Global Medical REIT Q2 2024 Earnings Call Transcript

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Provided by Quartr
August 7, 2024

There are 9 speakers on the call.

Operator

Greetings and welcome to Global Medical REIT Second Quarter 20 24 Earnings Conference Call. At this time, all participants are in a listen only mode. A brief question and answer session will follow the formal presentation. As a reminder, this conference is being recorded. It is now my pleasure to introduce your host, Mr.

Operator

Steve Sweatt, Investor Relations. Thank you, Mr. Sweatt. You may begin.

Speaker 1

Thank you. Good morning, everyone, and welcome to Global Medical REIT's Q2 2024 Earnings Conference Call. On the call today are Jeff Busch, Chief Executive Officer Alfonso Leon, Chief Investment Officer and Bob Kiernan, Chief Financial Officer. Please note the use of forward looking statements by the company on this conference call. Statements made on this call may include statements which are not historical facts and are considered forward looking.

Speaker 1

The The company intends these forward looking statements to be covered by the Safe Harbor provisions for forward looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is making a statement for the purpose of complying with those safe harbor provisions. Furthermore, actual results may differ materially from those described in the forward looking statements and will be affected by a variety of risks and factors that are beyond the company's control, including without limitation, those contained in the company's 10 ks for the year ended December 31, 2023, and its other SEC filings. The company assumes no obligation to update publicly any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, on this call, the company may refer to certain non GAAP financial measures, such as funds from operations, adjusted funds from operations, EBITDAre and adjusted EBITDAre. You can find a tabular reconciliation of these non GAAP financial measures to the most currently comparable GAAP numbers in the company's earnings release and its filings with the SEC.

Speaker 1

Additional information may be found on the Investor Relations page of the company's website at www.globalmedicalreit.com. I would now like to turn the call over to Jeff Busch, Chief Executive Officer of Global Medical REIT. Jeff?

Speaker 2

Thank you, Steve. Good morning and thank you for joining our 2nd quarter 2024 earnings call. Our high quality diversified portfolio continues to produce solid results. At the end of the second quarter, portfolio occupancy was 96.2% with a weighted average lease term of 5.8 years and portfolio average rent coverage ratio of 4.6 times. For the Q2, our net loss attributable to common shareholders was $3,100,000 or $0.05 per share compared to net income attributable to common shareholders of $11,800,000 or $0.18 per share in the Q2 of 2023.

Speaker 2

FFO attributable to common shareholders and non controlling interest in the Q2 was $0.20 per share and unit, down $0.01 from the prior year quarter. And our AFFO attributable to common stockholders and non controlling interest was $0.22 per share and unit, down $0.01 from the prior year quarter. During the quarter, we entered into a purchase agreement for a 15 property portfolio of outpatient medical real estate for an aggregate purchase price of $80,300,000 at an 8% cap to be completed in 2 tranches. These properties are fully occupied and leased under triple net and absolute net leases. Subsequent to quarter end in July, we closed on the first tranche, acquiring 5 properties in the 15 property portfolio for an aggregate purchase price of $30,800,000 We expect to complete the acquisition of the 10 remaining properties during the Q4 of 2024.

Speaker 2

We are optimistic about the overall acquisition market in our asset class and are pleased with the improvement in market conditions. Currently, our investment pipeline consists of approximately $120,000,000 of assets at attractive cap rates. As we think about our growth opportunity, we are focused on maintaining a strong balance sheet. An important element to our prudent approach is utilizing select dispositions to fund a portion of our growth. Our dispositions can be part of an asset recycling program or in response to expectations regarding long term property performance.

Speaker 2

During the quarter, we closed on the sale of a medical facility in Mishawaka, Indiana, receiving gross proceeds of $8,100,000 And in July, we closed on the sale of a medical facility in Panama City, Florida that we generated $11,000,000 of gross proceeds. We continue to selectively sell assets as we move forward. In terms of tenant related items, last quarter we discussed Stewart Healthcare bankruptcy announcement and their exposure in the company's portfolio. At the time of the filing, Stewart represented 2.8% of the company's annualized base rent, primarily in one facility in Beaumont, Texas. Prior to the bankruptcy announcement, the company was actively pursuing re leasing opportunities at this facility and is optimistic about our long term prospects at this location.

Speaker 2

Bob will provide an update and more details regarding the financial assets of our Steward relationship in his remarks. Overall, I'm pleased with our 2nd quarter results and we want to thank the entire team for their hard work and contribution to our results. With that, I turn the call over to Alfonzo to discuss our investment activity and the current acquisition market conditions in more detail.

Speaker 3

Thank you, Jeff. The transaction market for our target assets, which align with our investment criteria, continues to show signs of promising progress. We remain actively engaged with a wide range of physician groups, brokers and corporate sellers to identify acquisition opportunities. As Jeff mentioned, in the quarter, we entered into a purchase agreement to acquire a 15 property portfolio of outpatient medical real estate for an aggregate purchase price of $80,300,000 to be completed in 2 tranches. These properties align with our investment criteria being fully occupied and leased under triple net or absolute triple net agreements.

Speaker 3

As Jeff discussed earlier, we completed the 1st tranche subsequent to quarter end acquiring 5 properties encompassing roughly 95,000 leasable square feet for an aggregate purchase price of $30,800,000 with aggregate annualized base rent of $2,500,000 and the 2nd tranche is expected to close in the Q4 of 2024. The ability to close the deal in 2 tranches provides us with additional flexibility to prudently fund the transaction. As a reminder, the second tranche of this deal is currently under contract and subject to customary terms and conditions, including due diligence reviews. Accordingly, there is no assurance that the company will close this acquisition on a timely basis or at all. We see this transaction as indicative of current market trends where sellers are increasingly accepting higher cap rate deals due to the ongoing challenges in the refinance market and pressure on real estate funds to sell.

Speaker 3

Regarding the asset that we acquired in July, note the following details. We acquired the 5 properties in the first tranche at an average price of $3.25 per square foot, an 8% ingoing cap rate, 5.4 years of weighted average lease term and 2.2% average rent bumps. The 5 properties in the portfolio include a family medicine clinic in Cerritos in Southeast LA leased to PIH Health, a regional health network with 3 hospitals and 26 clinics with an A rating 2 ophthalmology focused outpatient clinics into the Detroit MSA leased to Henry Ford, a $7,000,000,000 revenue health system with an A2 credit rating, a multi specialty clinic and surgery center in Minot, North Dakota, leased at Trinity Health, the region's dominant health system with 3 hospitals and 18 clinics with a BB- rating, a primary care focused multi specialty outpatient center in Spartanburg, South Carolina leased to the county with an AA1 rating. On a disposition front, during the quarter, we closed on the sale of a medical facility in Mishawaka, Indiana, receiving gross proceeds of $8,100,000 resulting in a loss on sale of $3,400,000 The lease at this property was set to expire at the end of the year and our decision to dispose of this property was based on our lease renewal expectations and outlook for finding a suitable tenant replacement.

Speaker 3

The property was originally part of a 4 property portfolio the company purchased in 2019. After quarter end in July, the company sold a medical facility in Petemas City, Florida receiving gross proceeds of 11,000,000 The property had a net book value of approximately $8,900,000 at the time of sale. This sale was part of our general asset recycling process whereby we identify assets that we believe can be sold at gains and the proceeds reinvested accretively by the company. Looking ahead, we will remain persistent and disciplined in seeking opportunities that align with our investment strategy and underwriting standards. We plan to leverage our competitive advantages, including scale, access to capital, the potential use of OP unit deal structures to unlock opportunities and drive value.

Speaker 3

As Jeff mentioned, our current investment pipeline consists of approximately $120,000,000 of healthcare assets. I'd now like to turn the call over to Bob to discuss our financial results. Bob?

Speaker 4

Thank you, Alfonso.

Speaker 5

At the end

Speaker 4

of the Q2 2024, our portfolio consisted of gross investments in real estate of $1,400,000,000 and included $4,700,000 of total leasable square feet, 96.2 percent occupancy, 5.8 years of weighted average lease term, 4.6 times rent coverage, escalations. In the Q2 of 2024, our total revenues decreased by approximately 6% compared to the prior year quarter to $34,200,000 due primarily to the impact of dispositions that were completed in 2023. Additionally, the recognition of reserves for 800 $1,000 of rent and the write off of $100,000 of deferred rent primarily related to our tenant Steward Healthcare to our Beaumont facility contributed to the decline. Total expenses for the Q2 of 2024 were $32,800,000 compared to $35,000,000 in the prior year quarter. The decrease was primarily due to disposition transactions that were completed during 2023 and lower interest expense.

Speaker 4

Our interest expense in the Q2 was $7,000,000 compared to $8,500,000 in the comparable quarter of last year, reflecting lower borrowing rates due to lower leverage, the impact of our interest rate swaps and lower average borrowings compared to the prior year period. Our operating expenses were $7,200,000 for both the Q2 of 2024 and the prior year quarter. Regarding these Q2 2024 expenses, dollars 4,900,000 related to net leases where the company recognized a comparable amount of expense recovery revenue and $900,000 related to gross leases. G and A expenses for the Q2 of 2024 were $4,600,000 compared to $4,500,000 in the Q2 of 2023. The increase primarily resulted from an increase in non cash LTIP compensation expense, which was $1,300,000 for the Q2 of 2024 compared to $1,100,000 for the same period in 2023, partially offset by a decline in general corporate expenses.

Speaker 4

Looking ahead, we expect our G and A expenses in the second half of twenty twenty four to be in the range of $4,400,000 $4,600,000 on a quarterly basis. Net loss attributable common stockholders for the Q2 of 2024 was $3,100,000 or $0.05 per share compared to net income attributable to common stockholders of 11,800,000 dollars or $0.18 per share in the Q2 of 2023. The loss in the Q2 of 2024 was primarily due to a $3,400,000 loss recognized on the sale of the medical facility in Mishawaka, Indiana. The results for the Q2 of 2023 reflected a gain on sale of investment properties of 12,800,000,000 FFO attributable to common stockholders and non controlling interest in the Q2 of 2024 was $13,900,000 or $0.20 per share in unit compared to $14,700,000 or $0.21 per share in unit in the Q2 of 2023. AFFO attributable to common stockholders and non controlling interest in the Q2 of 2024 was $15,700,000 or $0.22 per share in unit compared to $15,900,000 or $0.23 per share in unit in the Q2 of 2023.

Speaker 4

Moving on to the balance sheet. As of June 30, 2024, our gross investment in real estate was $1,400,000,000 At June 30, 2024, we had $620,000,000 of total gross debt with a weighted average remaining term of 2.5 years. At quarter end, 83 percent of our total debt was fixed rate debt. Our leverage ratio was 43.8% and our weighted average interest rate was 3.89%. Lastly, as of today, the current unutilized borrowing capacity under the credit facility is $261,000,000 We did not issue any shares of common stock under our ATM program during the Q2 or to date in Q3.

Speaker 4

As we consider funding options for the acquisitions that we have closed, we're expected to close later this year, we will continue to be disciplined as we seek to maintain leverage in our target range of 40% to 45%. With respect to our investment portfolio in our 2024 lease expirations, we are pleased with our progress on renewals and based on activity to date, we are currently trending towards a retention rate of between 75% 80% on this year's expiring leasable square feet. Regarding capital expenditures on the portfolio, during the Q2, our cash spend was approximately $3,200,000 Year to date through June 30, our cash outflows for capital expenditures were approximately $5,200,000 with slightly more than half of that related to tenant improvements. Currently, for the full year of 2024, we're projecting total capital expenditures of $11,000,000 to $13,000,000 As Jeff mentioned, during the quarter, Steward Healthcare announced that it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. At the time of the bankruptcy filing, Steward represented 2.8 percent or $3,100,000 of the company's annualized base rent, of which 86% related to our facility located in Beaumont, Texas.

Speaker 4

Post bankruptcy, the company has received base rent payments on its Stewart leases for the months of June, July August. The company has been proactively exploring re leasing options at the Beaumont facility since before the bankruptcy announcement and we remain optimistic about our long term prospects at this location. In conclusion, as we look to the second half of the year, we believe that our strong portfolio and ample liquidity provide a solid foundation for our future growth. We are encouraged by our acquisition opportunities and look forward to sharing our progress with you. This concludes our prepared remarks.

Speaker 4

Operator, please open the call for questions.

Operator

Thank you. We will now be conducting a question and answer The first question comes from the line of Austin Ploesschmidt with KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. Please go ahead.

Speaker 6

Great. Good morning, everybody. I was hoping to get some additional details regarding the $120,000,000 investment pipeline. Or is the $120,000,000 on top of that kind of remaining Or is the $120,000,000 on top of that kind of remaining $50,000,000 or so?

Speaker 3

The pipeline does not include the 2nd tranche. I mean, this is stuff that is in our pipeline that we've been pursuing in various ways and in discussions with various parties. The market has improved significantly since the last earnings call and there's more willing sellers that are willing to sell their assets at attractive pricing.

Speaker 6

And what's the composition of these assets, Alfonso? And maybe can you share some details around the economics and then just timing that you'd expect to close on the deals?

Speaker 3

Sure. So these are medical office buildings. Our focus has been on medical office buildings in our pipeline. And geographically, it's in markets that are like the types of markets that we've been pursuing historically. And these are quality buildings with quality tenants.

Speaker 6

And as far as the cap rates on the $120,000,000 where would you expect kind of that to shake out on average?

Speaker 3

Sure. So I mean we're targeting cap rates that are north of 8 cap and are finding opportunities that are in the high 8s and even in the 9 caps.

Speaker 2

This is Jeff. I just want to add to that. It's a very exciting time, which I haven't said in a long time for us. If interest rates start to fall as projected and there's opportunities out there in our niche at very attractive properties, good quality, like we bought the $80,000,000 portfolio, extraordinarily good quality at an ACAP. And there is higher ACAPs and hires out there for us in our niche that we'll be able to absorb and we could have a very good year of that.

Speaker 6

That's helpful. And then just lastly on the funding side, Jeff, you spoke about the asset recycling program. With that pipeline kind of the

Speaker 4

Yes.

Speaker 2

No, I agree with you. On disposition, we always look, there's properties out there that we could sell or if we could do a point to 2 above, sometimes sell. But we're really monitoring also the equity side of the business. The reason is, if the Fed, which people think now after multiple times, brings the rates down, which my belief is finally going to happen, but we'll see. Our stock historically, the 3 times the market thought it was coming down had a really nice jump and we could be very accretive for the properties we're going to buy.

Speaker 2

So it would be a combination of selling properties at lower cap rates and making the spread and also possibly raising money to acquire these new properties. It's really nice. This is the first time out there that market has sort of capitulated on the market of selling real estate has sort of capitulated that the pricing is going to be substantially higher. So it matches to being accretive for us.

Speaker 3

Appreciate the thoughts.

Operator

Thank you. Next question comes from the line of Juan Sanabria with BMO Capital Markets. Please go ahead.

Speaker 5

Hi, good morning and thanks for the time. Just a question following up on the dispositions. Could you comment or provide the cap rates for what you sold in the second quarter and in July to date, recognizing there was some vacancy risk with the upcoming exploration?

Speaker 3

Sure. So on the Panama City, we sold that for a 7.1 cap. And on the Mishawaka asset, I mean, again, just to point out, I mean, this is one that we felt like the releasing prospect was going to be very difficult and it made sense to sell and we had found a buyer that was user, owner user of the property. And keep in mind too that this was part of a portfolio that we acquired back in 2019, a $94,000,000 portfolio. And we allocated roughly $16,000,000 of that value this property.

Speaker 3

And since then, we've collected more than $9,000,000 of rent from this property from an A rated system. We're able to sell it for just over $8,000,000 And the other three properties have outperformed. We got a 10 year renewal on the Las Vegas property. On the Oklahoma property, we got an expansion and a 14 year renewal. And the Surprise, Arizona property had a long term lease to begin with and these are all properties that have very strong rent coverage.

Speaker 3

And so from our perspective, when we bought the portfolio, we underwrote it as a package and as a whole, this portfolio has performed very well.

Speaker 5

What was the rent accrued in the second quarter with regard to the Wisconsin asset?

Speaker 3

The Wisconsin asset?

Speaker 4

Yes. Yes. Just back into the cap rate?

Speaker 3

Sure. I mean it was north of a low double digit cap rate.

Speaker 5

Great. Thanks. And then, Bob, you spoke to expected retention on upcoming expirations for the balance of the year. So I guess what is then the implied occupancy that we should think about by year end? And does that have any impact to FFO per share with presumably some expected move outs or timing before you release?

Speaker 7

That's great.

Speaker 4

Yes. Sure. I mean, as we look ahead to the expirations that are coming up in the second half of the year, we're still projecting, I mean, as we've said on previous calls, pretty steady occupancy and right around this kind of 96% plus or minus and with trending toward a little bit plus that 96%. So in that 96% and above type range. And from an earnings perspective, again, sometimes there are renewals that have free rent periods from a timing perspective.

Speaker 4

You're subject to that from a long term perspective or in the short term. But overall, I mean, we're projecting solid occupancy as we look ahead and it shouldn't be provide that much volatility from an earnings perspective.

Speaker 5

And just one last one for me, if you don't mind. On the Steward space, I guess, in particular, the Beaumont lease, how does that compare to kind of current market levels? And I guess if there is if you have to release it, presumably that is the case, then how much mark to market could we expect either positive or negative in your mice initial assessment?

Speaker 3

So we're still in discussions, but I mean it's yes, it's going to be very comparable to what we had.

Speaker 7

Thank you.

Speaker 2

Yes, I just want to comment on the Stewart property. It's an excellent property that is in pretty decent demand. So that's why we're optimistic about the re leasing and the market on

Operator

that. Thank you. Next question comes from the line of Rob Stevenson with Janney Montgomery. Scott, please go ahead.

Speaker 7

Good morning, guys. Bob, what is you indicated that you've gotten paid through June, July August on Stewart. What is is it just the 800,000 reserves and the 100,000 of deferred rent write off? Is that the hit the only hit thus far from Stewart? Or is there other May or something that you didn't get paid for as well that you think that you might down the road?

Speaker 4

Right. Yes, Rob. Think of it as March, April, May from an exposure perspective as well as expenses.

Speaker 7

Okay. And what's the cumulative of that March, April, May?

Speaker 4

So that's about that $800,000,000 to $1,000,000 type reserve because we're now incurring facing the operating expenses on that property, particularly as we think about keeping it in solid shape for renewal opportunity or re leasing opportunities. And again, that's just a delta compared to having it be just a very straightforward triple net lease where the tenant was funding all the expenses.

Speaker 7

Okay. And then I guess at this point, I mean, how fast is this moving? Are you likely are they likely to pay you for September October? Or is August basically the extent to which you guys think that you're going to get paid and then it's up to a release So

Speaker 4

So with the bankruptcy process, it's not totally clear to us in terms of how they're managing their time frame. So from our perspective, they have not yet rejected the lease and pursuant to the bankruptcy, they would owe us any under they would owe us base rent and expenses during the period subsequent to bankruptcy up through to the point where they would reject a lease. And so at this point, we're just collecting that rent post bankruptcy, but it's not clear to us when that when their process is going to kind of move on and provide that kind of more clarity for us even in terms of that final step. But with that said, we have it staged and are kind of working off to the side very as quickly as we can to have it staged for a quicker as quicker transition as we could possibly have, recognizing that there would probably be again a modest transition period for free rent element, things of that nature that could impact us between again the current situation and when we would onboard a prospective tenant. Okay.

Speaker 7

And then, Trinity Health was replaced as your number 5 tenant by Team Health during the Q2. Sounded like from Alfonso's comments, if I heard it right, that one of at least one of the 5 portfolio acquisitions completed thus far in the Q3 is leased to Trinity. Is any of these other acquisitions out of the 5 or the 10 expected to come in the Q4 or the likely closings of the $120,000,000 that you're circling with existing top tenants or other tenants that will be pushed into the top 5 by these deals?

Speaker 3

Yes. There's not going to be a meaningful move to the top 10.

Speaker 4

Okay. All right. That's helpful.

Speaker 7

And then last one for me. Can you talk about the size and scope of the tenant watch list today versus the last couple of quarters. 1 of your direct competitors is having issues with the geriatric inpatient behavioral hospital tenant, get Steward, Genesis and some others, operators are cracking here in what's still a relatively robust economy. If the economy starts to weaken here, how much more you think that the tenant watch list expands over the next sort

Speaker 4

of 4 quarters or so? So right now, I mean, we've talked in the past few quarters about prospect house in Q4, Steward in Q1, and those have been our primary tenant related items that we've had to deal with from an accounting and reporting perspective. And at this point, again, we continue to monitor our acute care we have 1 acute care hospital. But again, it is something that again, we're very actively involved with. But at this point, I'd point out to you, we don't have anything that's beyond that group that we're actively focused on.

Speaker 4

We also don't have any loans to tenants that we would highlight or know either from and how we're managing the portfolio.

Speaker 2

Okay. That's helpful. And I just want to add, I mean the vast, vast majority of our business has been MOB work. And MOBs are strong out there. And in a downturn, they'd be strong.

Speaker 2

When we did purchase into some of the one acute hospital and some other type of like surgical or like Beaumont and others, Those were doing well, but after the pandemic and others and the billing system, the reimbursement system change, they struggle more that you see that, but that's a very limited part of our portfolio. The vast, vast majority of portfolio is absolute and triple net MOBs that are doing very well.

Speaker 7

I guess one question that that poses then, Jeff and Alfonzo. Given that comments and given that Alfonzo indicated that the vast majority or almost all of the $120,000,000 in your pipeline today are medical office buildings. To do behavioral health or hospitals, are you still interested doing them at all? Is it just requiring a much wider return that you need another 100, 150 basis points to make that the risk worthwhile? Or is the focus here and for the immediate future just going to be medical office no matter what for you guys?

Speaker 2

The market has turned so substantially for us to buy medical office buildings. The private equity does not get the bank lines that they had before and the rates and a lot of the sellers are capitulating and saying, okay, the rates are higher now. So we're finding like we did early when we started and then the private equity during the pandemic saw that 99 percent of our tenants paid whether they had patients or not and moved into the MOB field. Right now, we find it open again. I can't see I can't say never, but I can't see us being in the medical I mean, being in definitely not in the acute hospital area.

Speaker 2

Rehabs, we got in early and we like those. But I can't see us going into that field and possibly reducing our exposure to them would probably be more of a future. I love the MOB field, especially the absolute and triple net area.

Speaker 7

Okay. Thanks, guys. Appreciate the time this morning.

Operator

Thank you. Our next question comes from the line of Bryan Maher with B. Riley Securities. Please go ahead.

Speaker 8

Thanks and good morning everyone. Most of my questions have been asked already, but can I get a point of clarity on Stewart, a little confused? So they paid for June, July August, but they haven't paid for March, April May. Is that correct? That's the $800,000,000 you're going after?

Speaker 4

That's correct.

Speaker 8

And are they physically out of the building with no intention of coming back to that building?

Speaker 1

Yes,

Speaker 3

the first part for sure, they're out. The second part, I mean, it's most likely.

Speaker 8

Okay. I'm curious if somebody would keep paying you June, July and August, if they have zero intention instead of making you fight to get the money?

Speaker 2

It's hard that they haven't rejected these. We feel very optimistic we could rent this out given that this is popular in the market. So therefore, we're at the point now where we'd almost like them to reject the lease and get on with renting it and getting a new tenant in because this is a very good facility. It's in the best part of town of this facility. It's a good medical market actually.

Speaker 2

And that's why we use the word and we've been using optimistic out there is, but Stuart, I think we're just such a small part of it and they're confused in their bankruptcy that they just haven't rejected it. But when they do reject it, we hope to be moving very quickly and get this solidified as the

Speaker 8

new Okay. To be clear, the property is not being operated currently and you cannot release it until they reject it or the bankruptcy court says so?

Speaker 2

That is correct.

Speaker 8

Okay. My other question maybe for Bob. With how quickly interest rates have come down here and given the fairly short 2.5 years weighted average debt maturities. Is there any opportunity for you to kind of move quickly to lock in some of these lower rates? Or I guess, Jeff, with your commentary, you seem to think rates might be going a little lower.

Speaker 8

Is that the view of the firm to wait and hope for even lower from here?

Speaker 2

I think going lower. I think once they start, people talking about 1.5 or so. So I think we have time and we could get a good rate in the future. If a recession happens, it will even go lower out there.

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