Simon® Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Results and Raises Quarterly Dividend

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Simon®, a real estate investment trust engaged in the ownership of premier shopping, dining, entertainment and mixed-use destinations, today reported results for the quarter and twelve months ended December 31, 2023.

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“This was an excellent quarter and year for Simon Property Group, which was capped off by our 30th anniversary as a public company in December.  Over that 30-year period, we are proud to have delivered a total return to shareholders of 3,100%,” said David Simon, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President.  “In 2023, we generated record annual Funds From Operations of nearly $4.7 billion, executed over 18 million square feet of leases, delivered 13 significant redevelopment projects, and completed several major financing transactions that reinforced our industry-leading balance sheet.  We achieved 2023 total shareholder return of 29.3% and returned $2.9 billion to shareholders in dividends and share repurchases.”

Results for the Quarter

  • Net income attributable to common stockholders was $747.5 million, or $2.29 per diluted share, as compared to $673.8 million, or $2.06 per diluted share in 2022.
    • Net income for the fourth quarter of 2023 includes after-tax net gains of $117.4 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, primarily due to the partial sale of the Company’s ownership interest in Authentic Brands Group (“ABG”); prior year period included non-cash after-tax gains from investment activity of $90.5 million, or $0.25 per diluted share.
  • Funds From Operations (“FFO”) was $1.382 billion, or $3.69 per diluted share as compared to $1.274 billion, or $3.40 per diluted share in the prior year, inclusive of the gains referenced above. 
  • Domestic property Net Operating Income (“NOI”) increased 7.3% and portfolio NOI increased 7.2% compared to the prior year period. 

Results for the Year

  • Net income attributable to common stockholders was $2.280 billion, or $6.98 per diluted share, as compared to $2.136 billion, or $6.52 per diluted share in 2022.
    • Net income for 2023 includes after-tax gains of $282.9 million or $0.75 per diluted share from investment activity; prior year included non-cash after-tax gains of $27.1 million or $0.08 per diluted share from investment activity. 
  • FFO was $4.686 billion, or $12.51 per diluted share as compared to $4.481 billion, or $11.95 per diluted share in the prior year, inclusive of the gains referenced above. 
  • Domestic property NOI increased 4.8% and portfolio NOI increased 4.9% compared to the prior year period. 

U.S. Malls and Premium Outlets Operating Statistics

  • Occupancy was 95.8% at December 31, 2023, compared to 94.9% at December 31, 2022, an increase of 90 basis points.
  • Base minimum rent per square foot was $56.82 at December 31, 2023, compared to $55.13 at December 31, 2022, an increase of 3.1%. 
  • Reported retailer sales per square foot was $743 for the trailing 12 months ended December 31, 2023, a decrease of 1.3% compared to 2022.

Capital Markets and Balance Sheet Liquidity

The Company was active in both the secured and unsecured credit markets in 2023.

During the year, the Company completed three senior notes offerings totaling $3.1 billion, with a weighted average coupon rate of 5.36% and a weighted average term of 15.6 years. The Company also completed 16 non-recourse mortgage loans totaling approximately $1.73 billion (U.S. dollar equivalent), of which Simon’s share was $954 million.  The weighted average interest rate on the mortgage loans was 6.53%. The Company also closed on a new, upsized $5.0 billion multi-currency unsecured revolving credit facility. 

As of December 31, 2023, Simon had approximately $10.9 billion of liquidity consisting of $2.8 billion of cash on hand, including its share of joint venture cash, and $8.1 billion of available capacity under its revolving credit facilities.

Dividends

Today, Simon’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $1.95 for the first quarter of 2024.  This is an increase of $0.15, or 8.3% year-over-year.  The dividend will be payable on March 29, 2024 to shareholders of record on March 8, 2024. 

Simon’s Board of Directors declared the quarterly dividend on its 8 3/8% Series J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (NYSE: SPGPrJ) of $1.046875 per share, payable on March 29, 2024 to shareholders of record on March 15, 2024. 

2024 Guidance

The Company currently estimates net income to be within a range of $6.45 to $6.70 per diluted share and FFO to be within a range of $11.85 to $12.10 per diluted share for the year ending December 31, 2024.    

The following table provides the GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliation for the expected range of estimated net income attributable to common stockholders per diluted share to FFO per diluted share:

For the year ending December 31, 2024                     





Low

End 


High

End

Estimated net income attributable to common stockholders

     per diluted share                         

$6.45


$6.70

Depreciation and amortization including Simon’s share   

     of unconsolidated entities                

5.40


5.40

Estimated FFO per diluted share                                                             

$11.85


$12.10

Conference Call

Simon will hold a conference call to discuss the quarterly financial results today from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday, February 5, 2024.  A live webcast of the conference call will be accessible in listen-only mode at investors.simon.com.  An audio replay of the conference call will be available until February 12, 2024.  To access the audio replay, dial 1-844-512-2921 (international +1-412-317-6671) passcode 13743637. 

Supplemental Materials and Website

Supplemental information on our fourth quarter 2023 performance is available at investors.simon.com. This information has also been furnished to the SEC in a current report on Form 8-K.

We routinely post important information online on our investor relations website, investors.simon.com. We use this website, press releases, SEC filings, quarterly conference calls, presentations and webcasts to disclose material, non-public information in accordance with Regulation FD. We encourage members of the investment community to monitor these distribution channels for material disclosures. Any information accessed through our website is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this document.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release includes FFO, FFO per share and portfolio NOI growth which are financial performance measures not defined by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures are included in this press release and in Simon’s supplemental information for the quarter.  FFO and NOI growth are financial performance measures widely used in the REIT industry. Our definitions of these non-GAAP measures may not be the same as similar measures reported by other REITs.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this press release may be deemed “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, the Company can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained, and it is possible that the Company’s actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward–looking statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such factors include, but are not limited to: changes in economic and market conditions that may adversely affect the general retail environment, including but not limited to those caused by inflation, recessionary pressures, wars, escalating geopolitical tensions as a result of the war in Ukraine and the conflicts in the Middle East, and supply chain disruptions; the inability to renew leases and relet vacant space at existing properties on favorable terms; the potential loss of anchor stores or major tenants; the inability to collect rent due to the bankruptcy or insolvency of tenants or otherwise; an increase in vacant space at our properties; the potential for violence, civil unrest, criminal activity or terrorist activities at our properties; natural disasters; the availability of comprehensive insurance coverage; the intensely competitive market environment in the retail industry, including e-commerce; security breaches that could compromise our information technology or infrastructure; reducing emissions of greenhouse gases; environmental liabilities; our international activities subjecting us to risks that are different from or greater than those associated with our domestic operations, including changes in foreign exchange rates; our continued ability to maintain our status as a REIT; changes in tax laws or regulations that result in adverse tax consequences; risks associated with the acquisition, development, redevelopment, expansion, leasing and management of properties; the inability to lease newly developed properties on favorable terms; the loss of key management personnel; uncertainties regarding the impact of pandemics, epidemics or public health crises, and the associated governmental restrictions on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and liquidity; changes in market rates of interest; the impact of our substantial indebtedness on our future operations, including covenants in the governing agreements that impose restrictions on us that may affect our ability to operate freely; any disruption in the financial markets that may adversely affect our ability to access capital for growth and satisfy our ongoing debt service requirements; any change in our credit rating; risks relating to our joint venture properties, including guarantees of certain joint venture indebtedness; and general risks related to real estate investments, including the illiquidity of real estate investments.

The Company discusses these and other risks and uncertainties under the heading “Risk Factors” in its annual and quarterly periodic reports filed with the SEC.  The Company may update that discussion in subsequent other periodic reports, but except as required by law, the Company undertakes no duty or obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise.

About Simon

Simon® is a real estate investment trust engaged in the ownership of premier shopping, dining, entertainment and mixed-use destinations and an S&P 100 company (Simon Property Group, NYSE: SPG). Our properties across North America, Europe and Asia provide community gathering places for millions of people every day and generate billions in annual sales.

 

Simon Property Group, Inc.

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)





For the Three Months


For the Twelve Months


Ended December 31,


Ended December 31,


2023

2022


2023

2022







REVENUE:






Lease income

$ 1,362,455

$ 1,287,141


$ 5,164,335

$ 4,905,175

Management fees and other revenues

33,484

31,853


125,995

116,904

Other income

131,499

80,904


368,506

269,368

Total revenue

1,527,438

1,399,898


5,658,836

5,291,447







EXPENSES:






Property operating

122,793

127,206


489,346

464,135

Depreciation and amortization

320,256

317,181


1,262,107

1,227,371

Real estate taxes

103,330

109,612


441,783

443,224

Repairs and maintenance

29,420

29,602


97,257

93,595

Advertising and promotion

40,633

35,364


127,346

107,793

Home and regional office costs

53,113

41,168


207,618

184,592

General and administrative

10,278

9,994


38,513

34,971

Other

55,476

45,566


187,844

152,213

Total operating expenses

735,299

715,693


2,851,814

2,707,894







OPERATING INCOME BEFORE OTHER ITEMS

792,139

684,205


2,807,022

2,583,553







Interest expense

(224,923)

(200,901)


(854,648)

(761,253)

Gain on disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests, net

167,390

121,177


362,019

121,177

Income and other tax expense

(41,622)

(52,344)


(81,874)

(83,512)

Income from unconsolidated entities

167,828

213,635


375,663

647,977

Unrealized (losses) gains in fair value of publicly traded equity instruments and






derivative instrument, net

(8,157)

2,208


11,892

(61,204)

Gain (loss) on acquisition of controlling interest, sale or disposal of, or recovery on, 






assets and interests in unconsolidated entities and impairment, net

6,841

4,768


(3,056)

5,647







CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME

859,496

772,748


2,617,018

2,452,385







Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests 

111,182

98,128


333,892

312,850

Preferred dividends

834

834


3,337

3,337







NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS

$ 747,480

$ 673,786


$ 2,279,789

$ 2,136,198













BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE:






Net income attributable to common stockholders

$ 2.29

$ 2.06


$ 6.98

$ 6.52

 

Simon Property Group, Inc.

Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Dollars in thousands, except share amounts)







December 31,

December 31,


2023

2022

ASSETS:



Investment properties, at cost

$ 39,285,138

$ 38,326,912

Less – accumulated depreciation

17,716,788

16,563,749


21,568,350

21,763,163

Cash and cash equivalents

1,168,991

621,628

Short-term investments

1,000,000

Tenant receivables and accrued revenue, net

826,126

823,540

Investment in TRG, at equity

3,049,719

3,074,345

Investment in Klépierre, at equity

1,527,872

1,561,112

Investment in other unconsolidated entities, at equity

3,540,648

3,511,263

Right-of-use assets, net

484,073

496,930

Deferred costs and other assets

1,117,716

1,159,293

Total assets

$ 34,283,495

$ 33,011,274




LIABILITIES:



Mortgages and unsecured indebtedness

$ 26,033,423

$ 24,960,286

Accounts payable, accrued expenses, intangibles, and deferred revenues

1,693,248

1,491,583

Cash distributions and losses in unconsolidated entities, at equity

1,760,922

1,699,828

Dividend payable

1,842

1,997

Lease liabilities

484,861

497,953

Other liabilities

621,601

535,736

Total liabilities

30,595,897

29,187,383




Commitments and contingencies



Limited partners’ preferred interest in the Operating Partnership and noncontrolling



redeemable interests

195,949

212,239




EQUITY:



Stockholders’ Equity



Capital stock ( total shares authorized, $0.0001 par value, 238,000,000



shares of excess common stock, 850,000,000 authorized shares of preferred stock):






Series J 8 3/8% cumulative redeemable preferred stock, 1,000,000 shares authorized,



796,948 issued and outstanding with a liquidation value of $39,847

41,106

41,435




Common stock, $0.0001 par value, 511,990,000 shares authorized, 342,895,886 and



342,905,419 issued and outstanding, respectively

33

34




Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value, 10,000 shares authorized, 8,000



issued and outstanding




Capital in excess of par value

11,406,236

11,232,881

Accumulated deficit

(6,095,576)

(5,926,974)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(172,787)

(164,873)

Common stock held in treasury, at cost, 16,983,364 and 15,959,628 shares, respectively

(2,156,178)

(2,043,979)

Total stockholders’ equity

3,022,834

3,138,524

Noncontrolling interests

468,815

473,128

Total equity

3,491,649

3,611,652

Total liabilities and equity

$ 34,283,495

$ 33,011,274

 

Simon Property Group, Inc.

Unaudited Joint Venture Combined Statements of Operations

(Dollars in thousands)
















For the Three Months Ended December 31,


For the Twelve Months Ended December 31,


2023

2022


2023

2022







REVENUE:






Lease income

$ 772,258

$ 752,541


$ 2,984,455

$ 2,894,611

Other income

106,797

83,478


464,058

341,923

Total revenue

879,055

836,019


3,448,513

3,236,534







OPERATING EXPENSES:






Property operating

163,275

159,804


638,638

605,018

Depreciation and amortization

172,727

161,836


656,089

666,762

Real estate taxes

45,258

59,010


237,809

246,707

Repairs and maintenance

21,642

23,200


77,093

81,522

Advertising and promotion

24,577

22,058


83,279

74,776

Other

56,742

59,827


236,955

205,405

Total operating expenses

484,221

485,735


1,929,863

1,880,190







OPERATING INCOME BEFORE OTHER ITEMS

394,834

350,284


1,518,650

1,356,344







Interest expense

(176,964)

(159,668)


(685,193)

(599,245)

Gain on sale or disposal of, or recovery on, assets and interests in unconsolidated entities, net

45,814


20,529

50,336







NET INCOME

$ 217,870

$ 236,430


$ 853,986

$ 807,435







Third-Party Investors’ Share of Net Income

$ 107,069

$ 142,897


$ 436,408

$ 423,816







Our Share of Net Income

110,801

93,533


417,578

383,619

Amortization of Excess Investment (A)

(14,926)

(14,956)


(59,707)

(60,109)

Our Share of Gain on Sale or Disposal of, or Recovery on, Assets and Interests in Unconsolidated Entities, net







(454)

(2,532)







Income from Unconsolidated Entities (B)

$ 95,875

$ 78,577


$ 357,417

$ 320,978







Note: The above financial presentation does not include any information related to our investments in Klépierre S.A.

          (“Klépierre”), The Taubman Realty Group (“TRG”) and other platform investments. For additional information, see footnote B.

 

Simon Property Group, Inc.

Unaudited Joint Venture Combined Balance Sheets

(Dollars in thousands)












December 31,

December 31,



2023

2022


Assets:




Investment properties, at cost

$ 19,315,578

$ 19,256,108


Less – accumulated depreciation

8,874,745

8,490,990



10,440,833

10,765,118


Cash and cash equivalents

1,372,377

1,445,353


Tenant receivables and accrued revenue, net

505,933

546,025


Right-of-use assets, net

126,539

143,526


Deferred costs and other assets

537,943

482,375


Total assets

$ 12,983,625

$ 13,382,397






Liabilities and Partners’ Deficit:




Mortgages

$ 14,282,839

$ 14,569,921


Accounts payable, accrued expenses, intangibles, and deferred revenue

1,032,217

961,984


Lease liabilities

116,535

133,096


Other liabilities

368,582

446,064


Total liabilities

15,800,173

16,111,065






Preferred units

67,450

67,450


Partners’ deficit

(2,883,998)

(2,796,118)


Total liabilities and partners’ deficit

$ 12,983,625

$ 13,382,397






Our Share of:




Partners’ deficit

$ (1,258,809)

$ (1,232,086)


Add: Excess Investment (A)

1,173,852

1,219,117


Our net Investment in unconsolidated entities, at equity

$ (84,957)

$ (12,969)



Note: The above financial presentation does not include any information related to our investments in Klépierre,


           TRG and other platform investments. For additional information, see footnote B.


 

Simon Property Group, Inc.

Unaudited Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures (c)

(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)













Reconciliation of Consolidated Net Income to FFO














For the Three Months Ended


For the Twelve Months Ended






December 31,


December 31,






2023


2022


2023


2022













Consolidated Net Income (D)



$                859,496


$           772,748


$         2,617,018


$      2,452,385

Adjustments to Arrive at FFO:























Depreciation and amortization from consolidated 









     properties 



316,881


311,304


1,250,550


1,214,441


Our share of depreciation and amortization from









     unconsolidated entities, including Klépierre, TRG and other corporate investments

219,604


200,654


841,862


845,784


(Gain) loss on acquisition of controlling interest, sale or disposal of, or recovery on,









assets and interests in unconsolidated entities and impairment, net

(6,841)


(4,768)


3,056


(5,647)


Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest holders in









     properties



585


(240)


1,336


(2,738)


Noncontrolling interests portion of depreciation and amortization, gain on consolidation of properties,









and loss (gain) on disposal of properties

(6,464)


(4,594)


(22,719)


(18,234)


Preferred distributions and dividends

(1,298)


(1,313)


(5,237)


(5,252)

FFO of the Operating Partnership


$             1,381,963


$         1,273,791


$         4,685,866


$      4,480,739

























Diluted net income per share to diluted FFO per share reconciliation:








Diluted net income per share



$                      2.29


$                 2.06


$                  6.98


$               6.52


Depreciation and amortization from consolidated properties









     and our share of depreciation and amortization from unconsolidated 









     entities, including Klépierre, TRG and other corporate investments, net of noncontrolling 









     interests portion of depreciation and amortization

1.42


1.35


5.52


5.44


(Gain) loss on acquisition of controlling interest, sale or disposal of, or recovery on,









assets and interests in unconsolidated entities and impairment, net

(0.02)


(0.01)


0.01


(0.01)

Diluted FFO per share 



$                      3.69


$                 3.40


$                12.51


$             11.95













Details for per share calculations:






















FFO of the Operating Partnership



$             1,381,963


$         1,273,791


$         4,685,866


$      4,480,739

Diluted FFO allocable to unitholders


(179,592)


(160,937)


(597,727)


(564,946)

Diluted FFO allocable to common stockholders


$             1,202,371


$         1,112,854


$         4,088,139


$      3,915,793













Basic and Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

325,934


326,954


326,808


327,817

Weighted average limited partnership units outstanding

48,930


47,303


47,782


47,295

Basic and Diluted weighted average shares and units outstanding

374,864


374,257


374,590


375,112













Basic and Diluted FFO per Share



$                      3.69


$                 3.40


$                12.51


$             11.95

    Percent Change




8.5 %




4.7 %



























 

Simon Property Group, Inc.

Footnotes to Unaudited Financial Information














Notes:  

























(A)

Excess investment represents the unamortized difference of our investment over equity in the underlying net assets of the related partnerships and joint ventures shown therein.  The Company generally amortizes excess investment over the life of the related assets.














(B)

The Unaudited Joint Venture Combined Statements of Operations do not include any operations or our share of net income or excess investment amortization related to our investments in Klépierre, TRG and other platform investments.  Amounts included in Footnote D below exclude our share of related activity for our investments in Klépierre, TRG and other platform investments.  For further information on Klépierre, reference should be made to financial information in Klépierre’s public filings and additional discussion and analysis in our Form 10-K.














(C)

This report contains measures of financial or operating performance that are not specifically defined by GAAP, including FFO and FFO per share.  FFO is a performance measure that is standard in the REIT business.  We believe FFO provides investors with additional information concerning our operating performance and a basis to compare our performance with those of other REITs.  We also use these measures internally to monitor the operating performance of our portfolio. Our computation of these non-GAAP measures may not be the same as similar measures reported by other REITs.















We determine FFO based upon the definition set forth by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”) Funds From Operations White Paper – 2018 Restatement. Our main business includes acquiring, owning, operating, developing, and redeveloping real estate in conjunction with the rental of retail real estate.  Gains and losses of assets incidental to our main business are included in FFO.  We determine FFO to be our share of consolidated net income computed in accordance with GAAP, excluding real estate related depreciation and amortization, excluding gains and losses from extraordinary items, excluding gains and losses from the sale, disposal or property insurance recoveries of, or any impairment related to, depreciable retail operating properties, plus the allocable portion of FFO of unconsolidated joint ventures based upon economic ownership interest, and all determined on a consistent basis in accordance with GAAP. However, you should understand that FFO does not represent cash flow from operations as defined by GAAP, should not be considered as an alternative to net income determined in accordance with GAAP as a measure of operating performance, and is not an alternative to cash flows as a measure of liquidity.














(D)

Includes our share of: 
























Gain on land sales of $5.8 million and $0.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $13.6 million and $15.8 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.














Straight-line adjustments decreased income by ($1.0) million and ($3.9) million for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and ($11.4) million and ($26.8) million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.














Amortization of fair market value of leases increased (decreased) income by $0.0 million and $0.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $0.2 million and ($0.2) million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

 

SOURCE Simon

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