Brixmor Property Group Q4 2025 Brixmor Property Group Inc Earnings Call | AllMind AI Earnings | AllMind AI
Q4 2025 Brixmor Property Group Inc Earnings Call
Speaker #2: A brief question-and-answer session will follow the formal presentation. If anyone should require operator assistance during the conference, please press star 0 on your telephone keypad.
Speaker #2: As a reminder, this conference is being recorded. It is now my pleasure to introduce your host, Stacy Slater. Thank you. You may begin. Thank you, operator, and thank you all for joining Brixmor's 4th Quarter conference call.
Speaker #2: With me on the call today are Brian Finnegan, CEO and President, and Steve Gallagher, Chief Financial Officer. Mark Horrigan, Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, will also be available for Q&A.
Operator: Before we begin, let me remind everyone that some of our comments today may contain forward-looking statements that are based on certain assumptions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. As described in our SEC filings, an actual future result may differ materially. We assume no obligation to update our forward-looking statements. Also, we will refer today to certain non-GAAP financial measures. Further information regarding our use of these measures and reconciliations of these measures to our GAAP results is available in the earnings release and supplemental disclosure on the investor relations portion of our website. Given the number of participants on the call, we kindly ask that you limit your questions to one per person. If you have additional questions, please re-queue. At this time, it's my pleasure to introduce Brian Finnegan. Thank you, Stacy. Good morning, everyone.
Speaker #2: remind everyone that some of our comments Before we begin, let me today may contain forward-looking statements that are based on certain assumptions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties, as described in our SEC filings and actual future results may differ materially.
Speaker #2: We assume no obligation to update our forward-looking statements. Also, we will refer today to certain non-GAAP financial measures. Further information regarding our use of these measures and reconciliations of these measures to our GAAP results is available in the earnings release and supplemental disclosure on the investor relations portion of our website.
Speaker #2: Given the number of participants on the call, we kindly ask that you limit your questions to one per person. If you have additional questions, please recue.
Speaker #2: At this time, it's my pleasure to introduce Brian Finnegan.
Speaker #3: Thank you, Stacy, and good morning, everyone. I am thrilled to join you today for my first call as Permanent CEO at Brixmor. A company that has been my professional home for more than 21 years.
Operator: I am thrilled to join you today for my first call as permanent CEO at Brixmor, a company that has been my professional home for more than 21 years. Before touching on our results for the quarter and the year, I will share a few comments on our leadership succession and strategy going forward. First, a sincere thank you to Jim Taylor for his extraordinary leadership and mentorship. His impact on Brixmor and our industry is immense, and I was proud to be by his side for the last nine and a half years as we dramatically transformed this portfolio. We wish him the very best in his retirement. I also want to thank the board for their confidence and the Brixmor team for their support. I am grateful to step into this role at a moment of real strength for the company.
Speaker #3: Before touching on our results for the quarter and the year, I will share a few comments on our leadership succession and strategy going forward.
Speaker #3: First, a sincere thank you to Jim Taylor for his extraordinary leadership and mentorship. His impact on Brixmor and our industry is immense. And I was proud to be by his side for the last nine and a half years as we dramatically transformed this portfolio.
Speaker #3: We wish him the very best in his retirement. I also want to thank the board for their confidence and the Brixmor team for their support.
Speaker #3: I'm grateful to step into this role at a moment of real strength for the company. Our portfolio transformation and disciplined execution position us exceptionally well to accelerate our growth going forward.
Operator: Our portfolio transformation and disciplined execution position us exceptionally well to accelerate our growth going forward. The fundamentals for open-air, grocery-anchored retail remain favorable. Consumers have been resilient. Thriving tenants are expanding their physical store presence, and new retail supply remains at historic lows. Against this backdrop, the Brixmor operating platform stands out as our low-rent basis continues to provide industry-leading mark-to-market opportunity, while our future reinvestment and signed-but-not-commenced pipelines provide unmatched visibility on future growth and cash flows. We do not anticipate any changes to our operating model in the near term outside of a few of our talented leaders taking on more responsibilities. Specifically, congratulations to Stacy Slater on her promotion to Executive Vice President, Capital Markets, Corporate Strategy, and Investor Relations, and Matt Ryan, who will expand his role as South Region President to include National Property Operations. Both will join our Executive Committee.
Speaker #3: The fundamentals for open-air grocery-anchored retail remain favorable. Consumers have been resilient. Thriving tenants are expanding their physical store presence, and new retail supply remains at historic lows.
Speaker #3: Against this backdrop, the Brixmor operating platform stands out. As our low rent basis continues to provide industry-leading mark-to-market opportunity while our future reinvestment and sign-but-not-commenced pipelines provide unmatched visibility on future growth and cash flows.
Speaker #3: We do not anticipate any changes to our operating model in the near term. Outside of a few of our talented leaders taking on more responsibilities.
Speaker #3: Specifically, congratulations to Stacy Slater, on her promotion to Executive Vice President, Capital Markets, Corporate Strategy, and Investor Relations, and Matt Ryan, who will expand his role as South Region President to include national property operations.
Speaker #3: Both will join our executive committee. More broadly, the operational realignment we implemented 18 months ago consolidating from 4 to 3 regions continues to pay dividends through greater efficiency, stronger leasing execution, and disciplined capital allocation.
Operator: More broadly, the operational realignment we implemented 18 months ago, consolidating from four to three regions, continues to pay dividends through greater efficiency, stronger leasing execution, and disciplined capital allocation. We are also leaning in further to technology and analytics. Early initiatives in AI and automation are already yielding positive results in areas such as lease abstraction and summarization, tenant health analyses, and leasing prospecting tools. Externally, we are going to remain disciplined but opportunistic. Under Mark's leadership, we were net acquirers in four of the last five years, with 2025 being our most active year as a public company at approximately $420 million of asset value acquired in Houston, Southern California, and Denver.
Speaker #3: We are also leaning in further to technology and analytics. Early initiatives in AI and automation are already yielding positive results. In areas such as lease abstraction and summarization, tenant health analyses, and leasing prospecting tools.
Speaker #3: Externally, we are going to remain disciplined but opportunistic. Under Mark's leadership, we were net acquirers in four of the last five years, with 2025 being our most active year as a public company at approximately $420 million of asset value, acquired in Houston, Southern California, and Denver.
Speaker #3: We expect to continue allocating capital towards opportunities where our platform can create outsized value, without having to rely on acquisitions for growth, and we are mindful of our balance sheet in every capital allocation decision we make.
Operator: We expect to continue allocating capital towards opportunities where our platform can create outsized value without having to rely on acquisitions for growth, and we are mindful of our balance sheet in every capital allocation decision we make. Now let's turn to our results for the quarter and the year, which were exceptional. As Steve will touch on further, same property NOI grew by 4.2% for the year, even as we recaptured 1.5 million sq ft of anchor space. FFO for the year was at the high end of our guidance range at $2.25 per share and up 5.6% year-over-year. We delivered a record leasing year with $70 million of new rent executed, small shop occupancy increasing to a new high of 92.2%, and ended the year with the largest sequential overall occupancy gain in the company's history, up 100 basis points and 95.1%.
Speaker #3: Now let's turn to our results for the quarter and the year, which were exceptional. As Steve will touch on further, same property NOI grew by 4.2% for the year, even as we recaptured $1.5 million square feet of anchor space.
Speaker #3: FFO for the year was at the high end of our guidance range at $2.25 per share, and up 5.6% year over year. We delivered a record leasing year, with $70 million of new rent executed, small shop occupancy increasing to a new high of $92.2%, and ended the year with the largest sequential overall occupancy gain in the company's history, up 100 basis points in 95.1%.
Speaker #3: Demand from high-quality tenants remains robust, as within the over 3 million square feet of new leases executed last year, we signed eight new grocer leases with strong operators such as Publix, Sprouts, and Big Y, and multiple leases with each of the leading retailers in the off-price segment.
Operator: Demand from high-quality tenants remains robust. As within the over 3 million sq ft of new leases executed last year, we signed 8 new grocer leases with strong operators such as Publix, Sprouts, and Big Y, and multiple leases with each of the leading retailers in the off-price segment. From a small shop standpoint, we continue to be impressed by the depth and credit quality of the operators in the health and wellness, quick service restaurant, and service segments, as we continue to attract a higher caliber tenant to this portfolio. The strength of our small shop tenancy is also evidenced by the fact that 70% of our small shop rent is derived from multi-unit operators.
Speaker #3: From a small shop standpoint, we continue to be impressed by the depth and credit quality of the operators in the health and wellness, quick service restaurant, and service segments.
Speaker #3: As we continue to attract a higher caliber tenant to this portfolio, the strength of our small shop tenancy is also evidenced by the fact that 70% of our small shop rent is derived from multi-unit operators.
Speaker #3: Our team also continued to capture the mark-to-market upside in the portfolio, with new lease rent growth for the year at 39% and renewal rent growth for the year at 15%, resulting in our third consecutive year of mid-teens renewal growth.
Operator: Our team also continued to capture the mark-to-market upside in the portfolio, with new lease rent growth for the year at 39% and renewal rent growth for the year at 15%, resulting in our third consecutive year of mid-teens renewal growth. We also saw improvement in our retention rate, which at year-end was 87%, a 180 basis point improvement from last year. Switching to operations, we continued to deploy capital efficiently and leverage competition for space to reduce our deal costs, with overall CapEx spending down 14% year over year and the lowest since 2021, while maintenance CapEx spending was at our lowest level since 2016 outside of the pandemic year. In addition, disciplined operating expense spending resulted in a record expense recovery ratio at year-end of 92.3%. On the reinvestment front, we stabilized $183 million of projects in 2025 at an attractive 10% incremental yield.
Speaker #3: We also saw improvement in our retention rate, which at year-end was 87%, a 180 basis point improvement from last year. Switching to operations, we continued to deploy capital efficiently and leverage competition for space to reduce our deal costs.
Speaker #3: With overall CapEx spending down 14% year over year and the lowest since 2021, while maintenance CapEx spending was at our lowest level since 2016 outside of the pandemic year.
Speaker #3: In addition, disciplined operating expense spending resulted in a record expense recovery ratio at year-end of 92.3%. On the reinvestment front, we stabilized $183 million of projects in 2025 at an attractive 10% incremental yield.
Speaker #3: This included some of the most impactful projects in the company's history, such as the Davis Collection, where we tore down an obsolescent anchor adjacent to a high-performing Trader Joe's grocer and delivered a new Nordstrom Rack, Ulta, J.
Operator: This included some of the most impactful projects in the company's history, such as The Davis Collection, where we tore down an obsolescent anchor adjacent to a high-performing Trader Joe's grocer and delivered a new Nordstrom Rack, Ulta, J.Crew Factory, Mendocino Farms, Urban Plates, and several other exciting tenants across the street from UC Davis. At year-end, we had $336 million in the active pipeline, including Rockland Plaza, which we added to the active pipeline this quarter as we kick off the redevelopment of this well-located center in the New York Metro area with Nordstrom Rack, Ross Dress for Less, Burlington, and new out-parcel buildings and several exciting shop tenants. Behind the active pipeline, our deep shadow pipeline of projects, including several more with Publix, provides us years of runway for value-creating redevelopment in what we already own and control.
Speaker #3: Crew Factory, Mendocino Farms, Urban Plates, and several other exciting tenants across the street from UC Davis. At year-end, we had $336 million in the active pipeline, including Rockland Plaza, which we added to the active pipeline this quarter as we kick off the redevelopment of this well-located center in the New York metro area with Nordstrom rack, raw stress for less, Burlington, and new out-parcel buildings and several exciting shop tenants.
Speaker #3: Behind the active pipeline are deep shadow pipeline of projects, including several more with Publix, provides us years of runway for value-creating redevelopment in what we already own and control.
Speaker #3: Moving to our transaction activity, we acquired two high-quality grocery-anchored centers in Denver and Southern California in the fourth quarter. Both have immediate leasing and mark-to-market upside, are accretive to our long-term growth profile, and are in markets where our West Region team has created significant value.
Operator: Moving to our transaction activity, we acquired 2 high-quality grocery-anchored centers in Denver and Southern California in Q4. Both have immediate leasing and mark-to-market upside, are accretive to our long-term growth profile, and are in markets that our West Region team has created significant value in. We also completed $170 million of dispositions during the quarter, where we saw limited ROI going forward, including our last asset in Alabama. In closing, thanks to the Brixmor team's record performance, we entered 2026 with tremendous momentum in the business. Our properties hosted over 9 million visits last year, and our tenant lineup reflects the strongest underlying credit profile in our company's history. The portfolio looks the best it ever has. Our balance sheet is in the strongest position it has ever been, and our platform is positioned to drive consistent, durable growth.
Speaker #3: We also completed 170 million of dispositions during the quarter, where we saw limited ROI going forward, including our last asset in Alabama. In closing, thanks to the Brixmor team's record performance, we enter 2026 with tremendous momentum in the business.
Speaker #3: Our properties hosted over 9 million visits last year, and our tenant lineup reflects the strongest underlying credit profile in our company's history. The portfolio looks the best it ever has, our balance sheet is in the strongest position it has ever been, and our platform is positioned to drive consistent durable growth.
Speaker #3: I am so energized for what lies ahead and grateful to lead this team as we accelerate our business plan. With that, I'll hand the call over to Steve for a deeper review of our financial results and 2026 outlook.
Operator: I am so energized for what lies ahead and grateful to lead this team as we accelerate our business plan. With that, I'll hand the call over to Steve for a deeper review of our financial results and 2026 outlook. Steve? Thanks, Brian. The strength and resiliency of our business model were clearly evident in 2025. We executed consistently throughout the year despite the significant amount of space we recaptured, delivered 5.6% FFO growth, achieved 4.2% same property NOI growth, and meaningfully improved our underlying tenant profile. As a result, our portfolio is the strongest position it has ever been, and we are exceptionally well-positioned to capture the continued demand for well-located, open-air retail centers. Q4 same property NOI increased 6%, supported by a 360 basis point contribution from base rent growth due to stacking rent commencements from late 2024 and all of 2025.
Speaker #3: Steve?
Speaker #4: Thanks, Brian. The strength and resiliency of our business model were clearly evident in 2025. We executed consistently throughout the year, despite the significant amount of space we recaptured.
Speaker #4: Delivered $5.6% FFO growth. Achieved $4.2% same property NOI growth, and meaningfully improved our underlying tenant profile. As a result, our portfolio is the strongest position it has ever been, and we are exceptionally well-positioned to capture the continued demand for well-located, open-air retail centers.
Speaker #4: Fourth quarter same property NOI increased 6%, supported by a $360 basis point contribution from base rent growth. Due to stacking rent commencements from late 2024 and all of 2025.
Speaker #4: Ancillary and other income contributed an additional $200 basis points, reflecting our team's proactive asset management initiatives to drive revenue across the portfolio. Neighborhood FFO is 58 cents per share in the fourth quarter, benefiting from strong same property NOI performance and elevated lease termination income.
Operator: Ancillary and other income contributed an additional 200 basis points, reflecting our team's proactive asset management initiatives to drive revenue across the portfolio. NAREIT FFO was $0.58 per share in Q4, benefiting from strong same property NOI performance and elevated lease termination income. As we noted last quarter, we anticipated higher lease termination activity as we proactively recaptured space to unlock value creation opportunities across the portfolio, with the largest of these transactions in the Bay Area. Same property NOI increased 4.2% for the year despite over 200 basis points of tenant disruption headwinds. Base rent contributed 360 basis points, and ancillary and other income added 110 basis points, driven equally by the updated recurring parking agreement at Point Orlando discussed on our prior calls and asset management initiatives. NAREIT FFO per share was $2.25, up 5.6% from last year, supported by broad-based operational strength across the portfolio.
Speaker #4: As we noted last quarter, we anticipated higher lease termination activity as we proactively recaptured space to unlock value creation opportunities across the portfolio, with the largest of these transactions in the Bay Area.
Speaker #4: Same property NOI increased 4.2% for the year, despite over $200 basis points of tenant disruption headwinds. Base rent contributed $360 basis points and ancillary and other income added $110 basis points, driven equally by the updated recurring parking agreement at Point Orlando discussed on our prior calls and asset management initiatives.
Speaker #4: Neighborhood FFO per share was $2.25, up 5.6% from last year. Supported by broad-based operational strength across the portfolio. We commenced a record $70 million of ABR in 2025.
Operator: We commenced a record $70 million of ABR in 2025. We fully replenished that volume by executing another $70 million of net new rent, a clear indication of the depth and durability of demand. Our signed-but-not-yet commenced pipeline at year-end totaled $62 million at an average of $23 per square foot and includes $50 million of net new rent. The spread between leased and built occupancy ended the period at 350 basis points, and we anticipate approximately $43 million of that signed-but-not-yet commenced pipeline to commence rapidly throughout 2026. The tailwinds created by the stacking of 2025 rent commencements, contributions from redevelopment, embedded rent bumps, and combined with the signed-but-not-yet commenced pipeline provide strong visibility into our 2026 outlook. We're guiding to 4.5 to 5.5% same property NOI growth, driven by more than 450 basis points of expected base rent contribution.
Speaker #4: We fully replenished that volume by executing another $70 million of net new rent, a clear indication of the depth and durability of demand. Our sign-but-not-yet commenced pipeline at year-end totaled $62 million, at an average of $23 per square foot, and includes $50 million of net new rent.
Speaker #4: The spread between leased and built occupancy ended the period at $350 basis points, and we anticipate approximately $43 million of that sign-but-not-yet commenced pipeline to commenced radically throughout 2026.
Speaker #4: The tailwinds created by the stacking of 2025 rent commencements contributions from redevelopment, embedded rent bumps, and combined with the sign-but-not-yet commenced pipeline provide strong visibility into our 2026 outlook.
Speaker #4: We're guiding to a 4.5% to 5.5% same property NOI growth, driven by more than 450 basis points of expected base rent contribution. We also expect net expense reimbursements will contribute to growth, as we expect average built occupancy to increase over last year.
Operator: We also expect net expense reimbursements will contribute to growth as we expect average built occupancy to increase over last year. Our continued transformation across the portfolio has meaningfully enhanced the credit quality of our tenant base, which is now the strongest we've seen. As a result, we expect revenues deemed uncollectible of 75 to 100 basis points of total revenues. In terms of cadence, we expect base rent growth to accelerate throughout the year as we commence the significant rent embedded in the SNO pipeline. Our FFO guidance reflects the strength of our same property NOI trajectory. For 2026, we are introducing NAREIT FFO guidance of $2.33 to $2.37 per share, representing 4.4% growth at the midpoint, even while absorbing a 3-cent headwind from lower lease termination income as we return to historical levels and a 3-cent headwind from higher interest expense.
Speaker #4: Our continued transformation across the portfolio has meaningfully enhanced the credit quality of our tenant base, which is now the strongest we've seen. As a result, we $75 to $100 basis points of total expect revenues deemed uncollectible of revenues.
Speaker #4: In terms of cadence, we expect base rent growth to accelerate throughout the year as we commenced a significant rent embedded in the snow pipeline.
Speaker #4: Our FFO guidance reflects the strength of our same property NOI trajectory. For 2026, we are introducing Neighborhood FFO guidance of $2.33 to $2.37 per share, representing 4.4% growth at the midpoint.
Speaker #4: Even while absorbing a $0.03 headwind from lower lease termination income as we return to historical levels, and a $0.03 headwind from higher interest expense.
Speaker #4: Capital deployment across the portfolio remains highly efficient, with leasing and maintenance capital expenditures down approximately 26 million year over year. Strong competition for space continues to push net effective rents to a record $23.66, and our payback period now averages two years.
Operator: Capital deployment across the portfolio remains highly efficient, with leasing and maintenance capital expenditures down approximately $26 million year-over-year. Strong competition for space continues to push net effective rents to a record $23.66, and our payback period now averages two years, the most attractive levels we've seen in nearly a decade. We have steadily reduced maintenance capital expenditures over several years while enhancing the overall quality and appearance of our centers. We ended the period with $1.6 billion of available liquidity, including $360 million in cash raised in our September 2025 4.85% issuance, which pre-funded our June 2026 $600 million 4.125% maturity. Debt to EBITDA is 5.4 times, leaving our balance sheet well-positioned to support our business plan.
Speaker #4: The most attractive levels we've seen in nearly a decade. We have steadily reduced maintenance capital expenditures over several years while enhancing the overall quality and appearance of our centers.
Speaker #4: We ended the period with $1.6 billion of available liquidity, including $360 million in cash raised in our September 2025 4.85% issuance, which pre-funded our June 2026 $600 million 4.125% maturity.
Speaker #4: Debt to EBITDA is 5.4 times, leaving our balance sheet well positioned to support our business plan. Our performance continues to highlight the durability of our fundamentals and the attractiveness of our strategy.
Operator: Our performance continues to highlight the durability of our fundamentals and the attractiveness of our strategy, supported by FFO growth of 4%+ since 2022, a 4.4% dividend yield, and a dividend growing at a 6% CAGR over that same period. I want to thank our team for their ongoing dedication and execution, which remains a key driver of our performance. With that, I'll turn the call over to the operator for Q&A. Thank you. We will now be conducting a question-and-answer session. We ask that all callers limit themselves to one question. If you have additional questions, you may re-queue, and those will be addressed time permitting. If you would like to ask a question, please press star one on your telephone keypad. A confirmation tone will indicate your line is in the question queue.
Speaker #4: Supported by FFO growth of $4% plus since 2022, a $4.4% dividend yield, and a dividend growing at a 6% CAGR over that same period.
Speaker #4: I want to thank our team for their ongoing dedication and execution, which remains a key driver of our performance. And with that, I'll turn the call over to the operator for Q&A.
Speaker #1: Thank you. We will now be conducting a question-and-answer session. We ask that all callers limit themselves to one question. If you have additional questions, you may requeue, and those will be addressed time permitting.
Speaker #1: If you would like to ask a question, please press star one on your telephone keypad. A confirmation tone will indicate your line is in the question queue.
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Operator: You may press star two if you would like to remove your question from the queue. For participants using speaker equipment, it may be necessary to pick up your handset before pressing the star keys. One moment, please, while we pull for questions. Thank you. Our first question comes from a line of Michael Goldsmith with UBS. Please proceed with your question. Good morning. Thanks a lot for taking my question. You're guiding for bad debt this year, 75 to 100 basis points. I guess, as you entered last year, you guided to 75 to 110 basis points. I think you called out an upgraded portfolio quality or upgraded tenants. But I guess, to try to, can you provide a little bit more detail there and, and how much does the, you know, does this new guidance range like reflect just line of sight into tenant bankruptcies? Thanks. Yeah.
Speaker #1: One moment, please, while we pull for questions. Thank you. Our first question comes from a line of Michael Goldsmith with UBS. Please proceed with your question.
Speaker #3: Good morning. Thanks a lot for taking my question. You're guiding for bad debt this year, $75 to $100 basis points. I guess as you entered last year, you guided to $75 to $110 basis points.
Speaker #3: I think you called out an upgraded portfolio quality or upgraded tenants, but I guess to try to can you provide a little bit more detail there and how much does the does this new guidance range reflect just line-of-sight into tenant bankruptcies?
Speaker #4: Yeah.
Speaker #4: Michael, thanks Thanks. for the question. And I'll start and let Steve take it. As both of us touched on, we're really encouraged by the tenant health trends in the portfolio.
Operator: Michael, thanks for the question. I'll start and let Steve take it. As both of us touched on, we're really encouraged by the tenant health trends in the portfolio. When we sat here a year ago, we said that on the other side of these recaptures, you would see improvement in what was already the strongest underlying tenancy that we had. So if you think about our low drugstore exposure, if you look at our low theater exposure, the quality and strengths of our small shop tenancy, as I mentioned, 70% of our small shops are for multi-tenant operators. All the work that we've done to the portfolio has just allowed us to attract a much stronger tenancy. So that's reflected in terms of the guidance going forward and how we're thinking about our expectations for bad debt. Steve, you want to touch on more? Yeah.
Speaker #4: And when we sat here a year ago, we said that, on the other side of these recaptures, you would see improvement in what was already the strongest underlying tendency that we had.
Speaker #4: So if you think about our low drugstore exposure, if you look at our low theater exposure, the quality and strengths of our small shop tenancy, as I mentioned, 70% of our small shops are for multi-tenant operators, all the work that we've done to the portfolio has just allowed us to attract a much stronger tenancy.
Speaker #4: terms of the guidance going forward and So that's reflected in how we're thinking about our expectations for bad debt.
Speaker #4: terms of the guidance going forward and So that's reflected in how we're thinking about our expectations for bad debt. Steve, you want to touch on more?
Speaker #5: Yeah. I mean, I think Brian hit on the macro trends. Just when you look at that guide rate, our previous historical run rate was $75 to $110, so it's really bringing in that top end down 10% or 10 basis points.
Operator: I mean, I think Brian hit on the macro trends. Just when you look at that guide, right, our previous historical run rate was 75 to 110. So it's really bringing in that top end down 10%, or 10 basis points. And I think importantly, as we went through the budgeting process space by space, as we always have done, there's not a lot of disruption in, in the future that we're seeing. So, you know, we feel really comfortable where we are within our guidance range. Thank you very much. Good luck in 2026. Thanks, Michael. We appreciate it. Our next question comes from a line of Todd Thomas with KeyBank. Please proceed with your question. Hi. Thanks. Good morning. I wanted to ask about the acquisition environment, and thoughts on investments and, and capital recycling activity going forward.
Speaker #5: And I think, importantly, as we went through the budgeting process, space by space, as we always have done, there's not a lot of disruption in the future that we're seeing.
Speaker #5: So, we feel really comfortable where we are within our guidance range.
Speaker #3: Thank you very much. Good luck in
Speaker #3: 2026.
Speaker #4: We appreciate
Speaker #4: it. Our next
Speaker #1: question comes from a line of Todd Thomas with KeyBank. Please proceed with your question.
Speaker #6: Hi. Thanks. Good morning. I wanted to ask about the acquisition environment and thoughts on investments and capital recycling activity going forward. Brian, you touched on this in your prepared remarks and maybe Mark can weigh in as well, but just wanted to get your thoughts on the pipeline heading into '26 in terms of volume and pricing and then second part, Steve, in the guidance reconciliation, it looks like there is one cent of growth related to transactions.
Operator: Brian, you touched on this in your prepared remarks, and maybe Mark can weigh in as well. But just wanted to get your thoughts on the pipeline heading into 2026 in terms of volume and pricing. And then, second part, Steve, in the guidance reconciliation, it looks like there is $0.01 of growth related to transactions. Can you just speak to that, whether that's, you know, based on 2025 activity or if there's something implied in from the forecast, you know, as a result of that? Thanks for the question, Todd. Maybe I'll touch briefly at the start. We just have been very encouraged by what we've been seeing on the transaction front.
Speaker #6: Can you just speak to that, whether that's based on 2025 activity or if there's something implied from the forecast as a result of
Speaker #6: that?
Speaker #4: Thanks for the
Speaker #4: Question, Todd. Maybe I'll touch briefly at the start. We just have been very encouraged by what we've been seeing on the transaction front. What's interesting is 40% of the volume that Mark has done since he's been here has happened in the last five quarters.
Operator: What's interesting is 40% of the volume that Mark has done since he's been here has happened in the last 5 quarters because in a very competitive environment, we found opportunities to put the platform to work. And that's really what we saw last year and what we expect to see going forward. But Mark, why don't you touch on more of the overall environment? Yeah. I think you're right. As far as the pipeline goes, it continues to grow. And one of the things that's really paying dividends for us is some of the direct marketing we're doing to some of the private ownership groups.
Speaker #4: Because in a very competitive environment, we found opportunities to put the platform to work. And that's really what you saw last year. And what we expect to see going forward, but Mark, why don't you touch on more of the overall environment?
Speaker #4: Because in a very competitive environment, we found opportunities to put the platform to work. And that's really what you saw last year. And what we expect to see going forward, but Mark, why don't you touch on more of the overall
Speaker #5: Yeah. I think you're right. As far as pipeline goes, it continues to grow, and one of the things that's really paying dividends for us is some of the direct marketing we're doing to some of the private ownership groups.
Speaker #5: So expect us, as we think about that pipeline to remain remarks, as we do think external growth today is a opportunistic, as Brian highlighted in his opening great lever for us to drive additional value beyond the growth in our base portfolio.
Operator: So expect us, as we think about that pipeline to remain opportunistic, as Brian highlighted in his opening remarks, as we do think external growth today is a great lever for us to drive additional value beyond the growth in our base portfolio. However, I, I would highlight that the first dollar of free cash flow is going to go to redevelopment given the great returns and yields we see in that part of our business. From an overall market perspective, we're certainly seeing cap rate compression across basically all asset types in open-air retail today. And that's been driven by an increasing amount of private capital, pension fund capital being directed towards our space given the great returns that Brixmor and the REITs have been delivering in the space. A lot of that capital that's coming in is directed towards smaller grocery anchor deals and unanchored strip.
Speaker #5: However, I would highlight that the first dollar of free cash flow is going to go to redevelopment given the great returns and yields we see in that part of our business.
Speaker #5: From an overall market perspective, we're certainly seeing cap rate compression across basically all asset types, including open-air retail today. And that's been driven by an increased amount of private capital, pension capital, and capital being directed towards our space, given the great returns that Brixmor and the REIT peers have been delivering in the space.
Speaker #5: A lot of that capital that's coming in is directed towards smaller grocery anchor deals and unanchored strip, and that's driving cap rates in that piece of the business down into the fives for certain high-demand markets like the Southeast and California.
Operator: And that's driving cap rates in, in that piece of the business down into the fives for certain high-demand markets like the Southeast and California. We continue to see smaller bid lists for larger deals, like a Chino that we bought last year that has some operating, that really have an operating nature to the business, which fits well for the Brixmor platform. Yeah. And on the guidance front, I mean, that walkdown's really sort of a growth-up approach just to help people understand the components, not necessarily from a capital allocation. I think when you're just and Mark has touched on this in previous calls. I think you'd expect it to be sort of neutral in the initial year. And then I think importantly, the growth profile of those assets we're acquiring are going to grow more than those assets that we're selling. Okay. Thank you.
Speaker #5: We continue to see smaller bid lists for larger deals like Achino that we bought last year that has some operating that really have an operating nature to the business, which fits well for the Brixmor platform.
Speaker #5: Yeah. And on the guidance front, I mean, that walkdown is really sort of a grossed-up approach just to help people understand the components, not necessarily from a capital allocation.
Speaker #5: I think when you're just and Mark has touched on this in previous calls, I think you'd expect it to be sort of neutral in the initial year.
Speaker #5: And then I think importantly, the growth profile of those assets we're acquiring are going to grow more than those assets that we're
Speaker #5: And then I think importantly, the growth profile of those assets we're acquiring are going to grow more than those assets that we're selling.
Speaker #6: Thank you.
Speaker #4: Thanks, Okay.
Operator: Thanks, Todd. Our next question comes from a line of Haendel St. Juste with Mizuho. Please proceed with your question. Hey, guys. Thanks for taking the question. I wanted to go back to the guide for a bit. I was hoping you could expound on some of the assumptions, particularly as it relates to the upper end of the same-property NOI guide. It seems a little conservative relative to what you put up last year. You mentioned 450 basis points of base-rent growth, I think. There's a lower tenant credit-risk backdrop. You have lower occupancy. So just curious if you could maybe give some more color on the pathway or what's embedded at the upper end. Thanks. Yeah.
Speaker #4: Todd.
Speaker #1: Our next question comes from a line of Hyundai St. Just with Mizuho. Please proceed with your
Speaker #1: question. Hey, guys.
Speaker #7: Thanks for taking the question. I wanted to go back to the guide for a bit. I was hoping you could expound on some of the assumptions particularly as it relates to the upper end of the same store and why guide seems a little conservative relative to what you put up last year.
Speaker #7: You mentioned $450 basis points of base rent growth, I think. There's a lower tenant credit risk backdrop. You have lower occupancy. So just curious if you could maybe give some more color on the pathway or what's embedded at the upper end.
Speaker #7: Thanks.
Speaker #5: Yeah, I mean, to get to the upper end, really, I think especially within the same property and why, it's kind of the same as every year, right?
Operator: I mean, to get to the upper end, really, I think especially within the same property NOI, it's kind of the same as every year, right? It's the team continue and you saw it in 2025, the conti team continue to execute on getting that SNO pipeline executed or sorry, commenced as early as possible and then continue to backfill that pipeline as we move throughout the year. I mean, I think as far as the guide, you just look at we've talked a lot about the compounding of those rent commencements, and you're seeing that come through. But there is a small portion of 2025 income associated with some of those names that we talked about that we did recognize income in 2025 that you have to hurdle as you head into 2026. Yeah.
Speaker #5: It's the team continuing to use solid in 2025 to continue to execute on getting that snow pipeline executed or, sorry, commenced as early as possible and then continue to backfill that pipeline as we move throughout the year.
Speaker #5: I mean, I think as far as the guide, you just look at we've talked a lot about the compounding of those rent commencements and you're seeing that come through.
Speaker #5: But there is a small portion of 2020 five income associated with some of those names that we talked about that we did recognize income in '25 that you have to hurdle as you head into
Speaker #5: '26. Yeah.
Speaker #4: And I think Steve hit it, but you can really see the drivers in that walkdown. And it's pretty much exactly those components in same property and why.
Operator: I think, Steve hit it, but you can really see the drivers in that walkdown. And it's pretty much exactly those components in same property NOI. So it's hitting our dates. What can we pull in potentially from '27? How much are we continuing to drive rent growth? So we feel really comfortable with the range and really pleased with how the team's been executing and feel like we're in a good spot as we head into the year. Great. Thank you. And congrats, Brian. Thanks, Andrew. I appreciate it. Our next question comes from a line of Michael Griffin with Evercore. Please proceed with your question. Great. Thanks. You know, Brian, I know it's been a little over a month since you've been, you know, kind of in the permanent CEO role.
Speaker #4: So it's hitting our dates. What can we pull in potentially from '27? How much are we continuing to drive rent growth? So we feel really comfortable with the range.
Speaker #4: And really pleased with how the team's been executing and feel like we're in a good spot as we head into the year.
Speaker #7: Great. Thank you. And congrats, Brian.
Speaker #4: Thanks. I appreciate
Speaker #4: it. Our next question
Speaker #1: Comes from a line of Michael Griffin with Evercore. Please proceed with your question.
Speaker #1: question. Great.
Speaker #8: Thanks. Brian, I know it's been a little over a month since you've been, kind of, in the permanent CEO role, and I realize that Brixmor has a solid history of blocking and tackling, executing on operations, kind of making the main thing the main thing.
Operator: I realize that, you know, Brixmor has a solid history of, you know, blocking and tackling, executing on operations, you know, kind of making the main thing the main thing. But, you know, as you kind of get into the top job, are there any things, whether it's initiatives, how you're looking at the portfolio or platform maybe differently, that you want to kind of be able to, you know, put your mark on the company as you kind of take over in the top role? Michael, it's a great question. So I'd answer in a few ways. First, our strategy of reinvesting and aggressively operating our assets is not going to change. If anything, it's accelerating from here for all the work that we've done, meaning that we still have occupancy upside. We still have the ability to drive rents.
Speaker #8: But as you kind of get into the top job, are there any things, whether it's initiatives, how you're looking at the portfolio or platform, maybe differently that you want to kind of be able to put your mark on the company as you kind of take over in the top role?
Speaker #4: Michael, it's a great question. So I'd answer in a few ways. First, our strategy of reinvesting and aggressively operating our assets is not going to change.
Speaker #4: If anything, it's accelerating from here for all the work that we've done. Meaning that we still have occupancy upside. We still have the ability to drive rents.
Speaker #4: And with the quality of tenants that we've attracted, we're going to continue to improve our assets going forward. That's going to continue to be the focus.
Operator: And with the quality of tenants that we've attracted, we're going to continue to improve our assets going forward. That's going to continue to be the focus. We touched on transactions a bit earlier. I'm very encouraged by what we're seeing there. We're going to remain very disciplined. We don't need acquisitions to grow. But it has been an awesome opportunity for us with Mark partnering with our regional teams in markets that we know really well where we have an idea of how we can drive outsize value in a very competitive environment. And I think the third thing is, and I touched on it. We've always been big on technology here and focused on how we can make more data-driven decisions and really focused on that across the organization.
Speaker #4: We touched on transactions a bit earlier. I'm very encouraged by what we're seeing there. We're going to remain very disciplined. We don't need acquisitions to grow.
Speaker #4: But it has been an awesome opportunity for us with Mark partnering with our regional teams. And Mark gets it. We know really well where we have an idea of how we can drive outsized value in a very competitive environment.
Speaker #4: And I think the third thing is, and I touched on it, we've always been big on technology here. And focus on how we can make more data-driven decisions.
Speaker #4: And we've really focused on that across the organization, and we've challenged leaders across the organization to really look at their business and look at ways to improve that through technology.
Operator: We challenge leaders across the organization to really look at their business, look at ways to improve that through technology. And I mentioned a few of the early wins that we're seeing in lease abstraction and leasing legal in terms of efficiency with our legal spend. We've been doing some work around tenant health analyses and the leasing team, particularly a lot of our junior members in terms of how they're deploying AI and automation, really more AI in terms of their leasing prospecting tools. So continue to lean in there. But overall, I mean, we're in a really good position as a team. I feel really grateful for how the company has grown during the time that I and a number of us in this room have been here.
Speaker #4: And I mentioned a few of the early wins that we're seeing in lease abstraction and leasing legal in terms of efficiency with our legal spend.
Speaker #4: We've been doing some work around tenant health analyses. And the leasing team, particularly a lot of our junior members, in terms of how they're deploying AI and automation—really more AI in terms of their leasing prospecting tools.
Speaker #4: So continue to lean in there. But overall, I mean, we're in a really good position as a team. I feel really grateful for how the company has grown during the time that I and a number of us in this room have been here.
Speaker #4: And it's really kind of taking that and all the work that we've done to the portfolio and really turbocharging the business plan going
Operator: And it's really kind of taking that and all the work that we've done to the portfolio and really turbocharging the business plan going forward. Great. Thanks so much. Thanks. Appreciate it, Michael. Our next question comes from a line of Craig Mailman with Citi. Please proceed with your question. Hey. Good morning, everyone. I kind of want to hit on the, the SNO pipeline. And I'm going to try to frame this in a way that's, that's not too confusing. But, you know, just as you guys have talked about, you know, being a little bit more aggressive, maybe taking back space, which is driving some lease term fees, which would imply some opportunistic, moves there that maybe are, are more accretive than bad debt coming down. You know, the SNO pipeline has continued to increase as, as the lease rate has increased.
Speaker #4: forward. Great.
Speaker #4: Thanks. Appreciate it, Thanks so much.
Speaker #4: Michael. Our
Speaker #1: next question comes from a line of Craig Mailman with City. Please proceed with your
Speaker #1: question. Hey.
Speaker #9: Good morning, everyone. I kind of want to hit on the snow pipeline, and I'm going to try to frame this in a way that's not too confusing.
Speaker #9: But just as you guys have talked about being a little bit more aggressive, maybe taking back space, which is driving some lease term fees, which would imply some opportunistic moves there that maybe are more accretive than bad debt coming down.
Speaker #9: The snow pipeline has continued to increase as the lease rate has increased. I'm just kind of curious, though, about the growth profile of the composition of the snow pipeline.
Operator: I'm just kind of curious, though, the growth profile of the composition of the, the SNO pipeline, like, with the ability to, you know, intentionally kind of replace tenants, remerchandise, have lower tenant credit, is, is the next batch of kind of additions to the SNO pipeline just more accretive to FFO and then AFFO as you guys can kind of throttle CapEx? Or is it am I reading too much into this? Like, I'm just trying to get a sense of, the potential to kind of inflect higher here even on the growth, particularly as, as FFO drops to the, you know, AFFO line. Craig, it's a great question. I, I think I'm, I think I understand what you're what you're asking. So basically, at this point, if you think about the nature of that SNO pipeline, what I say is a few things.
Speaker #9: With the ability to intentionally kind of replace tenants, re-merchandise, have lower tenant credit, is the next batch of kind of additions to the snow pipeline just more accretive to FFO and then AFFO as you guys can kind of throttle capex?
Speaker #9: Or is it, am I reading too much into this? I'm just trying to get a sense of the potential to kind of inflect higher here even on the growth, particularly as FFO drops to the AFFO
Speaker #9: line. Craig, it's a great question.
Speaker #4: I think I understand what you're asking. So basically, at this point, if you think about the nature of that snow pipeline, what I say is a few things.
Speaker #4: So, the highest rents that we've ever had, right, they're some of the strongest tenants that we've ever had. And, as Steve touched on, we're doing it more efficiently with less CapEx because of the environment and the competition for space, because of the fact that a lot of these retailers have taken on more construction work themselves and have been much more accommodating in terms of accepting existing conditions.
Operator: So the highest rents that we've ever had, right, they're some of the strongest tenants that we've ever had. And as Steve touched on, we're doing it more efficiently with less CapEx because of the environment and the competition for space, because of the fact that a lot of these retailers have taken on more construction work themselves and have been much more accommodating in terms of accepting existing conditions. So yes, those factors would lead us to, again, attracting stronger tenants at higher rents and doing it more efficiently going forward. What I would say is we've already been doing that. And you can you can expect us to continue to do that because of the position that we've put the portfolio in and the environment that you're seeing. Our tenants are thriving in this environment. Our centers are driving a significant amount of traffic.
Speaker #4: So yes, those factors would lead us to, again, attracting stronger tenants at higher rents and doing it more efficiently going forward. What I would say is we've already been doing that.
Speaker #4: And you can expect us to continue to do that because of the position that we've put the portfolio in and the environment that you're seeing our tenants, our thriving in this environment, our centers are driving a significant amount of traffic.
Speaker #4: So we feel really good about the nature of that pipeline going forward.
Operator: So we feel really good about the nature of that pipeline going forward. Thanks. Thanks, Craig. Our next question comes from a line of Juan Sanabria with BMO Capital Markets. Please proceed with your question. Hi. Good morning. Just hoping to talk a little bit about the term fees in Q4. And it looks like there's kind of a change in the pace of non-cash rents that were kind of noted in guidance or aligned that in the guidance. So hoping you can give a little bit more color on the driver of the term fees and the expectations into 2026 and what impact, if at all, that had on the non-cash revenues as we think about sharpening our model for 2026. Thanks. Yeah. Juan, I'll let Steve hit on the non-cash. But let me just touch on term fees.
Speaker #4: Thanks, Thanks. Craig.
Speaker #1: Our next question comes from a line of Juan Sinabrio with BMO Capital Markets. Please proceed with your
Speaker #1: Our next question comes from a line of Juan Sinabrio with BMO Capital Markets. Please proceed with your question. Hi.
Speaker #10: Good morning. Just hoping to talk a little bit about the term fees in the fourth quarter. And it looks like there's kind of a change in the pace of non-cash rents that were kind of noted in guidance or a line item in guidance.
Speaker #10: So it's hoping you can give a little bit more color on the driver of the term fees and the expectations into 2026 and what impact, if at all, that had on the non-cash revenues as we think about sharpening our model for
Speaker #10: '26. Thanks. Yeah.
Speaker #4: Juan, I'll let Steve hit on the non-cash. But let me just touch on term fees. And if you take a step back, without term fees, the core business would have grown in line with where we grew.
Operator: If you take a step back, without term fees, the core business would have grown in line with where we grew, same property NOI at over 4% despite the fact that we took back 1.5 million sq ft of anchor space during the year. It would grow even more in 2026. We had a very unique opportunity in Q4 in a center that we own in the East Bay area where we controlled the whole site, taking back the Kohl's and the Party City. We have tremendous optionality. We could do a retail plan today as we have LOIs for all that space. Or alternatively, there may be an opportunity for us to get the land rezoned for residential. Because of that timing, it was very opportunistic for us to take what is an outsized term fee.
Speaker #4: Same property in Hawaii at over 4% despite the fact that we took back 1.5 million square feet of anchor space during the year. And it would grow even more in 2026.
Speaker #4: We had a very unique opportunity in the fourth quarter. And a center that we own in the East Bay area where we controlled the whole site taking back the coals, and the party city, and we have tremendous optionality.
Speaker #4: We could do a retail plan today as we have LOIs for all that space or alternatively there may be an opportunity for us to get the land rezoned for residential.
Speaker #4: Because of that timing, it was very opportunistic for us to take what is an outsized term fee, the amount of that probably wouldn't have been there if we had waited until we got the property rezoned.
Operator: The amount of that probably wouldn't have been there if we had waited until we got the property rezoned. So the team did a fantastic job in terms of the timing of execution. In a normal course year, this portfolio has been generating, call it, $4 to $6 million of term fees. It's a mix from tenants that have left where we've done settlements and others in an environment where there is a significant amount of demand that we can accretively backfill space. So expect us to continue to be opportunistic there. What you're seeing in that walkdown is specific to that large term fee that we took in Q4. And it was a very, very unique situation. So Steve, why don't you hit on the non-cash? Yeah.
Speaker #4: So the team did a fantastic job in terms of the timing of execution. In a normal course year, this portfolio has been generating call it four to six million dollars of term fees.
Speaker #4: It's a mix from tenants that have left, where we've done settlements, and others in an environment where there is a significant amount of demand that we can accretively backfill space.
Speaker #4: So expect us to continue to be opportunistic there what you're seeing in that walk down is specific to that large term fee that we took in the fourth quarter.
Speaker #4: And it was a very, very unique situation. So Steve, why don't you hit on the non-cash? Yeah. The non-cash, and we talked about it on a previous call, is really acceleration of 141 associated with some of the bankruptcies that we encountered throughout the year.
Operator: The non-cash, and we talked about it on previous calls, is really acceleration of $141 associated with some of the bankruptcies that we encountered throughout the year. So that was more focused on those tenants and not something that we expect to recur going forward. Our next question comes from a line of Greg McGinnis with Scotiabank. Please proceed with your question. Hello. This is Victor Fedion with Greg McGinnis. And thanks for taking our question. In terms of external growth, so like Q4 acquisitions seem to fit that traditional grocery anchor mold. And are you seeing, like, better risk-adjusted returns in these core grocery assets right now compared to the value-add lifestyle opportunities you discussed earlier in 2025? I'll let Mark take that. Yeah.
Speaker #4: So, that was more focused on those tenants and not something that we expect to recur going forward.
Speaker #4: forward.
Speaker #1: Our next question
Speaker #1: comes from a line of Greg McGinnis with Scotiabank. Please proceed with your
Speaker #1: question. Hello.
Speaker #11: This is Speaker Fedion with Greg McGinnis. Thanks for taking our question. In terms of external growth, so Q4 acquisitions seem to feed the traditional grocery anchor mold.
Speaker #11: And are you seeing better risk-adjusted returns in this core grocery asset right now compared to the value-add lifestyle opportunities you discussed earlier in 2025?
Speaker #4: I'll let Mark take that. Yeah. I think when you if you look at what we've been buying over the years, we're our focus is actually pretty simple.
Operator: I think when you look at what we've been buying over the years, our focus is actually pretty simple. We're trying to find assets within our footprint where we can really drive outsized ROIC opportunities. So if you think back to 2024, we bought an asset in Tampa called Britton Plaza, which was a classic opportunistic deal where we purchased the land very attractively. We have a big redevelopment opportunity there that we're working on getting into the pipeline as quickly as we can. As we move into 2025, if you look at the range of assets we bought, we did buy a lifestyle center in Houston. We bought a traditional grocery anchor deal in Denver. And we bought Chino at the end of the year, which is on the West Coast in LA.
Speaker #4: We're trying to find assets within our footprint where we can really drive outsized ROIC opportunities. So if you think back to 2024, we bought an asset in Tampa called Britain Plaza, which was a classic.
Speaker #4: Opportunistic deal where we purchased the land. Very attractively, we have a big redevelopment opportunity there. That we're working on getting into the pipeline as quickly as we can.
Speaker #4: As we move into 2025, if you look at the range of assets we bought, we did buy a lifestyle center in Houston. We bought a traditional grocery-anchored deal in Denver.
Speaker #4: And we bought Chino at the end of the year which is on the West Coast in LA. All those assets have great opportunities for the Bricksmore platform to apply our platform to drive higher yields going in, drive longer-term growth.
Operator: All those assets have great opportunities for the Brixmor platform to apply our platform to drive higher yields going in, drive longer-term growth. And that's what we're really focused on, not necessarily the asset type. We're looking for growth that occurs in our footprint and where we can apply our platform that may be in a Lifestyle Center with great growth opportunities like Los Antara. Or it could be a great redevelopment opportunity like Britton. Thank you. Our next question comes from a line of Caitlin Burrows with Goldman Sachs. Please proceed with your question. Hi, everyone. Good morning. Maybe another question on the snow pipeline. So it's off. It's high as economic occupancy has gone up, which is great.
Speaker #4: And that's what we're really focused on. Not necessarily the asset type. We're looking for growth that occurs in our footprint and where we can apply our platform that may be in a lifestyle center with great growth opportunities like Los Intera or it could be a great redevelopment opportunity like
Speaker #4: Britain. Thank
Speaker #1: Our next question comes from a line of you. Caitlin Burrows with Goldman Sachs. Please proceed with your question.
Speaker #12: Hi, everyone. Good morning. Maybe another question on the Snow pipeline. So, it's off its highs as economic occupancy has gone up, which is great.
Speaker #12: But I guess looking forward, when you consider leasing demand and the amount of vacancy that you do have what is your view on the snow pipeline replenishing itself kind of as we go forward?
Operator: But I guess looking forward, when you consider leasing demand and the amount of vacancy that you do have, what is your view on the SNO pipeline replenishing itself, kind of as we go forward? Yeah. Caitlin, we remain very encouraged with the demand environment. That SNO pipeline has been fairly sticky at around $60 million, even though we've been commencing anywhere from $15 to $20, $22 million a quarter because we've been replenishing it. So the conversations we're having with retailers, retailers that are thriving and continuing to drive traffic to their stores, they're looking to open store count in an environment where there's not a lot of space. So we feel pretty confident in terms of our ability to continue to replenish that. I mentioned occupancy upside. We're still 50 basis points below the prior peak from a leased occupancy perspective.
Speaker #4: Yeah. Caitlin, we remain very encouraged with the demand environment. That snow pipeline has been fairly sticky at around 60 million even though we've been commencing anywhere from 15 to 20, 22 million dollars a quarter because we've been replenishing it.
Speaker #4: So the conversations we're having with retailers, retailers that are thriving and continuing to drive traffic to their stores, they're looking to open store count and environment where there's not a lot of space.
Speaker #4: So we feel pretty confident in terms of our ability to continue to replenish that. I mentioned occupancy upside. We're still 50 basis points below the prior peak from a leased occupancy perspective.
Speaker #4: And that was a note by no means a cap on the portfolio because the portfolio is in a much better position today. So really, feel very encouraged about what we're seeing from an overall demand environment as we move into the year to replenish the
Operator: was not by any means a cap on the portfolio because the portfolio is in a much better position today. Really feel very encouraged about what we're seeing from an overall demand environment as we move into the year to replenish the pipeline. Our next question comes from a line of Samir Khanal with Bank of America. Please proceed with your question. Yeah. Good morning, everybody. I guess, Steve, just, just curious on, on this, the other revenue ancillary income component. I guess what's assumed as part of guidance this year? I know, you know, last quarter, you talked about the parking agreement. You know, that, that benefited some of this quarter. Like, how, how should we think about that sort of line item of other revenue, as we think about '26? Thanks. Yeah.
Speaker #4: pipeline. Our next
Speaker #1: question comes from a line of Samir Kanal with Bank of America. Please proceed with your question.
Speaker #13: Yeah. Good morning, everybody. I guess, Steve, just curious on this the other revenue ancillary income component. I guess, what's assumed as part of guidance this year?
Speaker #13: I know last quarter you talked about the parking agreements, that benefited some of this quarter. How should we think about that sort of line item of other revenue as we think about '26?
Speaker #13: Thanks.
Speaker #4: Yeah. I think
Operator: I think when you know, the things we were trying to highlight in the script is really the focus of the entire organization and maximizing revenue across our properties. We have a very, very strong ancillary team in-house that this is their main focus is driving that type of income. So, you know, one example of that was the Point Orlando garage, which is a recurring item. I tried to break that out a little separately so you all could see that contribution from that. But in that other bucket, you still see even though some of those were some of that revenue was more focused on the boxes we got back in the year, there are always those opportunities across the portfolio. So, you know, it's not a line item we necessarily give guidance on.
Speaker #4: One of the things we were trying to highlight in this script is really the focus of the entire organization on maximizing revenue across our properties.
Speaker #4: We have a very, very strong ancillary team in-house, and this is their main focus: driving that type of income. So one example of that was the Point Orlando Garage, which is a recurring item.
Speaker #4: I tried to break that out a little separately so you all could see that contribution from that. But in that other bucket, you still see even though some of those were some of that revenue was more focused on the boxes we got back in the year, there are always those opportunities across the portfolios.
Speaker #4: So it's not a line item we necessarily give guidance on, but I don't think it'll meaningfully move the range one way or the other, as we continue to just find additional opportunities across the portfolio to maximize income.
Operator: But I don't think it'll meaningfully move the range one way or the other as we continue to just find additional opportunities across the portfolio to maximize income. And Samir, I would just add Steve hit on it. But this is a team of operators. And so as we look to create value in our assets and mine income opportunities to drive revenue, we're seeing higher rents in terms of electric car charging stations. We're seeing higher rents in terms of our solar. We're seeing very interesting uses in terms of that temp inline space. So from that perspective, the specialty team's done a great job. And as part of the realignment a few years ago, we partnered that more with the operating platform. So there's a lot of collaboration with our property management teams, with our leasing teams in the region.
Speaker #11: And Samir, I would just add, Steve hit on it, but this is a team of operators. And so as we look to create value in our assets and mine income opportunities to drive revenue, we're seeing higher rents in terms of electric car charging our solar.
Speaker #11: We're seeing very strong activation. We're seeing higher rents in terms of interesting uses in that temp inline space. So from that perspective, the specialty teams have done a great job.
Speaker #11: And as part of the realignment a few years ago, we partnered that more with the operating platform. So there's a lot of collaboration with our property management teams and with our leasing teams in the region.
Speaker #11: They're working side by side and so you're really saw that come through. Steve did point out some large one-time items, not really one-time but larger items that contributed but the nature of that is going to be recurring.
Operator: They're working side by side. And so you really seesaw that come through. Steve did point out some large one-time items, not really one-time, but larger items that contributed. But the nature of that is going to be recurring. So we feel really good about the trends and the specialty business going forward, but more importantly, how our team's working together to drive value. Our next question comes from a line of Connor Siversky with Wells Fargo. Please proceed with your question. Great. Thanks for taking the question. I know we touched on the acquisition side earlier. So curious if you could comment on the disposition pipeline as it stands today in terms of volumes and how we should think about the disposition cadence throughout the year given some of the strength in market pricing and opportunity to reinvest accretively with your redevelopment pipeline.
Speaker #11: So we feel really good about the trends in the specialty business going forward. But more importantly, how our teams working together to drive value.
Speaker #1: Our next question comes from a line of Cooper Clark with Wells Fargo. Please proceed with your question.
Speaker #14: touched on the acquisition side earlier. So Great. Thanks for taking the question. I know we curious if you could comment on the disposition pipeline as it stands today in terms of volumes and how we should think about the disposition cadence throughout the year given some of the strength in market pricing and opportunity to reinvest accretively with your redevelopment pipeline?
Speaker #14: Also curious on the depth of bidder pools and what buyers you're seeing most aggressively pursue deals.
Operator: Also curious on the depths of bidder pools and what buyers you're seeing most aggressively pursue deals. Yeah. Sure. For the dispos, what's really interesting about this about the dispo market is really the demand that we're seeing in the market today. And so last year, the dispos we sold were blending to a low 7 cap rate. And the market's really allowing us to exit assets at better-than-expected cap rates for assets where we see lower growth and would really be near the bottom of our portfolio in terms of value creation from our perspective. And what's important from our perspective is that we remain very confident in our ability to sell these lower-growth assets and recycle that capital into higher-growth opportunities like a Chino, like a Broomfield where we're really seeing dispos underwrite.
Speaker #4: Yeah. Sure. For the dispos, what's really interesting about the dispo market is really the demand that we're seeing in the market today. And so last year, the dispos we sold were blending to a low seven cap rate.
Speaker #4: And the market's really allowing us to exit assets at better-than-expected cap rates for assets where we see lower growth and would really be near the bottom of our portfolio in terms of value creation from our perspective.
Speaker #4: And what's important from our perspective is that we remain very confident in our ability to sell these lower-growth assets and recycle that capital into higher-growth opportunities like Acheno, like a Broomfield.
Speaker #4: Where we're really seeing dispos underwrite and we think the buyers are underwriting IRRs in that mid-seven to eight percent range. And we're really buying assets from our perspective with IRRs that are generally blending in that high 9 to 10 percent range.
Operator: We think the buyers are underwriting IRRs in that mid-7 to 8 cap 8% range. And we're really buying assets, and from our perspective, with IRRs, are generally blending in that high 9 to 10% range. So we remain really convicted in that part of the trade we're making. As far as bid lists, it's really dependent on size. So one of the things you've seen is a lot of money raised to try to buy open-air grocery-anchored centers. I think a lot of that capital was focused on one quality of assets. They've seen cap rate compressed. And they've had to go after, you know, a slightly lower demographic, a slightly lower gross performance. And that's really allowing us to drive cap rate on what we're selling at the bottom part of our portfolio.
Speaker #4: So we remain really convicted in that part of the trade we're making. As far as bid lists, it's really dependent on size. So one of the things you've seen is a lot of money raised to try to buy open-air grocery anchored centers.
Speaker #4: I think a lot of that capital was focused on one quality of assets they've seen cap rate compressed. And they've had to go after a slightly lower demographic, a slightly lower gross performance.
Speaker #4: And that's really allowing us to drive cap rate on what we're selling at the bottom part of our portfolio. From terms of who those are, it's pension funds, it's high net worth, you're seeing local groups come back out of the woodwork.
Operator: In terms of who those are, it's pension funds. It's high net worth. You're seeing local groups come back out of the woodwork. So it's a really healthy market today. And as I mentioned earlier, the biggest difference is really size. So when you're selling a $5 million asset, the bid pool's very large. When you get up to a Chino, which was $140 million or $138 million, that bid list was actually quite small and really allowed us to find a great opportunity to drive higher IRRs given the demand there. So we remain really convicted about our ability to sell, again, lower IRR and buy higher IRR. And we're really excited about that opportunity. Our next question comes from a line of Connor Mitchell with Piper Sandler. Please proceed with your question. Hey. Thanks for taking my question.
Speaker #4: So it's a really healthy market today. And as I mentioned earlier, the biggest difference is really size. So when you're selling a $5 million asset, the bid pool is very large.
Speaker #4: We need to get up to Acheno which was 140 million or 138. That bid list was actually quite small and really allowed us to find a great opportunity to drive higher IRRs given the demand there.
Speaker #4: So we remain really convicted about our ability to sell again lower IRR and buy higher IRR. And we're really excited about that
Speaker #4: opportunity.
Speaker #1: Our next question comes
Speaker #1: from a line of Connor Mitchell with Piper Sandler. Please proceed with your question.
Speaker #15: Hey. Thanks for taking my question. Just going back to the bad debt outlook for this year and just kind of thinking about the watch list.
Operator: Just going back to the bad debt outlook for this year and just kind of thinking about the watch list. You mentioned that you've had limited exposure to pharmacies or theaters. But just wondering if you could kind of put some context about around the general watch list and what you're seeing within your portfolio, whether that's maybe a majority of the watch list or higher up on the watch list are kind of one-off situations where there's upcoming debt maturities and it's more of a balance sheet issue. And that's the worry. Or if more of those tenants, retailers are kind of more within, like, a theme, or a service type kind of group together. Yeah. Connor, it's a good question. And it's something that we are always watching.
Speaker #15: You mentioned that you've had limited exposure to pharmacies or theaters. But just wondering if you could kind of put some context about around the general watch list and what you're seeing within your portfolio whether that's maybe a majority of the watch list or higher up on the watch list are kind of one-off situations where there's upcoming debt maturities and it's more of a balance sheet issue and that's the worry.
Speaker #15: Or if more of those tenants to retailers are kind of more within a theme or a service type kind of grouped
Speaker #15: together.
Speaker #4: Yeah. Connor, it's a good
Speaker #4: question. And it's something that we are always watching this team historically has been very proactive in terms of addressing things ahead of potential credit events.
Operator: This team historically has been very proactive in terms of addressing things ahead of potential credit events. Many of you on the call today have screened watch lists across our peer set. If you look at where ours is today, we screen very favorably in terms of those categories that I mentioned. The other thing that we feel very confident about is a few years ago, we put very stringent underwriting standards in place, the most stringent the company's ever had with our finance team and our leasing teams in terms of underwriting small shop tenancy. What we saw there was who was taking space was multi-unit operators, established that had much stronger credit profiles than we had seen historically. It's why we have so many multi-unit operators in that space. So we still have a tenant health call with our team.
Speaker #4: Many of you on the call today have screen watch lists across our peer set and if you look at where ours is today, we screen very favorably in terms of those categories.
Speaker #4: That I mentioned. The other thing that we feel very confident about is a few years ago, we put very stringent underwriting standards in place - the most stringent the company's ever had with our finance team and our leasing teams - in terms of underwriting small shop tenancy.
Speaker #4: And what we saw there was who was taking space was multi-unit operators. Established that had much stronger credit profiles than we had seen historically.
Speaker #4: It's why we have so many multi-unit operators in that space. So, we still have a tenant health call with our team. Steve and I review it on a monthly basis.
Operator: Steve and I review it on a monthly basis. Our teams are reviewing it daily. The trends we see are very positive. We're not seeing an uptick in delinquencies. We're not seeing an uptick in move-outs, normal course move-outs for the portfolio last year if you take away the bankruptcies. We're, again, at historic lows for the portfolio, retention rates up, renewal growth in the mid-teens. So I think all those trends give you visibility into the health of the portfolio. There's always a handful of names that we're watching. It just tends to be very low for us at this point. Our next question comes from a line of Mike Mueller with JPMorgan. Please proceed with your question. Yeah. Hi. Can you talk a little bit more about, I guess, using tech and the AI to evaluate tenant health?
Speaker #4: Our teams are reviewing it daily, and the trends we see are very positive. We're not seeing an uptick in delinquencies. We're not seeing an uptick in move-outs.
Speaker #4: Normal course move-outs for the portfolio last year. If you take away the bankruptcies, we're again historic lows for the portfolio retention rates up, renewal growth in the mid-teens.
Speaker #4: So I think all those trends give you visibility into the health of the portfolio. There's always a handful of names that we're watching. It just tends to be very low for us at this
Speaker #4: point. Our next question
Speaker #1: JP Morgan. Please proceed with your
Speaker #1: question. Yeah.
Speaker #16: Hi. Can you talk a little bit more about, I guess, using tech and the AI to evaluate tenant health? And has it changed your watch list in any material way as a result of the approach?
Operator: Has it changed your watch list in any material way as a result of the approach? Yeah. One of the things we're looking at, Mike, it's a great question, is not I mean, you all on the phone have the names you may be watching or the categories that I mentioned. But it's really those where can we start to get some early signals, right, that's not just, "Hey, well, the tenant got a default this month," or, "The tenant was a little bit late." Can we start to see where that payment date goes from the third date to the fifth date? It's things like that relative that we've started to roll out. We're seeing some pretty interesting trends. And we can at least start to have a conversation with people ahead of time.
Speaker #4: Yeah. One of the things we're looking at, Mike—it's a great question—is not... I mean, you all on the phone have the names you may be watching, or the categories that I mentioned.
Speaker #4: But it's really those, where can we start to get some early signals, right? It's not just, 'Hey, well, the tenant got a default this month,' or, 'The tenant was a little bit late.' Can we start to see where that payment date goes from the third date to the fifth date?
Speaker #4: It's things like that, relative, that we've started to roll out. We're seeing some pretty interesting trends. Are we going to at least start to have a conversation with people ahead of time?
Speaker #4: I think that's just one example of how we're using all the data that we have across the entire platform to just make more data-informed, data-driven decisions.
Operator: I think that's just one example of how we're using all the data that we have across the entire platform to just make more data-informed, data-driven decisions. So it's something that was a big focus of ours as part of the realignment to get consistency in the types of dashboards that we're using to measure our tasks and to measure our improvement in certain operating metrics as we go throughout the year. So that's just one aspect of it. And I think as we continue to deploy things throughout the year, we'll continue to share some of the benefits. But I'm really pleased at how the team has adopted this mindset and how we're pushing things forward really across the platform. As a reminder, if you would like to ask a question, press star 1 on your telephone keypad.
Speaker #4: So, it's something that was a big focus of ours as part of the realignment—to get consistency in the types of dashboards that we're using.
Speaker #4: To measure our tasks and to measure our improvement in certain operating metrics as we go throughout the year. So that's just one aspect of it.
Speaker #4: And I think as we continue to deploy things throughout the year, we'll continue to share some of the benefits. But I'm really pleased at how the team has adopted this mindset and how we're pushing things forward really across the platform.
Speaker #1: As a reminder, if you would like to ask a question, press star one on your telephone keypad. Our next question comes from a line of Linda Sy with Jefferies.
Operator: Our next question comes from a line of Linda Tsai with Jefferies. Please proceed with your question. Thanks for taking my question. The improved retention rate of 87%, I guess that helps support the record low CapEx down 14% year-over-year. How sustainable do you view lower CapEx spend if you had to look out a few years? We certainly see it at this run rate, Linda. It's a great question in terms of where we are. So I kind of break it down a few ways. We still plan. And we think it's a great use of capital for accretive reinvestment. I think where we have seen the declines is on the leasing side where competition for space and improvement in the portfolio has allowed us to reduce CapEx in those deals while still growing rents significantly.
Speaker #1: Please proceed with your
Speaker #1: question. Thanks for taking my
Speaker #17: The improved retention rate of 87%—I guess that helps support the record-low capex, down 14% year over year. How sustainable do you view lower capex spend if you had to look out a few—
Speaker #17: years? We certainly see it at this
Speaker #4: run rate, Linda. It's a great question in terms of where we are. So I kind of break it down a few ways. We still plan and we think it's a great use of capital for accretive reinvestment.
Speaker #4: I think where we have seen the decline is on the leasing side, where competition for space and improvement in the portfolio has allowed us to reduce capex in those deals while still growing rent significantly.
Speaker #4: I also think, again, retailers and you're seeing it. You saw it last year in the auctions, have been much more willing to take on existing space and much more flexible in terms of those build-outs.
Operator: I, I also think, again, retailers and you're seeing it. You saw it last year in the auctions have been much more willing to take on existing space and much more flexible in terms of those build-outs. So that's driving it as well. The deferred maintenance overhang of this portfolio is behind us from a maintenance CapEx perspective. This is now three years running of maintenance CapEx lowest for the portfolio, the lowest since 2016 outside of the pandemic year. And we have been very intentional. You're thinking now it's more roofs and parking lots. But even within that, the fact that we're doing portfolio-wide roofing bids, the fact that our property managers are, are working with our redevelopment teams in terms of some of the things that we may need to improve in those reinvestments to avoid future CapEx going forward.
Speaker #4: So that's driving it as well. The deferred maintenance overhang of this portfolio is behind us from a maintenance capex perspective. This is now three years running of maintenance capex lowest for the portfolio, the lowest since 2016 outside of the pandemic year.
Speaker #4: And we have been very intentional. You're thinking now it's more roofs and parking lots. But even within that, the fact that we're doing portfolio-wide roofing bids, the fact that our property managers are working with our redevelopment teams in terms of some of the things that we may need to improve in those reinvestments to avoid future capex going forward.
Speaker #4: And then you just look at it, and then you look at it on the expense side as well. From a recovery rate, all the work that we've done in cleaning up our CAM clauses has allowed us to get paid back for the operating expense investment that we've been making in our assets.
Operator: And then you just look about it, and then you look at it on the expense side as well from a recovery rate. All the work that we've done in cleaning up our CAM clauses has allowed us to get paid back for the operating expense investment that we've been making in our assets. So you put that all together, in addition to the environment, it's leading to lower CapEx. And we feel like we're in a good position right now as we go forward. Thanks for the color. And good luck. Thanks, Linda. Appreciate it. Our next question comes from a line of Paulina Rojas with Green Street. Please proceed with your question. Good morning. My question is about dispositions. I find interesting that some of the assets that you have sold had low occupancy.
Speaker #4: So you put that all together, in addition to the environment, it's leading to lower capex. And we feel like we're in a good position right now as we go forward.
Speaker #17: Thanks for the color and good
Speaker #17: luck. Thanks, Linda.
Speaker #4: Appreciate
Speaker #4: it. Our next question comes
Speaker #1: From a line of Paulina Rojas with Green Street. Please proceed with your question.
Speaker #18: Good morning. My question is about dispositions. I find it interesting that some of the assets that you have sold had low occupancy. Westchester Square Springdale and a few others sold earlier in the year, not too many but some.
Operator: Westchester Square, Springdale, and a few others sold earlier in the year, not too many, but some, and which would suggest that perhaps those assets had remaining upside. So my question is, did these centers have anything in common that made it more compelling to pursue a sale rather than driving additional occupancy internally, particularly given the good leasing momentum? Yeah. It's a great question. And I think you've seen a mix there historically, Paulina, of several centers, too, that we had during the year that were close to 100% occupied. I think we are focused on ROI. And so yes, there was some vacancy. But we just answered a question about CapEx. Are we going to put those dollars to work accretively? And you've seen us do that across the portfolio.
Speaker #18: Which suggests that perhaps those assets had remaining upside. So my question is, did these centers have anything in common that made it more compelling to pursue a sale rather than driving additional occupancy internally?
Speaker #18: Particularly given the good leasing momentum.
Speaker #4: Yeah. It's a great question. And I think you've seen a mix there historically, Paulina. Several centers too that we had during the year that were close to 100% occupied.
Speaker #4: I think we are focused on ROI and so yes, there was some vacancy. But we just answered a question about capex. Are we going to put those dollars to work accretively?
Speaker #4: And you've seen us do that across the portfolio. But in areas where we don't see the ability to do that accretively, we say to ourselves, 'Hey, how does the hold decision compare to the sale decision?'
Operator: But in areas where we don't see the ability to do that accretively, we say to ourselves, "Hey, what, how does the hold decision compare to the sale decision? Are we better off recycling the capital somewhere else?" And as Mark spent some time going through, we're seeing some great bids for assets. So we can take that capital and deploy it elsewhere where we can get a more accretive return. So that's really it. I mean, if you look at it, the occupancy impact from dispositions was a very, very small percentage during the year. That wasn't the motivating factor. There was, A, they were in markets where we don't have a huge presence in those two assets in particular. But more importantly, we just didn't see the ROI and the investment that we would have to make to drive the occupancy forward at those centers.
Speaker #4: Are we better off recycling the capital somewhere else? And as Mark spent some time going through, we're seeing some great bids for assets. So we can take that capital and deploy it elsewhere, where we can get a more accretive return.
Speaker #4: So that's really it. I mean, if you look at it, occupancy impact from dispositions was a very, very small percentage during the year. That wasn't the motivating factor there was, A, they were in markets where we don't have a huge presence in those two assets in particular.
Speaker #4: But more importantly, we just didn't see the ROI and the investment that we would have to make to drive the occupancy forward at those centers.
Speaker #4: But more importantly, we just didn't see the ROI and the investment that we would have to make to drive the occupancy forward at those centers.
Speaker #1: Our next question comes from a line of Teo Ortesona with Deutsche Bank. Please proceed with your
Operator: Our next question comes from a line of Tayo Okusanya with Deutsche Bank. Please proceed with your question. Yes. Good morning, everyone. Again, congrats, Brian and Stacy. No one is more deserving. Congrats to you as well. Just a question around, again, fundamentals in the strip side just kind of seem very strong across the board. And I'm just curious, as you kind of think about the industry as a whole and, you know, yourself and all your peers, I mean, are we setting up for a year where it's kind of, you know, kind of rising tides lift all boats? Or fundamentally, do you think there's still going to be differences, across all the key platforms? And in this kind of environment, you know, what really are the key things in your mind that would lead to greater success versus, you know, another operator in this space?
Speaker #19: Yes. Good morning, everyone. Again, congrats, Brian, Stacy. No one is more deserving. Congrats to you as well. Just a question around, again, fundamentals in the strip side, just kind of seem very strong across the board.
Speaker #19: And I'm just curious, as you kind of think about the industry as a whole and yourself and all your peers, I mean, are we setting up for a year where it's kind of kind of rising tides lifts all boats?
Speaker #19: Or fundamentally, do you think we're still going to see differences across all the key platforms? And in this kind of environment, what really are the key things in your mind that would lead to greater success versus another operator in this space?
Speaker #4: Yeah. It's a great question. And there's no doubt the environment is strong. I think we're as well positioned as anybody in terms of all the things that we've been talking about on this call relative to the low rent basis, the occupancy upside, the visibility on the strength of the redevelopment pipeline.
Operator: Yeah. It's a great question. There's no doubt the environment is strong. I think we're as well positioned as anybody in terms of all the things that we've been talking about on this call relative to the low rent basis, the occupancy upside, the visibility on the strength of the redevelopment pipeline. We haven't spent a ton of time on this today. But in what we already own and control, you think about the projects that we've got with Publix, the one that we just launched this quarter in New York Metro, the one that Mark bought last year in South Tampa, Plano, Texas. We're going to be opening up our first large-format Target in Dallas in a couple of weeks. We're very excited about the nature of that pipeline going forward.
Speaker #4: We haven't spent a ton of time on this today. But in what we already own and control, you think about the projects that we've got, with Publix, the one that we just launched this quarter, in Metro New York, the one that Mark bought last year, in South Tampa, Plano, Texas.
Speaker #4: We're going to be opening up our first large-format target in Dallas in a couple of weeks. We're very excited about the nature of that pipeline going forward.
Speaker #4: And I think, if you look at the ability to grow and the ability to do that incrementally and accretively, I think we stand apart.
Operator: I think if you look at the ability to grow and the ability to do that incrementally and accretively, I think we stand apart. So yes, the environment's strong. Our retailers are performing. But I think the position that we've put the portfolio in really allows us to capitalize on that going forward. Our next question is a follow-up from Caitlin Burrows with Goldman Sachs. Please proceed with your question. Hi again. You guys mentioned earlier how the balance sheet has net debt to EBITDA of 5.4x. I guess how are you thinking of that, and where you want to be? Is lower better? Or are you in the right range? Or would you be okay going higher? Yeah. And I think Brian mentioned it in his remarks. I mean, we continue to be very disciplined with the balance sheet.
Speaker #4: So yes, the environment's strong. Our retailers are performing. But I think the position that we've put the portfolio in really allows us to capitalize that capitalize on that going
Speaker #4: forward. Our
Speaker #1: Next question is a follow-up from Caitlin Burrows with Goldman Sachs. Please proceed with your question.
Speaker #20: Hi, again. You guys mentioned earlier how the balance sheets at net debt to EBITDA of 5.4 times. I guess, how are you thinking of that and where you want to be?
Speaker #20: Is lower better? Or are you in the right range? Or would you be okay going higher?
Speaker #4: Yeah. And I think Brian mentioned it in his remarks. I mean, we continue to be very disciplined with the balance sheet. I think where we are in the mid-size based on the amount of growth that we see coming, we feel very well positioned here.
Operator: I think where we are in the mid-five, based on the amount of growth that we see coming, we feel very well positioned here. But, but obviously, we'll keep an eye on it as we move through, you know, the year. But I, I think we're, we're pretty comfortable here in the mid-fives. Our next question is a follow-up from Paulina Rojas with Green Street. Please proceed with your question. Thank you. I, I wanted to follow up on your comments about the improved tenant quality. I think you mentioned that roughly 75, I think, you said, of the small shop tenants are multi-unit operators. Can you, can you share, put some historical context on that metric, so we can better compare and contrast the improvement over time? Yeah. I think it's, it's certainly up from where it was. We can get you the, the exact number.
Speaker #4: But obviously, we'll keep an eye on it as we move through the year. But I think we're pretty comfortable here in the mid-size.
Speaker #1: Our next question is a follow-up from Paulina Rojas with Green Street. Please proceed with your
Speaker #1: question. Thank you.
Speaker #21: I wanted to follow up on your comments about the improved tenant quality. I think you mentioned that roughly 75, I think, you said, of the small shop tenants are multi-unit operators.
Speaker #21: Can you share or put some historical context on that metric, so we can better compare and contrast the improvement?
Speaker #21: over time? Yeah.
Speaker #4: I think it's certainly up from where it was. We can get to the exact number. I think one of the things that we've seen there Paulina, because we've seen a reduction just in kind of that true one-off local tenancy.
Operator: I think one of the things that we've seen there, Paulina, because we've seen a reduction just in kind of that true one-off local tenancy. It's down to 17% of our ABR. One of the reasons that we wanted to highlight it is because, as we were digging through and this came up as, again, part of some of the data work that we've been doing across the portfolio, was we were really not surprised by it because we're seeing it come through in our leasing committee. But it really kind of reassured the thoughts that we had about the trajectory of the portfolio and the fact that we did have more established small shop tenants in particular that were successful, right?
Speaker #4: It's down to 17% of our ABR. One of the reasons that we wanted to highlight it is because, as we were digging through, and this came up as, again, part of some of the data work that we've been doing across the portfolio, was we were really not surprised by it because we're seeing it come through in our leasing committee.
Speaker #4: But it really kind of reassured the thoughts that we had about the trajectory of the portfolio and the fact that we did have more established small shop tenants in particular that were successful, right?
Speaker #4: And it tied to everything else we've been talking about relative to the strong payment trends, relative to the record small shop rents that we've been able to achieve.
Operator: And it ties to everything else we've been talking about relative to the strong payment trends, relative to the record small shop rents that we've been able to achieve. And then if you just think of the overall quality of tenants that we're adding to the portfolio, you look at those higher-quality QSRs, right? There is a focus on health and wellness. And whether it's the strong regional operators like NAYA and honeygrow or the CAVAs or the Tatte Bakery & Cafe that we're attracting to the portfolio, then you look at some higher-end tenants like Sephora, Warby Parker that we just added our first locations to. We opened a Capital Grille last year in a grocery-anchored shopping center in suburban Philadelphia. So these are names that maybe seven, eight years ago, would not have been attracting to the portfolio.
Speaker #4: And then if you just think of the overall quality of tenants that we're adding to the portfolio, you look at those higher quality QSRs, right?
Speaker #4: There is a focus on health and wellness. And whether it's the strong regional operators like NAIA and Honey Grow or the CAVAs or the Tate Bakeries that we're attracting, to the portfolio, then you look at some higher-end tenants like Sephora, Warby Parker, that we just added our first locations to.
Speaker #4: We opened a Capital Grille last year in a grocery-anchored shopping center in suburban Philadelphia. So these are names that maybe seven, eight years ago we would not have been attracting to the portfolio.
Speaker #4: And I think it speaks to all the work that the team has done on the reinvestment front—the fact that consumers in the markets in which we own shopping centers are just demanding more from those markets in terms of the quality of restaurants and the quality of services.
Operator: I think it speaks to all the work that the team has done on the reinvestment front, the fact that consumers in the markets in which we own shopping centers are just demanding more from those markets in terms of the quality of restaurants and the quality of services. So it gives us the opportunity to provide that. Overall, I think you can see it come through in the types of tenants, the names of the tenants who we're signing, and then just the strength of that tenancy coming through in the rest of the operating metrics. Thank you. Thanks, Paulina. Thank you. We have no further questions at this time. Ms. Slater, I'd like to turn the call back over to you for closing comments. Great. Thank you all for joining us today.
Speaker #4: And so it gives us the opportunity to provide that. So overall, I think you can see it come through in the types of tenants, the names of the tenants who we're signing, and then just the strength of that tenancy coming through in the rest of the operating.
Speaker #4: metrics. Thank Next,
Speaker #21: you.
Speaker #22: Thank you. We have no further Paulina. questions at this time. Ms. Slater, I'd like to turn the call back over to you for
Speaker #22: closing comments. Great.
Speaker #23: Thank you all for joining us today. We look forward to seeing many of you over the next few weeks.
Operator: We look forward to seeing many of you over the next few weeks. Ladies and gentlemen, this does conclude today's teleconference. You may disconnect your lines at this time. Thank you for your participation, and have a wonderful day.
Speaker #1: Ladies and gentlemen, this does conclude today's teleconference. You may disconnect your lines at this time. Thank you for your participation and have a wonderful day.
