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Cousins Properties Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • FFO rose to $0.75 per share: FFO was $124.6 million, or $0.75 per share, against $117.5 million, or $0.70 per share, in second quarter 2025. Source
  • Same-property cash NOI up 5.9%: Same-property NOI on a cash basis was $140.7 million, against $132.8 million, a 5.9% increase; the six-month increase was 5.6%. GAAP-basis same-property NOI rose 2.0%. Source
  • 924,000 square feet of office leased: Office leases executed in the quarter covered 924,000 square feet, including 395,000 square feet of new and expansion leases, or 43% of activity. Six-month leasing reached 1,856,000 square feet. Source
  • Office occupancy reached 92.8%: Office space was 92.8% leased at June 30, 2026, which the chief executive described as the highest level since the first quarter of 2020. Source
  • Same-property expenses outpaced revenue: Cash-basis same-property operating expenses rose 12.7% for the quarter, against 8.2% growth in cash-basis revenues. GAAP-basis same-property operating expenses rose 12.3%. Source
  • Net debt to EBITDAre at 5.57x: Net debt to annualized EBITDAre was 5.57 times, against 5.66 times at March 31, 2026. Net debt to total market capitalization was 44.0%, against 51.3%. Source
  • Leasing and transactions lifted FFO guidance: Management said the FFO per share increase came from leasing that exceeded its prior forecast and from the transactions discussed in the release. Source

“We had a busy and productive second quarter,”

Colin Connolly, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cousins Properties

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net income per common share SourceFull year 2026between $0.08 and $0.14 per shareRaised from $0.02 and $0.10 per share
FFO per share SourceFull year 2026between $2.92 and $2.98 per shareRaised from $2.90 and $2.98 per share
Weighted average common shares (projected) SourceFull year 2026166.7 million
Depreciation and amortization of real estate assets (projected) SourceFull year 2026$444.5 million
Settlement of forward-issued common shares SourceThird quarter 20262.9 million common shares

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year net income per share guidance raised to $0.08 to $0.14 from $0.02 to $0.10. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year FFO per share guidance raised to $2.92 to $2.98 from $2.90 to $2.98. Source
  • New: Bought the joint venture partner's 10% interest in 100 Mill, Phoenix, for $18.5 million, based on a property value of $158.7 million. Source
  • New: Acquired a preferred equity interest in 5th & Walsh, a 199,000 square foot Austin office development, after quarter end. The $31.5 million funding commitment is expected to be invested in 2027. Source
  • Ended: Sold Research Park Plaza V, an Austin office property, for $42.0 million gross, with a gain of $9.2 million. Source
  • Ended: One Eleven Congress, an Austin office property that the first-quarter release said was under an agreement to sell, was sold on July 29, 2026 for $208.0 million. Source

Results and FFO growth

  • FFO rose to $0.75 per share: FFO was $124.6 million, or $0.75 per share, against $117.5 million, or $0.70 per share, in second quarter 2025. Source
  • Quarter net income lifted by property gain: Net income available to common stockholders was $26.2 million, or $0.16 per share, against $14.5 million, or $0.09 per share. The company tied the increase to a gain on a property sale. Source
  • Six-month net income cut by impairment: Six-month net income available to common stockholders was $1.3 million, or $0.01 per share, against $35.4 million, or $0.21 per share. The company attributed the decline to an impairment charge of $36.6 million. Source
  • Six-month FFO up to $1.49: Six-month FFO was $247.5 million, or $1.49 per share, against $242.3 million, or $1.44 per share, a year earlier. Source

Office leasing and same-property NOI

  • Same-property cash NOI up 5.9%: Same-property NOI on a cash basis was $140.7 million, against $132.8 million, a 5.9% increase; the six-month increase was 5.6%. GAAP-basis same-property NOI rose 2.0%. Source
  • 924,000 square feet of office leased: Office leases executed in the quarter covered 924,000 square feet, including 395,000 square feet of new and expansion leases, or 43% of activity. Six-month leasing reached 1,856,000 square feet. Source
  • Second-generation cash rent up 9.2%: Second-generation net rent per square foot rose 9.2% on a cash basis for the quarter and 12.2% for six months. On a straight-line basis the quarterly increase was 26.8%. Source
  • Office occupancy reached 92.8%: Office space was 92.8% leased at June 30, 2026, which the chief executive described as the highest level since the first quarter of 2020. Source
  • Net effective rent lower than first quarter: Quarterly net effective rent after leasing costs was $28.05 per square foot, against $32.28 in the first quarter. Six-month net effective rent was $30.20 per square foot. Source

“We are well-positioned for the second half of 2026 as our late-stage leasing pipeline remains robust and trophy office fundamentals in the Sun Belt are tightening.”

Colin Connolly, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cousins Properties

Market mix and tenants

  • Atlanta and Austin each 31.7% of NOI: Second-quarter portfolio NOI was 31.7% from Atlanta and 31.7% from Austin, with Charlotte at 12.9%. Austin's share was 34.7% in the first-quarter release. Source
  • Amazon largest tenant at 9.0%: Amazon occupies five properties in three markets, 1,461,805 square feet, with annualized rent of $80.5 million, or 9.0% of the company's share and a 5.5-year weighted remaining term. Source
  • Top 20 tenants hold 39.0% of rent: The top 20 office tenants hold 6,638,482 square feet and $350.2 million of annualized rent, 39.0% of the company's share, with a 6.4-year weighted average remaining term. Source
  • Ovintiv subtenants became direct tenants: Ovintiv's lease expired June 30, 2026. About 88% of its premises had been subleased, and those subtenants became direct tenants with their remaining lease terms. Source
  • Alphabet self-manages its property: Alphabet began self-managing its property on June 1, 2026, paying some operating expenses directly, so those expenses are no longer included in its annualized rent. Source

Costs and interest expense

  • Same-property expenses outpaced revenue: Cash-basis same-property operating expenses rose 12.7% for the quarter, against 8.2% growth in cash-basis revenues. GAAP-basis same-property operating expenses rose 12.3%. Source
  • Interest expense up on higher debt: Interest expense was $47.1 million for the quarter, against $38.5 million a year earlier. Six-month interest expense was $92.2 million, against $75.3 million. Source
  • G&A expense rose to $12.1 million: General and administrative expenses were $12.1 million for the quarter, against $9.7 million. Six-month G&A was $24.0 million, against $20.4 million. Source

“We also completed several strategic property transactions that further enhanced the quality of our lifestyle office portfolio.”

Colin Connolly, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cousins Properties

Debt, leverage and share count

  • Net debt to EBITDAre at 5.57x: Net debt to annualized EBITDAre was 5.57 times, against 5.66 times at March 31, 2026. Net debt to total market capitalization was 44.0%, against 51.3%. Source
  • Credit facility upsized to $1.2 billion: The April 2026 amendment raised the credit facility to $1.2 billion and extended maturity to April 2031. At June 30, $167.0 million was drawn, with $1.0 billion more available. Source
  • Unsecured borrowing spreads narrowed: Borrowing spreads improved by 15 basis points on the credit facility and the $400 million term loan, and by 30 basis points on the $100 million term loan. Source
  • Dividend held at $0.32 per quarter: Common dividends were $0.32 per share in each 2026 quarter, or $0.64 for six months. The FFO payout ratio was 42.3% for the quarter, and the FAD payout ratio was 71.8%. Source
  • Shares outstanding down to 164.6 million: Common shares outstanding were 164,602,058 at June 30, 2026, against 167,981,990 at December 31, 2025, after the first-quarter repurchase of 3.9 million shares. Source

Guidance drivers and assumptions

  • Leasing and transactions lifted FFO guidance: Management said the FFO per share increase came from leasing that exceeded its prior forecast and from the transactions discussed in the release. Source
  • Share settlement moved to third quarter: Guidance now assumes 2.9 million forward-issued common shares settle in the third quarter. The first-quarter release had assumed settlement in the second quarter. Source
  • 303 Tremont sale assumed in fourth quarter: Guidance assumes the sale of the 303 Tremont land parcel in the fourth quarter. The land schedule describes the parcel as under contract for sale. Source
  • Speculative deals excluded from guidance: Guidance excludes speculative acquisitions, dispositions, and development starts. It reflects management's plans and assumptions as of the release date. Source
  • Per-share guidance on 166.7 million shares: The per-share figures are calculated on projected weighted average shares of 166.7 million, with projected real estate depreciation of $444.5 million in the reconciliation. Source

Development and strategy

  • No projects under active development: The company had no projects under active development at June 30, 2026, so the development pipeline table has no entries. Source
  • Domain 4 site held for future development: The company plans to hold the Domain 4 site in Austin for future development. Domain 4 is excluded from same-property and office square footage figures. Source
  • Neuhoff not yet stabilized: The initial operations at the Neuhoff joint venture property have not reached stabilization, so the property is excluded from total office leased and occupancy figures until then. Source

Coming up, as management said on 30 July 2026

  • $100 million term loan extension August 19: The fifth of six extension options on the $100 million term loan takes effect August 19, 2026, moving maturity to February 12, 2027. One six-month option remains. Source
  • $400 million term loan extension September 3: The fourth of six extension options on the $400 million term loan takes effect September 3, 2026, moving maturity to March 3, 2027. Two six-month options remain. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
FFO per share Source$0.75 for the quarter; $1.49 for six months
Occupancy SourceOffice percent leased 92.8% at June 30, 2026; same-property weighted average occupancy 88.8%
Same-store NOI SourceCash-basis same-property NOI +5.9% for the quarter; +5.6% for six months
Leasing spreads SourceCash-basis second-generation net rent +9.2% for the quarter; +12.2% for six months
Acquisitions Source100 Mill joint venture interest for $18.5 million; 5th & Walsh preferred equity with $31.5 million commitment
Dispositions SourceResearch Park Plaza V for $42.0 million; One Eleven Congress for $208.0 million (July 29, 2026)
Leverage SourceNet debt to annualized EBITDAre 5.57x; net debt to total market capitalization 44.0%

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Operating property impairment charges were $36.6 million in the first quarter of 2026 on One Eleven Congress, and $13.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 on Harborview. Source
  • Operational: Neuhoff is not yet stabilized, and until it stabilizes it is excluded from total office end-of-period leased and weighted average occupancy calculations. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The company says the parcel is under contract and expected to close in the second half of 2026. Guidance assumes a fourth-quarter sale. Source
  • Met: The first-quarter release expected the sale to close early in the third quarter. The sale closed on July 29, 2026. Source

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.