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Healthcare Realty (HR) Q3 FFO Misses Estimates, Revenues Top

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Healthcare Realty Trust Inc. (HR - Free Report) reported third-quarter 2017 normalized funds from operations (FFO) per share of 38 cents, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 39 cents. On a year-over-year basis, FFO per share declined 2.6%.

Results indicated improved operating results offset by escalating expenses.

Nonetheless, total revenues of $107 million in the quarter surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $106 million. The figure was up 2.2% from the prior-year quarter.

Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
 

Note: All EPS numbers presented in this write up represent FFO per share.

Quarter in Details

For the trailing 12-month period ended Sep 30, 2017, same-store revenues improved 2.9%, operating expenses inched up 0.9% and same-store net operating income (NOI) increased 3.9%. Further, same-store revenues per average occupied square foot grew 2%, while average same-store occupancy expanded 70 basis points (bps) from the prior year to 89.6%.

Third-quarter leasing activity included 147 leases and aggregated 558,000 square feet of space. This comprised 421,000 square feet renewals, and 137,000 square feet of new and expansion leases.

For the reported quarter, in the company’s same-store multi-tenant portfolio, contractual rent increases averaged 2.8%, while cash leasing spreads were 4.6% on 385,000 square feet renewed. Moreover, tenant retention was 80.5% and the average yield on renewed leases advanced 60 bps.

In addition, for the quarter, acquisitions totaled $141.1 million, which included a medical office building in Los Angeles worth $16.3 million.

The company exited the third quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $197 million, significantly up from $12.6 million recorded at the year-ago quarter end.

Dividend Update

On Oct 31, the company announced a quarterly cash dividend of 30 cents per share. This dividend will be paid on Nov 30 to stockholders of record as of Nov 11, 2017, and is equivalent to 78.9% of normalized FFO per share.

Our Take

Although Healthcare Realty missed estimates by a whisker, solid operating performance mirrors encouraging prospects for the company, going forward.

The aging baby-boomer generation and greater longevity will likely augment demand for healthcare facilities. Subsequently, the company’s increased medical facility buyouts provide opportunities to become resilient.

However, intense competition and estimated hike in interest rates are expected to curtail the company’s growth momentum in the near term.

Healthcare Realty currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Nonetheless, shares of Healthcare Realty have gained 6.7% outperforming the 4.8% rally of the industry.



Performance of Other REITs

Ventas, Inc. (VTR - Free Report) reported third-quarter 2017 normalized FFO of $1.04 per share, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The figure also came in a penny higher than the year-ago quarter tally. Results reflect improved property performance and accretive investments.

Cousins Properties Incorporated (CUZ - Free Report) reported third-quarter 2017 FFO per share of 15 cents, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The quarter witnessed considerable improvement in rental property revenues, which aided results to quite an extent. However, elevated expenses were a headwind.

PS Business Parks, Inc.  reported third-quarter 2017 core FFO of $1.54 per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny. Also, the figure came in 7.7% higher than $1.43 recorded in the prior-year quarter. The rise stemmed from higher net operating income (NOI), reduced general and administrative expenses, and savings from lower preferred distributions.

Note: FFO, a widely used metric to gauge the performance of REITs, is obtained after adding depreciation and amortization and other non-cash expenses to net income.

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