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U-Store-It Trust Reports Operating Results for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2008

SOURCE:

U-Store-It Trust

2008-08-07 15:05:00

U-Store-It Trust Reports Operating Results for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2008

CLEVELAND, OH–(EMWNews – August 7, 2008) – U-Store-It Trust (NYSE: YSI) announced its

operating results for the three months ended June 30, 2008. “We are very

pleased with the results of the quarter. We gained physical occupancy, we

achieved strong same-store growth and we’re reporting Funds from Operations

in line with our previous guidance. Supply remains in check and industry

fundamentals are holding up nicely as evidenced by our same-store gains in

rentals, physical occupancy, rental rates and revenues over comparable

levels from a year ago,” said Dean Jernigan, President and Chief Executive

Officer of U-Store-It.

Significant highlights of the quarter include:


--  Funds from Operations ("FFO") of $0.24 per share for the three months

    ended June 30, 2008.

--  An increase in second quarter rental income and total revenue on the

    382 same-store facilities by 5.6% and 4.8%, respectively, when compared to

    the three months ended June 30, 2007.

--  An increase in second quarter net operating income ("NOI") on the 382

    same-store facilities by 2.3% when compared to the three months ended June

    30, 2007.

--  Average second quarter same-store physical occupancy (calculated on

    square feet) of 80.7%, a gain of 50 basis points over the second quarter of

    2007.  Ending occupancy on the same-store portfolio was 81.9% on June 30,

    2008 compared to 81.7% on June 30, 2007.

--  A 260 basis point sequential increase in same-store physical occupancy

    from March 31, 2008 to June 30, 2008.

--  A 2.2% increase, or 900 additional units rented across the same-store

    portfolio in the second quarter of 2008 compared to the same quarter of

    last year.

--  Same-store realized annual rent per square foot during the quarter of

    $10.77, an increase of 5.0% over the second quarter of 2007.

    

President and Chief Executive Officer Dean Jernigan commented, “Again this

quarter, we are pleased to report very strong same-store growth. We are

encouraged by our progress in growing occupancy in our portfolio as

evidenced by our increases in same-store physical occupancy over the second

quarter of last year. Our top-line growth continues to be driven not only

by occupancy, but by solid increases in our in-place rents as we focus

daily on controlling discounts and selectively pushing rates.”

Funds from Operations

FFO grew 2.0% to $15.0 million for the second quarter of 2008, compared to

$14.7 million for the second quarter of 2007. The Company’s reported second

quarter 2008 FFO per share of $0.24 was negatively impacted by

approximately (i) $0.01 per share (approximately $0.6 million of costs

included in General and Administrative Expense) related to a write-off of

due diligence costs, and (ii) $0.01 per share attributable to the Company’s

development asset acquired in January 2007 and the lease-up portfolio

acquired in September 2007.

“Our results are in line with our guidance and expectations. Our FFO was

$0.25 per share, the mid-point of our guidance, had we not written off

certain third-party due-diligence costs during the quarter. We continue to

make solid progress on our asset disposition program and in our marketing

of a potential joint venture. As expected, our same-store operating

expense growth reflects the investment of marketing dollars at the

beginning of the rental season in order to generate the greatest return and

we are pleased with the result. We are affirming our previously issued

2008 full-year FFO per share and same-store NOI guidance,” said Christopher

Marr, Chief Financial Officer.

Operating Results

The Company reported net income of $0.3 million or $0.01 per share in the

second quarter of 2008, compared to net income of $0.3 million or $0.00 per

share for the quarter ended June 30, 2007.

Total revenues increased $4.9 million and property operating expenses

increased $3.6 million in the second quarter of 2008, compared to the same

period in 2007. These increases are attributable to the acquisition of 15

self-storage facilities for approximately $134.3 million since June 30,

2007 and increases in same-store revenues and expenses. Depreciation

expense increased $3.7 million in the second quarter of 2008, compared to

the same quarter of 2007 due to additional depreciation and amortization of

intangible assets attributable to the acquisition of self-storage

facilities. General and administrative expenses increased by $0.7 million

in the second quarter of 2008, compared to the same period in 2007,

primarily attributable to the aforementioned write-off of due diligence

costs of $0.6 million.

Interest expense was $13.0 million in both the second quarter of 2008 and

the second quarter of 2007, as a result of the additional interest expense

on debt used to fund the acquisition of 15 facilities purchased since June

30, 2007 offset by lower interest rates on variable rate debt during the

2008 period. In April 2008, the Company entered into interest rate swap

agreements that effectively fix the 30-day LIBOR interest rate on and

additional $200 million of LIBOR based borrowings at 2.7625% per annum

until November 2009.

The Company’s 403 owned facilities, containing 25.9 million rentable square

feet, had a physical occupancy at June 30, 2008 of 81.5% (81.8% excluding

the lease-up assets) and an average physical occupancy for the quarter

ended June 30, 2008 of 80.3% (80.6% excluding the lease-up assets).

Same-Store Results

The Company’s same-store pool at June 30, 2008 represented 382 facilities

containing approximately 24.3 million rentable square feet and representing

approximately 93.9% of the aggregate rentable square feet of the Company’s

403 owned facilities. These same-store facilities represent approximately

94.8% of property net operating income for the quarter ended June 30, 2008.

The same-store average physical occupancy for the second quarter of 2008

was 80.7% compared to 80.2% for the same quarter of last year. In-place

annual rent per square foot grew 1.1% to $12.22 in the second quarter of

2008 over the same quarter of last year. Same-store rental income for the

second quarter of 2008 grew 5.6% over the same period in 2007. Same-store

total revenues and operating expenses grew 4.8% and 9.0%, respectively,

over the second quarter of 2007. Same-store net operating income grew 2.3%

in the second quarter of 2008 compared to the same quarter of 2007.

Disposition Activity

During the quarter, we disposed of five facilities for aggregate proceeds

of $12.5 million and recognized gains totaling $5.3 million. We do not

include these gains in our $0.24 of FFO per share.

Quarterly Dividend

On May 7, 2008, the Company declared a dividend of $0.18 per share. The

dividend was paid on July 22, 2008, to shareholders of record on July 7,

2008.

Third Quarter and Full Year 2008 Financial Outlook

The Company affirms its previously issued 2008 earnings guidance estimating

fully-diluted FFO per share will be between $0.93 and $0.97, and that its

fully-diluted net loss per share for the period will be between $0.16 and

$0.21. The Company’s estimate is based on the following key assumptions:


--  General and administrative expenses of approximately $23.0-$24.0

    million

--  Same-store average occupancy of 80.0%-82.0%

--  Same-store revenue growth of 4.0%-4.5%

--  Same-store expense growth of 3.0%-3.5%

--  Same-store net operating income growth of 4.5%-5.5%

--  Dilution during 2008 from the 15 development/lease-up properties of

    approximately $0.02 to $0.03 per share

    


2008 Guidance                                            Range or Value

                                                       -------------------

Earnings (loss) per diluted share allocated to common

 shareholders                                          $ (0.21) to $ (0.16)

Less: gains on sales of real estate, per share           (0.10)      (0.10)

Plus: real estate depreciation and amortization, per

 share                                                    1.24        1.23

                                                       -------     -------

FFO per diluted share                                  $  0.93  to $  0.97

                                                       =======     =======

The Company estimates that its fully-diluted FFO per share for the three

months ending September 30, 2008 will be between $0.23 and $0.25, and that

its fully-diluted net loss per share for the period will be between $0.06

and $0.08.

Conference Call

Management will host a conference call at 11:00 a.m. ET on Friday, August

8, 2008, to discuss financial results for the three months ended June 30,

2008.

A live webcast of the conference call will be available online from the

investor relations page of the Company’s corporate website at

www.ustoreit.com. The dial-in numbers are 1-800-860-2442 for domestic

callers and +1 412-858-4600 for international callers. After the live

webcast, the call will remain available on U-Store-It’s website for thirty

days. In addition, a telephonic replay of the call will be available until

September 9, 2008. The replay dial-in number is 1-877-344-7529 for domestic

callers and +1 412-317-0088 for international callers. The reservation

number for both is 421601.

Supplemental operating and financial data as of June 30, 2008 is available

on our corporate website under the heading “Investor Relations and

Corporate Information.”

About U-Store-It Trust

U-Store-It Trust is a self-administered and self-managed real estate

investment trust. The Company’s self-storage facilities are designed to

offer affordable, easily accessible and secure storage space for

residential and commercial customers. According to the Self-Storage

Almanac, U-Store-It Trust is one of the top four owners and operators of

self-storage facilities in the United States.

Non-GAAP Performance Measurements

FFO is a widely used performance measure for real estate companies and is

provided here as a supplemental measure of operating performance. The

Company calculates FFO in accordance with the best practices described in

the April 2002 National Policy Bulletin of the National Association of Real

Estate Investment Trusts (the “White Paper”). The White Paper defines FFO

as net income (computed in accordance with GAAP), excluding gains (or

losses) from sales of property, plus depreciation and amortization, and

after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures.

Management uses FFO as a key performance indicator in evaluating the

operations of the Company’s facilities. Given the nature of its business as

a real estate owner and operator, the Company considers FFO a key measure

of its operating performance that is not specifically defined by accounting

principles generally accepted in the United States. The Company believes

that FFO is useful to management and investors as a starting point in

measuring its operational performance because it excludes various items

included in net income that do not relate to or are not indicative of its

operating performance such as gains (or losses) from sales of property and

depreciation, which can make periodic and peer analyses of operating

performance more difficult. FFO should not be considered as an alternative

to net income (determined in accordance with GAAP) as an indicator of the

Company’s financial performance, is not an alternative to cash flow from

operating activities (determined in accordance with GAAP) as a measure of

the Company’s liquidity, and is not indicative of funds available to fund

the Company’s cash needs, including its ability to make distributions.

We define net operating income, which we refer to as “NOI,” as total

continuing revenues less continuing property operating expenses. NOI also

can be calculated by adding back to net income: interest expense, loan

procurement amortization expense, early extinguishment of debt, minority

interest, loss on sale of storage facilities, depreciation and general and

administrative, and deducting from net income: income from discontinued

operations, gains on sale of self-storage facilities, and interest income.

NOI is not a measure of performance calculated in accordance with GAAP.

Management uses NOI as a measure of operating performance at each of our

facilities, and for all of our facilities in the aggregate. NOI should not

be considered as a substitute for operating income, net income, cash flows

provided by operating, investing and financing activities, or other income

statement or cash flow statement data prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this release that are not historical fact may

constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Section 27A

of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange

Act of 1934. Such statements are based on assumptions and expectations

that may not be realized and are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties

and other factors, many of which cannot be predicted with accuracy and some

of which might not even be anticipated. Although we believe the

expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are based on

reasonable assumptions, future events and actual results, performance,

transactions or achievements, financial and otherwise, may differ

materially from the results, performance, transactions or achievements

expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Risk,

uncertainties and other factors that might cause such differences, some of

which could be material, include but are not limited to: national and local

economic, business, real estate and other market conditions; the

competitive environment in which the Company operates; the execution of the

Company’s business plan; financing risks, including the risk of

over-leverage and the corresponding risk of default on our mortgage and

other debt; increases in interest rates and operating costs; the Company’s

ability to maintain its status as a REIT for federal income tax purposes;

acquisition and development risks; changes in real estate and zoning laws

or regulations; risks related to natural disasters; potential environmental

and other liabilities; and other factors affecting the real estate industry

generally or the self-storage industry in particular. The Company refers

you to the documents filed by the Company from time to time with the

Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically the section titled

“Business-Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, which

discuss these and other risks and factors that could cause the Company’s

actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements.

We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise these

forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future

events or otherwise except as may be required by securities laws.




                      U-STORE-IT TRUST AND SUBSIDIARIES

                         CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                      (in thousands, except share data)





                                                June 30,     December 31,

                                                  2008           2007

                                              -------------  -------------

ASSETS

Storage facilities                            $   1,925,616  $   1,916,396

Accumulated depreciation                           (302,356)      (269,278)

                                              -------------  -------------

                                                  1,623,260      1,647,118

Cash and cash equivalents                               651          4,517

Restricted cash                                      18,199         15,818

Loan procurement costs - net of amortization          5,284          6,108

Other assets - net of amortization                   10,031         14,270

                                              -------------  -------------

      Total assets                            $   1,657,425  $   1,687,831

                                              =============  =============



LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY



Revolving credit facility                     $     212,200  $     219,000

Unsecured term loan                                 200,000        200,000

Secured term loan                                    57,419         47,444

Mortgage loans and notes payable                    556,441        561,057

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other         28,098         33,623

Due to related parties                                    -            110

Distributions payable                                11,324         11,300

Deferred revenue                                     10,908         10,148

Security deposits                                       522            548

                                              -------------  -------------

      Total liabilities                           1,076,912      1,083,230



Minority interests                                   47,124         48,982



Commitments and contingencies



Shareholders' Equity

   Common shares $.01 par value, 200,000,000

    shares authorized, 57,620,495 and

    57,577,232 shares issued and outstanding

    at June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007,

    respectively                                        576            576

   Additional paid in capital                       799,300        797,940

   Accumulated other comprehensive loss                (713)        (1,664)

   Accumulated deficit                             (265,774)      (241,233)

                                              -------------  -------------

      Total shareholders' equity                    533,389        555,619

                                              -------------  -------------



Total liabilities and shareholders' equity    $   1,657,425  $   1,687,831

                                              =============  =============







                   U-STORE-IT TRUST AND SUBSIDIARIES

                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS





                                                      Three Months Ended

                                                           June 30,

                                                    ----------------------

                                                       2008        2007

                                                    ----------  ----------

REVENUES

  Rental income                                     $   56,158  $   50,965

  Other property related income                          4,249       4,387

  Other - related party                                      -         122

                                                    ----------  ----------

    Total revenues                                      60,407      55,474

OPERATING EXPENSES

  Property operating expenses                           25,494      21,890

  Property operating expenses - related party                -          14

  Depreciation                                          20,251      16,562

  General and administrative                             6,469       5,648

  General and administrative - related party                 -         118

                                                    ----------  ----------

    Total operating expenses                            52,214      44,232

OPERATING INCOME                                         8,193      11,242

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)

  Interest:

    Interest expense on loans                          (12,965)    (12,955)

    Loan procurement amortization expense                 (486)       (445)

  Interest income                                           32          91

  Other                                                     71           -

                                                    ----------  ----------

    Total other expense                                (13,348)    (13,309)

LOSS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

 BERFORE MINORITY INTERESTS                             (5,155)     (2,067)

MINORITY INTERESTS                                         407         168

                                                    ----------  ----------

LOSS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS                         (4,748)     (1,899)

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

  Income from operations                                   145         267

  Gain on disposition of discontinued operations         5,308       2,122

  Minority interest attributable to discontinued

   operations                                             (442)       (195)

                                                    ----------  ----------

    Income from discontinued operations                  5,011       2,194

                                                    ----------  ----------

NET INCOME                                          $      263  $      295

                                                    ==========  ==========

Basic and diluted loss per share from

 continuing operations                              $    (0.08) $    (0.03)

Basic and diluted earnings per share from

 discontinued operations                                  0.09        0.03

                                                    ----------  ----------

Basic and diluted loss per share                    $     0.01  $        -

                                                    ==========  ==========



Weighted-average basic and diluted shares

 outstanding                                            57,620      57,438



Distributions declared per common share and unit    $     0.18  $     0.29







                   Same-store facility results (382 facilities)

            (in thousands, except percentage and per square foot data)



                                              Three months ended

                                                   June 30,

                                              ------------------

                                                                  Percent

                                                2008      2007     Change

                                              --------  --------  --------

REVENUES

  Rental income                               $ 52,804  $ 49,991       5.6%

  Other property related income                  4,008     4,232      -5.3%

                                              --------  --------  --------

    Total revenues                            $ 56,812  $ 54,223       4.8%



OPERATING EXPENSES

  Property taxes                                 7,043     6,676       5.5%

  Personnel expense                              5,926     5,473       8.3%

  Advertising                                    1,706       980      74.1%

  Repair and maintenance                           875       725      20.8%

  Utilities                                      2,216     2,042       8.5%

  Property insurance                               802       924     -13.2%

  Other expenses                                 3,113     3,068       1.5%

                                              --------  --------  --------

  Total operating expenses                    $ 21,681  $ 19,888       9.0%



  Net operating income (1)                    $ 35,131  $ 34,335       2.3%



  Gross margin                                    61.8%     63.3%



  Period average occupancy (2)                    80.7%     80.2%



  Period end occupancy (3)                        81.9%     81.7%



  Total rentable square feet                    24,297    24,297



  Realized annual rent

   per occupied square foot (4)               $  10.77  $  10.26



  In place annual rent per square foot (5)    $  12.22  $  12.09



Reconciliation of Same-Store Net Operating

 Income to Operating Income

Same-store net operating income (1)           $ 35,131  $ 34,335

Non same-store net operating income (1)          1,737     1,054

Indirect property overhead                      (1,955)   (1,819)

Depreciation                                   (20,251)  (16,562)

General and administrative expense              (6,469)   (5,766)

                                              --------  --------



Operating Income                              $  8,193  $ 11,242



(1) Net operating income (NOI) is a non-GAAP (generally accepted

    accounting principles) financial measure that excludes the impact of

    depreciation and general & administrative expense.

(2) Square feet occupancy represents the weighted average occupancy for

    the period.

(3) Represents occupancy at June 30 of the respective year.

(4) Realized annual rent per occupied square foot is computed by dividing

    rental income by the weighted average occupied square feet for the

    period.

(5) In place annual rent per square foot represents annualized contractual

    rents per available square foot for the period.







           Non-GAAP Measure - Computation of Funds From Operations

                   (in thousands, except per share data)





                                                      Three months ended

                                                           June 30,

                                                    ----------------------

                                                       2008        2007

                                                    ----------  ----------



  Net income                                        $      263  $      295

  Add (deduct):

    Real estate depreciation                            20,025      16,527

    Gain on sale of real estate                         (5,308)     (2,122)

    Minority interests from continuing operations         (407)       (168)

    Minority interests from discontinued operations        442         195



                                                    ----------  ----------

  FFO                                               $   15,015  $   14,727

                                                    ----------  ----------



Income per share - fully diluted                    $     0.01  $        -

FFO per share and unit - fully diluted              $     0.24  $     0.24



Weighted-average basic and diluted shares

 outstanding                                            57,620      57,473

Weighted-average diluted shares and units

 outstanding                                            63,241      62,659



Dividend per common share and unit                  $     0.18  $     0.29

Payout ratio of FFO (Dividend per share divided by

 FFO per share)                                             76%        121%



Contact:
U-Store-It Trust
Christopher P. Marr
Chief Financial Officer
(610) 293-5700

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