February 2, 2011
AVALONBAY COMMUNITIES, INC. ANNOUNCES
FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR 2010 OPERATING RESULTS
AND PROVIDES INITIAL 2011 FINANCIAL O UTLOOK
(Arlington, VA) AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (NYSE: AVB) (the “Company”) reported today that Net Income Attributable to Common Stockholders (“Net Income”) for the quarter ended December 31, 2010 was $27,030,000. This resulted in Earnings per Share – diluted (“EPS”) of $0.31 for the quarter ended December 31, 2010, compared to EPS of $0.40 for the comparable period of 2009, a decrease of 22.5%. For the year ended December 31, 2010, EPS was $2.07 compared to $1.93 for the year ended December 31, 2009, a per share increase of 7.3%.
The decrease in EPS for the quarter ended December 31, 2010 from the prior year period is due primarily to a decrease in real estate sales and related gains, offset partially by the loss on early debt extinguishment recognized in 2009 with no comparable activity in 2010. The increase for the year ended December 31, 2010 is due primarily to charges for early debt extinguishment and impairment of real estate assets recognized in 2009 with no comparable activity in 2010.
Funds from Operations attributable to common stockholders - diluted (“FFO”) per share for the quarter ended December 31, 2010 increased 57.8% to $1.01 from $0.64 for the comparable period of 2009. FFO per share for the year ended December 31, 2010 increased by 2.8% to $4.00 from $3.89 for 2009. Adjusting for the non-routine items detailed in Attachement 17, FFO per share for the three months and full year ended December 31, 2010 would have increased by 1.0% and decreased by 11.0%, respectively, from the prior year periods.
Commenting on the Company’s results, Bryce Blair, Chairman and CEO, said, “Same store NOI growth turned positive in the fourth quarter, capping a year of steady improvement. We expect that accelerating revenue growth combined with investment activity that will deliver and stabilize in 2011 will drive 16% FFO growth for the coming year. Operating fundamentals are expected to further improve, supporting our plan to start another $800 million in 2011 that will fuel future earnings and value growth.”
Operating Results for the Quarter Ended December 31, 2010 Compared to the Prior Year Period
For the Company, including discontinued operations, total revenue increased by $11,356,000, or 5.1% to $232,009,000. For Established Communities, rental revenue increased 2.5% due to an increase in Average Rental Rates of 2.9%, partially offset by a decrease in Economic Occupancy of 0.4%. As a result, total revenue for Established Communities increased $3,961,000 to $164,258,000. Operating expenses for Established Communities increased $938,000, or 1.7%, to $57,629,000. Accordingly, Net Operating Income (“NOI”) for Established Communities increased by 2.9%, or $3,023,000, to $106,629,000.
The following table reflects the percentage changes in rental revenue, operating expenses and NOI for Established Communities from the fourth quarter of 2010 compared to the fourth quarter of 2009:
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Q4 2010 Compared to Q4 2009 | |
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| | Rental | | | Operating | | | | | | % of | |
| | Revenue | | | Expenses | | | NOI | | | NOI (1) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
New England | | | 3.9 | % | | | 0.4 | % | | | 5.9 | % | | | 20.6 | % |
Metro NY/NJ | | | 3.6 | % | | | 1.7 | % | | | 4.5 | % | | | 28.7 | % |
Mid-Atlantic/Midwest | | | 3.0 | % | | | (1.8 | %) | | | 5.9 | % | | | 16.0 | % |
Pacific NW | | | (1.8 | %) | | | (1.5 | %) | | | (1.9 | %) | | | 4.1 | % |
No. California | | | 1.6 | % | | | 4.9 | % | | | (0.1 | %) | | | 18.7 | % |
So. California | | | (1.3 | %) | | | 8.0 | % | | | (6.1 | %) | | | 11.9 | % |
Total | | | 2.5 | % | | | 1.7 | % | | | 2.9 | % | | | 100.0 | % |
(1) Total represents each region's % of total NOI from the Company, including discontinued operations. | |
Operating Results for the Year Ended December 31, 2010 Compared to the Prior Year
For the Company, including discontinued operations, total revenue increased by $12,857,000, or 1.5%, to $899,525,000. For Established Communities, rental revenue decreased 0.9% due to a decrease in Average Rental Rates of 1.3%, partially offset by an increase in Economic Occupancy of 0.4%. Total revenue for Established Communities decreased $6,159,000 to $649,394,000. Operating expenses for Established Communities increased $5,737,000, or 2.6%, to $229,892,000. Accordingly, NOI for Established Communities decreased by $11,896,000, or 2.8%, to $419,502,000.
The following table reflects the percentage changes in rental revenue, operating expenses and NOI for Established Communities for the year ended December 31, 2010 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2009:
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Full Year 2010 Compared to Full Year 2009 | |
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| | Rental | | | Operating | | | | | | % of | |
| | Revenue | | | Expenses | | | NOI | | | NOI (1) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
New England | | | 0.8 | % | | | 2.6 | % | | | (0.3 | %) | | | 20.3 | % |
Metro NY/NJ | | | 0.2 | % | | | 4.0 | % | | | (1.5 | %) | | | 28.3 | % |
Mid-Atlantic/Midwest | | | 1.0 | % | | | 1.3 | % | | | 0.7 | % | | | 15.8 | % |
Pacific NW | | | (6.5 | %) | | | 4.6 | % | | | (11.8 | %) | | | 4.2 | % |
No. California | | | (3.8 | %) | | | 1.3 | % | | | (6.2 | %) | | | 19.4 | % |
So. California | | | (3.6 | %) | | | 2.4 | % | | | (6.7 | %) | | | 12.0 | % |
Total | | | (0.9 | %) | | | 2.6 | % | | | (2.8 | %) | | | 100.0 | % |
(1) Total represents each region's % of total NOI from the Company, including discontinued operations. | |
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Development Activity
The Company completed three communities during the fourth quarter of 2010:
· | Avalon Fort Greene, located in New York, NY, is a high-rise community containing 631 apartment homes and was completed for a Total Capital Cost of $303,000,000; |
· | Avalon Northborough II, located in Northborough, MA, is a garden-style community containing 219 apartment homes and was completed for a Total Capital Cost of $35,000,000; and |
· | Avalon Walnut Creek, located in Walnut Creek, CA, is a mid-rise community containing 418 apartment homes and was completed for a Total Capital Cost of $151,300,000. |
During 2010, the Company completed four communities containing 1,547 apartment homes for a Total Capital Cost of $566,700,000. Savings from the original budgeted Total Capital Cost for these four communities totaled $25,000,000.
During the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company started construction of five communities: Avalon North Bergen, located in North Bergen, NJ; Avalon Park Crest, located in Tysons Corner, VA; Avalon Ocean Avenue, located in San Francisco, CA; Avalon at Westmont Station I, located in Wood-Ridge, NJ and Avalon Cohasset, located in Cohasset, MA. These five communities will contain 1,177 apartment homes and will be developed for an estimated Total Capital Cost of $301,200,000.
During 2010, the Company started construction of 11 communities which will contain a total of 2,446 apartment homes for an expected aggregate Total Capital Cost of $643,400,000.
Redevelopment Activity
During the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company completed the redevelopment of the following communities:
· | Avalon at Diamond Heights, located in San Francisco, CA, has 154 apartment homes and was redeveloped for a Total Capital Cost of $4,300,000, excluding costs incurred prior to redevelopment; |
· | Avalon at Cedar Ridge, located in Daly City, CA, has 195 apartment homes and was redeveloped for a Total Capital Cost of $5,000,000, excluding costs incurred prior to redevelopment; and |
· | Avalon Warm Springs, located in Fremont, CA, has 235 apartment homes and was redeveloped for a Total Capital Cost of $6,700,000, excluding costs incurred prior to redevelopment. |
During 2010, the Company completed the redevelopment of five communities containing 1,647 apartment homes for a Total Capital Cost of $77,900,000, excluding costs incurred prior to redevelopment.
During the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company commenced the redevelopment of five communities: Avalon Sunset Towers, located in San Francisco, CA; Avalon at South Coast, located in Costa Mesa, CA; Avalon Crowne Ridge, located in San Rafael, CA; Avalon Cove, located in Jersey City, NJ; and Avalon Commons, located in Smithtown, NY. These five communities contain 1,571 apartment homes and will be redeveloped for an estimated Total Capital Cost of $59,200,000, excluding costs incurred prior to redevelopment.
During 2010, the Company commenced the redevelopment of seven communities containing 2,380 apartment homes for an estimated Total Capital Cost of $76,100,000, excluding costs incurred prior to redevelopment.
Disposition Activity
During the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company sold its former corporate office located in Alexandria, VA for $8,150,000. This disposition resulted in a gain in accordance with GAAP of approximately $1,524,000.
Investment and Investment Management Fund Activity
During the fourth quarter of 2010, AvalonBay Value Added Fund II, L.P. ("Fund II", a private, discretionary real estate investment vehicle in which the Company holds an equity interest of approximately 31%) acquired two communities:
· | Canyonwoods, a garden-style community consisting of 140 apartment homes located in Lake Forest, CA was acquired for a purchase price of $24,700,000; and |
· | Fox Run Apartments, a garden-style community consisting of 776 apartment homes located in Plainsboro, NJ, was acquired for a purchase price of $86,500,000. In conjunction with the purchase of Fox Run Apartments, the Company assumed the existing $45,000,000, 4.4% fixed rate mortgage loan, which matures in November 2014. |
During 2010, Fund II acquired a total of six communities, containing 2,779 apartment homes for an aggregate purchase price of $386,700,000.
In January 2011, Fund II purchased Waterstone Carlsbad, a community located in Carlsbad (San Diego County), CA. The garden-style community contains 448 apartment homes and was acquired for a purchase price of $78,100,000.
Financing, Liquidity and Balance Sheet Statistics
At December 31, 2010, the Company had no amounts outstanding under its $1,000,000,000 unsecured credit facility.
At December 31, 2010, the Company had $479,769,000 in unrestricted cash and cash in escrow. The cash in escrow is available for development activity and includes $93,440,000 in bond proceeds related to an existing Development Right.
Unencumbered NOI as a percentage of total NOI generated by real estate assets for the year ended December 31, 2010 was 69%. Interest Coverage for the fourth quarter of 2010 was 2.8 times.
New Financing Activity
In November, 2010, the Company issued $250,000,000 principal amount of unsecured notes under its existing shelf registration statement. The unsecured notes mature in January 2021 and have an effective interest rate of 3.97%.
In November, 2010, the Company commenced a new continuous equity offering program, under which the Company can issue up to $500,000,000 of common stock during a 36-month period. The Company may sell common stock in amounts and at times to be determined by the Company. During the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company sold 432,832 shares at an average price of $112.44 per share, for net proceeds of $47,935,000.
During January 2011, the Company sold an additional 177,837 shares at an average price of $111.15 per share for net proceeds of $19,470,000.
Debt Repayment Activity
In October 2010, the Company repaid a variable rate secured mortgage note in the amount of $28,989,000 in accordance with its scheduled maturity date. Also in October 2010, the Company repaid a 5.17% fixed rate secured mortgage note in the amount of $9,780,000 in advance of its July 2024 scheduled maturity date.
In December 2010, the Company repaid $89,576,000 principal amount of its unsecured notes in accordance with their scheduled maturity. After considering applicable hedging instruments, the notes had an effective interest rate of 7.31%.
2011 Financial Outlook
The following presents the Company's financial outlook for 2011, the details of which are summarized on Attachments 15 and 16.
In setting operating expectations for 2011, management considers third party macroeconomic forecasts, local market conditions and performance at individual communities. Management expects continued, moderate economic growth in 2011, strengthening throughout the year. Positive annual rental revenue growth in our Established Communities is expected in all regions, though growth in some West Coast markets may lag other regions.
Projected EPS is expected to be within a range of $3.09 to $3.34 for the full year 2011.
The Company expects 2011 Projected FFO per share to be in the range of $4.50 to $4.75 as compared to $4.00 for the full year 2010, resulting in an expected increase in FFO per share of 15.8% at the mid-point of the range.
For the first quarter of 2011, the Company expects projected EPS within a range of $0.29 to $0.33. The Company expects Projected FFO per share in the first quarter of 2011 within a range of $1.00 to $1.04.
In the second half of 2011, the Company expects to sell an operating community that is subject to a long-term ground lease, terminating the Company’s obligation under the lease upon sale. If the community is sold as expected, the Company will recognize an increase in its operating results for 2011 of approximately $0.10 per share. This increase represents the net impact of eliminating the annual lease expense in excess of the cash payments, the loss of NOI from the community subsequent to the disposition and the addition of the disposition proceeds to the Company’s available working capital.
The Company’s 2011 financial outlook is based on a number of assumptions and estimates, which are provided on Attachment 15 of this release. The primary assumptions and estimates include the following:
Property Operations
· | The Company expects an increase in Established Communities’ revenue of 4.0% to 5.5%. |
· | The Company expects an increase in Established Communities’ operating expenses of 0.0% to 2.0%. |
· | The Company expects an increase in Established Communities’ NOI of 6.0% to 7.5%. |
Development
· | The Company currently has 14 communities under development and anticipates starting between $800,000,000 and $900,000,000 of new development during 2011. During 2011, the Company expects to disburse between $600,000,000 and $800,000,000 related to these communities and expected acquisitions of land for future development. |
· | The Company expects to complete the development of six communities during 2011 for an aggregate Total Capital Cost of approximately $300,000,000. |
The Company did not impair any assets or abandon any material pursuits during 2010. However, the Company’s focus on development of apartment communities and the existing development pipeline present a valuation risk that could result in future abandoned pursuits and/or impairment charges that are not apparent or determinable at this time.
Acquisition & Disposition Activity
· | The Company expects to be active in both acquisition and disposition activity for its wholly owned portfolio in 2011. This activity pertains primarily to portfolio shaping and repositioning, and is expected to have a nominal impact on the Company’s net capital position. |
· | The Company expects Fund II to acquire an interest in operating communities of approximately $300,000,000 to $500,000,000 in 2011, of which the Company’s indirect ownership interest is 31%. |
· | In 2011 the Company expects AvalonBay Value Added Fund I, L.P. to have up to $200,000,000 in dispositions of which the Company’s indirect ownership interest is 15%. |
Capital Markets
The Company expects to issue between $500,000,000 and $700,000,000 of new unsecured and secured debt, common stock or other forms of capital in 2011.
First Quarter 2011 Conference/Event Schedule
The Company expects to release its first quarter 2011 earnings on April 27, 2011 after the market closes. The Company expects to hold a conference call on April 28, 2011 at 1:00 PM EST to discuss the first quarter 2011 results.
Management is scheduled to present at Citi’s Global Property CEO Conference from March 13 - 16, 2011. Management may discuss the Company's current operating environment; operating trends; development, redevelopment, disposition and acquisition activity; financial outlook; portfolio strategy and other business and financial matters affecting the Company. Details on how to access a webcast of the Company’s presentation will be available in advance of the conference event at the Company's website at http://www.a valonbay.com/events.
Other Matters
The Company will hold a conference call on February 3, 2011 at 1:00 PM EST to review and answer questions about this release, its fourth quarter and full year 2010 results, its 2011 financial outlook, the Attachments (described below) and related matters. To participate on the call, dial 1-877-510-2397 domestically and 1-763-416-6924 internationally.
To hear a replay of the call, which will be available from February 3, 2011 at 3:00 PM EST to February 10, 2011 at 11:59 PM EST, dial 1-800-642-1687 domestically and 1-706-645-9291 internationally, and use Access Code: 36263749. A webcast of the conference call will also be available at http://www.avalonbay.com/earnings, and an on-line playback of the webcast will be available for at least 30 days following the call.
The Company produces Earnings Release Attachments (the "Attachments") that provide detailed information regarding operating, development, redevelopment, disposition and acquisition activity. These Attachments are considered a part of this Earnings Release and are available in full with this Earnings Release via the Company's website at http://www.avalonbay.com/earnings. To receive future press releases via e-mail, please submit a request through http://www.avalonbay.com/email.
About AvalonBay Communities, Inc.
As of December 31, 2010, the Company owned or held a direct or indirect ownership interest in 186 apartment communities containing 54,579 apartment homes in ten states and the District of Columbia, of which 14 communities were under construction and nine communities were under reconstruction. The Company is an equity REIT in the business of developing, redeveloping, acquiring and managing apartment communities in high barrier to entry markets of the United States. More information may be found on the Company’s website at http://www.avalonbay.com. For additional information, please contact John Christie, Senior Director of Investor Relations and Research at 1-703-317-4747 or Thoma s J. Sargeant, Chief Financial Officer at 1-703-317-4635.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release, including its Attachments, contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the Company’s use of words such as “expects,” “plans,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “intends,” “believes,” “outlook” and similar expressions that do not relate to historical matters. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements as a result of risks and uncertainties, which include the following: we ma y abandon development or redevelopment opportunities for which we have already incurred costs; adverse capital and credit market conditions may affect our access to various sources of capital and/or cost of capital, which may affect our business activities, earnings and common stock price, among other things; changes in local employment conditions, demand for apartment homes, supply of competitive housing products, and other economic conditions may result in lower than expected occupancy and/or rental rates and adversely affect the profitability of our communities; delays in completing development, redevelopment and/or lease-up may result in increased financing and construction costs and may delay and/or reduce the profitability of a community; debt and/or equity financing for development, redevelopment or acquisitions of communities may not be available or may not be available on favorable terms; we may be unable to obtain, or experience delays in obtaining, necessary governmental permits and aut horizations; and increases in costs of materials, labor or other expenses may result in communities that we develop or redevelop failing to achieve expected profitability. Additional discussions of risks and uncertainties appear in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 under the headings “Risk Factors” and under the heading “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Forward-Looking Statements” and in subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The Company does not undertake a duty to update forward-looking statements, including its expected operating results for the first quarter and full year 2011. The Company may, in its discretion, provide information in future public announcements regarding its outlook that may be of interest to the investment community. The format and extent of future outlooks may be different from the format and extent of the information contained in this release.
Definitions and Reconciliations
Non-GAAP financial measures and other capitalized terms, as used in this earnings release, are defined and further explained on Attachment 17, “Definitions and Reconciliations of non-GAAP Financial Measures and Other Terms.” Attachment 17 is included in the full earnings release available at the Company’s website at http://www.avalonbay.com/earnings.