Melcor Developments Ltd. ("Melcor") (TSX: MRD), an Alberta-based
real estate development and asset management company, today
reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024.
The first quarter Management Discussion & Analysis (MD&A)
and Condensed Interim Financial Statements are available on our
website (www.melcor.ca) under Investors, or on SEDAR+
(www.sedarplus.ca).
Timothy Melton, Melcor’s Executive Chair and Chief Executive
Officer, commented: "Melcor is pleased to report relatively good
results for the first quarter of 2024. Revenue for the quarter
increased to $49.75 million compared to $36.08 million in Q1-2023,
and funds from operations was $13.75 million compared to $7.05
million last year.
Our Land division produced strong results, with revenue up 156%
to $21.07 million and earnings up 260% to $6.89 million
in the quarter compared to Q1-2023. This growth in revenue and
earnings was the result of higher multi-family, commercial, and
other land sales at 22.20 acres in the first quarter, up from 3.73
acres in Q1-2023.
Our Properties division completed construction on a retail
building located in Woodbend Market (Leduc, AB) contributing an
additional 31,800 sf to our portfolio of income-generating
properties located within our Woodbend Retail development. The
Properties division continues to generate stable results for
Melcor.
Our Income Properties (Properties and REIT divisions) leasing
team has been actively pursuing and securing new leases across all
asset classes, successfully increasing our occupancy levels over
year-end to 87.4% (December 31, 2023 - 86.2%). Overall revenue
from our Income Properties was up 2.6% in Q1-2024 compared to
Q1-2023."
Today the Board declared a dividend of $0.11 per share, payable
on June 28, 2024 to shareholders of record on June 14,
2024. The dividend is an eligible dividend for Canadian tax
purposes.
Financial HighlightsFinancial highlights of our
performance are summarized below:
First quarter:
- Revenue was up 38% to $49.75 million in Q1-2024 (Q1-2023:
$36.08 million)
- Gross profit up 29% to $23.61 million (Q1-2023: $18.24
million).
- Net income was up 494% to $12.79 million in Q1-2024 (Q1-2023:
$2.15 million).
- Funds from operations (FFO) was up 95% to $13.75 million in
Q1-2024 (Q1-2023: $7.05 million).
- Basic earnings per share was up 500% to $0.42 per share
(Q1-2023: $0.07 per share)
Revenue was up 38% to $49.75 million in Q1-2024 (Q1-2023: $36.08
million), with gross profit up 29% to $23.61 million (Q1-2023:
$18.24 million). The real estate industry is impacted by the
cyclical nature of development, demand for product, the timing of
raw and multi-family land sales and lot registrations. Lot sales,
which have a significant impact on quarterly results, are uneven by
nature and it is difficult to predict when they will close.
FFO was up 95% to $13.75 million in Q1-2024 (Q1-2023: $7.05
million). The increase in FFO is a direct result of the increase in
revenue in the period from activity within the Land division.
Net income was up 494% to $12.79 million in Q1-2024 (Q1-2023:
$2.15 million). Net income is significantly impacted by swings in
non-cash fair value adjustments on investment properties, REIT
units, and the revaluation of interest rate swaps and the
conversion feature on our convertible debenture. The change in the
REIT's unit price has a counter-intuitive impact on net income as
an increase in unit value decreases net income. In Q1-2024 the fair
value adjustment on REIT units swung by $10.76 million over
Q1-2023. These gains are driven by market forces outside of
Melcor's control and are a key reason we focus on FFO as a truer
measure of our financial performance.
Our Land division brought in revenue of $21.07
million up from $8.22 million in Q1-2023. Revenue growth was the
result of the 22.20 acres sold in the current quarter including
multi-family, commercial and industrial land sales. This compares
to 3.73 acres sold in Q1-2023. We also closed on 66 single-family
lots in the quarter (Q1-2023 - 82). Edmonton contributed our
largest sales volume with 38 single-family lot sales and 19.87
acres sold in Q1-2023.
Our Properties division completed construction
on one retail building contributing an additional 31,800 sf to our
portfolio of income-generating properties located within our
Woodbend Retail development.
Our Income Properties (Melcor Properties and
REIT) accounted for 61.5% of revenue, after intersegment
eliminations compared to 82.7% in Q1-2023. Occupancy increased
slightly over year-end to 87.4% (December 31, 2023: 86.2%) and
down over Q1-2023 from 87.8%.
We continue to strategically assess our assets within our Income
Properties segment, with an aim to focus on our core Alberta
market. In 2023 we sold two properties including one office
property held in our REIT division (Melcor REIT) located in
Kelowna, BC for $19.50 million, and one retail property held in our
Properties division located in Lethbridge, AB for gross proceeds of
$3.50 million. We have also listed three retail properties located
in Regina SK, and one office property located in Kelowna, BC as
assets held for sale in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards.
These properties are all held in Melcor REIT.
Subsequent to the quarter, on May 10, 2024, we sold a 29,000
square foot office building located in Kelowna, BC for gross
proceeds of $7.80 million ($7.48 million net of transaction costs).
This property was classified as asset held for sale at quarter end.
Net cash from the sale of this asset will be used to reduce debt in
the REIT.
SHAREHOLDER HIGHLIGHTSWe continue to return
value to our shareholders:
Melcor Developments:
- We repurchased 85,616 shares for cancellation pursuant to the
NCIB at a cost of $0.99 million during Q1-2024.
- On May 14, 2024 we declared a quarterly dividend of $0.11
per share, payable on June 28, 2024 to shareholders of record
on June 14, 2024. The dividend is an eligible dividend for
Canadian tax purposes.
Melcor REIT:
- The REIT paid a monthly distribution in the amount of $0.04 per
unit for the period of January 2024.
- On February 22, 2024, the Board of Trustees of Melcor REIT
announced the establishment of an Independent Committee (the
"Independent Committee") to oversee a broad-based strategic review
with a focus on unlocking unitholder value. The Independent
Committee has retained BMO Capital Markets as financial advisor and
DLA Piper (Canada) LLP as legal counsel to evaluate a broad range
of strategic alternatives to maximize unitholder value. The
Independent Committee is chaired by Richard Kirby, and also
includes Bernie Kollman and Barry James as committee members. The
REIT will continue to provide updates to the market as they become
available.
Selected Highlights
($000s except as noted) |
Three months endedMarch 31 |
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
Change % |
Revenue |
49,748 |
|
36,077 |
|
37.9 |
|
Gross
margin1 |
47.5 |
% |
50.5 |
% |
(5.9 |
) |
Net
income |
12,788 |
|
2,153 |
|
494.0 |
|
Net
margin1 |
25.7 |
% |
6.0 |
% |
328.3 |
|
FFO2 |
13,748 |
|
7,045 |
|
95.1 |
|
Per Share Data ($) |
Basic earnings |
0.42 |
|
0.07 |
|
500.0 |
|
Diluted
earnings |
0.42 |
|
0.07 |
|
500.0 |
|
FFO3 |
0.45 |
|
0.23 |
|
95.7 |
|
Dividends |
0.11 |
|
0.16 |
|
(31.3 |
) |
As at ($000s except share and per share amounts) |
31-Mar-2024 |
31-Dec-2023 |
Change % |
Total assets |
2,087,034 |
2,097,473 |
(0.5 |
) |
Shareholders' equity |
1,223,272 |
1,209,578 |
1.1 |
|
Total shares outstanding |
30,576,837 |
30,662,453 |
(0.3 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Per Share Data ($) |
Book value(3) |
40.01 |
39.45 |
1.4 |
|
1 Supplementary financial measure. Refer to the Non-GAAP and
Non-Standard Measures section of the MD&A for further
information.2 Non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to the Non-GAAP and
Non-Standard Measures section of the MD&A for further
information.3 Non-GAAP financial ratio. Refer to the Non-GAAP and
Non-Standard Measures section of the MD&A for further
information.
MD&A and Financial Statements
Information included in this press release is a summary of
results. This press release should be read in conjunction with
Melcor’s consolidated financial statements and management's
discussion and analysis for the three months ended March 31,
2024, which can be found on the company’s website at
www.Melcor.ca or on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca).
Non-GAAP & Non-Standard Measures
FFO is a key measure of performance used by real estate
operating companies; however, that is not defined by IFRS
Accounting Standards, do not have standard meanings and may not be
comparable with other industries or income trusts. This non-IFRS
Accounting Standards measure is more fully defined and discussed in
the Melcor’s management discussion and analysis for the period
ended March 31, 2024, which is available on SEDAR+
(www.sedarplus.ca).
Funds from operations (FFO): FFO is a non-GAAP
financial measure and is defined as net income in accordance with
IFRS Accounting Standards, excluding (i) fair value adjustments on
investment properties; (ii) gains (or losses) from sales of
investment properties; (iii) amortization of tenant incentives;
(iv) fair value adjustments, interest expense and other effects of
redeemable units classified as liabilities; (v) acquisition costs
expensed as a result of the purchase of a property being accounted
for as a business combination; (vi) adjustment for amortization of
deferred financing fees, which is included in non-cash financing
costs and (vii) fair value adjustment on derivative instrument,
after adjustments for equity accounted entities, joint ventures and
non-controlling interests calculated to reflect FFO on the same
basis as consolidated properties. See tables below for
reconciliation of FFO:
Consolidated
($000s) |
Three months ended March 31, |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
Net income for the period |
12,788 |
|
2,153 |
|
Amortization of operating lease incentives |
4,138 |
|
2,320 |
|
Fair
value adjustment on investment properties |
8,833 |
|
2,484 |
|
Depreciation on property and equipment |
142 |
|
145 |
|
Stock
based compensation expense |
296 |
|
230 |
|
Non-cash
finance costs |
(1,227 |
) |
2,778 |
|
Gain on
sale of asset |
(47 |
) |
— |
|
Deferred
income taxes |
881 |
|
(732 |
) |
Fair value adjustment on REIT units |
(12,056 |
) |
(2,333 |
) |
FFO |
13,748 |
|
7,045 |
|
Properties
($000s) |
Three months ended March 31, |
|
2024 |
2023 |
Segment Earnings |
4,783 |
3,321 |
Fair
value adjustment on investment properties |
575 |
1,617 |
Amortization of operating lease incentives |
750 |
761 |
Divisional FFO |
6,108 |
5,699 |
REIT
($000s) |
Three months ended March 31, |
|
2024 |
2023 |
Segment Earnings |
509 |
8,292 |
Fair
value adjustment on investment properties |
9,056 |
1,586 |
Amortization of operating lease incentives |
959 |
1,058 |
Divisional FFO |
10,524 |
10,936 |
Gross margin (%): Gross margin percent is a
supplementary financial measure that indicates the relative
efficiency with which we earn revenue. This ratio is calculated by
dividing gross profit by revenue.
Net margin (%): Net margin percent is a
supplementary financial measure that indicates the relative
efficiency with which we earn income. This ratio is calculated by
dividing net income by revenue.
Book value per share: Book value per share is a
non-GAAP financial ratio and is calculated as shareholders' equity
over number of common shares outstanding.
About Melcor Developments Ltd.
Melcor is a diversified real estate development and asset
management company that transforms real estate from raw land
through to high-quality finished product in both residential and
commercial built form. Melcor develops and manages mixed-use
residential communities, business and industrial parks, office
buildings, retail commercial centres and golf courses. Melcor owns
a well diversified portfolio of assets in Alberta, Saskatchewan,
British Columbia, Arizona and Colorado.
Melcor has been focused on real estate since 1923. The company
has built over 170 communities and commercial projects across
Western Canada and today manages 4.81 million sf in commercial real
estate assets and 464 residential rental units. Melcor is committed
to building communities that enrich quality of life - communities
where people live, work, shop and play.
Melcor’s headquarters are located in Edmonton, Alberta, with
regional offices throughout Alberta and in Kelowna, British
Columbia and Phoenix, Arizona. Melcor has been a public company
since 1968 and trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:MRD).
Forward Looking Statements
In order to provide our investors with an understanding of our
current results and future prospects, our public communications
often include written or verbal forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are disclosures regarding possible
events, conditions, or results of operations that are based on
assumptions about future economic conditions, courses of action and
include future-oriented financial information.
This news release and other materials filed with the Canadian
securities regulators contain statements that are forward-looking.
These statements represent Melcor’s intentions, plans,
expectations, and beliefs and are based on our experience and our
assessment of historical and future trends, and the application of
key assumptions relating to future events and circumstances.
Future-looking statements may involve, but are not limited to,
comments with respect to our strategic initiatives for 2024 and
beyond, future development plans and objectives, targets,
expectations of the real estate, financing and economic
environments, our financial condition or the results of or outlook
of our operations.
By their nature, forward-looking statements require assumptions
and involve risks and uncertainties related to the business and
general economic environment, many beyond our control. There is
significant risk that the predictions, forecasts, valuations,
conclusions or projections we make will not prove to be accurate
and that our actual results will be materially different from
targets, expectations, estimates or intentions expressed in
forward-looking statements. We caution readers of this document not
to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Assumptions
about the performance of the Canadian and US economies and how this
performance will affect Melcor’s business are material factors we
consider in determining our forward-looking statements. For
additional information regarding material risks and assumptions,
please see the discussion under Business Environment and Risk in
our annual MD&A and the additional disclosure under Business
Environment and Risk in this MD&A.
Readers should carefully consider these factors, as well as
other uncertainties and potential events, and the inherent
uncertainty of forward-looking statements. Except as may be
required by law, we do not undertake to update any forward-looking
statement, whether written or oral, made by the company or on its
behalf.
Contact Information:Investor RelationsTel:
1.855.673.6931ir@melcor.ca
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