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RLJ Lodging Trust: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 26 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 8 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Comparable RevPAR fell 1.5%: Fourth-quarter comparable RevPAR was $136.79, down 1.5%, after a 5.1% decline in the third quarter. Full-year comparable RevPAR was $143.49, down 1.7%. Source
  • Adjusted FFO fell for the year: Adjusted FFO was $48.7 million in the quarter, down 3.0%, and $209.4 million for the year, down 13.4%. Source
  • Shutdown disrupted fall demand: Management said the shutdown that began October 1, 2025 disrupted demand it had expected for October and November, and constrained the fourth quarter. Source
  • Non-room revenue grew 7.2%: Comparable non-room revenues rose 7.2%, which management tied to return-on-investment initiatives, and total comparable revenue grew 0.2%. Source
  • Comparable margin narrowed: Fourth-quarter comparable hotel EBITDA margin was 27.0%, down 44 basis points. Full-year margin was 27.3%, down 185 basis points. Source
  • Liquidity above $1.0 billion: Year-end liquidity was over $1.0 billion, including about $410.2 million of unrestricted cash and $600.0 million undrawn on the revolver. Debt outstanding was $2.2 billion. Source
  • Debt maturities refinanced to 2028: The February 2026 refinancing used four tranches, including a revolver extension and a new seven-year term loan. The next maturity is in 2029. Source

“As we look ahead to 2026, we are cautiously optimistic given the positive setup for the broader economy”

Leslie D. Hale, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Comparable RevPAR growth Sourcefull year 2026+0.5% to +3.0%New
Comparable Hotel EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026$344M to $374MNew
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026$312M to $342MNew
Adjusted FFO per diluted share Sourcefull year 2026$1.21 to $1.41New
Net interest expense Sourcefull year 2026$101.0 million to $103.0 millionNew
Cash corporate G&A Sourcefull year 2026$32.5 million to $33.5 millionNew
Renovation capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2026$80.0 million to $90.0 millionNew
Diluted weighted average shares and units Sourcefull year 2026150.8 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Annual 2026 guidance was issued for hotels owned as of February 26, 2026, replacing the 2025 full-year figures given in the prior quarter. Source
  • New: Debt maturities through 2028 were refinanced in February 2026. Source
  • New: Two hotels were sold in the fourth quarter, and the portfolio is now 92 hotels, down from 94 at September 30, 2025. Source

Fourth quarter and full-year results

  • Comparable RevPAR fell 1.5%: Fourth-quarter comparable RevPAR was $136.79, down 1.5%, after a 5.1% decline in the third quarter. Full-year comparable RevPAR was $143.49, down 1.7%. Source
  • Net income declined sharply: Net income was $0.5 million in the quarter and $28.6 million for the year, against $5.5 million and $68.2 million in 2024. Source
  • Adjusted FFO fell for the year: Adjusted FFO was $48.7 million in the quarter, down 3.0%, and $209.4 million for the year, down 13.4%. Source
  • Comparable hotel EBITDA lower: Comparable Hotel EBITDA was $87.8 million in the quarter, down 1.5%, and $363.5 million for the year, down 7.3%. Source

Demand and the government shutdown

  • Shutdown disrupted fall demand: Management said the shutdown that began October 1, 2025 disrupted demand it had expected for October and November, and constrained the fourth quarter. Source
  • ADR slipped slightly: Comparable ADR was $199.20 in the quarter, down 0.7%, and $200.39 for the year, down 0.3%. Source
  • Urban markets carried results: Management credited the outperformance of its urban markets with supporting fourth-quarter results. Source

Non-room revenue and conversions

  • Non-room revenue grew 7.2%: Comparable non-room revenues rose 7.2%, which management tied to return-on-investment initiatives, and total comparable revenue grew 0.2%. Source
  • Converted hotels ramping: Management cited the successful ramp of completed conversions, non-room revenue growth and cost discipline as contributors to the quarter. Source
  • Pre-opening costs on conversions: Pre-opening costs for brand conversions were $354 thousand in the quarter and $874 thousand for the year. Source

Costs, margins and fees

  • Comparable margin narrowed: Fourth-quarter comparable hotel EBITDA margin was 27.0%, down 44 basis points. Full-year margin was 27.3%, down 185 basis points. Source
  • Fee expense fell with revenue: Management and franchise fee expense was $23.9 million in the quarter, against $25.2 million, and $102.8 million for the year, against $108.0 million. Source
  • Corporate G&A lower year on year: General and administrative expense was $12.1 million in the quarter and $47.6 million for the year, against $54.8 million in 2024. Source
  • Real estate tax credits in fixed costs: Fixed expenses in the quarter included $4.7 million of real estate tax credits. Source

Balance sheet and debt

  • Liquidity above $1.0 billion: Year-end liquidity was over $1.0 billion, including about $410.2 million of unrestricted cash and $600.0 million undrawn on the revolver. Debt outstanding was $2.2 billion. Source
  • Debt maturities refinanced to 2028: The February 2026 refinancing used four tranches, including a revolver extension and a new seven-year term loan. The next maturity is in 2029. Source
  • Term loan replaced with larger facility: The $225 million term loan was replaced with a $569 million delayed draw term loan, with maturity extended to February 11, 2031. Source
  • Mortgage paydown from sale proceeds: In December, $26.3 million of mortgage debt was repaid from disposition proceeds. In January 2026, the mortgage loans were amended, extending the initial maturity to April 2029. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Buybacks completed in 2025: The company repurchased 3.3 million shares for about $28.6 million during 2025. About $245.7 million of program capacity remains. Source
  • Common dividend declared at $0.15: The Board declared a $0.15 common dividend for the fourth quarter, paid January 15, 2026, and a $0.4875 Series A preferred dividend. Source
  • Portfolio reduced to 92 hotels: The portfolio is 92 hotels after the fourth-quarter sales, down from 94 owned at September 30, 2025. Source

2026 setup and renovations

  • Confidence from tailwinds and balance sheet: Management said tailwinds and the recently fortified balance sheet give it confidence in unlocking embedded value and enhancing shareholder returns, despite geopolitical uncertainty. Source
  • Guidance excludes future transactions: The 2026 figures do not include potential acquisitions, dispositions, financings or share repurchases, which could change the figures materially. Source
  • Recent conversions still ramping: Management described the ongoing ramp from recent conversions and renovations as a building block for 2026. Source

Coming up, as management said on 26 February 2026

  • Repay July 2026 senior notes: Management intends to use incremental delayed draw term loan proceeds to repay the $500 million senior notes maturing in July 2026. Source
  • World Cup and America 250 catalysts: Management expects to capture benefits from the FIFA World Cup and America's 250th Anniversary celebrations in 2026. Source
  • Conversion and renovation ramp continues: Management cited the ongoing ramp from recent conversions and renovations as a benefit it expects to continue into 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Adjusted FFO per diluted common share and unit Source$0.32 in the quarter; $1.39 for the full year
Occupancy Source68.7% in the quarter (69.3% prior year); 71.6% for the full year (72.6% prior year)
Dispositions SourceTwo hotels, $49.5 million, 16.3x 2025 Hotel EBITDA

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management described the operating environment as choppy and further constrained by a protracted government shutdown. Source
  • External: Management said geopolitical uncertainty remains, which it weighed against the company's tailwinds and balance sheet. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said the previously announced refinancing of all debt maturities through 2028 was completed in February 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.