Simon Property slashes annual net income forecast (Aug. 2)
9:20 am Friday, August 04th, 2023
(This Aug. 2 story has been corrected say the company cut annual forecast for net income attributable to shareholders, not profit, and removes the reason for it in the headline and paragraph 1)
(Reuters) – Simon Property lowered its annual forecast for net income and missed Wall Street estimates for quarterly funds from operations on Wednesday.
High borrowing and input costs have weighed heavily on retailers and restaurant owners, even as customers turn conscious about spending under inflationary pressures.
This has slowed footfall at outlet malls, shopping centers and restaurants, denting leasing demand for Simon Property. The real estate trust has also raised its base minimum rent, which was up 3.1% in the quarter ended June 30, in order to protect margins.
With student loan repayments returning in the second half of the year, discretionary spending is likely to be curtailed further.
The company now expects annual net income attributable to shareholders to be between $6.39 and $6.49 per share, compared with its previous forecast between $6.45 to $6.60 per share.
Data from UBS Evidence Lab showed that outlet malls have seen lower foot traffic and mall tenant categories of clothing and accessories, and food services and drinking places have seen growth rates fall below the overall retail sales level in May.
This is in contrast to grocery-oriented shopping centers such as those owned by Simon Property’s peer Kimco Realty, which beat quarterly revenue estimates last week.
Simon Property’s reported funds from operations (FFO) per share of $2.88 in the quarter ended June 30 dropped from $2.91 a year ago. Analysts on average had expected per share FFO of $2.92, as per Refinitiv data.
Net revenue from lease income in the second quarter came in at $1.25 billion, in line with Street expectations.
(Reporting by Juveria Tabassum; Editing by Pooja Desai and Maju Samuel)
