PE
Phillips Edison & Company, Inc. (PECO)·Q2 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q2 2025 delivered durable operating performance: same-center NOI +4.2% YoY to $114.5M and Core FFO/share +8.5% YoY to $0.64, while GAAP EPS fell to $0.10 on higher depreciation and interest expense .
- Guidance raised across Net Income/share ($0.61–$0.64), Nareit FFO/share ($2.50–$2.54), Core FFO/share ($2.55–$2.60), and same-center NOI growth (3.10%–3.60%); acquisitions guide maintained at $350–$450M .
- Estimates context: PECO delivered a revenue beat ($177.8M vs $173.8M consensus*) and an EPS miss ($0.10 vs $0.143 consensus*); EBITDA near consensus (definitions vary)* .
- Strategic catalysts: strong rent spreads (new +34.6%, renewal +19.1%), high occupancy (97.4%), increased fixed-rate debt (95%), and an active pipeline (YTD acquisitions $279.7M at PECO share) underpin forward growth .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Same-center NOI grew 4.2% to $114.5M; Core FFO/share grew 8.5% YoY to $0.64. CEO: “Retailer demand remains strong… platform is driving meaningful earnings growth” .
- Leasing momentum and pricing power: comparable new lease spreads +34.6%, renewal +19.1%; inline renewal spreads +20.7%. President: “We delivered strong comparable renewal rent spreads of 19.1%… and new rent spreads were 34.6%” .
- Balance sheet strength and funding: $972M liquidity; 95% fixed-rate debt; $350M 5.250% senior notes due 2032 completed, effectively match-funding YTD acquisitions .
What Went Wrong
- GAAP EPS declined to $0.10 (vs $0.12 YoY) driven by higher D&A ($71.2M vs $61.2M YoY) and interest expense ($27.7M vs $23.6M YoY) despite stronger operations .
- Net debt/Adj. EBITDAre increased to 5.4x (from 5.0x YE 2024), reflecting elevated acquisition activity; management noted tracking “last quarter annualized” leverage at 5.3x given timing .
- Bad debt ticked up vs prior year in the quarter (still within guidance); CFO tightened collectibility range and indicated consistency for 2H25 .
Financial Results
Estimates vs Actuals (Q2 2025):
Values with asterisk retrieved from S&P Global.*
KPIs
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- CEO: “We are pleased to report another quarter of solid operating and financial results, with same-center NOI growth of 4.2% and Core FFO per share growth of 8.5%… PECO’s strong balance sheet and highly-experienced team are well-positioned to drive continued earnings growth” .
- CEO framing of strategy: “Because of these advantages, we believe PECO is able to deliver mid to high single digit core FFO per share growth annually… Less beta, more alpha” .
- President: “Comparable renewal rent spreads of 19.1%… new rent spreads were 34.6%… average annual rent bumps of 2.7%… we expect new and renewal spreads to continue to be strong” .
- CFO: “We have approximately $972M of liquidity… 95% of total debt fixed-rate… completed a bond offering of 5.25% senior notes due 2032… pleased to raise 2025 guidance” .
Q&A Highlights
- Acquisitions competitiveness and mix: Buying in multiple markets one center at a time; shadow-anchored and unanchored centers offer wider IRR; YTD acquisitions ~$290M; guidance maintained given competitive pricing discipline .
- Same-center NOI cadence: Mgmt highlighted Q4’24 skew (+6.5%) and expects Q3/Q4 to be consistent and improving from Q2; avoids quarterly guidance for timing effects .
- Variable-rate debt outlook: Target ~90% fixed; repeat issuer in unsecured bond market; may opportunistically term out variable exposures; monitoring swaps maturities .
- Tariffs & consumer: Necessity-heavy mix limits exposure; tenants largely passing costs to suppliers; foot traffic remains strong; employment in PECO trade areas supportive .
- Kroger closures: One impacted store in portfolio, already backfilling with another grocer; co-tenancy risks limited in grocery-anchored format .
Estimates Context
- Q2 2025 results vs consensus (S&P Global): revenue beat ($177.8M vs $173.8M*), EPS miss ($0.10 vs $0.143*). EBITDA close to consensus (note: consensus EBITDA vs company-reported Adjusted EBITDAre differ by definition)* .
- Implications: Street may raise FFO and NOI trajectory given updated 2025 guidance and robust leasing spreads; GAAP EPS likely remains pressured by D&A and higher interest expense even as operating metrics strengthen .
Values with asterisk retrieved from S&P Global.*
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Core operating strength intact: same-center NOI +4.2% YoY, Core FFO/share +8.5% YoY, with strong spreads and high occupancy driving dependable cash flows .
- Revenue beat, EPS miss dynamic underscores REIT accounting (D&A/interest headwinds) vs cash flow measures; Nareit/Core FFO are the better performance lenses in this setup .
- Guidance raised broadly (Net Income, Nareit FFO, Core FFO, same-center NOI), supporting estimate upward revisions and medium-term growth visibility .
- Balance sheet optionality: $972M liquidity, 95% fixed-rate debt, recent $350M bond issue—capacity to fund acquisitions while managing rate risk .
- Leasing tailwinds should persist: retailer demand concentrated in necessity categories; inline occupancy has room to rise; robust pipeline of development/redevelopment projects with 9–12% estimated yields .
- Active external growth: YTD acquisitions $279.7M at PECO share, with disciplined underwriting (target ≥9% unlevered IRR); positioned to exceed guide if pricing allows .
- Near-term trading lens: narrative favors guidance raises and cash-flow momentum; watch tariff headlines (largely benign for PECO’s mix), bad debt normalization, and acquisition pricing discipline as incremental stock drivers .