden of preferred stock outstanding.

RJ Milligan asked about Alpine's long-term strategy for the loan book, specifically whether the company expects to maintain the 20% allocation by redeploying capital from paid-off loans or if the allocation is expected to decrease over time. He also requested clarification on one-time items in the fourth quarter and how to derive a good run rate for the first quarter of the new year.

Answer

President and CEO John Albright confirmed that Alpine intends to maintain the 20% loan allocation long-term, citing a strong pipeline that allows for refilling as loans burn off. CFO Philip Mays identified non-recurring items in Q4, including management fees and a prepayment penalty, totaling over $300,000. He suggested that after adjusting for these and the full burden of preferred stock, the $0.54 FFO/AFFO would be closer to a $0.50-$0.51 run rate for Q1.

RJ Milligan inquired about Alpine Income Property Trust's strategy regarding property types beyond retail, given recent residential and industrial loan activity, and whether proceeds from loan maturities and asset sales would be reinvested or used for debt reduction.

Answer

CEO John Albright clarified that the company remains retail-focused but is open to unique, short-duration opportunities outside retail, especially those with retail conversion potential. CFO Philip Mays added that proceeds would primarily be reinvested into new loans, with a marginal reduction in leverage possible.

RJ Milligan asked about Alpine Income Property Trust's strategy regarding property types outside of retail, specifically residential development and industrial, and how capital sources for the next year will be allocated between reinvestment and debt paydown.

Answer

CEO John Albright clarified that while the focus remains on retail, the company is open to unique, short-duration opportunities in other property types with strong sponsors and assets. CFO Philip Mays stated that proceeds from loan maturities and potential asset sales would primarily be reinvested into new loans, with a marginal reduction in leverage also possible.

RJ Milligan of Raymond James asked for the specific quarterly AFFO impact from the recent Publix loan payoff and inquired about the current market pricing for a new five-year term loan for Alpine.

Answer

Philip Mays, SVP, CFO & Treasurer, calculated the quarterly impact of the $25.5M loan payoff to be a reduction of slightly more than a penny per share per quarter. He also estimated that a new five-year term loan for PINE would price at an all-in rate of around 5%.

R.J. Milligan asked about the expected trend for leverage through the end of the year, whether any tenants in the structured investment portfolio are on a watch list, and if there were any notable items affecting the NOI run rate going forward from Q1.

Answer

John Albright, an executive, anticipates that leverage will be at or below current levels by year-end, thanks to expected loan payoffs and asset sales. He confirmed there are no tenant issues in the high-quality structured investment portfolio. Philip Mays, an executive, noted the primary NOI impact will be the cessation of rent from Party City starting in Q2, which had paid through Q1.

R.J. Milligan from Raymond James asked for an update on the company's exposure to Walgreens, including average lease duration and nearest expiration, and inquired about the outlook for potential credit losses in 2025 given the macroeconomic environment.

Answer

Executive John Albright stated that the Walgreens portfolio is manageable, with an average lease duration of 7.6 years and the nearest expiration six years away. He mentioned they are receiving active bids and will continue to reduce exposure opportunistically. Regarding credit risk, Albright expressed confidence in the portfolio's health, identifying At Home as the only potential concern but noted PINE's very low basis in those properties, making them manageable.

RJ Milligan sought Joey Agree's higher-level views on 2026 investment volume, asking if Agree Realty aims to do more than the current $1.6 billion guidance, and what factors might limit or smooth out incremental investment activity.

Answer

President and CEO Joey Agree stated that Agree Realty does not pace investments but seizes opportunities, with the only limiting factors being qualitative and quantitative hurdles, not internal capacity. He emphasized that the company is built to grow and will not stretch for opportunities.

RJ Milligan sought Joey Agree's higher-level views on investment volume for 2026, asking if Agree Realty aims to increase it, if market availability is a limiting factor, or if there's a comfort level for incremental activity.

Answer

Joey Agree, President and CEO, stated that Agree Realty does not 'pace' investments but rather capitalizes on opportunities, emphasizing that there are no gating factors other than qualitative and quantitative hurdles. He affirmed that the company is built for growth and will not stretch for opportunities, implying that volume is driven by market conditions and suitable deals.

R.J. Milligan of Raymond James inquired about the current appetite of development partners for new store openings, whether any tenants outside of tariff-related issues are on a watch list, and his outlook on where Agree's acquisition cap rates might end the year.

Answer

CEO Joey Agree responded that they have not seen any pause in development appetite from retail partners, noting recent expansion announcements from Sam's Club and Kroger. He confirmed there are no new tenants on the watch list beyond the previously discussed pharmacy and dollar store sectors. Regarding year-end cap rates, he stated he has 'no idea' due to extreme market volatility, explaining that cap rates are not moving significantly with daily treasury fluctuations but are more influenced by broader shifts in the 'fear-greed spectrum'.

R.J. Milligan from Raymond James & Associates, Inc. inquired about the current appetite of development partners for new store openings, asked if any tenants were on a watch list for non-tariff reasons, and sought a forecast for acquisition cap rates by year-end.

Answer

CEO Joey Agree responded that development partners have not paused their activities and some are even announcing new stores. He confirmed there are no new additions to the company's watch list, noting they had already proactively reduced exposure to pharmacy and dollar stores. On cap rates, Agree stated he had 'no idea' where they would end the year due to significant volatility in the 10-year Treasury, which he believes creates an unpredictable environment.

RJ Milligan of Raymond James questioned the basis for confidence in a Q4 RevPAR recovery and asked what levers remain to control expenses in the upcoming year given the difficult comparisons being created.

Answer

President & CEO Jonathan Stanner cited stabilizing demand trends, easier year-over-year comparisons in Q4, and a more constructive industry group calendar as reasons for optimism. For future demand, he pointed to the 2026 World Cup. On expenses, Stanner expressed high confidence in the team's ability to continue prudent cost management, highlighting that year-to-date operating expenses were up only 1.5% and that the company's efficient operating model helps protect margins.

R.J. Milligan from Raymond James asked what needs to improve in the capital markets to spur a more meaningful increase in overall lodging transaction activity.

Answer

Executive William H. Conkling stated that from Summit's perspective, the capital markets are already very constructive. He noted that various financing channels—secured, unsecured, bank, and convert markets—are open and improving. For the types of assets Summit targets at mid-8% to 9% cap rates, there is already a solid, accretive spread between the cost of financing and acquisition yields.

R.J. Milligan of Raymond James inquired about the impact of recent market volatility on anchor space lease negotiations and sought details on the drivers behind the significant new lease spread reported in the quarter.

Answer

Executive John Albright confirmed that leasing activity for anchor spaces has remained consistently strong and robust, with no pause from tenants despite market volatility. An unnamed executive, Bill, added that the high new lease spread was primarily driven by two large leases totaling 54,000 square feet, which achieved a spread of over 80%, aligning with the high end of their re-tenanting expectations.

R.J. Milligan from Raymond James questioned what level of potential bad debt beyond the known vacancies is included in the 2025 guidance. He also asked for the expected timing of rent commencement in 2026 for the re-leased spaces and inquired about the types of tenants being considered and the associated value creation.

Answer

Executive Philip Mays stated that beyond the known vacancies detailed on Slide 8, the guidance incorporates a general 1% bad debt assumption, consistent with historical levels. He expects most new rent to commence in the first half of 2026. Executive John Albright added that they are prioritizing higher-quality, investment-grade tenants, which creates more value through higher rents and cap rate compression, citing one space where rent could double.

R.J. Milligan asked about the company's forward-looking strategy for its leverage levels, noting the recent significant decrease.

Answer

Executive John Albright stated that the company's goal is to maintain lower leverage and that the current level is comfortable. He added that while they might temporarily increase leverage for a significant acquisition opportunity, the strategy would be to rebalance and bring it back down afterward.

R.J. Milligan of Raymond James asked about the strategy behind running at a 7-year low leverage level and how a potential recession might impact the acquisition pipeline in terms of volume, competition, and pricing.

Answer

CEO William Lenehan explained that with high SOFR rates, the cost of holding liquidity via forward equity is minimal, making it opportunistic to build a strong balance sheet. He stated they 'love being very liquid when there's stress.' Regarding a recession, Lenehan believes the portfolio would perform well, but it's unclear if it would create bargain acquisition opportunities. He affirmed FCPT is capitalized and staffed to act, but needs the market to present high-quality deals at attractive prices.

R.J. Milligan of Raymond James asked if the private fund would invest in properties beyond pure triple-net leases, such as development loans. He also followed up on whether the fund's cost of equity would differ and if Realty Income would contribute existing properties.

Answer

CEO Sumit Roy clarified that the fund will not pursue assets with low NOI margins; investments will mimic the high flow-through characteristics of triple-net leases. He explained the fund's long-term return hurdles will be similar to the REIT's, but without the focus on day-one accretion, enabling different types of deals. He confirmed an initial seed portfolio of existing assets will be used to launch the fund, but subsequent investments will be new transactions.

R.J. Milligan inquired about the reason for the lower G&A expense guidance and its sustainability into 2025. He also asked, from a bigger picture perspective, what would offset the headwinds from high 2024 lease termination fees and tenant credit issues to drive per-share growth in 2025.

Answer

CFO Kevin B. Habicht attributed the lower 2024 G&A guidance to minor accrual adjustments and projected a standard inflationary increase for 2025. He identified acquisitions as the primary driver for 2025 growth, supplemented by embedded rent growth across the existing portfolio. He noted that the acquisition pipeline for Q4 and early 2025 looks solid, which will be key to offsetting the known headwinds.

R.J. Milligan of Raymond James inquired about GLPI's general philosophy on equity funding and its strategy regarding the At-The-Market (ATM) program.

Answer

SVP & CIO Matthew Demchyk detailed the philosophy of maintaining 'no equity overhang' to ensure new deals benefit existing shareholders. He explained that capital decisions are made relative to their leverage target of 5.0x-5.5x debt-to-EBITDA. The ATM is used in a 'measured and balanced' way, and recent use was prompted by strong investor interest, allowing the company to pre-fund its 2025 needs and maintain a strong cash position.