• FFOA per Share (Q4 2024): $0.63, meeting the midpoint of guidance.
• FFOA per Share (Full-Year 2024): $2.48, meeting the midpoint of guidance.
• Same-Store NOI Growth: Exceeded the high end of guidance range.
• Occupancy Rate (End of 2024): Improved by 50 basis points sequentially from Q3.
• Occupancy Rate (Early 2025): Maintained above 97%, 30 basis points higher than Q4 average.
• 2025 Rent Growth Forecast: 2%.
• FFOA per Share Guidance (2025): $2.45 to $2.55.
• Same-Store Revenue Growth Guidance (2025): 1.25% to 3.25%.
• Same-Store Expense Growth Guidance (2025): 3.5% at the midpoint.
• Debt Maturity (Through 2026): Only 10% of total consolidated debt matures.
• Liquidity: More than $1 billion available.

• Warning! GuruFocus has detected 10 Warning Signs with UDR.

Release Date: February 06, 2025

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

• UDR Inc (NYSE:UDR) achieved the midpoint of its FFOA per share guidance for both the fourth quarter and full-year 2024.
• The company maintained occupancy above 97% in early 2025, which is higher than the fourth-quarter average.
• UDR Inc (NYSE:UDR) expects economic growth and apartment demand to remain resilient in 2025, with supply pressures abating in the latter half of the year.
• Ongoing investments in innovation, such as the customer experience project, are anticipated to drive incremental NOI growth in excess of the broader market in 2025.
• The company's balance sheet is well-positioned to fully fund capital needs in 2025 and beyond, with more than $1 billion in liquidity and minimal committed capital.

Negative Points

• UDR Inc (NYSE:UDR) anticipates a slight decrease in FFOA per share for the first quarter of 2025 due to higher expenses and lower debt and preferred equity investment balance.
• The Sunbelt markets are expected to face elevated new supply in 2025, which could limit pricing power.
• The company is facing challenges with rent control in Monterey Peninsula, impacting revenue growth in the West Coast region.
• There are uncertainties related to regulatory risks and macroeconomic factors such as immigration reform that could impact the company's outlook.
• UDR Inc (NYSE:UDR) has two investments on its watchlist, totaling approximately $40 million, which could represent a risk to FFOA per share if they move to nonaccrual status.

Q & A Highlights

Q: Can you provide insights into how blended rate growth might trend throughout the year across different markets, particularly comparing the Sunbelt to other regions? A: Michael Lacy, Chief Operating Officer, explained that the company expects blended lease rate growth to be around 2.5% for the year. The first half of the year is anticipated to see growth between 1.4% to 1.8%, while the second half is expected to increase to 2.8% to 3.2%. The Sunbelt is expected to see lower growth initially but should improve as supply pressures lessen.

Q: How is UDR positioned in terms of investments, and is there capital available for acquisitions without needing to raise new funds? A: Joseph Fisher, President, CFO, and CIO, noted that UDR is not necessarily a net seller, as some sales were carried over from the previous year. The company remains opportunistic, with ongoing discussions with joint venture partners like LaSalle. UDR is also looking at potential development starts and redevelopment opportunities, with a focus on capital allocation that doesn't require raising new funds.

Q: Could you discuss the current state of concessions in your markets and how they might impact your outlook? A: Michael Lacy, COO, mentioned that concessions are currently around one week and are being reduced as occupancy remains high. The strategy is to drive occupancy now and focus on increasing rents, which should help reduce concessions further.

Q: What is the rationale behind the recent change in the CIO role, and will this affect UDR's capital allocation strategy? A: Thomas Toomey, Chairman and CEO, explained that the change is part of a broader strategy to enhance leadership and talent development within the company. Joseph Fisher's move to CIO is expected to bring fresh perspectives to the investment area, and the search for a new CFO is underway. The overall aim is to improve team performance and shareholder value.

Q: How does UDR plan to manage potential regulatory risks and uncertainties, such as those related to immigration and federal policies? A: Joseph Fisher, President, CFO, and CIO, stated that while specific risks are not factored into the guidance, the company maintains a range around its base case to account for potential positive or negative impacts from regulatory changes. The focus is on maintaining flexibility and readiness to adapt to any changes in the regulatory environment.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.