Scott Musil
Analyst · Truist Securities
Thanks, Peter. Let me recap our results for the quarter. NAREIT funds from operations were $0.60 per fully diluted share compared to $0.52 per share in the fourth quarter of 2021. For the full year, NAREIT FFO per share was $2.28 versus $1.97 in 2021. Our fourth quarter and full year 2022 results include income related to the final settlement of insurance claims for damaged properties. Excluding the approximate $0.01 per share impact related to these claims, fourth quarter and full year 2022 FFO per share was $0.59 and $2.27, respectively. As Peter noted, we finished the quarter with in-service occupancy of 98.8%, up 70 basis points compared to the year ago quarter. Our cash same-store NOI growth for the quarter, excluding termination fees and the income related to the final settlement of insurance claims that I previously discussed, was 7.6%. This was driven by higher average occupancy, increases in rental rates and rental rate bumps, slightly offset by an increase in free rent. As Peter mentioned, our 10.1% cash same-store NOI growth for the full year, calculated under the same methodology was a company record. Summarizing our leasing activity during the fourth quarter, approximately 2.1 million square feet of leases commenced. Of these, 700,000 were new, 1.2 million were renewals and 300,000 were for developments and acquisitions with lease-up. Tenant retention by square footage was 81%. Moving on to the capital side. On November 1, we drew down all $300 million of the term loan that we closed in August. We were successful in putting in place swaps to fix the all-in interest rate at 4.88% beginning in December. So once again, our only variable rate debt is our line of credit. Before I move on to our initial 2023 FFO guidance, I would like to comment on a topic that we've been asked about recently by the investor and analyst communities. The parent company of one of our tenants has been in the news recently. As of the fourth quarter, ADESA, a leading auto auction and related services provider accounted for 1.8% of our rental income. ADESA was acquired by Carvana last year, and Carvana has been facing some challenges in its retail segment. For those newer to the FR story, we did a sale-leaseback transaction with ADESA about 14 years ago, for 7 valuable locations critical to their operations. These are leased until 2028, after which they have 2 additional 10-year renewal options. Let me also add that ADESA is current on its rent obligations. It is helpful for you to know that we believe that our basis in this land and current rents are both well below market and that the majority of these sites can be developed at significantly high margins. Moving on to our initial 2023 guidance for our earnings release last evening. Our guidance for NAREIT FFO per share is $2.29 to $2.39 with a midpoint of $2.34. Our 2023 FFO guidance is impacted by an additional $0.02 per share in real estate taxes in one of our markets that we will accrue in 2023, but will not be recoverable from our tenants until the taxes are paid in 2024. Without the impact of this item, our FFO midpoint guidance would be $2.36 per share. Key assumptions for guidance are as follows: average quarter-end in-service occupancy of 97.75% to 98.75%. Cash same-store NOI growth before termination fees of 7.5% to 8.5%. Please note, our cash same-store guidance excludes $1.4 million of income of 2022 related to the final settlement of insurance claims for damaged properties I discussed earlier. Annual bad debt expense of $1 million, which assumes that ADESA stays current on its rent obligation. Guidance includes the anticipated 2023 costs related to our completed and under construction developments at December 31. For these projects, we expect to capitalize about $0.08 per share of interest. Our G&A expense guidance range is $34 million to $35 million. Other than previously discussed, our guidance does not reflect the impact of any other future sales, acquisitions or new development starts, the impact of any future debt issuances, debt repurchases or repayments and guidance also excludes the potential issuance of equity. Let me now turn it back over to Peter.