Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. (SHO)·Q1 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q1 2025 delivered modest top-line growth with stronger margins and non-GAAP profitability: Total revenues rose 7.8% year over year to $234.1M, Total Portfolio RevPAR rose 2.2% to $221.63, and Hotel Adjusted EBITDA re margin expanded 110 bps to 26.0% . Adjusted FFO per diluted share increased 16.7% to $0.21 on cost control and ancillary revenue strength .
- Guidance reset lower: FY2025 Net Income, RevPAR growth, Adjusted EBITDA re, and Adjusted FFO ranges were all reduced versus February, reflecting Andaz Miami Beach’s later opening, transient softness in San Diego, and near-term demand headwinds in Wailea (Maui) .
- Estimates context: Q1 GAAP EPS materially beat S&P Global consensus; revenue missed. EPS actual ~$0.03 vs est ~$0.01; revenue actual $234.1M vs est $240.2M. EBITDA comparisons are definition-sensitive; company Adjusted EBITDA re was $57.3M, while S&P’s EBITDA framework shows a lower actual figure* *.
- Strategic catalysts: Andaz Miami Beach opened May 3 and is expected to contribute $6–$7M of EBITDA in 2025 with the majority in Q4; management is leaning into accretive share repurchases and capital recycling given the NAV discount .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
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What Went Well
- Margin expansion and non-GAAP strength: Hotel Adjusted EBITDA re margin increased to 26.0%, with Adjusted EBITDA re up 5% to $57.3M and Adjusted FFO/share up 16.7% to $0.21 . CEO: “first quarter earnings…slightly ahead of expectations even on softer revenue growth” .
- Urban/convention market momentum: DC RevPAR +24% (inauguration), San Francisco RevPAR +9% on improved citywide calendar; group/business transient demand remained strong .
- Capital allocation and liquidity: $20.8M YTD common share repurchases at $8.90 average; extension of $225M Term Loan 3; ~$650M total liquidity including credit facility capacity .
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What Went Wrong
- Guidance cut across key metrics: FY2025 RevPAR growth lowered by ~300 bps (portfolio) and 200 bps ex-Andaz; Adjusted EBITDA re and Adjusted FFO both reduced by ~$10M at midpoints .
- Resort softness in Maui and San Diego transient demand: Wailea ADR/occupancy down, RevPAR -12.4% YoY; San Diego saw “less robust” conditions near term .
- Andaz opening delays and pre-opening costs: Q1 included $3.3M of pre-opening costs; revised Andaz contribution ($6–$7M EBITDA in 2025) reduces earlier expectations by ~$2M .
Financial Results
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Segment/Property Highlights (Q1 2025) | Property | Revenues ($USD Thousands) | Hotel Adjusted EBITDA re ($USD Thousands) | Margin (%) | |----------|---------------------------|-------------------------------------------|-----------| | Westin Washington DC Downtown | $24,724 | $7,534 | 30.5% | | JW Marriott New Orleans | $14,147 | $7,061 | 49.9% | | Wailea Beach Resort | $35,898 | $11,990 | 33.4% | | Marriott Long Beach Downtown | $8,613 | $1,915 | 22.2% | | Hyatt Regency San Francisco | $24,521 | $2,623 | 10.7% |
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Non-GAAP adjustments: Q1 reconciling items included $3.253M pre-opening costs and $1.869M management transition costs; adjustments to EBITDA re totaled $6.946M .
Guidance Changes
Assumptions unchanged: Interest income ($4–$5M), corporate overhead ($20–$21M), interest expense ($51–$54M incl. $1M noncash derivatives), preferred dividends ($16–$17M) .
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- Strategic message: “We are advancing the next chapter…with the debut of Andaz Miami Beach…positioned to deliver on our underwriting and provide earnings growth for the next several years” .
- Cost discipline and portfolio quality: “Stronger ancillary revenue, better hotel expense management and savings at the corporate level offset lower rooms revenue growth” .
- Capital allocation: “Repurchasing our shares at these levels equates to a highly compelling multiple…we will look to recycle additional capital into share repurchase, potentially through additional asset sales” .
- Market color: “We generated RevPAR growth of 9% in San Francisco…encouraging…meaningful opportunity for additional earnings recovery” . “Wailea…near-term choppiness…group production…up nearly 20%…gives us reason to be optimistic” .
Q&A Highlights
- Andaz Miami Beach ramp: Management expects $6–$7M EBITDA in 2025 with most in Q4; 60–70% of resort EBITDA typically occurs in Q4/Q1; booking window opening now supports late-year yield .
- Guidance drivers: Andaz later opening (-$2M vs Feb), Maui moderation (
-$4M), San Diego transient (-$2M) drove mid-point cuts; approach intentionally conservative given uncertainty . - Portfolio recycling and repurchases: Potential to be a net seller; recycle capital across both small and large assets; current best use of capital is repurchasing stock given NAV discount .
- Regional views: Maui to normalize as airlift returns and Kaanapali fills; San Francisco trend positive with strong pace and business transient in Embarcadero/Financial District .
Estimates Context
- Consensus vs Actual (Q1 2025) | Metric | S&P Global Consensus | Actual | Surprise | |--------|----------------------|--------|----------| | Primary EPS ($) | 0.01305* | 0.0315* | Beat (material) | | Revenue ($USD) | 240.16M* | 234.07M | Miss (modest) | | Primary EPS – # of Estimates | 3* | — | — | | Revenue – # of Estimates | 7* | — | — |
Values with asterisk were retrieved from S&P Global. Company-reported Adjusted EBITDA re was $57.26M ; note S&P’s EBITDA framework (estimate ~$54.27M, actual ~$48.75M*) may not match company “Adjusted EBITDA re” definitions.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Q1 execution beat internal expectations on margins and AFFO/share despite softer room revenue; mix and cost controls are mitigating macro volatility .
- Guidance reset is driven by identifiable, near-term issues (Andaz opening slippage, Maui normalization, San Diego transient softness); H2 setup improves with strike lap and Andaz incremental contribution .
- Andaz Miami Beach is a multi-year growth asset; luxury positioning and Q4/Q1 seasonal skew suggest accelerating contribution in late 2025 into 2026 .
- Share repurchases remain a core capital allocation lever given NAV discount; management is open to asset sales to fund buybacks, supporting per-share value accretion .
- Urban/convention exposure (DC, SF) is an earnings tailwind as group and business transient continue to recover; watch San Diego transient trend for inflection in H2 .
- Maui headwinds should ease as Kaanapali completes reopening and airlift recovers; group pace strength underpins medium-term recovery at Wailea .
- Trading lens: Near-term sentiment may hinge on H2 visibility and Andaz pacing; any evidence of stronger summer international demand or earlier Maui recovery would be a positive catalyst, while further macro softness could pressure RevPAR and warrant cautious positioning .
Dividends and Balance Sheet Notes
- Q2 2025 common dividend $0.09/share; preferred distributions declared; paid July 15, 2025 to holders of record June 30, 2025 .
- Liquidity: ~$149M cash (incl. restricted), $845M total debt; extended $225M Term Loan 3 to May 2026; no maturities before 2026 including options .
Additional Press Releases (Q1 2025)
- Company scheduled Q1 2025 earnings call for May 6, 2025 . Primary Q1 results press release and supplemental filed May 6, 2025 .