Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. Reports 2022 Second Quarter Results

SAN DIEGO, July 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. (NASDAQ:ROIC) announced today financial and operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022.

HIGHLIGHTS

• $11.5 million of net income attributable to common stockholders ($0.09 per diluted share)
• $36.7 million in Funds From Operations (FFO)⁽¹⁾ ($0.28 per diluted share)
• FFO guidance for 2022 raised ($1.08 - $1.12 per diluted share)
• $120.2 million of acquisitions lined up ($60.0 million closed, $60.2 million under contract)
• $37.1 million property disposition under contract
• 714,380 square feet of leases executed during first six months of ‘22 (record activity)
• 97.6% portfolio lease rate at 6/30/22 (vs. 97.2% at 3/31/22 and 96.9% at 6/30/21)
• 16.7% increase in same-space cash base rents on 2Q‘22 new leases (10.5% renewal increase)
• 3.7% increase in same-center cash net operating income (2Q‘22 vs. 2Q‘21)
• 5.6% increase in same-center cash net operating income (first six months ‘22 vs. ‘21)
• $25.2 million of common equity raised through ATM program during first six months
• 6.7x net principal debt-to-annualized EBITDA ratio for 2Q‘22
• Awarded 2022 Green Lease Leader in recognition of ESG initiatives
• $0.15 per share cash dividend declared
  ________________________________________
  ⁽¹⁾ A reconciliation of GAAP net income to FFO is provided at the end of this press release.

Stuart A. Tanz, President and Chief Executive Officer of Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. stated, “Strong demand for space across our portfolio continues to drive our business forward. Building on our leasing momentum from the first quarter, we increased our portfolio lease rate during the second quarter and again posted solid double-digit rent growth on both same-space new leases and renewals. Additionally, we continue to steadily grow and enhance our portfolio. Year-to-date, we have lined up $120.2 million of grocery-anchored shopping center acquisitions.” Tanz added, “With our success during the first half of the year, we are well-positioned and firmly on track to achieve our key objectives for 2022.”

FINANCIAL RESULTS SUMMARY

For the three months ended June 30, 2022, GAAP net income attributable to common stockholders was $11.5 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, as compared to GAAP net income attributable to common stockholders of $16.5 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, for the three months ended June 30, 2021. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, GAAP net income attributable to common stockholders was $23.1 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, as compared to GAAP net income attributable to common stockholders of $23.9 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, for the six months ended June 30, 2021. Included in 2021 GAAP net income was a $9.5 million gain on sale of real estate.

FFO for the second quarter of 2022 was $36.7 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, as compared to $31.7 million in FFO, or $0.25 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2021. FFO for the first six months of 2022 was $72.9 million, or $0.55 per diluted share, as compared to $62.7 million in FFO, or $0.49 per diluted share for the first six months of 2021. ROIC reports FFO as a supplemental performance measure in accordance with the definition set forth by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts. A reconciliation of GAAP net income to FFO is provided at the end of this press release.

For the second quarter of 2022, same-center net operating income (NOI) was $49.6 million, as compared to $47.8 million in same-center NOI for the second quarter of 2021, representing a 3.7% increase. For the first six months of 2022, same-center NOI increased 5.6% as compared to same-center NOI for the first six months of 2021. ROIC reports same-center comparative NOI on a cash basis. A reconciliation of GAAP operating income to same-center comparative NOI is provided at the end of this press release.

At June 30, 2022, ROIC had total market capitalization of approximately $3.4 billion and approximately $1.4 billion of principal debt outstanding. As of June 30, 2022, 95.5% of ROIC’s principal debt outstanding was unsecured, including $46.0 million outstanding on its $600.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility. Additionally, ROIC’s interest coverage ratio and net principal debt-to-annualized EBITDA ratio for the second quarter of 2022 was 3.6 times and 6.7 times, respectively, and 96.6% of its portfolio was unencumbered at June 30, 2022, based on gross leasable area.

Year to date, ROIC has issued approximately 1.3 million shares of common stock through its ATM program, raising $25.2 million in gross proceeds, including issuing approximately 0.7 million shares of common stock during the first quarter, and approximately 0.6 million shares during the second quarter.

ACQUISITION & DISPOSITION SUMMARY

Year-to-date, ROIC has lined up $120.2 million of grocery-anchored shopping center acquisitions, including the following three grocery-anchored shopping centers acquired during the second quarter, totaling $60.0 million.

Powell Valley Junction

In April 2022, ROIC acquired Powell Valley Junction for $17.6 million. The shopping center is approximately 109,000 square feet and is anchored by Walmart Neighborhood Market. The property is located in Gresham, Oregon, within the Portland metropolitan area, and is currently 99.0% leased.

Olympia Square North

In April 2022, ROIC acquired Olympia Square North for $18.4 million. The shopping center is approximately 90,000 square feet and is anchored by Albertsons Supermarket. The property is located in Olympia, Washington, within the Seattle metropolitan area, and is currently 100% leased.

Village Oaks Shopping Center

In May 2022, ROIC acquired Village Oaks Shopping Center for $24.0 million. The shopping center is approximately 80,000 square feet and is anchored by Save Mart (Lucky California) Supermarket and Rite Aid Pharmacy (NAP). The property is located in Martinez, California, within the San Francisco metropolitan area, and is currently 97.9% leased.

Additionally, ROIC currently has a contract involving a three property transaction, including selling one ROIC property for $37.1 million, while acquiring the following two grocery-anchored shopping centers for a total of $60.2 million.

Ballinger Village

ROIC has a contract to acquire Ballinger Village for $29.2 million. The shopping center is approximately 113,000 square feet and is anchored by Thriftway Supermarket and Rite Aid Pharmacy. The property is located in Shoreline, Washington, within the Seattle metropolitan area, and is currently 89.1% leased.

Thomas Lake Shopping Center

ROIC has a contract to acquire Thomas Lake Shopping Center for $31.0 million. The shopping center is approximately 111,000 square feet and is anchored by Albertsons Supermarket and Rite Aid Pharmacy. The property is located in Mill Creek, Washington, within the Seattle metropolitan area, and is currently 100% leased.

PROPERTY OPERATIONS SUMMARY

At June 30, 2022, ROIC’s portfolio was 97.6% leased. During the second quarter of 2022, ROIC executed 93 leases, totaling 297,741 square feet, including 38 new leases, totaling 83,276 square feet, achieving a 16.7% increase in same-space comparative base rent, and 55 renewed leases, totaling 214,465 square feet, achieving a 10.5% increase in base rent. ROIC reports same-space comparative new lease and renewal base rents on a cash basis.

ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL & GOVERNANCE SUMMARY

In May 2022, ROIC was selected as a 2022 Green Lease Leader by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Alliance and the Institute for Market Transformation. Specifically, ROIC was awarded “Gold” level designation in recognition of its continued success in collaborating with tenants on energy efficiency, decarbonization, air quality and other environmental and social issues.

Subsequent to the second quarter, in July 2022, ROIC released its annual Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) report, detailing the company’s ESG achievements during 2021, as well as its ongoing initiatives and long term strategic goals. The report was prepared in accordance with the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) standards, the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The report is available at: http://www.roireit.net/assets/001/5927.pdf.

CASH DIVIDEND

On July 8, 2022, ROIC distributed a $0.13 per share cash dividend. On July 26, 2022, ROIC’s board of directors declared a cash dividend of $0.15 per share, payable on October 7, 2022 to stockholders of record on September 16, 2022.

2022 GUIDANCE SUMMARY

ROIC currently estimates that GAAP net income for 2022 will be within the range of $0.31 to $0.36 per diluted share, and FFO will be within the range of $1.08 to $1.12 per diluted share.

	Year Ended December 31, 2022
	Previous								Current
	Low End				High End				Low End				High End
	(unaudited, amounts in thousands except per share and percentage data)
GAAP net income applicable to stockholders	$	29,501			$	40,494			$	37,546			$	44,907
Funds from operations (FFO) – diluted	$	137,280			$	148,500			$	142,560			$	150,080
GAAP net income per diluted share	$	0.24			$	0.32			$	0.31			$	0.36
FFO per diluted share	$	1.04			$	1.10			$	1.08			$	1.12
Key Drivers
General and administrative expenses	$	22,000			$	21,000			$	22,500			$	21,500
Straight-line rent	$	500			$	500			$	2,400			$	2,400
Amortization of above- and below-market rent	$	10,400			$	10,400			$	11,300			$	11,300
Bad debt	$	3,000			$	2,000			$	3,000			$	2,000
Acquisitions	$	100,000			$	300,000			$	120,000			$	200,000
Dispositions	$	50,000			$	30,000			$	70,000			$	100,000
Same-center cash NOI growth (vs. 2021)		3.0	%			4.0	%			4.0	%			5.0	%

ROIC’s management will discuss guidance, and the underlying assumptions, on ROIC’s July 27, 2022 conference call.   ROIC’s guidance is a forward-looking statement and is subject to risks and other factors noted elsewhere in this press release.

CONFERENCE CALL

ROIC will conduct a conference call to discuss its results on Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time / 6:00 a.m. Pacific Time. To participate in the conference call, click on the following link (ten minutes prior to the call) to register:

http://register.vevent.com/register/BI62b17b0b4d274c8ba58b978c41bb4c2f

Once registered, participants will have the option of: 1) dialing in from their phone (using a PIN); or 2) clicking the “Call Me” option to receive an automated call directly to their phone.

The conference call will also be available live (in a listen-only mode) at: http://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/ehpn5ywt

The conference call will be archived and available for replay for approximately 90 days at: http://www.roireit.net/

ABOUT RETAIL OPPORTUNITY INVESTMENTS CORP.

Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. (NASDAQ: ROIC), is a fully-integrated, self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT) that specializes in the acquisition, ownership and management of grocery-anchored shopping centers located in densely-populated, metropolitan markets across the West Coast. As of June 30, 2022, ROIC owned 92 shopping centers encompassing approximately 10.4 million square feet. ROIC is the largest publicly-traded, grocery-anchored shopping center REIT focused exclusively on the West Coast. ROIC is a member of the S&P SmallCap 600 Index and has investment-grade corporate debt ratings from Moody's Investor Services, S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings, Inc. Additional information is available at: www.roireit.net.

When used herein, the words "believes," "anticipates," "projects," "should," "estimates," "expects," “guidance” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements with the meaning of that term in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and in Section 21F of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Certain statements contained herein may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results of ROIC to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Information regarding such risks and factors is described in ROIC's filings with the SEC, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is available at: www.roireit.net.

RETAIL OPPORTUNITY INVESTMENTS CORP.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share data)

	June 30, 2022 (unaudited)				December 31, 2021
ASSETS
Real Estate Investments:
Land	$	934,687			$	915,861
Building and improvements		2,419,177				2,350,294
		3,353,864				3,266,155
Less:  accumulated depreciation		546,043				510,836
		2,807,821				2,755,319
Mortgage note receivable		4,831				4,875
Real Estate Investments, net		2,812,652				2,760,194
Cash and cash equivalents		5,632				13,218
Restricted cash		1,730				2,145
Tenant and other receivables, net		52,619				55,787
Acquired lease intangible assets, net		52,296				50,139
Prepaid expenses		1,950				5,337
Deferred charges, net		25,358				25,017
Other assets		16,473				17,007
Total assets	$	2,968,710			$	2,928,844
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities:
Term loan	$	299,071			$	298,889
Credit facility		46,000				—
Senior Notes		946,035				945,231
Mortgage notes payable		61,339				85,354
Acquired lease intangible liabilities, net		141,577				136,608
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		38,632				48,598
Tenants’ security deposits		7,561				7,231
Other liabilities		40,271				40,580
Total liabilities		1,580,486				1,562,491
Commitments and contingencies
Equity:
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value 50,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding		—				—
Common stock, $0.0001 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized; 124,341,618 and 122,685,266 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively		12				12
Additional paid-in capital		1,604,495				1,577,837
Dividends in excess of earnings		(307,039	)			(297,801	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(5	)			(3,154	)
Total Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. stockholders’ equity		1,297,463				1,276,894
Non-controlling interests		90,761				89,459
Total equity		1,388,224				1,366,353
Total liabilities and equity	$	2,968,710			$	2,928,844

RETAIL OPPORTUNITY INVESTMENTS CORP.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share data)

	Three Months Ended June 30,								Six Months Ended June 30,
		2022				2021				2022				2021
Revenues
Rental revenue	$	77,218			$	70,114			$	152,255			$	139,018
Other income		1,007				616				2,443				899
Total revenues		78,225				70,730				154,698				139,917
Operating expenses
Property operating		12,672				10,766				24,763				21,325
Property taxes		8,416				8,332				16,936				16,938
Depreciation and amortization		24,350				23,507				48,112				46,547
General and administrative expenses		5,702				5,232				10,942				9,607
Other expense		488				331				667				484
Total operating expenses		51,628				48,168				101,420				94,901
Gain on sale of real estate		—				9,460				—				9,460
Operating income		26,597				32,022				53,278				54,476
Non-operating expenses
Interest expense and other finance expenses		(14,283	)			(14,337	)			(28,498	)			(28,817	)
Net income		12,314				17,685				24,780				25,659
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests		(807	)			(1,201	)			(1,632	)			(1,760	)
Net Income Attributable to Retail Opportunity Investments Corp.	$	11,507			$	16,484			$	23,148			$	23,899
Earnings per share – basic and diluted	$	0.09			$	0.14			$	0.19			$	0.20
Dividends per common share	$	0.13			$	0.11			$	0.26			$	0.22

CALCULATION OF FUNDS FROM OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)

	Three Months Ended June 30,							Six Months Ended June 30,
		2022			2021				2022			2021
Net income attributable to ROIC	$	11,507		$	16,484			$	23,148		$	23,899
Plus:  Depreciation and amortization		24,350			23,507				48,112			46,547
Less: Gain on sale of real estate		—			(9,460	)			—			(9,460	)
Funds from operations – basic		35,857			30,531				71,260			60,986
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests		807			1,201				1,632			1,760
Funds from operations – diluted	$	36,664		$	31,732			$	72,892		$	62,746

SAME-CENTER CASH NET OPERATING INCOME ANALYSIS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except number of shopping centers and percentages)

		Three Months Ended June 30,															Six Months Ended June 30,
			2022				2021			$ Change				% Change				2022				2021			$ Change				% Change
Number of shopping centers included in same-center analysis			85				85											85				85
Same-center occupancy			97.6	%			97.0	%						0.6	%			97.6	%			97.0	%						0.6	%
Revenues:
	Base rents	$	51,589			$	49,619			$	1,970			4.0	%		$	102,816			$	99,069			$	3,747			3.8	%
	Percentage rent		142				(9	)			151			(1,677.8	)%			330				174				156			89.7	%
	Recoveries from tenants		17,416				16,445				971			5.9	%			34,992				33,157				1,835			5.5	%
	Other property income		825				445				380			85.4	%			1,854				554				1,300			234.7	%
	Bad debt		(136	)			127				(263	)		(207.1	)%			(700	)			(1,425	)			725			(50.9	)%
Total Revenues			69,836				66,627				3,209			4.8	%			139,292				131,529				7,763			5.9	%
Operating Expenses
	Property operating expenses		12,365				10,636				1,729			16.3	%			24,120				21,100				3,020			14.3	%
	Property taxes		7,887				8,195				(308	)		(3.8	)%			16,094				16,604				(510	)		(3.1	)%
Total Operating Expenses			20,252				18,831				1,421			7.5	%			40,214				37,704				2,510			6.7	%
Same-Center Cash Net Operating Income		$	49,584			$	47,796			$	1,788			3.7	%		$	99,078			$	93,825			$	5,253			5.6	%

SAME-CENTER CASH NET OPERATING INCOME RECONCILIATION
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)

	Three Months Ended June 30,								Six Months Ended June 30,
		2022				2021				2022				2021
GAAP operating income	$	26,597			$	32,022			$	53,278			$	54,476
Depreciation and amortization		24,350				23,507				48,112				46,547
General and administrative expenses		5,702				5,232				10,942				9,607
Other expense		488				331				667				484
Gain on sale of real estate		—				(9,460	)			—				(9,460	)
Straight-line rent		(915	)			(294	)			(1,366	)			(312	)
Amortization of above- and below-market rent		(3,254	)			(2,214	)			(6,311	)			(4,446	)
Property revenues and other expenses (1)		(265	)			(52	)			(589	)			(181	)
Total Company cash NOI		52,703				49,072				104,733				96,715
Non same-center cash NOI		(3,119	)			(1,276	)			(5,655	)			(2,890	)
Same-center cash NOI	$	49,584			$	47,796			$	99,078			$	93,825

____________________

(1)   Includes anchor lease termination fees, net of contractual amounts, if any, expense and recovery adjustments related to prior periods and other miscellaneous adjustments.

NON-GAAP DISCLOSURES

Funds from operations (“FFO”), is a widely recognized non-GAAP financial measure for REITs that the Company believes when considered with financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP, provides additional and useful means to assess its financial performance. FFO is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties to evaluate the performance of REITs, most of which present FFO along with net income as calculated in accordance with GAAP. The Company computes FFO in accordance with the “White Paper” on FFO published by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”), which defines FFO as net income attributable to common stockholders (determined in accordance with GAAP) excluding gains or losses from debt restructuring, sales of depreciable property and impairments, plus real estate related depreciation and amortization, and after adjustments for partnerships and unconsolidated joint ventures.

The Company uses cash net operating income (“NOI”) internally to evaluate and compare the operating performance of the Company’s properties. The Company believes cash NOI provides useful information to investors regarding the Company’s financial condition and results of operations because it reflects only those income and expense items that are incurred at the property level, and when compared across periods, can be used to determine trends in earnings of the Company’s properties as this measure is not affected by the non-cash revenue and expense recognition items, the cost of the Company’s funding, the impact of depreciation and amortization expenses, gains or losses from the acquisition and sale of operating real estate assets, general and administrative expenses or other gains and losses that relate to the Company’s ownership of properties. The Company believes the exclusion of these items from operating income is useful because the resulting measure captures the actual revenue generated and actual expenses incurred in operating the Company’s properties as well as trends in occupancy rates, rental rates and operating costs. Cash NOI is a measure of the operating performance of the Company’s properties but does not measure the Company’s performance as a whole and is therefore not a substitute for net income or operating income as computed in accordance with GAAP. The Company defines cash NOI as operating revenues (base rent and recoveries from tenants), less property and related expenses (property operating expenses and property taxes), adjusted for non-cash revenue and operating expense items such as straight-line rent and amortization of lease intangibles, debt-related expenses and other adjustments. Cash NOI also excludes general and administrative expenses, depreciation and amortization, acquisition transaction costs, other expense, interest expense, gains and losses from property acquisitions and dispositions, extraordinary items, tenant improvements and leasing commissions. Other REITs may use different methodologies for calculating cash NOI, and accordingly, the Company’s cash NOI may not be comparable to other REITs.

Contact:    
Nicolette O’Leary
Director of Investor Relations
858-677-0900
noleary@roireit.net