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RLJ Lodging Trust: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 raised, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Comparable RevPAR rose 4.8%: Comparable RevPAR was $148.55, up 4.8%, with comparable occupancy up 2.6% and comparable ADR up 2.1% against the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Adjusted FFO per share rose 6.5%: Adjusted FFO was $49.5 million, or $0.33 per diluted common share and unit, compared with $46.9 million and $0.31 a year earlier. Source
  • Four guidance ranges raised: Comparable RevPAR growth, Comparable Hotel EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted FFO per diluted share ranges were all raised for FY 2026. Source
  • Non-room revenue up 8.2%: Comparable non-room revenues rose 8.2%, 340 basis points above comparable RevPAR growth, which management linked to return-on-investment initiatives. Source
  • Comparable hotel margin up 45 bps: Comparable Hotel EBITDA margin was 26.4%, up 45 basis points, on comparable Hotel EBITDA of $89.9 million, up 7.2%. Source
  • Liquidity over $950 million at quarter-end: Liquidity was over $950.0 million at March 31, 2026, with about $353.1 million of unrestricted cash, $600 million undrawn on the revolver, and nearly $2.2 billion of debt outstanding. Source
  • Debt maturities refinanced through 2028: Management said refinancing of all debt maturities through 2028 was completed in the first quarter, and the next maturity after extension options is 2029. Source

“These elements, combined with our success driving non-room revenues and managing expenses, allowed us to grow EBITDA and expand margins”

Leslie D. Hale, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Comparable RevPAR growth SourceFY 2026+1.5% to +3.5%Raised from +0.5% to +3.0%
Comparable Hotel EBITDA SourceFY 2026$356M to $380MRaised from $344M to $374M
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFY 2026$324M to $348MRaised from $312M to $342M
Adjusted FFO per diluted share SourceFY 2026$1.29 to $1.45Raised from $1.21 to $1.41
Cash corporate G&A SourceFY 2026$32.5 million to $33.5 millionKept
Renovation capital expenditures SourceFY 2026$80.0 million to $90.0 millionKept
Diluted weighted average common shares and units SourceFY 2026150.8 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Comparable RevPAR growth range for FY 2026 raised to +1.5% to +3.5%, from +0.5% to +3.0%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Comparable Hotel EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA ranges for FY 2026 raised to $356M to $380M and $324M to $348M. Source
  • Guidance raised: Adjusted FFO per diluted share range for FY 2026 raised to $1.29 to $1.45, from $1.21 to $1.41. Source
  • New: A 2026 share repurchase program of up to $250.0 million of common and preferred shares was approved in April, effective May 9, 2026. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Comparable RevPAR rose 4.8%: Comparable RevPAR was $148.55, up 4.8%, with comparable occupancy up 2.6% and comparable ADR up 2.1% against the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Adjusted FFO per share rose 6.5%: Adjusted FFO was $49.5 million, or $0.33 per diluted common share and unit, compared with $46.9 million and $0.31 a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA grew 4.2%: Adjusted EBITDA was $80.9 million, up 4.2% from the prior-year period. Source
  • Net loss to common shareholders: Net loss attributable to common shareholders was $6.4 million after $6.3 million of preferred dividends, compared with a $2.9 million loss a year earlier. Source

Full-year 2026 guidance update

  • Four guidance ranges raised: Comparable RevPAR growth, Comparable Hotel EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted FFO per diluted share ranges were all raised for FY 2026. Source
  • Raise reflects first-quarter outperformance: Management said the raise incorporates first-quarter results and that its view for the rest of the year is unchanged. Source
  • Interest, G&A, capex and shares unchanged: Net interest expense, cash corporate G&A, renovation capital expenditures and diluted share count ranges were kept at the prior levels. Source
  • Deals and financings excluded from guidance: Management said potential acquisitions, dispositions, financings or share repurchases are not included and could materially change the guidance. Source

“We believe the industry setup continues to favor Urban markets, supported by sustained strength in business transient and robust demand for urban leisure experiences”

Leslie D. Hale, President and Chief Executive Officer

Urban market focus

  • Portfolio focused on urban markets: The company describes its 92 hotels as premium-branded, rooms-oriented, high-margin and urban-centric, located in major urban markets. Source
  • Comparable hotel revenue up 5.4%: Comparable Hotel Revenue was $340.0 million, up 5.4% from the prior year. Source
  • Top Urban markets contributed: Management attributed part of the quarter's performance to a number of its top Urban markets and the ramp of recent renovations and conversions. Source

Products and customers

  • Non-room revenue up 8.2%: Comparable non-room revenues rose 8.2%, 340 basis points above comparable RevPAR growth, which management linked to return-on-investment initiatives. Source
  • Renovations and conversions ramping: Management pointed to the continued ramp of recently completed renovations and conversions as a contributor to results. Source
  • Pre-opening brand conversion costs: Pre-opening costs of $0.3 million were recorded for the brand conversions of certain hotels before they opened. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Comparable hotel margin up 45 bps: Comparable Hotel EBITDA margin was 26.4%, up 45 basis points, on comparable Hotel EBITDA of $89.9 million, up 7.2%. Source
  • Expense management supported margin: Management credited revenue growth combined with disciplined expense management for the margin expansion. Source
  • ADR and occupancy both rose: Comparable ADR was $209.91, up 2.1%, and comparable occupancy was 70.8%, a 2.6% change, against the prior-year quarter. Source

Demand and trends

  • Demand trends described as healthy: Management said it continues to see healthy demand trends. Source
  • Trends improved through the quarter: Management said comparable RevPAR trends improved sequentially through the first quarter. Source
  • Urban markets favored by industry setup: Management said the industry setup favors Urban markets, supported by business transient demand and urban leisure demand. Source

Capital, cash and returns to shareholders

  • Liquidity over $950 million at quarter-end: Liquidity was over $950.0 million at March 31, 2026, with about $353.1 million of unrestricted cash, $600 million undrawn on the revolver, and nearly $2.2 billion of debt outstanding. Source
  • Debt maturities refinanced through 2028: Management said refinancing of all debt maturities through 2028 was completed in the first quarter, and the next maturity after extension options is 2029. Source
  • April draw on a mortgage loan: In April 2026 the company received $23.4 million of additional proceeds on a $68.3 million loan, raising it to $91.7 million. Source
  • Dividends declared for first quarter: The Board declared a $0.15 quarterly common dividend and a $0.4875 Series A Preferred dividend for the first quarter, both paid in April 2026. Source
  • New $250 million repurchase program: In April the Board approved a 2026 share repurchase program of up to $250.0 million of common and preferred shares, effective May 9, 2026. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 May 2026

  • Senior notes repayment planned: Management intends to use incremental delayed draw term loan proceeds to repay the $500 million senior notes maturing in July 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Adjusted FFO per diluted share Source$0.33, up 6.5% from $0.31
Occupancy Source70.8% comparable, change of 2.6%

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management said the evolving geopolitical environment has added a layer of uncertainty to the business. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management stated the refinancing of all debt maturities through 2028 was completed in the first quarter, as previously announced. Source
  • Not stated: Management said its view for the remainder of the year is unchanged from its prior view. 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.