Paramount Group Inc (PGRE) Q4 2024 Earnings Call Highlights: Navigating Market Challenges with ...

GuruFocus.com
01 Mar
  • Core FFO: $0.19 per share for Q4 2024; $0.80 per share for the full year 2024.
  • 2025 Core FFO Guidance: Range between $0.51 and $0.57 per share.
  • Leasing Activity: 109,000 square feet leased in Q4 2024; 763,500 square feet leased for the full year 2024.
  • Same Store Lease Occupancy Rate: 84.8% at the end of Q4 2024, up 10 basis points from the previous quarter.
  • Cash and Restricted Cash: Approximately $461.4 million at year-end 2024, adjusted to $546.5 million after the sale of 903rd Avenue.
  • Real Estate Impairment Loss: $87.2 million non-cash impairment loss recorded for 55 2nd Street joint venture in Q4 2024.
  • 2025 Leasing Guidance: Expected leasing between 800,000 and 1 million square feet.
  • Same Store Cash NOI Growth: 0.1% for Q4 2024; negative 1.1% for the full year 2024.
  • Sale of 903rd Avenue: 45% interest sold, raising approximately $95 million in net proceeds.
  • Warning! GuruFocus has detected 4 Warning Signs with PGRE.

Release Date: February 28, 2025

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

Positive Points

  • Paramount Group Inc (NYSE:PGRE) reported core FFO of $0.19 per share for Q4 2024, exceeding consensus estimates by $0.01.
  • The company achieved a full-year leasing volume of 763,500 square feet, which is 3% ahead of the previous year.
  • Paramount Group Inc (NYSE:PGRE) closed the sale of a 45% interest in 903rd Avenue, raising approximately $95 million in net proceeds.
  • The company ended the year with approximately $546.5 million in cash and restricted cash, providing enhanced financial flexibility.
  • Paramount Group Inc (NYSE:PGRE) received a 5-star rating for the sixth consecutive year in 2024, earning sector leader status in the Office America category for its commitment to environmental stewardship.

Negative Points

  • The company missed its revised leasing targets for Q4 2024 in New York, with leasing activity trailing the revised target from November.
  • Paramount Group Inc (NYSE:PGRE) reported a negative same-store cash NOI growth of 1.1% for the full year 2024.
  • The 55 2nd Street joint venture recorded an $87.2 million non-cash real estate impairment loss, impacting the company's financials.
  • The 2025 core FFO guidance is projected to decrease by $0.26 per share compared to 2024, primarily due to scheduled lease expirations.
  • San Francisco's market conditions remain challenging, with a significant portion of the company's lease expirations in 2025 attributed to major tenants like Google and JPMorgan.

Q & A Highlights

Q: Could you explain why a significant lease fell through at the last minute? Was it due to location, tenant hesitation, or rental disagreements? A: Peter Brindley, Executive Vice President - Head of Real Estate, explained that the exact reason is unknown, but it is highly unusual for a lease to be pulled at the execution stage. The team is now focusing on other interested tenants for the same space, which is in a prime location atop the Paramount Club. Albert Behler, CEO, added that the new leases being negotiated are at higher rents, indicating positive momentum.

Q: Can you provide an update on the status of non-core assets like 111 Sutter Street and Market Center? A: Wilbur Paes, CFO, stated that there is no immediate risk to Paramount's balance sheet regarding 111 Sutter Street, as they are not funding debt shortfalls. For Market Center, the asset is in the market, and a deal has been awarded. They expect a resolution by the second quarter, which will remove the asset and debt from their books.

Q: The 2025 leasing target seems ambitious compared to 2024. What gives you confidence in achieving this target? A: Albert Behler, CEO, noted that the market is shifting towards 6th Avenue and the West Side, where their assets are located, providing confidence in achieving the leasing guidance. Peter Brindley added that they have a strong pipeline with leases out for 350,000 square feet and advanced negotiations for over 200,000 square feet, supporting their confidence in reaching the target.

Q: Leasing CapEx was at a high level in Q4. Were there specific leases that drove this increase, and what are you seeing in terms of market concessions? A: Peter Brindley explained that the high CapEx was due to a turnkey space deal on a lower floor, which was higher than usual. He expects pricing power for high floors in the future due to scarcity. Concessions have stabilized, and while free rent may remain elevated short-term, tenant improvements might decrease as the market tightens.

Q: What is the plan for backfilling large tenant move-outs like Google and JPMorgan in San Francisco? A: Peter Brindley mentioned that they have several leases out and are enhancing amenities at One Market Plaza and One Front Street to attract tenants. They are seeing increased tour activity and inquiries, indicating a positive trend in San Francisco's leasing market.

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

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.

Disclaimer: Investing carries risk. This is not financial advice. The above content should not be regarded as an offer, recommendation, or solicitation on acquiring or disposing of any financial products, any associated discussions, comments, or posts by author or other users should not be considered as such either. It is solely for general information purpose only, which does not consider your own investment objectives, financial situations or needs. TTM assumes no responsibility or warranty for the accuracy and completeness of the information, investors should do their own research and may seek professional advice before investing.

Most Discussed

  1. 1
     
     
     
     
  2. 2
     
     
     
     
  3. 3
     
     
     
     
  4. 4
     
     
     
     
  5. 5
     
     
     
     
  6. 6
     
     
     
     
  7. 7
     
     
     
     
  8. 8
     
     
     
     
  9. 9
     
     
     
     
  10. 10