Samuel Landy
Analyst · D.A. Davidson. Please go ahead
Thank you very much, Nelli. We are pleased to report our results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2020 and discuss the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on our operations. Although the pandemic has had a negative impact on many businesses and industries throughout the nation, we are pleased to report it has not materially impacted UMH's rent collections and occupancy. Our rent collections are in line with pre-pandemic levels, site and the home rent for the quarter is now 98% collected. Rent collections remained consistent to pre-pandemic figures at 95% collections for the month of July this year and last. The coming expiration of the unemployment benefits will be indicative of the truth trends of our collections. Less than 100 residents have elected to enter into a payment agreement with us. Our residence recognized that we provide the highest quality affordable housing in any market that we operate in. Our communities are reporting strong demand. In fact, the migration of the population away from cities and out of apartments is further increasing demand at our locations. As a result, our occupancy rates continue to rise at a rapid pace. Same-store occupancy is now 85.8%, and we have filled 550 sites year-over-year. Despite delays caused by the pandemic, we are on track to fill 750 to 800 rentals this year. We continue to complete capital improvements and expansions at our communities. Moving on to our results for the second quarter, normalized FFO was $0.17 per diluted share, as compared to $0.14 in the prior year period, and $0.15 in the first quarter of 2020. This represents an increase of 21% and 13% respectively. Rental and related income for the quarter increased 12% over the last year. Our operating expense ratio decreased from 47.7% in the second quarter of last year to 44% currently. Our strong income growth paired with a reduction in our operating expense ratio resulted in NOI growth of 19% quarter-over-quarter. Our long-term business plan continues to drive earnings growth, while generating increased property values. Our same property portfolio continues to perform exceptionally well. Our same property occupancy rate improved 250 basis points to 85.8% from the same quarter last year. This translates to an increase of 550 revenue producing sites year-over-year. Same property NOI increased 14% for both the second quarter and year-to-date. This is the third quarter in a row that we have delivered double-digit same-store NOI growth. These strong results are directly correlated to the success we've had at our value added communities. Our team has done an incredible job finding communities that were underperforming, identifying the problems and implementing a plan that creates improved community operating results. The results of this business plan are now being recognized in our financial statements and increased property values will be realized by financing our free and clear communities and refinancing our encumbered properties. The rental home program continues to perform very well. At quarter-end, we owned approximately 7800 rentals. Year-to-date, we have added 367 rentals as compared to 336 last year. We remain on track to add 752 to 800 rental homes to our portfolio this year. At quarter-end, our rental home occupancy was 95.2%. Rental homes are the most efficient way to fill the vacant sites acquired through our turnaround acquisitions. Generally, we find that rental home tenants are reliable tenants to pay the rent on time and take good care of the home. Our team has done a great job installing and renting 800 new homes a year and turning over homes in a timely fashion. Rental homes and manufactured housing communities are the future of affordable housing. Gross sales for the quarter were $5 million, representing a decrease of 14% over the same period last year. Our sales for the quarter were negatively impacted by the stay at home orders issued in March and the inability to show homes in person. Given the difficult circumstances, we are satisfied with the performance of our sales operation. We believe that as business returns to normal throughout the remainder of the year, our results will improve. We have several expansions coming online in good sales markets that should drive improved sales results. Our sales centers are also reporting increased traffic and demand. The development of our expansions continues to progress, we expect to complete the development of 191 sites this year. In addition in the next 12 months, we expect to obtain approvals on approximately 900 sites. We should develop about 450 of these approved sites in the next 18 months. These newly developed sites will allow us to continue our sales and rental growth at communities that have consistently produced excellent results. Subsequent to quarter end, we closed on the acquisition of a 147 safe community in Pennsylvania for a total purchase price of $3.3 million, or $23,000 per site. This community was approximately 56% occupied at closing. It is in good condition and should perform well with the implementation of our sales and rental program. We have one community in our pipeline, which is expected to close during the third quarter. This community is located in New York and contains 163 sites of which 69% are occupied. The purchase price is $4.5 million, or $28,000 per site. The acquisition market remains extremely competitive. The pandemic has proven the resiliency of the manufactured housing asset class. As a result, more investors continue to chase the same properties, further compressing cap rates. Several properties and portfolios in our markets have closed and commanded going in cap rates of 4% or less and prices of $50,000 a site or UMH excels at turnaround communities. We continue to seek properties that will enable us to implement our business plan and drive meaningful value creation. We continue to make progress financing our portfolio of some of our free and clear communities with approximately $100 million of approximately 3% GSE mortgage debt. This would allow us to redeem $95 million of our 8% Series B preferred stock, generating additional FFO for common shareholders of approximately $0.11 per share annually. UMH is also working with the GSEs to pioneer the recognition of rental manufactured homes, in communities as rental housing that should be entitled to the same financing as traditional apartments. Further success in obtaining that recognition would allow us to finance approximately $310 million of rental homes that were purchased with preferred stock, reducing our cost of capital. We are also working with our bank to obtain a line of credit on a rental homes that would allow us to tap into the rental equity on our balance sheet at rates close to prime. As we refinance our capital stack and continue to improve our operating results, we have the potential to drive significant earnings growth throughout the rest of this year and into 2021. By executing on these items, we expect to make significant progress in reducing our payout ratio, which we anticipate will be below 100% in 2021. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our dedicated UMH team for all their hard work. We've been laying the foundation for great results for many years. That foundation is so strong, we are able to report these excellent results despite the terrible tragedy of COVID. And now Anna will provide you with greater detail on our results for the quarter and for the year.