Stratus Properties Inc. Reports Year Ended December 31, 2020 Results
AUSTIN, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Stratus Properties Inc. (NASDAQ: STRS), a diversified real estate company with holdings, interests and operations focused in the Austin, Texas area and other select, fast growing markets in Texas, today reported year ended December 31, 2020 results.
Financial Highlights:
- In January 2021, a Stratus subsidiary completed the sale of The Saint Mary, a 240-unit luxury, garden-style apartment project in Austin, Texas, for $60.0 million, or $250,000 per unit, which Stratus believes is the highest per unit sales price ever recorded in the Austin MSA for similar properties. Stratus received $21.3 million from its subsidiary in connection with the sale and expects to recognize a pre-tax gain on the sale, net of noncontrolling interests, of approximately $14 million in the first quarter of 2021.
- Leasing operations revenue for 2020 increased by 24 percent to an annual record of $24.1 million, compared with 2019.
- Real estate operations revenue for 2020 increased by 64 percent to $22.6 million, compared with 2019.
- Hotel and entertainment segment revenues decreased significantly in 2020 compared to 2019, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Stratus collected $15.0 million of forfeited earnest money after the buyer terminated the agreements to purchase Block 21 for $275.0 million in May 2020 because of the pandemic.
- Net loss attributable to common stockholders totaled $22.8 million, $2.78 per share, for 2020, compared to $2.5 million, $0.30 per share, for 2019. Losses resulting from the pandemic contributed to Stratus recording a $10.7 million non-cash tax charge in 2020 to record a valuation allowance on Stratus’ deferred tax assets.
- Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) totaled $9.5 million for 2020, compared to $21.1 million for 2019. For a reconciliation of net loss attributable to common stockholders to EBITDA, see the supplemental schedule, “EBITDA,” on page V.
- As of December 31, 2020, consolidated debt totaled $351.1 million, consolidated cash totaled $12.4 million, and Stratus had $16.5 million available under its $60.0 million credit facility.
Operational Highlights:
- During 2020, Stratus sold 19 lots and 2 completed homes at Amarra Drive in Barton Creek for an aggregate of $21.8 million and a pad site at West Killeen Market for $0.7 million.
- In March 2021, Stratus commenced site clearing on The Saint June, a 182-unit multi-family project within the Amarra subdivision in Barton Creek, and expects to begin project construction in the second quarter of 2021, subject to completion of financing. Stratus has continued to advance its land planning, engineering, and permitting activities across its development portfolio and pipeline.
- At the start of the pandemic, Stratus acted quickly to engage with tenants and lenders in its leasing operations. Retail and multi-family base rent collections were only five percent less than scheduled base rents from April through December 2020.
- Stratus’ W Austin Hotel has remained open, and Stratus worked closely with the hotel operator to implement prudent cost containment measures. Stratus’ team created innovative programming at Stratus’ ACL Live and 3TEN ACL Live entertainment venues in order to generate revenue notwithstanding the pandemic’s constraints.
William H. Armstrong III, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “Our talented team at Stratus has gone above and beyond over the last year to continue executing on our proven strategy and supporting our tenants in this challenging environment. We advanced promising development projects, monetized several of our assets through sales that strengthened our liquidity position, and supported our tenants with rent deferrals. While our hotel and entertainment businesses have been severely impacted by the pandemic, our real estate and leasing segments continue to perform well. I am confident that we are taking the appropriate steps to succeed through a market recovery.
“Our company recently took several actions that we believe will create value for our shareholders, including the sale of The Saint Mary. In September 2020, we announced a review of our Board composition and have appointed two new directors, Neville Rhone, Jr. in December 2020 and Kate Henriksen in January 2021, who bring additional skillsets, knowledge and diverse perspectives to the Board that will support Stratus as we move forward.”
Summary Financial Results
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| Years Ended December 31, |
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| 2020 |
| 2019 |
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| (In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) | |||||||
| Revenues |
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| Real estate operations | $ | 22,630 |
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| $ | 13,834 |
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| Leasing operations | 24,148 |
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| 19,473 |
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| Hotel | 10,014 |
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| 35,531 |
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| Entertainment | 5,247 |
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| 25,018 |
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| Corporate, eliminations and other | (1,024 | ) |
| (1,678 | ) |
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| Total consolidated revenue | $ | 61,015 |
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| $ | 92,178 |
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| Operating income (loss): |
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| Real estate operations | $ | 3,869 |
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| $ | 3,830 |
| a |
| Leasing operations | 3,348 |
| b | 9,577 |
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| Hotel | (9,232 | ) | d | 5,158 |
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| Entertainment | (3,507 | ) |
| 4,666 |
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| Corporate, eliminations and other | (519 | ) | e | (13,068 | ) |
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| Total consolidated operating (loss) income | $ | (6,041 | ) |
| $ | 10,163 |
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| Net loss attributable to common stockholders | $ | (22,790 | ) | f | $ | (2,464 | ) |
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| Diluted net loss per share | $ | (2.78 | ) |
| $ | (0.30 | ) |
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| EBITDA | $ | 9,525 |
| b, d, e | $ | 21,142 | c, g | |
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| Capital expenditures and purchases and development of real estate properties | $ | 19,966 |
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| $ | 73,827 |
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| Diluted weighted average shares of common stock outstanding | 8,211 |
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| 8,182 |
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Stratus’ sales of its residential real estate and leasing of its multi-family properties benefited from pandemic-driven home-centric trends and from increased recognition of Austin, Texas as a desirable place to live. The increase in revenue from the Real Estate Operations segment in 2020, compared with 2019, primarily reflects the sales of two homes built on Amarra Drive Phase III lots and an increase in lot sales in 2020, including two premium Amarra Drive Phase III hilltop lots. Operating income from Real Estate Operations in 2020 approximated operating income in 2019, though operating income in 2019 benefited from $3.4 million in MUD reimbursements received in 2019 and recorded as a reduction in real estate cost of sales as the reimbursed property had previously been sold.
Stratus sold seven Amarra Drive Phase II lots, twelve Amarra Drive Phase III lots, and two homes built on Amarra Drive Phase III lots for a total of $21.8 million during 2020. In addition, Stratus sold a vacant pad site at West Killeen Market for $0.7 million. As of December 31, 2020, all developed Amarra Drive Phase II lots had been sold and only five developed Amarra Drive Phase III lots remained unsold. Subsequent to December 31, 2020, and through March 9, 2021, Stratus sold one Amarra Drive Phase III lot, a multi-family tract of land in Amarra Drive and the last remaining condominium at the W Austin Residences for a total of $5.8 million. As of March 9, 2021, the last four unsold Amarra Drive Phase III lots were under contract, and two Amarra Villas homes were under contract, one of which was under construction and one on which Stratus expects to begin construction in mid-2021.
In addition to the favorable trends noted above, Stratus’ leasing operations were positively impacted by the continued lease-up of recently completed projects. The increase in revenue from the Leasing Operations segment for 2020, compared with 2019, primarily reflects the commencement of new leases at The Saint Mary, Kingwood Place and The Santal. The decrease in operating income for 2020, compared with 2019, primarily reflects a pre-tax gain recognized in 2019 on the sale of assets totaling $5.7 million, primarily related to the sales of Barton Creek Village and a retail pad subject to a ground lease located in the Circle C community, as well as higher rental costs of sales and depreciation expense in 2020 primarily as a result of the completion of construction and the start of leasing operations at The Saint Mary and Kingwood Place. At the start of the pandemic, Stratus acted quickly to engage with tenants and lenders, and retail and multi-family base rent collections were only five percent less than scheduled base rents from April through December 2020. Most of Stratus’ retail properties benefited from having HEB grocery as an anchor or shadow-anchor tenant.
In December 2020, a Stratus subsidiary entered into an agreement to sell The Saint Mary for $60.0 million and completed the sale in January 2021. After closing costs and payment of the outstanding construction loan, the sale generated net proceeds of approximately $34 million. Stratus received $21.3 million from the subsidiary in connection with the sale and expects to recognize a pre-tax gain on the sale, net of noncontrolling interests, of approximately $14 million in the first quarter of 2021. The Saint Mary contributed $3.2 million of revenue to Stratus’ 2020 leasing operations revenue.
The pandemic has had a significant adverse impact on Stratus’ hotel and entertainment segments. As previously disclosed, Stratus’ transaction to sell Block 21, which contains the W Austin Hotel and the ACL Live and 3TEN ACL Live entertainment venues, for $275.0 million was terminated by the buyer in May 2020 because of the pandemic.
The W Austin Hotel has remained open throughout the pandemic, although average occupancy during 2020 was 23 percent, compared to 73 percent in 2019. Revenue per available room (RevPAR), which is calculated by dividing total room revenue by the average total rooms available during the year, was $61 in 2020, compared with $235 in 2019. The decreases in revenue and operating income from the Hotel segment in 2020, compared with 2019, are primarily a result of lower room reservations and food and beverage sales as a result of the pandemic.
The decreases in revenue and operating income from the Entertainment segment in 2020, compared with 2019, primarily reflect a decrease in the number of events hosted by ACL Live and 3TEN ACL Live, as many scheduled events in 2020 were cancelled or rescheduled as a result of the pandemic. The number of events hosted at ACL Live declined to 82 in 2020 from 264 in 2019, and the number of events hosted at 3TEN ACL Live declined to 102 in 2020 from 201 in 2019. Stratus’ team created innovative programming at Stratus’ ACL Live and 3TEN ACL Live entertainment venues, although at significantly reduced capacity, in order to generate revenue notwithstanding the pandemic’s constraints.
Stratus’ operations have been subject to government-mandated capacity restrictions. An executive order of Texas’ governor provided that effective March 10, 2021, Texas’ businesses are permitted to operate at full capacity and state residents are no longer required to wear masks. Businesses may elect to impose restrictions to promote health and safety. While Stratus is considering ways to ramp up its hotel and entertainment operations, it plans to increase capacity gradually and safely and in compliance with all applicable regulations. The pandemic is expected to continue to adversely impact Stratus in 2021; however, given the unprecedented nature of the pandemic, Stratus cannot predict its impact on Stratus’ business with any certainty.
Losses resulting from the pandemic contributed to Stratus recording a $10.7 million non-cash tax charge in 2020 to record a valuation allowance on its deferred tax assets.
On September 21, 2020, Stratus’ Board of Directors (Board) announced its approval of the initiation of an in-depth exploration of a conversion from a C-Corporation to a real estate investment trust (REIT). If the Board determines to move forward, Stratus expects the conversion would occur no earlier than 2022. At this time, Stratus believes that the REIT conversion would require consent from its major lenders and amendments to its major debt agreements, among other third-party consents. If the Board ultimately determines that a REIT conversion is in shareholders’ best interests, the REIT conversion will be submitted to a shareholder vote.
Debt and Liquidity
At December 31, 2020, consolidated debt totaled $351.1 million and consolidated cash totaled $12.4 million, compared with consolidated debt of $343.9 million and consolidated cash of $19.2 million at December 31, 2019. As of December 31, 2020, Stratus had $16.5 million available under its $60.0 million Comerica Bank credit facility, with a $150 thousand letter of credit committed against the credit facility. Stratus is evaluating refinance opportunities for its larger, stabilized assets to take advantage of historic low interest rates.
Purchases and development of real estate properties (included in operating cash flows) and capital expenditures (included in investing cash flows) totaled $20.0 million for 2020, primarily related to the Kingwood Place, Lantana Place and Barton Creek properties and the purchase of an office building in Austin. This compares with $73.8 million for 2019, primarily related to the development of The Saint Mary, Kingwood Place, and other Barton Creek properties.
Stratus projects that it will be able to meet its debt service and other cash obligations for at least the next 12 months. Stratus’ projections are based on many detailed and complex underlying assumptions, including (1) that operating income for Stratus’ Block 21 businesses will gradually ramp up to a break-even point in the first half of 2021 and that Block 21 will generate sufficient cash to cover debt service by early 2022, (2) that current conditions in Stratus’ leasing operations will not deteriorate materially, and (3) that Stratus closes on projected asset sales in its real estate operations segment.
Net Asset Value
Stratus’ total stockholders’ equity was $98.9 million at December 31, 2020, compared with $121.1 million at December 31, 2019. Stratus’ after-tax Net Asset Value (NAV) decreased to $337.3 million, or $40.65 per share, as of December 31, 2020, compared with $376.4 million, or $45.55 per share, as of December 31, 2019. The decrease in the after-tax NAV was primarily driven by the decrease in the gross value reflected for Block 21. At December 31, 2019, Block 21 was under contract to be sold for $275.0 million and the gross value was equal to the contract price. For the December 31, 2020 gross value, an appraisal was obtained. For additional information regarding NAV, see “Cautionary Statement,” and the supplemental schedule, “After-Tax Net Asset Value” on page VI. Additional after-tax NAV information is available on Stratus’ website.
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Conference Call Information
Stratus will conduct an investor conference call to discuss its year ended December 31, 2020, financial and operating results today, March 15, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The public is invited to listen to the conference call by dialing (877) 418-4843 for domestic access and (412) 902-6766 for international access. A replay of the conference call will be available at the conclusion of the call for five days by dialing (877) 344-7529 for domestic access and by dialing (412) 317-0088 for international access. Please use replay ID: 10152367. The replay will be available on Stratus’ website at stratusproperties.com until March 20, 2021.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND REGULATION G DISCLOSURE.
This press release contains forward-looking statements in which Stratus discusses factors it believes may affect its future performance. Forward-looking statements are all statements other than statements of historical fact, such as plans, projections or expectations related to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Stratus’ ability to meet its future debt service and other cash obligations, potential future rent deferrals or other concessions to Stratus’ tenants, Stratus’ ability to collect rents timely, Stratus’ ability to ramp-up operations at Block 21 according to its currently anticipated timeline, Stratus’ ability to open and hold events at its venues, future cash flows and liquidity, and Stratus’ ability to comply with or obtain waivers of financial and other covenants in debt agreements, Stratus’ intention to engage in an in-depth exploration of conversion to a REIT, potential steps necessary prior to conversion to a REIT, the potential timing of any REIT conversion, Stratus’ expectations about the Austin and Texas real estate markets, potential changes in governance practices and Board composition, the planning, financing, development, construction, completion and stabilization of Stratus’ development projects, plans to sell, recapitalize, or refinance properties, future operational and financial performance, MUD reimbursements for infrastructure costs, regulatory matters, leasing activities, estimated costs and timeframes for development and stabilization of properties, tax rates, the impact of interest rate changes, future capital expenditures and financing plans, possible joint ventures, partnerships, strategic relationships or other arrangements, Stratus’ projections with respect to its obligations under the master lease agreements entered into in connection with the 2017 sale of The Oaks at Lakeway, other plans and objectives of management for future operations and development projects, and future dividend payments and share repurchases. The words “anticipates,” “may,” “can,” “plans,” “believes,” “potential,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” “targets,” “intends,” “likely,” “will,” “should,” “to be” and any similar expressions and/or statements are not historical facts are intended to identify those assertions as forward-looking statements.
Under Stratus’ Comerica Bank credit facility, Stratus is not permitted to pay dividends on common stock without Comerica Bank’s prior written consent. The declaration of dividends is at the discretion of Stratus’ Board, subject to restrictions under Stratus’ Comerica Bank credit facility, and will depend on Stratus’ financial results, cash requirements, projected compliance with covenants in its debt agreements, outlook and other factors deemed relevant by the Board.
Stratus cautions readers that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and its actual results may differ materially from those anticipated, expected, projected or assumed in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that can cause Stratus’ actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, evolving risks relative to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic effects, Stratus’ ability to pay or refinance its debt or comply with or obtain waivers of financial and other covenants in debt agreements and to meet other cash obligations, Stratus’ ability to ramp up operations at Block 21 and collect anticipated rental payments, close projected asset sales, the availability and terms of financing for development projects and other corporate purposes, implementation, operational, financing and tax complexities to be evaluated and addressed before Stratus decides whether to pursue a REIT conversion, the ability of Stratus to qualify as a REIT, which involves the application of highly technical and complex provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, Stratus’ ability to complete the steps that must be taken in order to convert to a REIT and the timing thereof, the potential costs of converting to and operating as a REIT, whether Stratus’ Board will determine that conversion to a REIT is in the best interests of Stratus’ shareholders, whether shareholders will approve changes to Stratus’ organizational documents consistent with a public REIT structure, Stratus’ ability to enter into and maintain joint ventures, partnerships, strategic relationships or other arrangements, Stratus’ ability to implement its business strategy successfully, including its ability to develop, construct and sell properties at prices its Board considers acceptable, market conditions or corporate developments that could preclude, impair or delay any opportunities with respect to plans to sell, recapitalize or refinance properties, Stratus’ ability to obtain various entitlements and permits, a decrease in the demand for real estate in select markets in Texas where Stratus operates, changes in economic, market and business conditions, reductions in discretionary spending by consumers and businesses, competition from other real estate developers, hotel operators and/or entertainment venue operators and promoters, Stratus’ ability to open and hold events at its venues, challenges associated with booking events and selling tickets and event cancellations at Stratus’ entertainment venues, which may result in refunds to customers, the termination of sales contracts or letters of intent because of, among other factors, the failure of one or more closing conditions or market changes, Stratus’ ability to secure qualifying tenants for the space subject to the master lease agreements entered into in connection with the 2017 sale of The Oaks at Lakeway and to assign such leases to the purchaser and remove the corresponding property from the master leases, the failure to attract customers or tenants for its developments or such customers’ or tenants’ failure to satisfy their purchase commitments or leasing obligations, increases in interest rates and the phase out of the London Interbank Offered Rate, declines in the market value of Stratus’ assets, increases in operating costs, including real estate taxes and the cost of building materials and labor, changes in external perception of the W Austin Hotel, unanticipated issues experienced by the third-party operator of the W Austin Hotel, changes in consumer preferences, industry risks, changes in laws, regulations or the regulatory environment affecting the development of real estate, opposition from special interest groups or local governments with respect to development projects, weather-related risks, including the extent to which the February 2021 severe winter storm and resulting power and water disruptions will impact our prospects, loss of key personnel, cybersecurity incidents and other factors described in more detail under the heading “Risk Factors” in Stratus’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Stratus can provide no assurance as to when, if at all, it will convert to a REIT. Stratus can give no assurance that its Board will approve a conversion to a REIT, even if there are no impediments to such conversion.
Contacts
Financial and Media Contact:
William H. Armstrong III
(512) 478-5788
