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Cousins Properties Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 1 lowered, 1 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • FFO per share $0.73 versus $0.74: FFO was $122.9 million, or $0.73 per share, against $124.8 million, or $0.74 per share, a year earlier. The company attributed the decline to a 2025 gain on a bankruptcy claim sale. Source
  • Net loss available to common holders: Net loss available to common stockholders was $24.9 million, or $0.15 per share, against net income of $20.9 million, or $0.12 per share, in first quarter 2025. Source
  • 932,000 square feet leased: Office leases executed totaled 932,000 square feet, including 483,000 square feet of new and expansion leases, or 52% of total leasing activity. Source
  • Net effective rent reached $32.28: Net effective rent was $32.28 per square foot, against $25.86 in fourth quarter 2025. Total leasing costs were $12.26 per square foot. Source
  • 3.9 million shares repurchased: The company repurchased 3.9 million shares during the quarter at a weighted average price of $23.36 per share. Source
  • $500 million notes at 4.875%: Senior notes due 2033 were issued at a 4.875% coupon and a 5.001% yield to maturity, with net proceeds of $492.1 million. Source

“The acceleration in Sun Belt migration drove one of the best office leasing quarters in the history of the company, and our late-stage leasing pipeline is exceptionally strong.”

Colin Connolly, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cousins Properties

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net income per share SourceFull year 2026$0.02 to $0.10Lowered from $0.23 to $0.33
FFO per share SourceFull year 2026$2.90 to $2.98Raised from $2.87 to $2.97
FFO (dollars) SourceFull year 2026$485.4 million to $498.8 million
Weighted average shares SourceFull year 2026167.4 million
Share repurchase funding SourceSecond quarter 20263.9 million shares repurchased; 2.9 million forward-issued shares settled at $30.44New

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Full-year 2026 net income per share range lowered from $0.23 to $0.33 to $0.02 to $0.10. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 FFO per share range raised from $2.87 to $2.97 to $2.90 to $2.98. Source
  • New: Five-year $1.2 billion unsecured credit facility closed after quarter end, increasing the prior facility by $200 million. Source
  • New: Share repurchase program authorization increased after quarter end from $250 million to $500 million. Source
  • New: Agreement entered in the quarter to sell One Eleven Congress, a 519,000 square foot office property in Austin. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • FFO per share $0.73 versus $0.74: FFO was $122.9 million, or $0.73 per share, against $124.8 million, or $0.74 per share, a year earlier. The company attributed the decline to a 2025 gain on a bankruptcy claim sale. Source
  • Net loss available to common holders: Net loss available to common stockholders was $24.9 million, or $0.15 per share, against net income of $20.9 million, or $0.12 per share, in first quarter 2025. Source
  • Cash-basis same-property NOI up 5.5%: Same property net operating income on a cash basis increased 5.5% in the quarter. Source

Office leasing activity

  • 932,000 square feet leased: Office leases executed totaled 932,000 square feet, including 483,000 square feet of new and expansion leases, or 52% of total leasing activity. Source
  • Net effective rent reached $32.28: Net effective rent was $32.28 per square foot, against $25.86 in fourth quarter 2025. Total leasing costs were $12.26 per square foot. Source
  • Straight-line second-generation rent up 28.7%: On a straight-line basis, second generation net rent per square foot increased 28.7%, against 15.2% on a cash basis. Source

“Trophy office fundamentals in the Sun Belt continue to tighten with increasing demand and virtually no new construction.”

Colin Connolly, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cousins Properties

Markets, tenants and lease expiries

  • Austin and Atlanta carry most NOI: First-quarter portfolio NOI by market was led by Austin at 34.7%, Atlanta at 30.7% and Charlotte at 10.9%. Source
  • Amazon is largest tenant by rent: Amazon accounts for 8.6% of the company's share of annualized rent, across five properties in three markets, with a 5.4-year weighted remaining lease term. Source
  • 2026 expirations 4.3% of space: Leases expiring in 2026 cover 815,548 square feet, or 4.3% of leased space, with annual contractual rent of $38.3 million. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Same-property GAAP NOI up 1.7%: Same property net operating income rose 1.7%, with revenues up 2.0% and operating expenses up 2.7% year over year. Source
  • Impairment on One Eleven Congress: Operating property impairment of $36.6 million on One Eleven Congress was recorded in first quarter 2026. Source
  • Interest expense rose to $45.1 million: Interest expense was $45.1 million against $36.8 million a year earlier. Depreciation and amortization was $108.4 million against $102.1 million. Source

“Our best-in-class portfolio is extraordinarily well-positioned for an emerging shortage of lifestyle office space.”

Colin Connolly, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cousins Properties

Capital, debt and shareholder returns

  • 3.9 million shares repurchased: The company repurchased 3.9 million shares during the quarter at a weighted average price of $23.36 per share. Source
  • $500 million notes at 4.875%: Senior notes due 2033 were issued at a 4.875% coupon and a 5.001% yield to maturity, with net proceeds of $492.1 million. Source
  • Bank borrowing spreads narrowed: Borrowing spreads improved by 15 basis points on the credit facility and $400 million term loan, and by 30 basis points on the $100 million term loan. Source
  • Common dividend $0.32 per share: Common dividend was $0.32 per share in first quarter 2026, unchanged from each quarter of 2025. Source

Strategy and investment activity

  • Mezzanine loan repaid at par: The $18.2 million mezzanine loan secured by an equity interest in 110 East in Charlotte was repaid at par on February 5, 2026. Source
  • No speculative deals in guidance: Guidance excludes speculative property acquisitions, dispositions and development starts. Source
  • Neuhoff Phase I moved to portfolio: Following first-quarter substantial completion, Neuhoff Phase I was removed from the development pipeline and included in the operating portfolio. Source
  • No active development projects: The company had no projects under active development as of March 31, 2026. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 April 2026

  • One Eleven Congress sale closing: Sale of One Eleven Congress is expected to close early in the third quarter of 2026. Source
  • 303 Tremont land sale: 303 Tremont is under contract for sale and is expected to close in the second half of 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
FFO per share Source$0.73 (first quarter 2026); $0.74 (first quarter 2025)
Occupancy Source91.8% office percent leased (period end); 88.9% office weighted average occupancy
Same-store NOI Source+5.5% cash basis
Leasing spreads Source+15.2% cash basis, second generation net rent
Acquisitions Source$317.5 million (300 South Tryon, 638,000 square feet)
Dispositions Source$39.5 million (Harborview Plaza, 206,000 square feet)
Leverage Source5.66x net debt to annualized EBITDAre

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Impairment charges on One Eleven Congress in first quarter 2026 and Harborview in fourth quarter 2025 were cited as drivers of lower net income. Source
  • External: Guidance removes an earlier mid-year SOFR cut assumption and assumes no SOFR cuts during 2026. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The prior release assumed refinancing of these 2026 maturities; the current release does not restate that assumption.
  • Not stated: The prior release funded 300 South Tryon with Harborview and Tremont sales plus about $200 million of other sales; the current plan names One Eleven Congress instead.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.