COPT Defense Reports First Quarter 2025 Results

EPS of $0.31

FFO per Share, as Adjusted for Comparability, of $0.65

4.8% FFO per Share Growth Year-over-Year

Met Midpoint of Guidance

Reiterates Midpoint of 2025 FFO per Share Guidance of $2.66

Implies 3.5% FFO per Share Growth for the Year

Continued Strong Occupancy and Leased Levels

Defense/IT Portfolio 95.3% Occupied and 96.6% Leased

Occupancy Rate Exceeded 94% for 9 Consecutive Quarters

Same Property Cash NOI Increased 7.1%

Reiterates Midpoint of Same Property Cash NOI Guidance for the Year of 2.75%

Committed $52 million of Capital to New Investment in Huntsville

$308 million of Active Developments (756,000 SF) are 62% Leased

Excellent Leasing to Start the Year

Total Leasing of 647,000 SF

120,000 SF of Vacancy Leasing

On Track to Achieve/Exceed Annual Target of 400,000 SF

Tenant Retention of 75%

On Track to Achieve Annual Goal of 75%-85%

89,000 SF of Investment Leasing

COLUMBIA, Md.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–COPT Defense Properties (“COPT Defense” or the “Company”) (NYSE: CDP) announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025.


Management Comments

Stephen E. Budorick, COPT Defense’s President & Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Our Defense/IT investment strategy, which concentrates our portfolio near priority U.S. defense installations, generated strong results in the first quarter with FFO per share at the midpoint of our guidance range, despite incurring higher than expected net weather-related expenses. Our performance year-to-date is tracking according to plan and we are reiterating the midpoint of our 2025 FFO per share guidance range at $2.66, which implies 3.5% year-over-year growth.

In terms of our leasing achievements, we are off to a great start, as we have executed 179,000 square feet of vacancy leasing and over 100,000 square feet of investment leasing year-to-date, while maintaining a strong tenant retention rate of 75%. Our Defense/IT Portfolio was 95.3% occupied and 96.6% leased at quarter-end, and marked nine consecutive quarters in which our occupancy rate exceeded 94%, highlighting the strength and durability of our portfolio.

In terms of external growth, we commenced construction on a 150,000 square foot development at Redstone Gateway in order to capture near-term demand, as we only have 37,000 square feet of inventory across our entire 2.5 million square foot Huntsville portfolio.

Our actual and expected performance led our Board of Trustees to approve a 3.4% increase in our quarterly dividend in February, which marks our third consecutive annual increase, amounting to a 10.9% cumulative increase since 2022. Looking forward, we continue to anticipate compound annual FFO per share growth of roughly 4% between 2023 to 2026.”

Financial Highlights

1st Quarter Financial Results:

> Diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) was $0.31 for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared to $0.29 for the quarter ended March 31, 2024.

> Diluted funds from operations per share (“FFOPS”), as calculated in accordance with Nareit’s definition and as adjusted for comparability, was $0.65 for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared to $0.62 for the quarter ended March 31, 2024.

Operating Performance Highlights

Operating Portfolio Summary:

> At March 31, 2025, the Company’s 24.5 million square foot total portfolio was 93.6% occupied and 95.1% leased, which includes the 22.6 million square foot Defense/IT Portfolio that was 95.3% occupied and 96.6% leased.

> During the quarter ended March 31, 2025, the Company placed into service 10,000 square feet of development that was 100% leased.

Same Property Performance:

> At March 31, 2025, the Company’s 23.9 million square foot Same Property portfolio was 94.1% occupied and 95.2% leased.

> The Company’s Same Property cash NOI increased 7.1% in the quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared to the same period in 2024.

Leasing:

> Total Square Feet Leased: For the quarter ended March 31, 2025, the Company leased 647,000 square feet, including 438,000 square feet of renewals, 120,000 square feet of vacancy leasing, and 89,000 square feet of investment leasing.

> Tenant Retention Rates: During the quarter ended March 31, 2025, the Company renewed 74.9% of expiring square feet in its total portfolio, all of which was in the Defense/IT Portfolio.

> Rent Spreads and Average Escalations on Renewing Leases: For the quarter ended March 31, 2025, straight-line rents on renewals increased 8.2% and cash rents on renewed space decreased 0.9% while annual escalations on renewing leases averaged 2.6%.

> Lease Terms: In the quarter ended March 31, 2025, lease terms averaged 3.4 years on renewing leases, 7.1 years on vacancy leasing, and 10.5 years on investment leasing.

Investment Activity Highlights

> Development Pipeline: The Company’s development pipeline consists of five properties totaling 756,000 square feet that were 62% leased as of April 14, 2025. These projects represent a total estimated investment of $308 million, of which $91 million was spent as of March 31, 2025.

Balance Sheet and Capital Transaction Highlights

> For the quarter ended March 31, 2025, the Company’s adjusted EBITDA fixed charge coverage ratio was 4.7x.

> At March 31, 2025, the Company’s net debt to in-place adjusted EBITDA ratio was 6.1x and its net debt adjusted for fully-leased investment properties to in-place adjusted EBITDA ratio was 6.0x.

> At March 31, 2025, and including the effect of interest rate swaps, the Company’s weighted average effective interest rate on its consolidated debt portfolio was 3.4% with a weighted average maturity of 4.5 years, and 98% of the Company’s debt was subject to fixed interest rates.

Associated Supplemental Presentation

Prior to the call, the Company will post a slide presentation to accompany management’s prepared remarks for its first quarter 2025 conference call; the presentation can be viewed and downloaded from the ‘Financial Info – Financial Results’ section of COPT Defense’s Investors website: https://investors.copt.com/financial-information/financial-results

2025 Guidance

Management is narrowing its full-year guidance for diluted EPS and diluted FFOPS, per Nareit and as adjusted for comparability of $1.27-$1.35 and $2.62-$2.70, respectively to new ranges of $1.28-$1.34 and $2.63-$2.69, respectively. Management is establishing second quarter guidance for diluted EPS and diluted FFOPS per Nareit and as adjusted for comparability at $0.31-$0.33 and $0.65-$0.67, respectively. Reconciliations of projected diluted EPS to projected diluted FFOPS, in accordance with Nareit and as adjusted for comparability are as follows:

Reconciliation of Diluted EPS to FFOPS, per Nareit, and As Adjusted for Comparability

 

Quarter Ending

June 30, 2025

 

Year Ending

December 31, 2025

 

Low

 

High

 

Low

 

High

Diluted EPS

 

$

0.31

 

$

0.33

 

$

1.28

 

$

1.34

Real estate-related depreciation and amortization

 

 

0.34

 

 

0.34

 

 

1.35

 

 

1.35

Diluted FFOPS, Nareit definition and as adjusted for comparability

 

$

0.65

 

$

0.67

 

$

2.63

 

$

2.69

The Company detailed its initial full year guidance, with supporting assumptions, in a separate press release issued February 6, 2025; that release can be found in the ‘News & Events – Press Releases’ section of COPT Defense’s Investors website: https://investors.copt.com/news-events/press-releases

Conference Call Information

Management will discuss first quarter 2025 results on its conference call tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time, details of which are listed below:

Conference Call Date:

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Time:

12:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Participants must register for the conference call at the link below to receive the dial-in number and personal pin. Registering only takes a few moments and provides direct access to the conference call without waiting for an operator. You may register at any time, including up to and after the call start time: https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BIcd5f0d58372b4632aafb741d70095683

The conference call will also be available via live webcast in the ‘News & Events – IR Calendar’ section of COPT Defense’s Investors website: https://investors.copt.com/news-events/ir-calendar

Replay Information

A replay of the conference call will be immediately available via webcast only on COPT Defense’s Investors website and will be maintained on the website for approximately 90 days after the conference call.

Definitions

For definitions of certain terms used in this press release, please refer to the information furnished in the Company’s Supplemental Information Package furnished on a Form 8-K which can be found on its website (www.copt.com). Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures are included in the attached tables.

About COPT Defense

COPT Defense, an S&P MidCap 400 Company, is a self-managed REIT focused on owning, operating and developing properties in locations proximate to, or sometimes containing, key U.S. Government (“USG”) defense installations and missions (referred to as its Defense/IT Portfolio). The Company’s tenants include the USG and their defense contractors, who are primarily engaged in priority national security activities, and who generally require mission-critical and high security property enhancements. As of March 31, 2025, the Company’s Defense/IT Portfolio of 198 properties, including 24 owned through unconsolidated joint ventures, encompassed 22.6 million square feet and was 96.6% leased.

Forward-Looking Information

This press release may contain “forward-looking” statements, as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, that are based on the Company’s current expectations, estimates and projections about future events and financial trends affecting the Company. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “plan” or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which the Company cannot predict with accuracy and some of which the Company might not even anticipate. Although the Company believes that the expectations, estimates and projections reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions at the time made, the Company can give no assurance that these expectations, estimates and projections will be achieved. Future events and actual results may differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements.

The areas of risk that may affect these expectations, estimates and projections include, but are not limited to, those risks described in Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024.

Source: COPT Defense Properties

COPT Defense Properties

Summary Financial Data

(unaudited)

(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

For the Three Months Ended

March 31,

 

 

2025

 

 

 

2024

 

Revenues

 

 

 

Lease revenue

$

175,308

 

 

$

165,433

 

Other property revenue

 

2,289

 

 

 

1,230

 

Construction contract and other service revenues

 

10,259

 

 

 

26,603

 

Total revenues

 

187,856

 

 

 

193,266

 

Operating expenses

 

 

 

Property operating expenses

 

72,040

 

 

 

66,746

 

Depreciation and amortization associated with real estate operations

 

39,359

 

 

 

38,351

 

Construction contract and other service expenses

 

9,705

 

 

 

26,007

 

General and administrative expenses

 

8,148

 

 

 

8,378

 

Leasing expenses

 

2,999

 

 

 

2,187

 

Business development expenses and land carry costs

 

1,009

 

 

 

1,182

 

Total operating expenses

 

133,260

 

 

 

142,851

 

Interest expense

 

(20,504

)

 

 

(20,767

)

Interest and other income, net

 

1,568

 

 

 

4,122

 

Gain on sales of real estate

 

300

 

 

 

 

Income before equity in income of unconsolidated entities and income taxes

 

35,960

 

 

 

33,770

 

Equity in income of unconsolidated entities

 

371

 

 

 

69

 

Income tax expense

 

(103

)

 

 

(168

)

Net income

 

36,228

 

 

 

33,671

 

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

Common units in the Operating Partnership (“OP”)

 

(726

)

 

 

(608

)

Other consolidated entities

 

(762

)

 

 

(454

)

Net income attributable to common shareholders

$

34,740

 

 

$

32,609

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share (“EPS”) computation

 

 

 

Numerator for diluted EPS

 

 

 

Net income attributable to common shareholders

$

34,740

 

 

$

32,609

 

Amount allocable to share-based compensation awards

 

(143

)

 

 

(129

)

Numerator for diluted EPS

$

34,597

 

 

$

32,480

 

Denominator

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares – basic

 

112,383

 

 

 

112,231

 

Dilutive effect of share-based compensation awards

 

643

 

 

 

509

 

Weighted average common shares – diluted

 

113,026

 

 

 

112,740

 

Diluted EPS

$

0.31

 

 

$

0.29

 

COPT Defense Properties

Summary Financial Data

(unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

For the Three Months Ended

March 31,

 

 

2025

 

 

 

2024

 

Net income

$

36,228

 

 

$

33,671

 

Real estate-related depreciation and amortization

 

39,359

 

 

 

38,351

 

Gain on sales of real estate

 

(300

)

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization on unconsolidated real estate JVs

 

741

 

 

 

777

 

Funds from operations (“FFO”)

 

76,028

 

 

 

72,799

 

FFO allocable to other noncontrolling interests

 

(1,158

)

 

 

(836

)

Basic FFO allocable to share-based compensation awards

 

(530

)

 

 

(587

)

Basic FFO available to common share and common unit holders (“Basic FFO”)

 

74,340

 

 

 

71,376

 

Redeemable noncontrolling interest

 

 

 

 

469

 

Diluted FFO adjustments allocable to share-based compensation awards

 

53

 

 

 

47

 

Diluted FFO available to common share and common unit holders (“Diluted FFO”)

 

74,393

 

 

 

71,892

 

Executive transition costs

 

 

 

 

77

 

Diluted FFO available to common share and common unit holders, as adjusted for comparability

 

74,393

 

 

 

71,969

 

Straight line rent adjustments and lease incentive amortization

 

(1,699

)

 

 

3,473

 

Amortization of intangibles and other assets included in net operating income (“NOI”)

 

162

 

 

 

122

 

Share-based compensation, net of amounts capitalized

 

2,854

 

 

 

2,645

 

Amortization of deferred financing costs

 

667

 

 

 

685

 

Amortization of net debt discounts, net of amounts capitalized

 

1,051

 

 

 

1,014

 

Replacement capital expenditures

 

(21,464

)

 

 

(20,776

)

Other

 

81

 

 

 

137

 

Diluted adjusted funds from operations available to common share and common unit holders (“Diluted AFFO”)

$

56,045

 

 

$

59,269

 

Diluted FFO per share

$

0.65

 

 

$

0.62

 

Diluted FFO per share, as adjusted for comparability

$

0.65

 

 

$

0.62

 

Dividends/distributions per common share/unit

$

0.305

 

 

$

0.295

 

COPT Defense Properties

Summary Financial Data

(unaudited)

(Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

March 31,
2025

 

December 31,
2024

Balance Sheet Data

 

 

 

Properties, net of accumulated depreciation

$

3,643,482

 

 

$

3,630,526

 

Total assets

$

4,250,311

 

 

$

4,254,191

 

Debt per balance sheet

$

2,412,670

 

 

$

2,391,755

 

Total liabilities

$

2,688,481

 

 

$

2,693,624

 

Redeemable noncontrolling interest

$

23,539

 

 

$

23,974

 

Total equity

$

1,538,291

 

 

$

1,536,593

 

Debt to assets

 

56.8

%

 

 

56.2

%

Net debt to adjusted book

 

40.7

%

 

 

40.4

%

 

 

 

 

Defense/IT Portfolio Data (as of period end)

 

 

 

Number of operating properties

 

198

 

 

 

197

 

Total operational square feet (in thousands)

 

22,560

 

 

 

22,549

 

% Occupied

 

95.3

%

 

 

95.4

%

% Leased

 

96.6

%

 

 

96.7

%

 

 

For the Three Months Ended

March 31,

 

2025

 

 

 

2024

 

GAAP

 

 

 

Payout ratio

 

 

 

Net income

 

97.2

%

 

 

100.7

%

Debt ratios

 

 

 

Net income to interest expense ratio

1.8x

 

1.6x

Debt to net income ratio

16.6x

 

17.9x

Non-GAAP

 

 

 

Payout ratios

 

 

 

Diluted FFO

 

47.0

%

 

 

46.8

%

Diluted FFO, as adjusted for comparability

 

47.0

%

 

 

46.7

%

Diluted AFFO

 

62.4

%

 

 

56.8

%

Debt ratios

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA fixed charge coverage ratio

4.7x

 

4.5x

Net debt to in-place adjusted EBITDA ratio

6.1x

 

6.1x

Net debt adj. for fully-leased investment properties to in-place adj. EBITDA ratio

6.0x

 

6.0x

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation of denominators for per share measures

 

 

Denominator for diluted EPS

 

113,026

 

 

 

112,740

 

Weighted average common units

 

2,047

 

 

 

1,625

 

Redeemable noncontrolling interest

 

 

 

 

947

 

Denominator for diluted FFO per share and as adjusted for comparability

 

115,073

 

 

 

115,312

 

COPT Defense Properties

Summary Financial Data

(unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

For the Three Months

Ended March 31,

 

 

2025

 

 

 

2024

 

Numerators for Payout Ratios

 

 

 

Dividends on unrestricted common and deferred shares

$

34,318

 

 

$

33,143

 

Distributions on unrestricted common units

 

661

 

 

 

500

 

Dividends and distributions on restricted shares and units

 

236

 

 

 

267

 

Total dividends and distributions for GAAP payout ratio

 

35,215

 

 

 

33,910

 

Dividends and distributions on antidilutive shares and units

 

(237

)

 

 

(266

)

Dividends and distributions for non-GAAP payout ratios

$

34,978

 

 

$

33,644

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation of net income to earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization for real estate (“EBITDAre”), adjusted EBITDA and in-place adjusted EBITDA

 

 

 

Net income

$

36,228

 

 

$

33,671

 

Interest expense

 

20,504

 

 

 

20,767

 

Income tax expense

 

103

 

 

 

168

 

Real estate-related depreciation and amortization

 

39,359

 

 

 

38,351

 

Other depreciation and amortization

 

542

 

 

 

608

 

Gain on sales of real estate

 

(300

)

 

 

 

Adjustments from unconsolidated real estate JVs

 

1,518

 

 

 

1,671

 

EBITDAre

 

97,954

 

 

 

95,236

 

Credit loss expense

 

515

 

 

 

22

 

Business development expenses

 

593

 

 

 

630

 

Executive transition costs

 

57

 

 

 

430

 

Net gain on other investments

 

 

 

 

(477

)

Adjusted EBITDA

 

99,119

 

 

 

95,841

 

Pro forma NOI adjustment for property changes within period

 

786

 

 

 

813

 

Change in collectability of deferred rental revenue

 

1,232

 

 

 

 

In-place adjusted EBITDA

$

101,137

 

 

$

96,654

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciliations of tenant improvements and incentives, building improvements and leasing costs for operating properties to replacement capital expenditures

 

 

 

Tenant improvements and incentives

$

13,758

 

 

$

12,776

 

Building improvements

 

1,872

 

 

 

4,953

 

Leasing costs

 

3,461

 

 

 

3,590

 

Net additions to tenant improvements and incentives

 

3,538

 

 

 

316

 

Excluded building improvements

 

(201

)

 

 

(818

)

Excluded leasing costs

 

(964

)

 

 

(41

)

Replacement capital expenditures

$

21,464

$

20,776

COPT Defense Properties

Summary Financial Data

(unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

 

For the Three Months Ended

March 31,

 

 

2025

 

 

 

2024

 

Reconciliation of interest expense to the denominator for fixed charge coverage-Adjusted EBITDA

 

 

 

Interest expense

$

20,504

 

 

$

20,767

 

Less: Amortization of deferred financing costs

 

(667

)

 

 

(685

)

Less: Amortization of net debt discounts, net of amounts capitalized

 

(1,051

)

 

 

(1,014

)

COPT Defense’s share of interest expense of unconsolidated real estate JVs, excluding amortization of deferred financing costs and net debt premium and gain or loss on interest rate derivatives

 

752

 

 

 

804

 

Scheduled principal amortization

 

461

 

 

 

769

 

Capitalized interest

 

927

 

 

 

589

 

Denominator for fixed charge coverage-Adjusted EBITDA

$

20,926

 

 

$

21,230

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation of net income to NOI from real estate operations, same property NOI from real estate operations and same property cash NOI from real estate operations

 

 

 

Net income

$

36,228

 

 

$

33,671

 

Construction contract and other service revenues

 

(10,259

)

 

 

(26,603

)

Depreciation and other amortization associated with real estate operations

 

39,359

 

 

 

38,351

 

Construction contract and other service expenses

 

9,705

 

 

 

26,007

 

General and administrative expenses

 

8,148

 

 

 

8,378

 

Leasing expenses

 

2,999

 

 

 

2,187

 

Business development expenses and land carry costs

 

1,009

 

 

 

1,182

 

Interest expense

 

20,504

 

 

 

20,767

 

Interest and other income, net

 

(1,568

)

 

 

(4,122

)

Gain on sales of real estate

 

(300

)

 

 

 

Equity in income of unconsolidated entities

 

(371

)

 

 

(69

)

Unconsolidated real estate JVs NOI allocable to COPT Defense included in equity in income of unconsolidated entities

 

1,889

 

 

 

1,740

 

Income tax expense

 

103

 

 

 

168

 

NOI from real estate operations

 

107,446

 

 

 

101,657

 

Non-Same Property NOI from real estate operations

 

(3,170

)

 

 

(545

)

Same Property NOI from real estate operations

 

104,276

 

 

 

101,112

 

Straight line rent adjustments and lease incentive amortization

 

154

 

 

 

3,913

 

Amortization of acquired above- and below-market rents

 

(69

)

 

 

(69

)

Lease termination fees, net

 

(834

)

 

 

(775

)

Tenant funded landlord assets and lease incentives

 

(3,105

)

 

 

(10,364

)

Cash NOI adjustments in unconsolidated real estate JVs

 

(260

)

 

 

(262

)

Same Property Cash NOI from real estate operations

$

100,162

 

 

$

93,555

 

COPT Defense Properties

Summary Financial Data

(unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

 

 

March 31,
2025

 

December 31,
2024

Reconciliation of total assets to adjusted book

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

4,250,311

 

 

$

4,254,191

 

Accumulated depreciation

 

 

1,572,422

 

 

 

1,537,293

 

Accumulated amortization of intangibles on property acquisitions and deferred leasing costs

 

 

227,122

 

 

 

228,154

 

COPT Defense’s share of liabilities of unconsolidated real estate JVs

 

 

61,190

 

 

 

61,294

 

COPT Defense’s share of accumulated depreciation and amortization of unconsolidated real estate JVs

 

 

13,616

 

 

 

12,817

 

Less: Property – operating lease liabilities

 

 

(48,216

)

 

 

(49,240

)

Less: Property – finance lease liabilities

 

 

(384

)

 

 

(391

)

Less: Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

(24,292

)

 

 

(38,284

)

Less: COPT Defense’s share of cash of unconsolidated real estate JVs

 

 

(1,766

)

 

 

(2,053

)

Adjusted book

 

$

6,050,003

 

 

$

6,003,781

 

 

 

March 31,
2025

 

December 31,
2024

 

March 31,
2024

Reconciliation of debt to net debt and net debt adjusted for fully-leased investment properties

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debt per balance sheet

 

$

2,412,670

 

 

$

2,391,755

 

 

$

2,416,873

 

Net discounts and deferred financing costs

 

 

21,886

 

 

 

23,262

 

 

 

27,358

 

COPT Defense’s share of unconsolidated JV gross debt

 

 

53,750

 

 

 

53,750

 

 

 

52,819

 

Gross debt

 

 

2,488,306

 

 

 

2,468,767

 

 

 

2,497,050

 

Less: Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

(24,292

)

 

 

(38,284

)

 

 

(123,144

)

Less: COPT Defense’s share of cash of unconsolidated real estate JVs

 

 

(1,766

)

 

 

(2,053

)

 

 

(1,159

)

Net debt

 

 

2,462,248

 

 

 

2,428,430

 

 

 

2,372,747

 

Costs incurred on fully-leased development properties

 

 

(27,499

)

 

 

(18,774

)

 

 

(43,034

)

Costs incurred on fully-leased operating property acquisitions

 

 

 

 

 

(17,034

)

 

 

 

Net debt adjusted for fully-leased investment properties

 

$

2,434,749

 

 

$

2,392,622

 

 

$

2,329,713

 

 

Contacts

IR Contacts:
Venkat Kommineni, CFA
443.285.5587
[email protected]

Michelle Layne
443.285.5452
[email protected]

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