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Eastgroup Properties Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 11 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Same-property income drove most PNOI growth: PNOI rose $17,742,000, or 14.7%. Same-property operations supplied $9,518,000, acquisitions $5,123,000 and newly developed and value-add properties $3,227,000. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose on property income: Diluted EPS was $1.27 against $1.16. PNOI added $0.20 per diluted share and lower interest expense added $0.02, offset by $0.08 more depreciation and amortization and a larger share count. Source
  • Rents on new and renewal leases rose sharply: Leases signed in 2025 covered 15.1% of total square footage. Straight-line rents on those leases were up 40.1% on average. Same PNOI excluding lease terminations rose 7.0% straight-line and 6.7% cash for the year. Source
  • Seven development starts in 2025: Seven projects started in 2025 with projected total costs of about $179 million. In the fourth quarter, three projects of 547,000 square feet began in Atlanta and Orlando. Source
  • Fresno exit to recycle capital: Six Fresno buildings totaling 398,000 square feet are being sold for about $37 million, with a gain of about $25 million expected in the first quarter of 2026. Gains are excluded from FFO. Source
  • FFO guided up about 6%: Mid-point assumptions put FFO per share up 5.8% on 2025's $8.98, or 6.1% on $8.95 excluding involuntary conversion and business interruption gains. Source
  • $250 million term loans closed in November: The two tranches mature in April 2030 and March 2031. They bear interest at SOFR plus a margin, and interest rate swaps make the rate effectively fixed for the full term. Source

“I’m pleased with how we ended the year in terms of FFO per share exceeding our expectations, as well as the development leases we signed.”

Marshall Loeb, CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
EPS (diluted) SourceFull year 2026$4.93 to $5.13New
FFO per diluted share SourceFull year 2026$9.40 to $9.60New
FFO per diluted share SourceFirst quarter 2026$2.25 to $2.33New
Same PNOI growth, cash basis SourceFull year 20265.6% - 6.6%New
Average month-end occupancy, operating portfolio SourceFull year 202695.0% - 96.0%New
Average month-end occupancy, same property pool SourceFull year 202695.8% - 96.8%New
Development starts and projected investment SourceFull year 20261.7 million square feetNew
Operating property acquisitions SourceFull year 2026$160 millionNew
Operating property dispositions SourceFull year 2026$70 millionNew
Gross capital proceeds SourceFull year 2026$300 millionNew
General and administrative expense SourceFull year 2026$27.0 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Initial guidance for 2026 was issued in this release; the documents contain no earlier 2026 guidance to compare. Source
  • New: Brent Wood took a newly created Chief Operating Officer position effective January 1, 2026. Source
  • New: Staci Tyler became Chief Financial Officer effective January 1, 2026. Source
  • New: The company is exiting the Fresno market by selling a 398,000 square foot property, to recycle capital into other markets. Source

Earnings and FFO drivers

  • Same-property income drove most PNOI growth: PNOI rose $17,742,000, or 14.7%. Same-property operations supplied $9,518,000, acquisitions $5,123,000 and newly developed and value-add properties $3,227,000. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose on property income: Diluted EPS was $1.27 against $1.16. PNOI added $0.20 per diluted share and lower interest expense added $0.02, offset by $0.08 more depreciation and amortization and a larger share count. Source
  • No property sale gains in 2025: No gains on sales of real estate were recognized in 2025, against $8,751,000 in 2024. A $1,763,000 gain on involuntary conversion and business interruption claims is excluded from FFO excluding that gain. Source

Leasing, occupancy and same-property pool

  • Rents on new and renewal leases rose sharply: Leases signed in 2025 covered 15.1% of total square footage. Straight-line rents on those leases were up 40.1% on average. Same PNOI excluding lease terminations rose 7.0% straight-line and 6.7% cash for the year. Source
  • Occupancy ended the year at 96.5%: The operating portfolio was 97.0% leased at December 31, 2025. Full-year average occupancy was 95.9%, down from 96.8% in 2024. Source
  • Same-property pool covers 54.7 million square feet: The same property pool includes properties held in the operating portfolio for the full period from January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2025. Source

“With limited supply and anticipated growing demand, we are excited about our pathway.”

Marshall Loeb, CEO

Development, acquisitions and dispositions

  • Seven development starts in 2025: Seven projects started in 2025 with projected total costs of about $179 million. In the fourth quarter, three projects of 547,000 square feet began in Atlanta and Orlando. Source
  • Eleven projects moved to operating portfolio: Eleven development projects totaling 2,109,000 square feet moved to the operating portfolio in 2025, with a weighted average projected stabilized yield of 7.2%. Source
  • Development pipeline only 19% leased: The 17 development and value-add projects total 3,473,000 square feet in 12 markets. $161,317,000 remained to be invested at year-end, and the projects were 19% leased on February 3, 2026. Source
  • Fourth-quarter development leases signed: Eleven leases on development properties covering about 662,000 square feet were signed in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Las Vegas and land purchases: In December a 101,000 square foot Las Vegas building was bought for $21,134,000. Land of 129 acres in Dallas and San Antonio was also acquired in the fourth quarter, for about $56 million in total. Source
  • Fresno exit to recycle capital: Six Fresno buildings totaling 398,000 square feet are being sold for about $37 million, with a gain of about $25 million expected in the first quarter of 2026. Gains are excluded from FFO. Source

2026 guidance assumptions

  • FFO guided up about 6%: Mid-point assumptions put FFO per share up 5.8% on 2025's $8.98, or 6.1% on $8.95 excluding involuntary conversion and business interruption gains. Source
  • Occupancy guided at 95.0% to 96.0%: Average month-end occupancy for the operating portfolio in 2026 is estimated at 95.0% to 96.0%. January to March 2026 is estimated at 95.2% to 96.2%. Source
  • Acquisitions and dispositions planned: Planned 2026 acquisitions are $160 million, dispositions $70 million and gross capital proceeds $300 million. Development starts are projected at 1.7 million square feet and $250 million. Source
  • G&A rises with accelerated expense: Full-year G&A of $27.0 million includes about $4.0 million tied to executive transitions. About 32% of the year's expense falls in the first quarter, for retirement-eligible employees. Source
  • Same PNOI guided on cash basis: Same PNOI growth on a cash basis is guided at 5.6% to 6.6%. The pool covers properties in the operating portfolio since January 1, 2025, and is projected to remain through year-end 2026. Source

“We’ve experienced meaningful growth and believe we are well positioned to continue executing our strategy and capitalizing on the strength of our portfolio.”

Marshall Loeb, CEO

Capital, debt and dividends

  • Interest and fixed charge coverage at 15.3x: Debt totaled $1,627,275,000 at year-end. Interest and fixed charge coverage was 15.3x for the quarter and 15.8x for the year. Source
  • $250 million term loans closed in November: The two tranches mature in April 2030 and March 2031. They bear interest at SOFR plus a margin, and interest rate swaps make the rate effectively fixed for the full term. Source
  • Maturing debt repaid during 2025: Repaid $145,000,000 of maturing debt during 2025 at a 3.13% weighted average rate, including $75,000,000 of notes repaid in October at 3.98%. Source
  • Equity program capacity of $1 billion: No equity sales occurred in the fourth quarter. The program raised $267,010,000 gross in 2025, and $1,000,000,000 of capacity remained on February 3, 2026. Source
  • Quarterly dividend unchanged at $1.55: The dividend was paid January 15, 2026, as the 184th consecutive quarterly distribution. The $6.20 annual rate is a 3.4% yield on the February 3 closing price of $180.11. Source

Executive leadership changes

  • Four executives moved into new roles: Effective January 1, 2026, Reid Dunbar became President, Staci Tyler became Chief Financial Officer, Brent Wood took a new Chief Operating Officer role, and Michelle Rayner became Chief Accounting Officer. Source
  • Combined tenure of the promoted executives: Management said the four promoted executives have nearly 70 years of combined EastGroup tenure, and that the promotions reflect confidence in their ability to grow shareholder value. Source
  • Dunbar moved up from Central Region: Dunbar previously headed the Central Region. Wood was Chief Financial Officer, and Rayner was Controller before their new roles. Source

Strategy and portfolio positioning

  • Strategy targets supply-constrained submarkets: Strategy rests on premier distribution facilities near major transportation features in supply-constrained submarkets, serving location-sensitive customers mostly in the 20,000 to 100,000 square foot range. Source
  • Portfolio about 65 million square feet: The portfolio, including development and value-add projects in lease-up and under construction, is about 65 million square feet, up from 64.4 million in the third-quarter release. Source
  • CEO links promotions to growth: Loeb said the recent promotions are part of looking ahead to the company's position for growth in its markets. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 February 2026

  • Fresno sale closing in February 2026: The Fresno disposition is scheduled to close in February 2026, with a gain of about $25 million expected in the first quarter of 2026. Source
  • Development conversions scheduled 2026 to 2027: Conversion dates for the seven 2025 development starts range from 08/2026 to 12/2027. Horizon West 9 is listed at 08/2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
FFO per diluted share, fourth quarter 2025 Source$2.34, up 8.8%
FFO per diluted share, full year 2025 Source$8.98 ($8.95 excluding gains), up 7.5%
Average occupancy, operating portfolio, fourth quarter 2025 Source96.2%
Same PNOI growth excluding lease terminations, fourth quarter 2025 Source8.5% straight-line; 8.4% cash
Rental rate change on new and renewal leases, straight-line, fourth quarter 2025 Source34.6%
Acquisitions, full year 2025 Source739,000 square feet and 300 acres; about $262 million
Operating property dispositions, full year 2025 Source$4 million
Debt-to-EBITDAre, fourth quarter 2025 Source3.0x
Debt-to-total market capitalization, December 31, 2025 Source14.7%

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Horizon West 5 was transferred to the operating portfolio in December 2025 at 0% leased, so transfer timing follows the one-year rule rather than leasing. Source
  • Financial: Term loans bear floating interest at SOFR plus a margin; interest rate swaps convert the floating component to an effectively fixed rate for the full term of the loans. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Delayed: The Jacksonville acquisition, originally expected to close in December 2025, is now anticipated to close in the first half of 2026. Source
  • Met: The Las Vegas building acquisition, previously announced, closed in December 2025. Source
  • Met: The development land acquisitions detailed in an earlier announcement closed during the fourth quarter of 2025. 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.