Elme Communities Announces First Quarter 2025 Results

McDermott, President and CEO. “While the effects of federal workforce reductions are still evolving, we believe our emphasis on mid-market rents, which historically outperformed high-end apartments during sequestration, and our strong presence in Northern Virginia, where job growth is leading the region, position us to sustain resilient performance as the effects unfold.”

First Quarter Operating Results

  • Multifamily same-store NOI – Same-store NOI increased 5.5% compared to the corresponding prior year period driven primarily by higher rental revenue and successful property tax assessment appeals. Average Occupancy for the quarter increased 0.5% from the prior year period to 94.8%.
  • Other same-store NOI – The Other same-store portfolio is comprised of one asset, Watergate 600. Other same-store NOI decreased by 5.5% compared to the corresponding prior year period due to lower occupancy. Watergate 600 was 82.3% occupied and leased at quarter end.

Strategic Review

During the quarter, we announced that our board of trustees had initiated a formal review to evaluate strategic alternatives for Elme in an effort to maximize shareholder value. This review remains ongoing and there is no deadline or definitive timetable set for completion of this review and there can be no assurance that this process will result in Elme pursuing a transaction or any other strategic outcome.

2025 Guidance

“Elme’s managed Wi-Fi rollout is going very well and the associated income is ramping up more quickly than anticipated,” said Steven Freishtat, Executive Vice President and CFO. “Additionally, Atlanta bad debt continues to decline year-over-year, and we expect improvement in bad debt to be a larger contributor to revenue growth in 2025 than we had initially anticipated.”

Elme is reiterating its guidance for 2025. Elme expects Core FFO for 2025 to range from $0.91 to $0.97 per fully diluted share. The following assumptions are included in the Core FFO guidance for 2025:

Full Year 2025 Outlook and Key Metrics
Core FFO per diluted share (a)$0.91 – $0.97
Net Operating Income Assumptions
Same-store multifamily Revenue growth2.1% – 3.6%
Same-store multifamily Expense growth2.75% – 4.25%
Same-store multifamily NOI growth1.5% – 3.5%
Other same-store NOI (b)$11.5 million – $12.25 million
Additional Expense Assumptions
Property management expense$8.75 million – $9.25 million
G&A, net of core adjustments$25.25 million – $26.25 million
Interest expense$37.35 million – $38.35 million
(a) Does not consider any potential future acquisitions or dispositions in 2025
(b) Consists of Watergate 600

Elme Communities’ 2025 Core FFO guidance and outlook are based on a number of factors, many of which are outside the Company’s control, including economic factors such as inflation and interest rate changes, and all of which are subject to change. Elme Communities may change the guidance provided during the year as actual and anticipated results vary from these assumptions, but Elme Communities undertakes no obligation to do so.

2025 Guidance Reconciliation Table

A reconciliation of projected net loss per diluted share to projected Core FFO per diluted share for the full year ending December 31, 2025 is as follows:

LowHigh
Net loss per diluted share$(0.17)$(0.11)
Real estate depreciation and amortization1.051.05
NAREIT FFO per diluted share0.880.94
Core adjustments0.030.03
Core FFO per diluted share$0.91$0.97

Dividends

On April 3, 2025, Elme Communities paid a quarterly dividend of $0.18 per share.

Elme Communities announced today that its Board of Trustees has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.18 per share to be paid on July 3, 2025 to shareholders of record on June 17, 2025.

Presentation Webcast and Conference Call Information

The First Quarter 2025 Earnings Call is scheduled for Friday, May 2, 2025 at 10:00 A.M. Eastern Time. There will also be a webcast presentation. Conference Call access information is as follows:

USA Toll Free Number:1-888-506-0062
International Toll Number:1-973-528-0011
Conference ID:1940443

The instant replay of the Earnings Call will be available until Friday, May 16, 2025. Instant replay access information is as follows:

USA Toll Free Number:1-877-481-4010
International Toll Number:1-919-882-2331
Conference ID:52224

The replay of the call will also be available on the Investors section of Elme Communities’ website at www.elmecommunities.com. Online playback of the webcast will be available following the Conference Call.

About Elme Communities

Elme Communities is committed to elevating what home can be for middle-income renters by providing a higher level of quality, service, and experience. The Company is a multifamily real estate investment trust that owns and operates approximately 9,400 apartment homes in the Washington, DC metro and the Atlanta metro regions, and owns approximately 300,000 square feet of commercial space. Focused on providing quality, affordable homes to a deep, solid, and underserved base of mid-market demand, Elme Communities is building long-term value for shareholders.

Note: Elme Communities’ press releases and supplemental financial information are available on the Company website at www.elmecommunities.comor by contacting Investor Relations at (202) 774-3200.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in our earnings release and on our conference call are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. In some cases, you can identify forward looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” or “potential” or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases which are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and which do not relate solely to historical matters. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Elme Communities to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Additional factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Elme Communities to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the risks associated with the outcome, objectives and timing of the strategic alternatives review, including the incurrence of costs and expenses and diversion of management’s time in connection with such review; whether our focus on mid-market rents and our higher exposure to Northern Virginia will help us maintain resilience and preserve value despite federal workforce reductions; risks related to the timing of our ability to place damaged units back in service; the risks associated with ownership of real estate in general and our real estate assets in particular; our ability to benefit from growth drivers across our Washington Metro region; the economic health of the areas in which our properties are located, particularly with respect to the greater Washington, DC metro and Sunbelt regions; risks associated with our ability to execute on our strategies, including new strategies with respect to our operations and our portfolio, including the acquisition of apartment homes in the Sunbelt markets and our ability to realize any anticipated operational benefits from our internalization of community management functions; the risk of failure to enter into and/or complete acquisitions and dispositions; changes in the composition of our portfolio; reductions in or actual or threatened changes to the timing of federal government spending; the economic health of our residents; the impact from macroeconomic factors (including inflation, increases in interest rates, potential economic slowdowns or recessions, the impact of tariffs and trade barriers, supply chain disruptions and geopolitical conflicts); risks related to our ability to control our expenses if revenues decrease; compliance with applicable laws and corporate social responsibility goals, including those concerning the environment and access by persons with disabilities; risks related to legal proceedings; risks related to not having adequate insurance to cover potential losses; changes in the market value of securities; terrorist attacks or actions and/or cyber-attacks; whether we will succeed in the day-to-day property management and leasing activities that we have previously outsourced; the availability and terms of financing and capital and the general volatility of securities markets; our ability to capture the impacts from normalizing bad debt; the risks related to our organizational structure and limitations of share ownership; failure to qualify and maintain our qualification as a REIT and the risks of changes in laws affecting REITs; and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in our filings with the SEC, including our 2024 Form 10-K filed on February14, 2025. While forward-looking statements reflect our good faith beliefs, they are not guarantees of future performance. We undertake no obligation to update our forward-looking statements or risk factors to reflect new information, future events, or otherwise.

This Earnings Release also includes certain forward-looking non-GAAP information. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered along with, but not as alternatives to, net income (loss) as a measure of our operating performance. Please see the following pages for the corresponding definitions and reconciliations of such non-GAAP financial measures.

CONTACT:
Amy Hopkins
Vice President, Investor Relations
E-Mail: ahopkins@elmecommunities.com

ELME COMMUNITIES AND SUBSIDIARIES
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31,
OPERATING RESULTS20252024
Revenue
Real estate rental revenue$ 61,493$ 59,513
Expenses
Property operating and maintenance 14,175 13,464
Real estate taxes and insurance 7,819 8,255
Property management 2,246 2,218
General and administrative 9,229 6,196
Depreciation and amortization 23,239 24,943
56,708 55,076
Real estate operating income (loss) 4,785 4,437
Other income (expense)
Interest expense (9,460) (9,494)
Other income 1,410
(9,460) (8,084)
Net loss$ (4,675)$ (3,647)
Net loss$ (4,675)$ (3,647)
Depreciation and amortization 23,239 24,943
NAREIT funds from operations$ 18,564$ 21,296
Recurring capital improvements (2,917) (2,771)
Straight-line rents, net 80 15
Non-real estate depreciation & amortization of debt costs 1,271 1,170
Amortization of lease intangibles, net (169) (162)
Amortization and expensing of restricted share and unit compensation 1,373 1,090
Adjusted funds from operations$ 18,202$ 20,638
______________________________

Three Months Ended March 31,
Per share data:20252024
Net loss(Basic)$ (0.05)$ (0.04)
(Diluted)$ (0.05)$ (0.04)
NAREIT FFO(Basic)$ 0.21$ 0.24
(Diluted)$ 0.21$ 0.24
Dividends paid$ 0.18$ 0.18
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic 88,064 87,885
Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted 88,064 87,885
Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted (for NAREIT FFO) 88,457 87,897

ELME COMMUNITIES AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
March 31, 2025December 31, 2024
Assets
Land$ 383,808$ 383,808
Income producing property 2,004,162 1,999,525
2,387,970 2,383,333
Accumulated depreciation and amortization (640,061) (618,299)
Net income producing property 1,747,909 1,765,034
Properties under development or held for future development 30,980 30,980
Total real estate held for investment, net 1,778,889 1,796,014
Cash and cash equivalents 6,396 6,144
Restricted cash 2,556 2,465
Rents and other receivables 12,206 12,511
Prepaid expenses and other assets 27,532 28,628
Total assets$ 1,827,579$ 1,845,762
Liabilities
Notes payable, net$ 523,061$ 522,953
Line of credit 182,000 176,000
Accounts payable and other liabilities 31,082 36,293
Dividend payable 15,943 15,898
Advance rents 6,010 6,257
Tenant security deposits 6,282 6,283
Total liabilities 764,378 763,684
Equity
Shareholders’ equity
Preferred shares; $0.01 par value; 10,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding
Shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value; 150,000 shares authorized: 88,157and 88,029 shares issued and outstanding,as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively 882 880
Additional paid in capital 1,741,220 1,740,078
Distributions in excess of net income (666,713) (646,095)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (12,467) (13,066)
Total shareholders’ equity 1,062,922 1,081,797
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries 279 281
Total equity 1,063,201 1,082,078
Total liabilities and equity$ 1,827,579$ 1,845,762

The following tables contain reconciliations of net loss to NOI and same-store NOI for the periods presented (in thousands):
Three Months Ended March 31,
20252024
Net loss$ (4,675)$ (3,647)
Adjustments:
Property management expense 2,246 2,218
General and administrative expense 9,229 6,196
Real estate depreciation and amortization 23,239 24,943
Interest expense 9,460 9,494
Other income (1,410)
Total Net Operating Income (NOI)$ 39,499$ 37,794
Multifamily NOI:
Same-store Portfolio$ 36,461$ 34,570
Development (63) (57)
Total 36,398 34,513
Other NOI (Watergate 600) 3,101 3,281
Total NOI$ 39,499$ 37,794

The following table contains a reconciliation of net loss to core funds from operations for the periods presented (in thousands, except per share data):
Three Months Ended March 31,
20252024
Net loss$ (4,675)$ (3,647)
Add:
Real estate depreciation and amortization 23,239 24,943
NAREIT funds from operations 18,564 21,296
Add:
Other non-operating expenses(1) 3,041
Gain on land easements (1,410)
Core funds from operations$ 21,605$ 19,886
Three Months Ended March 31,
Per share data:20252024
NAREIT FFO(Basic)$ 0.21$ 0.24
(Diluted)$ 0.21$ 0.24
Core FFO(Basic)$ 0.24$ 0.23
(Diluted)$ 0.24$ 0.23
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic 88,064 87,885
Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted
(for NAREIT and Core FFO)
88,457 87,897

(1) Other non-operating expenses during Q1 2025 consist of advisory and legal services provided by third parties related to our previously announced formal strategic review alternatives and the previously disclosed cooperation agreement with Argosy-Lionbridge Management, LLC.

Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) (in thousands):
Three Months Ended March 31,
20252024
Net loss$ (4,675)$ (3,647)
Add/(deduct):
Interest expense 9,460 9,494
Real estate depreciation and amortization 23,239 24,943
Non-real estate depreciation 199 111
Other non-operating expenses(1) 3,041
Gain on land easements (1,410)
Adjusted EBITDA$ 31,264$ 29,491

(1) Other non-operating expenses during Q1 2025 consist of advisory and legal services provided by third parties related to our previously announced formal strategic review alternatives and the previously disclosed cooperation agreement with Argosy-Lionbridge Management, LLC.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Adjusted EBITDA is earnings before interest expense, taxes, depreciation, amortization, gain/loss on sale of real estate, casualty gain/loss, real estate impairment, gain/loss on extinguishment of debt, gain/loss on interest rate derivatives, severance expense, acquisition expenses, gain from non-disposal activities, adjustment to deferred taxes, write-off of pursuit costs and gain on land easements. Adjusted EBITDA is included herein because we believe it helps investors and lenders understand our ability to incur and service debt and to make capital expenditures. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP and non-standardized measure and may be calculated differently by other REITs.

Adjusted Funds From Operations (“AFFO”) is a non-GAAP measure. It is calculated by subtracting from FFO (1) recurring improvements, tenant improvements and leasing costs, that are capitalized and amortized and are necessary to maintain our properties and revenue stream (excluding items contemplated prior to acquisition or associated with development / redevelopment of a property) and (2) straight line rents, then adding (3) non-real estate depreciation and amortization, (4) non-cash fair value interest expense and (5) amortization of restricted share compensation, then adding or subtracting the (6) amortization of lease intangibles, (7) real estate impairment and (8) non-cash gain/loss on extinguishment of debt, as appropriate. AFFO is included herein, because we consider it to be a performance measure of a REIT’s ability to incur and service debt and to distribute dividends to its shareholders. AFFO is a non-GAAP and non-standardized measure, and may be calculated differently by other REITs.

Core Adjusted Funds From Operations (“Core AFFO”) is calculated by adjusting AFFO for the following items (which we believe are not indicative of the performance of Elme Communities’ operating portfolio and affect the comparative measurement of Elme Communities’ operating performance over time): (1) gains or losses on extinguishment of debt and gains or losses on interest rate derivatives, (2) expenses related to acquisition and structuring activities, (3) non-share-based executive transition costs, severance expenses and other expenses related to corporate restructuring and executive retirements or resignations, (4) expenses consisting of advisory and legal services provided by third parties related to our previously announced formal strategic alternatives review and the previously disclosed cooperation agreement, (5) property impairments, casualty gains and losses, and gains or losses on sale not already excluded from Core AFFO, as appropriate, (6) write-off of pursuit costs, (7) adjustment to deferred taxes and (8) gain on land easements. These items can vary greatly from period to period, depending upon the volume of our acquisition activity and debt retirements, among other factors. We believe that by excluding these items, Core AFFO serves as a useful, supplementary performance measure of Elme Communities’ ability to incur and service debt, and distribute dividends to its shareholders. Core AFFO is a non-GAAP and non-standardized measure, and may be calculated differently by other REITs.

Core Funds From Operations (“Core FFO”) is calculated by adjusting NAREIT FFO for the following items (which we believe are not indicative of the performance of Elme Communities’ operating portfolio and affect the comparative measurement of Elme Communities’ operating performance over time): (1) gains or losses on extinguishment of debt and gains or losses on interest rate derivatives, (2) expenses related to acquisition and structuring activities, (3) executive transition costs, severance expenses and other expenses related to corporate restructuring and executive retirements or resignations, (4) expenses consisting of advisory and legal services provided by third parties related to our previously announced formal strategic alternatives review and the previously disclosed cooperation agreement, (5) property impairments, casualty gains and losses, and gains or losses on sale not already excluded from NAREIT FFO, as appropriate, (6) write-off of pursuit costs, (7) adjustment to deferred taxes and (8) gain on land easements. These items can vary greatly from period to period, depending upon the volume of our acquisition activity and debt retirements, among other factors. We believe that by excluding these items, Core FFO serves as a useful, supplementary measure of Elme Communities’ ability to incur and service debt, and distribute dividends to its shareholders. Core FFO is a non-GAAP and non-standardized measure, and may be calculated differently by other REITs.

NAREIT Funds From Operations (“FFO”) is defined by the 2018 National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, Inc. (“NAREIT”) FFO White Paper Restatement, as net income (computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) excluding gains (or losses) associated with sales of properties, impairments of depreciable real estate and real estate depreciation and amortization. We consider NAREIT FFO to be a standard supplemental measure for real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), and believe it is a useful measure because it facilitates an understanding of the operating performance of our properties without giving effect to real estate depreciation and amortization, which historically assumes that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time. Since real estate values have instead historically risen or fallen with market conditions, we believe that NAREIT FFO more accurately provides investors an indication of our ability to incur and service debt, make capital expenditures and fund other needs. Our NAREIT FFO may not be comparable to FFO reported by other REITs. These other REITs may not define the term in accordance with the current NAREIT definition or may interpret the current NAREIT definition differently. NAREIT FFO is a non-GAAP measure.

Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA represents net debt as of period end divided by adjusted EBITDA for the period, as annualized (i.e. three months periods are multiplied by four) or on a trailing 12 month basis. We define net debt as the total outstanding debt reported as per our consolidated balance sheets less cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period.

Net Operating Income (“NOI”), defined as real estate rental revenue less direct real estate operating expenses, is a non-GAAP measure. NOI is calculated as net income, less non-real estate revenue and the results of discontinued operations (including the gain or loss on sale, if any), plus interest expense, depreciation and amortization, lease origination expenses, general and administrative expenses, acquisition costs, real estate impairment, casualty gain and losses and gain or loss on extinguishment of debt. NOI does not include management expenses, which consist of corporate property management costs and property management fees paid to third parties. NOI is the primary performance measure we use to assess the results of our operations at the property level. We believe that NOI is a useful performance measure because, when compared across periods, it reflects the impact on operations of trends in occupancy rates, rental rates and operating costs on an unleveraged basis, providing perspective not immediately apparent from net income. NOI excludes certain components from net income in order to provide results more closely related to a property’s results of operations. For example, interest expense is not necessarily linked to the operating performance of a real estate asset. In addition, depreciation and amortization, because of historical cost accounting and useful life estimates, may distort operating performance at the property level. As a result of the foregoing, we provide NOI as a supplement to net income, calculated in accordance with GAAP. NOI does not represent net income or income from continuing operations calculated in accordance with GAAP. As such, NOI should not be considered an alternative to these measures as an indication of our operating performance.

Other Definitions

Average Effective Monthly Rent Per Home represents the average of effective rent (net of concessions) for in-place leases plus the market rent for vacant homes, divided by the total number of homes. We believe Average Effective Monthly Rent Per Home is a useful metric in evaluating the average pricing of our homes. It is a component of Residential Revenue, which is used to calculate our NOI. It does not represent actual rental revenue collected per unit.

Average Occupancy is based on average daily occupied apartment homes as a percentage of total apartment homes.

Current Strategy represents the class of each community in our portfolio based on a set of criteria. Our strategies consist of the following subcategories: Class A, Class A-, Class B Value-Add and Class B. A community’s class is dependent on a variety of factors, including its vintage, site location, amenities and services, rent growth drivers and rent relative to the market.

  • Class A communities are recently-developed, well-located, have competitive amenities and services and command average rental rates well above market median rents.
  • Class A- communities have been developed within the past 20 years and feature operational improvements and unit upgrades and command rents at or above median market rents.
  • Class B Value-Add communities are over 20 years old but feature operational improvements and strong potential for unit renovations. These communities command average rental rates below median market rents for units that have not been renovated.
  • Class B communities are over 20 years old, feature operational improvements and command average rental rates below median market rents.

Debt Service Coverage Ratio is computed by dividing earnings attributable to the controlling interest before interest expense, taxes, depreciation, amortization, real estate impairment, gain on sale of real estate, gain/loss on extinguishment of debt, severance expense, acquisition and structuring expenses, gain/loss from non-disposal activities and gain on land easements by interest expense (including interest expense from discontinued operations) and principal amortization.

Debt to Total Market Capitalization is total debt divided by the sum of total debt plus the market value of shares outstanding at the end of the period.

Earnings to Fixed Charges Ratio is computed by dividing earnings attributable to the controlling interest by fixed charges. For this purpose, earnings consist of income from continuing operations (or net income if there are no discontinued operations) plus fixed charges, less capitalized interest. Fixed charges consist of interest expense (excluding interest expense from discontinued operations), including amortized costs of debt issuance, plus interest costs capitalized.

Ending Occupancy is calculated as occupied homes as a percentage of total homes as of the last day of that period.

Lease Rate Growth is defined as the average percentage change in either gross (excluding the impact of concessions) or effective rent (net of concessions) for a new or renewed multifamily lease compared to the prior lease based on the move-in date. The “blended” rate represents the weighted average of new and renewal lease rate growth achieved.

Recurring Capital Improvements represent non-accretive building improvements required to maintain a property’s income and value. Recurring capital improvements do not include acquisition capital that was taken into consideration when underwriting the purchase of a building or which are incurred to bring a building up to “operating standard”. This category includes improvements made as needed upon vacancy of an apartment. Aside from improvements related to apartment turnover, these improvements include facade repairs, installation of new heating and air conditioning equipment, asphalt replacement, permanent landscaping, new lighting and new finishes.

Retention represents the percentage of multifamily leases renewed that were set to expire in the period presented.

Same-store Portfolio includes properties that were owned for the entirety of the years being compared, and exclude properties under redevelopment or development and properties acquired, sold or classified as held for sale during the years being compared. We categorize our properties as “same-store” or “non-same-store” for purposes of evaluating comparative operating performance. We define development properties as those for which we have planned or ongoing major construction activities on existing or acquired land pursuant to an authorized development plan. Development properties are categorized as same-store when they have reached stabilized occupancy (90%) before the start of the prior year. We define redevelopment properties as those for which we have planned or ongoing significant development and construction activities on existing or acquired buildings pursuant to an authorized plan, which has an impact on current operating results, occupancy and the ability to lease space with the intended result of a higher economic return on the property. We categorize a redevelopment property as same-store when redevelopment activities have been complete for the majority of each year being compared. We currently have two same-store portfolios: “Same-store multifamily” which is comprised of our same-store apartment communities and “Other same-store” which is comprised of our Watergate 600 commercial property.

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