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Canadian Net REIT Announces 2024 Third-Quarter Results

MONTRÉAL, Nov. 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Canadian Net Real Estate Investment Trust (“Canadian Net” or the “REIT”) (TSX-V: NET.UN) today reported its results for the quarter ended September 30th, 2024 (“Q3 2024”). The REIT also announced distributions for the months of January, February and March 2025.

“We are very pleased with the progress we made in advancing our capital recycling initiatives during the third quarter,” said Kevin Henley, President and CEO. “We successfully sold four more properties and, shortly after the quarter end, announced the acquisition of a single-tenant grocery store, redeploying our capital into an immediately accretive opportunity on an FFO per unit1 basis and further enhancing our portfolio quality. Normalizing for certain non-recurring items, the quarter was in line for the REIT as we remained 100% occupied and further benefited from lower rates. As we look ahead to an increasingly favourable rate environment and solid industry fundamentals, we remain optimistic about our growing pipeline of opportunities.”

RESULTS FOR Q3 2024

Canadian Net reported that Funds from operations1 (“FFO”) decreased to $2.8 million, or $0.137 per unit compared to $3.2 million, or $0.155 per unit for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 (“Q3 2023”). Normalized FFO1 for the quarter, which adds back certain non-recurring items to better reflect operational performance, was $3.0 million, or $0.147 per unit compared to $3.2 million, or $0.155 per unit for Q3 2023.

Rental income was $6.2 million in Q3 2024, a decrease of 3.0% from Q3 2023. Net Operating Income (“NOI”)1 in Q3 2024 was $4.6 million, a decrease of 5.6% from Q3 2023, primarily reflecting a decrease in rental income due to property dispositions as well as straight-line rent adjustments associated with the dispositions.

The REIT generated a net income attributable to unitholders of $13.0 million in Q3 2024 compared to net income of $3.0 million in Q3 2023.

RESULTS FOR THE NINE-MONTH PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024

Canadian Net reported that FFO1 decreased to $9.1 million, or $0.443 per unit compared to $9.7 million, or $0.473 per unit for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2023. Normalized FFO1 was $9.3 million, or $0.453 per unit compared to $9.7 million, or $0.473 per unit for the same period in 2023.

Rental income was $19.3 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2024, stable from the same period in 2023. NOI1 over the nine-month period ended September 30, 2024 was $14.2 million, a decrease of 2.6% from the same period in 2023, primarily reflecting a decrease in rental income due to property dispositions as well as straight-line rent adjustments associated with the dispositions.

The REIT generated a net income attributable to unitholders of $5.3 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2024 compared to net income of $13.9 million for the same period last year.

The decrease in FFO1 and Normalized FFO1 is mainly derived from higher interest charges on mortgage renewals, decreases in rental income due to property dispositions and straight-line rent adjustments associated with the property dispositions. The decrease is partially offset by lower interest charges on credit facilities and mortgages associated with property dispositions. The decrease in NOI1 primarily reflects the sale of properties in 2023 and 2024, partially offset by year-over-year increases in rental income. Finally, the variance in net income attributable to unitholders is primarily attributable to the change in the fair value of investment properties.

DISTRIBUTIONS

Canadian Net announced that it will make monthly cash distributions of $0.02875 per unit, representing $0.345 per unit on an annualized basis, on January 31st, February 28th and March 31st, 2025, to unitholders of record on January 15th, February 14th and March 14th, 2025, respectively.

The tables below represent other financial highlights and the reconciliations of certain non-IFRS measures for Q3 2024 and Q3 2023. This information should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Management’s Discussion & Analysis (“MD&A”) for the quarters ended September 30th, 2024 and September 30th, 2023.

SUMMARY OF SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  9 months
 
Periods ended September 30 2024
2023
Δ
%
Financial info            
Property rental income 19,337,096   19,301,189   35,907    
Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) 5,315,339   13,877,829   (8,562,490 ) (62 %)
NOI (1) 14,166,312   14,542,784   (376,472 ) (3 %)
FFO (1) 9,102,645   9,723,879   (621,234 ) (6 %)
Normalized FFO (1)(2) 9,310,559   9,723,879   (413,320 ) (4 %)
AFFO (1) 8,658,851   8,605,534   53,317   1 %
EBITDA (1) 10,670,478   19,321,643   (8,651,165 ) (45 %)
Adjusted EBITDA (1) 13,739,618   14,735,879   (996,261 ) (7 %)
Investment properties 267,378,220   279,046,583   (11,668,363 ) (4 %)
Adjusted investment properties (1) 317,006,824   330,887,338   (13,880,514 ) (4 %)
Total assets 293,510,295   307,161,232   (13,650,937 ) (4 %)
Mortgages 126,895,706   134,038,836   (7,143,130 ) (5 %)
Long-term debt   30,000   (30,000 ) (100 %)
Current portion of mortgages, long term-debt and convertible debentures 16,136,371   15,003,476   1,132,895   8 %
Mortgages on investment properties held for sale   2,797,546   (2,797,546 ) (100 %)
Credit facilities 11,170,000   17,470,362   (6,300,362 ) (36 %)
Total convertible debentures 5,753,739   7,264,514   (1,510,775 ) (21 %)
Total equity 129,426,184   126,914,012   2,512,172   2 %
Weighted average units o/s – basic 20,551,554   20,579,058   (27,504 )  
Amounts on a per unit basis            
FFO(1) 0.443   0.473   (0.030 ) (6 %)
Normalized FFO(1)(2) 0.453   0.473   (0.020 ) (4 %)
AFFO(1) 0.421   0.418   0.003   1 %
Distributions 0.259   0.259      
(1) This is a non-IFRS financial measure with no standardized IFRS meaning and may not be comparable to other issuers. Refer to the sections “Non-IFRS financial measures”.
(2) Normalized FFO adds back one-time sales tax expense related to input tax credits previously claimed on certain payments as well as related interest and penalties and mortgage early repayment fees. Refer to sections “Non-IFRS financial measures” and “Risks related to certain tax matters section” in the Trust’s MD&A.


NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES

The Trust’s consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). In this press release, as a complement to results provided in accordance with IFRS, the Trust discloses and discusses certain non-IFRS financial measures: FFO, Normalized FFO, FFO per unit, Normalized FFO per unit, AFFO, AFFO per unit, NOI, and Adjusted Investment Properties. These non-IFRS measures are not defined by IFRS, do not have a standardized meaning, and may not be comparable with similar measures presented by other issuers. Canadian Net has presented such non-IFRS measures as management of the Trust believes they are relevant measures of Canadian Net’s underlying operating performance and debt management. Non-IFRS measures should not be considered as alternatives to net income, cash generated from (utilized in) operating activities, or comparable metrics determined in accordance with IFRS as indicators of the Trust’s performance, liquidity, cash flow, and profitability. Information appearing in this news release is a select summary of results. This news release should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and MD&A for the Trust. Please refer to the “Non IFRS Financial Measures” section in Canadian Net’s management’s discussion and analysis for the period ended September 30, 2024, available under Canadian Net’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca for a full description of these measures and, where applicable, a reconciliation to the most directly comparable measure calculated in accordance with IFRS. Such explanation is incorporated by reference herein.

In addition, below are the reconciling tables for the non-IFRS measures used in this press release.

Reconciliation of Investment Properties to Adjusted Investment Properties

As at September 30 2024
2023
Δ
Investment Properties          
Developed properties 267,378,220   279,046,583   (4 %)
Investment properties held for sale   4,825,309   (100 %)
Joint Venture Ownership(1)          
Developed properties 47,075,565   44,997,909   5 %
Properties under development 2,553,039   2,017,537   27 %
Adjusted Investment Properties(2) 317,006,824   330,887,338   (4 %)
(1) Represents Canadian Net’s proportionate share
(2) This is a non-IFRS financial measure with no standardized IFRS meaning and may not be comparable to other issuers. Refer to the section “Non-IFRS financial measures”


Results of Operations

  3 months
    9 months  
Periods ended September 30 2024 2023 Δ   2024 2023 Δ
Rental Income 6,203,561   6,398,506   (194,945 )   19,337,096   19,301,189   35,907  
Operating expenses (1,650,928 ) (1,577,084 ) (73,844 )   (5,170,784 ) (4,758,405 ) (412,379 )
Net Operating Income(1) 4,552,633   4,821,422   (268,789 )   14,166,312   14,542,784   (376,472 )
Share of net income (loss) from investments in joint ventures 1,866,458   491,824   1,374,634     1,577,879   1,889,515   (311,636 )
Increase/(decrease) in fair values of investment properties 9,045,962   (99,885 ) 9,145,847     (3,413,037 ) 3,881,780   (7,294,817 )
Unit-based compensation (312,572 ) (97,327 ) (215,245 )   (715,537 ) (427,375 ) (288,162 )
Administrative expenses (424,847 ) (232,944 ) (191,903 )   (960,487 ) (761,767 ) (198,720 )
Financial expenses (1,756,825 ) (1,846,142 ) 89,317     (5,339,791 ) (5,247,108 ) (92,683 )
Net income (loss) attributable to unitholders 12,970,809   3,036,948   9,933,861     5,315,339   13,877,829   (8,562,490 )
FFO(1) 2,808,963   3,181,261   (12 %)   9,102,645   9,723,879   (6 %)
FFO per unit(1) 0.137   0.155   (12 %)   0.443   0.473   (6 %)
Normalized FFO(1)(2) 3,016,877   3,181,261   (5 %)   9,310,559   9,723,879   (4 %)
Normalized FFO per unit(1)(2) 0.147   0.155   (5 %)   0.453   0.473   (4 %)
Weighted avg. units o/s              
Basic 20,561,060   20,531,490   29,570     20,551,554   20,579,058   (27,504 )
(1) This is a non-IFRS financial measure that does not have any standardized IFRS meaning and as such may not be comparable to other issuers. Refer to section “Non-IFRS financial measures”
(2) Normalized FFO adds back one-time sales tax expense related to input tax credits previously claimed on certain payments as well as related interest and penalties and mortgage early repayment fees. Refer to sections “Non-IFRS financial measures” and “Risks related to certain tax matters section” in the Trust’s MD&A.


Reconciliation of Net Income to Funds from Operations

  3 months     9 months  
Periods ended September 30 2024 2023 Δ   2024 2023 Δ
Net income (loss) attributable to unitholders 12,970,809   3,036,948   9,933,861     5,315,339   13,877,829   (8,562,490 )
Δ in value of investment properties (9,045,962 ) 99,885   (9,145,847 )   3,413,037   (3,881,780 ) 7,294,817  
Δ in value of investment properties in joint ventures (1,436,284 ) (18,222 ) (1,418,062 )   (325,597 ) (500,427 ) 174,830  
Unit-based compensation 312,572   97,327   215,245     715,537   427,375   288,162  
Δ fair value adjustments on derivative financial instruments 6,454   (34,677 ) 41,131     (18,300 ) (203,557 ) 185,257  
Income taxes 1,374     1,374     2,629   4,439   (1,810 )
FFO(1) 2,808,963   3,181,261   (12 %)   9,102,645   9,723,879   (6 %)
Sales tax expense(2) 117,150     117,150     117,150     117,150  
Mortgage early repayment fee 90,764     90,764     90,764     90,764  
Normalized FFO(1)(3) 3,016,877   3,181,261   (5 %)   9,310,559   9,723,879   (4 %)
FFO per unit(1) 0.137   0.155   (12 %)   0.443   0.473   (6 %)
Normalized FFO per unit(1) 0.147   0.155   (5 %)   0.453   0.473   (4 %)
Distributions 1,773,437   1,770,629   2,808     5,317,702   5,324,382   (6,680 )
Distributions per unit 0.086   0.086       0.259   0.259    
FFO per unit(1) – after distributions 0.051   0.069   (26 %)   0.184   0.214   (14 %)
Normalized FFO per unit(1) – after distributions 0.061   0.069   (12 %)   0.194   0.214   (9 %)
Distributions as a % of FFO(1) 63 % 55 % 8 %   58 % 55 % 3 %
Distributions as a % of Normalized FFO(1) 59 % 55 % 4 %   57 % 55 % 2 %
Weighted avg. units o/s              
Basic 20,561,060   20,531,490   29,570     20,551,554   20,579,058   (27,504 )
(1) This is a non-IFRS financial measure with no standardized IFRS meaning and may not be comparable to other issuers. Refer to the section “Non-IFRS financial measures”
(2) Sales tax expense related to input tax credits previously claimed on certain payments as well as related interest and penalties. Refer to Risks related to certain tax matters section.
(3) Normalized FFO adds back one-time sales tax expense related to input tax credits previously claimed on certain payments as well as related interest and penalties and mortgage early repayment fees. Refer to sections “Non-IFRS financial measures” and “Risks related to certain tax matters section” in the Trust’s MD&A.


Adjusted Funds from Operations

  3 months     9 months  
Periods ended September 30 2024 2023 Δ   2024 2023 Δ
FFO (1) 2,808,963   3,181,261   (372,298 )   9,102,645   9,723,879   (621,234 )
Straight-line rent adjustment(2) 8,696   (83,913 ) 92,609     (87,864 ) (293,850 ) 205,986  
Maintenance/cap-ex on existing properties(3) (91,592 ) (321,235 ) 229,643     (355,930 ) (824,495 ) 468,565  
AFFO(1) 2,726,067   2,776,113   (2 %)   8,658,851   8,605,534   1 %
AFFO per unit(1) 0.133   0.135   (2 %)   0.421   0.418   1 %
Distributions per unit 0.086   0.086       0.259   0.259    
AFFO per unit(1) – after distributions 0.047   0.049   (4 %)   0.162   0.159   2 %
Distributions as a % of AFFO(1) 65 % 64 % 1 %   62 % 62 %  
Weighted avg. units o/s              
Basic 20,561,060   20,531,490   29,570     20,551,554   20,579,058   (27,504 )
(1) This is a non-IFRS financial measure with no standardized IFRS meaning and may not be comparable to other issuers. Refer to the section “Non-IFRS financial measures”
(2) Adjusted for the proportionate share of equity-accounted investments
(3) The maintenance/cap-ex on existing properties for 2024 includes a charge of $118,890 (2023: $489,000) that will generate additional income for the Trust


Reconciliation of Net Income to EBITDA

  3 months
    9 months  
Periods ended September 30 2024 2023 Δ   2024 2023 Δ
Net income (loss) attributable to unitholders 12,970,809   3,036,948   9,933,861     5,315,339   13,877,829   (8,562,490 )
Net interest expense 1,748,390   1,877,370   (128,980 )   5,352,510   5,439,375   (86,865 )
Income taxes 1,374     1,374     2,629   4,439   (1,810 )
EBITDA(1) 14,720,573   4,914,318   9,806,255     10,670,478   19,321,643   (8,651,165 )
Δ in value of investment properties (9,045,962 ) 99,885   (9,145,847 )   3,413,037   (3,881,780 ) 7,294,817  
Δ in value of investment properties in joint ventures (1,436,284 ) (18,222 ) (1,418,062 )   (325,597 ) (500,427 ) 174,830  
Δ in value of convertible debentures 6,454   (34,677 ) 41,131     (18,300 ) (203,557 ) 185,257  
Adjusted EBITDA(1) 4,244,781   4,961,304   (14 %)   13,739,618   14,735,879   (7 %)
Interest expense 1,834,160   1,963,877   (129,717 )   5,659,707   5,742,695   (82,988 )
Principal repayments 1,222,083   1,105,286   116,797     3,506,413   3,425,772   80,641  
Debt service requirements 3,056,243   3,069,163       9,166,120   9,168,467    
Interest coverage ratio based on adjusted EBITDA(1) 2.3x   2.5x   (0.2x )   2.4x   2.6x   (0.2x )
Debt service coverage based on adjusted EBITDA(1) 1.4x   1.6x   (0.2x )   1.5x   1.6x   (0.1x )
(1) This is a non-IFRS financial measure that does not have any standardized IFRS meaning and as such may not be comparable to other issuers. Refer to section “Non-IFRS financial measures”


EARNINGS WEBCAST

Canadian Net will host a webcast on November 20, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. (EST) to discuss the results.

The link to join the webcast is the following: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/6gb3pv5b

About Canadian Net – Canadian Net Real Estate Investment Trust is an open-ended trust that acquires and owns high-quality triple net and management-free commercial real estate properties.

Forward-Looking Statements – This press release contains forward-looking statements and information as defined by applicable securities laws. Canadian Net warns the reader that actual events may differ materially from current expectations due to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated in such statements. Among these include the risks related to economic conditions, the risks associated with the local real estate market, the dependence on the financial condition of tenants, the uncertainties related to real estate activities, the changes in interest rates, the availability of financing in the form of debt or equity, the effects related to the adoption of new IFRS standards, as well as other risks and factors described from time to time in the documents filed by Canadian Net with securities regulators, including the management report. Canadian Net does not update or modify its forward-looking statements even if future events occur or for any other reason unless required by law or any regulatory authority.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange Inc. nor its Regulatory Services Provider (as that term is defined in the Policy of the TSX Venture Exchange and its Regulatory Services Provider) accepts any responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

The September 30th, 2024, financial statements and management discussion & analysis of Canadian Net may be viewed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

For further information please contact Kevin Henley at (450) 536-5328.

1 Non-IFRS financial measure with no standardized IFRS meaning and may not be comparable to other issuers. Refer to the section “Non-IFRS financial measures”.


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