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First Industrial Realty Trust 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: 1 raised, 8 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • FFO per share grew 11.7% for 2025: Full-year 2025 diluted FFO per share/unit was $2.96, against $2.65 in 2024, a growth rate of 11.7%. Source
  • Occupancy ended the year at 94.4%: In-service occupancy was 94.4% at year-end 2025, up from 94.0% at the third quarter but down from 96.2% a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year same-store NOI grew 7.1%: Cash basis same store NOI before termination fees rose 7.1% for 2025, on higher rental rates and rent escalations, partly offset by lower average occupancy. Source
  • Cash rents on leasing rose 32%: Cash rental rates on commenced new and renewal leasing rose 35% in the fourth quarter and 32% for the full year. Source
  • 2026 leases signed up about 35%: Leases signed to date commencing in 2026 show about 35% cash rental rate growth, reflecting 45% of 2026 expirations by square footage. Source
  • Quarterly dividend raised 12.4%: The dividend rate rises to $0.50 per share/unit from $0.445, a 12.4% increase. Source

“On the strength of the performance of our platform and our outlook, we increased our dividend rate by 12.4%.”

Peter E. Baccile, First Industrial's president and chief executive officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
NAREIT FFO per share/unit Source2026$3.09 to $3.19New
Net income available to common stockholders and unitholders per share/unit Source2026$1.58 to $1.68New
Depreciation and other amortization of real estate per share/unit Source2026$1.51New
Average quarter-end in service occupancy Source202694.0% to 95.0%New
SS NOI growth, cash basis before termination fees Source20265.0% to 6.0%New
Bad debt expense Source2026$1.0 millionNew
General and administrative expense Source2026$42.0 million to $43.0 millionNew
Capitalized interest Source2026$0.08 per shareNew
Quarterly common dividend per share/unit Sourcequarter ending March 31, 2026$0.50Raised from $0.445

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: The company initiated 2026 NAREIT FFO guidance at $3.09 to $3.19 per share/unit. Source
  • New: The quarterly dividend rate was raised 12.4%, to $0.50 per share/unit from $0.445. Source
  • New: Two developments started in the first quarter to date, First Park Miami Building 4 and First Arlington Commerce Center III, totaling 305,000 square feet. Source
  • Ended: The 2025 FFO guidance period closed. The range raised in the third quarter was $2.94 to $2.98 per share/unit.

Full-year results and FFO growth

  • FFO per share grew 11.7% for 2025: Full-year 2025 diluted FFO per share/unit was $2.96, against $2.65 in 2024, a growth rate of 11.7%. Source
  • Fourth-quarter EPS rose year over year: Fourth-quarter diluted EPS was $0.59 against $0.52 a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year EPS fell as sale gains dropped: Full-year diluted EPS was $1.87 against $2.17. Gain on sale of real estate was $26.9 million, against $112.0 million in 2024. Source

Occupancy and same-store NOI

  • Occupancy ended the year at 94.4%: In-service occupancy was 94.4% at year-end 2025, up from 94.0% at the third quarter but down from 96.2% a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year same-store NOI grew 7.1%: Cash basis same store NOI before termination fees rose 7.1% for 2025, on higher rental rates and rent escalations, partly offset by lower average occupancy. Source
  • Fourth-quarter same-store NOI rose 3.7%: Fourth-quarter same store NOI on a cash basis before termination fees increased 3.7%. Source

“Leasing traffic at our key availabilities remains good and the overall fundamental picture continues to improve, with completions and new starts measured.”

Peter E. Baccile, First Industrial's president and chief executive officer

Leasing rents and rate growth

  • Cash rents on leasing rose 32%: Cash rental rates on commenced new and renewal leasing rose 35% in the fourth quarter and 32% for the full year. Source
  • 2026 leases signed up about 35%: Leases signed to date commencing in 2026 show about 35% cash rental rate growth, reflecting 45% of 2026 expirations by square footage. Source
  • Development leases signed in fourth quarter: The company signed 447,000 square feet of new development leases in the fourth quarter, with 231,000 square feet signed after the third-quarter call. Source

Development leasing and footprint

  • Portfolio concentrated in 15 target MSAs: The company owned and had under development about 71.6 million square feet at December 31, 2025, concentrated in 15 target MSAs. Source
  • Houston development fully leased: The remaining 212,000 square feet of the 425,000 square-foot First Liberty Logistics Center in Houston were leased and commenced in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Inland Empire building fully leased: The 159,000 square-foot First Harley Knox Logistics Center in the Inland Empire was fully leased and commenced in the fourth quarter. Source

“Our portfolio continues to perform well, reflected in our progress on 2026 expirations and 35% growth on cash rental rates for new and renewal lease signings thus far,”

Peter E. Baccile, First Industrial's president and chief executive officer

Acquisitions and dispositions

  • Camelback 303 building bought for $125 million: The company bought a fully leased 968,000 square-foot building in Phoenix for $125 million. The price reflects a reduction for its share of gain, promote and fees. Source
  • Three Camelback 303 buildings bought in 2025: Across 2025 the company bought three fully leased Camelback 303 buildings totaling 1.8 million square feet for $245 million. Source
  • Seven buildings sold for $42 million: During 2025 the company sold seven buildings of 325,000 square feet and one land site for a total of $42 million. Source

Term loans and debt

  • $425 million term loan refinanced: Early in 2026 the company closed a new unsecured term loan that refinanced its $425 million loan due October 18, 2027. Source
  • Term loan upsized to $375 million: A second unsecured term loan refinanced a $300 million loan due August 12, 2026, and was expanded to $375 million. Source
  • SOFR adjustment removed from loans: The 10 basis point SOFR adjustment was removed from the refinanced loans, and the $200 million term loan was amended to remove it too. Source
  • New loans priced at SOFR plus 85: The refinanced loans are interest-only, priced at SOFR plus 85 basis points, based on the company's current credit ratings. Source

Dividend and shareholder returns

  • Quarterly dividend raised 12.4%: The dividend rate rises to $0.50 per share/unit from $0.445, a 12.4% increase. Source
  • Dividends per share rose in 2025: Dividends were $0.445 per share/unit in the fourth quarter against $0.370, and $1.78 for 2025 against $1.48 in 2024. Source
  • Guidance excludes future capital transactions: The 2026 guidance excludes future investments, property sales, debt repurchases, debt issuances and equity issuances after the release date. Source

Costs and interest capitalization

  • Property expenses and G&A rose: Full-year property expenses were $191.5 million against $182.8 million. General and administrative expense was $41.9 million against $40.9 million. Source
  • Capitalized interest and leasing costs: Capitalized interest was $12.8 million for 2025 against $8.3 million. Non-incremental leasing costs were $34.6 million, against $32.2 million. Source
  • Tax provision and joint venture income rose: The income tax provision was $15.3 million for 2025 against $6.1 million. Equity in income of the joint venture was $34.7 million against $4.3 million. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 February 2026

  • Orlando building expected to commence: The 19,000 square feet leased in the 107,000 square-foot First Loop Logistics Park Building 4 in Orlando is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2026. Source
  • Dividend payable April 20, 2026: The $0.50 per share/unit dividend is payable April 20, 2026 to stockholders of record on March 31, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
FFO per share/unit, diluted, full year Source$2.96
AFFO, full year and fourth quarter ($ thousands) Source333,470 full year; 73,616 fourth quarter
In-service occupancy, year-end Source94.4%
SS NOI growth, cash basis before termination fees, full year Source7.1%
Leasing spreads, cash rental rate change, full year Source32%
Acquisitions, 2025 Source$245 million (three Camelback 303 buildings)
Dispositions, 2025 Source$42 million
Leverage, debt at period end ($ thousands) Source2,553,396 at December 31, 2025

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management cited a volatile leasing market in 2025, affected by evolving tariff policies and other uncertainties. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The earlier 2025 FFO range is referenced in the prior release. The current release does not state management's view of progress against it.

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.