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Gaming & Leisure Properties, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 24 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue and AFFO both grew: Total revenue was $420.0 million against $395.2 million, up 6.3%. AFFO was $297.1 million against $272.0 million, up 9.2%, on the company's operating basis. Source
  • Per-share results rose from a year earlier: Net income was $239.4 million, or diluted EPS of $0.82 against $0.60. FFO per diluted share and OP/LTIP units was $1.04 against $0.83; AFFO per share was $1.02 against $0.96. Source
  • Virginia entered through Cordish project: The $27 million Live! Virginia land purchase is the first stage of a $467 million commitment. Management said it marks GLPI's entry into Virginia, its 21st state, and the fourth property with Cordish. Source
  • Most lease coverage above 1.8x: Management said long-term tenant stability and lease coverage underpin its underwriting, and that the vast majority of leases have rent coverage above 1.8x. Source
  • About $159 million funded in quarter: Development funding in the quarter totalled about $159 million, including the Live! Virginia land purchase. Source
  • Pipeline commitments near $1.8 billion: Nearly $1.8 billion of commitments remained to be funded at quarter end. Management described the pipeline as robust. Source
  • Leverage at 5.0x, low end of range: Management said net debt to adjusted EBITDA was 5.0x at March 31, 2026, against 4.6x at December 31, 2025, at the low end of the 5.0x to 5.5x target range. Source
  • Bally's Lincoln bought for $700m: The real property of Bally's Lincoln was acquired in February for $700 million at an 8.0% cap rate, with additional rent of $56.0 million. Source

“GLPI’s consistent growth and momentum is evident in our record first quarter results, as we continue to prudently expand our portfolio and explore avenues for future growth.”

Peter Carlino, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GLPI

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
AFFO, total Sourcefull year 2026$1.212 billion to $1.223 billionRaised from $1.207 billion to $1.222 billion
AFFO per diluted share and OP/LTIP units Sourcefull year 2026$4.08 to $4.12Raised from $4.06 to $4.11
Development fundings Sourceremainder of 2026$590 million to $640 million additional; total 2026 development spend $750 million to $800 million
PENN Aurora facility funding Sourceon or about June 24, 2026$225 millionKept
Forward equity settlement SourceJune 1, 2026$363.3 millionKept
Net debt to adjusted EBITDA Sourceremainder of 2026at or near the low end of the 5.0x to 5.5x target rangeKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: 2026 AFFO per share guidance raised to $4.08 to $4.12, from $4.06 to $4.11, with total AFFO guidance raised to $1.212 billion to $1.223 billion. Source
  • New: Issued $800 million of 5.625% senior notes due 2036 at 99.857% of par on March 4, 2026; net proceeds repaid term loan borrowings and funded working capital. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue and AFFO both grew: Total revenue was $420.0 million against $395.2 million, up 6.3%. AFFO was $297.1 million against $272.0 million, up 9.2%, on the company's operating basis. Source
  • Per-share results rose from a year earlier: Net income was $239.4 million, or diluted EPS of $0.82 against $0.60. FFO per diluted share and OP/LTIP units was $1.04 against $0.83; AFFO per share was $1.02 against $0.96. Source
  • Credit-loss line was a benefit: Provision for credit losses was a $10.1 million benefit, against a $39.2 million expense a year earlier. Income from operations was $333.3 million, against $258.8 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA and cash NOI reported: Adjusted EBITDA was $393.0 million, against $360.1 million a year earlier. Cash net operating income for the quarter was $402.8 million. Source

Portfolio and regional footprint

  • Portfolio reached 71 facilities: The portfolio included interests in 71 gaming and related facilities at March 31, 2026, up from 69 at December 31, 2025, across 21 states. Source
  • Virginia entered through Cordish project: The $27 million Live! Virginia land purchase is the first stage of a $467 million commitment. Management said it marks GLPI's entry into Virginia, its 21st state, and the fourth property with Cordish. Source
  • Two facilities under development: Two facilities were under development at quarter end: Bally's Chicago in Illinois, and the Cordish and Bruce Smith project in Petersburg, Virginia. Source

“Our balance sheet strength allows us financial flexibility when evaluating transactions, and, moreover, allows us to drive accretive and accelerating AFFO growth through our announced pipeline, without the need for additional equity.”

Peter Carlino, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GLPI

Tenants and lease coverage

  • Most lease coverage above 1.8x: Management said long-term tenant stability and lease coverage underpin its underwriting, and that the vast majority of leases have rent coverage above 1.8x. Source
  • Pinnacle coverage below escalator minimum: Amended Pinnacle Master Lease coverage was 1.70 at December 31, 2025, below the 1.8 minimum escalator governor. The escalation test excludes Plainridge Park and certain fixed rent. Source
  • Lincoln lease coverage at 2.20x: Bally's Lincoln became the fifth asset in Bally's Master Lease II, with pro forma rent coverage of 2.20x. Management said Lincoln generated over $490 million of gross gaming revenue in 2025. Source

Costs, interest and margins

  • Overheads and ground rent little changed: General and administrative expense was $17.9 million, against $18.7 million. Land rights and ground lease expense was $13.8 million, against $13.6 million. Source
  • Interest expense eased, interest income fell: Interest expense was $95.9 million, against $97.3 million. Interest income fell to $2.7 million from $9.4 million, while interest income on real estate loans rose to $6.9 million from $3.5 million. Source
  • Capitalized interest rose: Capitalized interest was $6.4 million, against $3.6 million a year earlier. The company adds it back in the reconciliation to AFFO and Adjusted EBITDA. Source

“As we sit today, GLPI remains well positioned for near- and long-term growth, supported by our strong operator relationships, our rights and options to participate in select tenants’ future growth and expansion”

Peter Carlino, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GLPI

Development funding and pipeline

  • About $159 million funded in quarter: Development funding in the quarter totalled about $159 million, including the Live! Virginia land purchase. Source
  • Bally's Chicago funding stands at $299.6m: Bally's Chicago has received $299.6 million under its $940 million commitment, including $98 million in the first quarter, at an 8.5% cap rate. Source
  • Pipeline commitments near $1.8 billion: Nearly $1.8 billion of commitments remained to be funded at quarter end. Management described the pipeline as robust. Source
  • Ione loan partly funded: $83.6 million of the $110 million delayed draw term loan for the Ione tribe's Acorn Ridge development was funded, including $27 million in the quarter, at an 11% interest rate. Source
  • Marquette landside funding completed: The $16.5 million landside development funding for Bally's Marquette is complete, with $6.9 million funded in the first quarter at an 8.25% cap rate. Source

Balance sheet and dividend

  • Leverage at 5.0x, low end of range: Management said net debt to adjusted EBITDA was 5.0x at March 31, 2026, against 4.6x at December 31, 2025, at the low end of the 5.0x to 5.5x target range. Source
  • Long-term debt rose to $8.16 billion: Face value of long-term debt was $8.16 billion, against $7.28 billion at year-end, with a weighted average of 7.1 years to maturity at 5.078%. Source
  • Cash balance climbed: Cash and cash equivalents were $274.5 million at March 31, 2026, against $224.3 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Dividend held at $0.78 per share: The $0.78 first quarter dividend was declared February 18 and paid March 27. Annualized dividend was $3.12, against $3.04, a 7.03% yield on the period-end price. Source

Acquisitions and strategy

  • Bally's Lincoln bought for $700m: The real property of Bally's Lincoln was acquired in February for $700 million at an 8.0% cap rate, with additional rent of $56.0 million. Source
  • Lincoln funded mainly with debt: Management said the Lincoln deal was primarily debt-financed. The company issued 332,890 LTIP Units as part of the consideration, with the balance paid in cash. Source
  • Lincoln called a top regional casino: Management described Bally's Lincoln as one of the top performing regional casino properties in the U.S., with over $490.0 million of gross gaming revenue in 2025. Source

Coming up, as management said on 24 April 2026

  • Virginia draws begin second half: Draws on the remaining $440 million Live! Virginia commitment are expected to start in the second half of 2026, with a targeted opening in late 2027. Source
  • Aurora funding due late June: Funding of $225 million for the PENN Aurora relocation is expected on or about June 24, 2026, at a 7.75% capitalization rate. Source
  • Prior ATM proceeds under consideration: Management said it is contemplating delivery of proceeds from completed ATM transactions later this year, alongside executing the pipeline. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
FFO per diluted share and OP/LTIP units Source$1.04 (first quarter 2025: $0.83)
AFFO per diluted share and OP/LTIP units Source$1.02 (first quarter 2025: $0.96)
Leverage Source5.0x net debt to adjusted EBITDA at March 31, 2026
Acquisitions Source$727 million in first quarter

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management referred to a challenging environment for tenants through much of 2025, which it set against lease coverage levels. Source
  • Financial: Tenants may decline GLPI financing for certain projects and seek other financing, so funding amounts and timing can differ from plans. Source
  • Regulatory: The PENN Aurora relocation targeted for June 24, 2026 remains subject to customary regulatory approvals. Source
  • External: The full-year guidance assumes no material change in legislation, consumer trends, economic conditions or oil prices. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said Bally's Chicago remains on schedule for a 2027 opening. Source
  • Met: The prior release listed Acorn Ridge as scheduled to open in February 2026; this release says it opened that month. Source
  • Not stated: The prior release expected the Aurora relocation in the first half of 2026; the current release gives June 24, 2026, pending approvals.

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.