04/30/24 at 1:00 PM EDT

Q1 2024 Macerich Earnings Conference Call

02/07/24 at 1:00 PM EST

Q4 2023 Macerich Earnings Conference Call

Back to News

Macerich Announces First Quarter Results

SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 7, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- The Macerich Company (NYSE: MAC) today announced results of operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2004 which included net income to common stockholders for the three months ended March 31, 2004 of $18.1 million, or $.31 per share-diluted compared to net income of $19.4 million or $.37 per share-diluted for the three months ended March 31, 2003.

Funds from operations ("FFO") per share -- diluted for the quarter ended March 31, 2004 increased to $.90 compared to $.84 for the comparable period in 2003. A reconciliation of net income to FFO is included in the financial highlights section of this press release.

    Highlights included:

     *  Total same center tenant sales for the quarter ended March 31, 2004
        were up 7.9% compared to the first quarter of 2003 and comparable
        tenant sales were up 6.8% over the quarter ended March 31, 2003.

     *  Portfolio occupancy remained high at 91.8% at March 31, 2004.  On a
        comparable center basis occupancy was 92.0% compared to 92.4% at March
        31, 2003.

     *  On January 30, 2004, Macerich closed on the acquisition of Inland
        Center in San Bernardino, California.

     *  Phase I of the Queens Center $275 million expansion opened on March
        26, 2004

     *  During the first quarter, Macerich signed 458,000 square feet of
        specialty store leases at average initial rents of $37.87 per square
        foot.

FFO per share -- diluted for the quarter increased 7% to $.90 compared to $.84 per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2003. The Company's definition of FFO is in accordance with the definition provided by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts ("NAREIT"). A reconciliation of net income per common share-diluted ("EPS") to FFO per share-diluted is included in the financial tables accompanying this press release.

Commenting on results, Arthur Coppola, President and Chief Executive Officer of Macerich stated, "We achieved strong FFO per share growth of 7% compared to the first quarter of last year, even after factoring in the impact of shifting a significant amount of our debt from floating to fixed rate. During the quarter we saw strong retail sales growth and continued high occupancy levels. Also during the quarter, we made tremendous progress on our $275 million expansion of Queens Center, where Phase-I of the project opened on March 26 and is 94% leased. Our return on cost, now estimated at 12% at completion, is exceeding our project budget."

Acquisition Activity

On January 30, 2004, Macerich, in a 50/50 joint venture with a private investment company, acquired Inland Center, a 1 million square foot super-regional mall in San Bernardino, California. Sears, Robinson-May, Macy's and Gottschalks anchor the mall. The purchase price was $63.3 million and concurrently with the acquisition the joint venture placed a $54 million fixed rate loan on the property bearing interest at 4.64%. The mall shop tenants at Inland are averaging over $450 per square foot in annual sales. Comparable tenant sales were up 12.7% at Inland during the quarter ended March 31, 2004 compared to the same period in 2003.

Redevelopment and Development Activity

At Queens Center, the redevelopment and expansion continue. The project will increase the size of the center from 620,000 square feet to approximately one million square feet. Completion is planned in phases, with Phase I recently opened with project completion and stabilization expected in early 2005. Leasing activity has been robust with 90% of the total shop expansion space already leased or committed, including 94% for the Phase I space.

Construction continues at Scottsdale 101, a 600,000 square foot power center in North Phoenix. The power center is being built in phases through 2004 with approximately 70% of the development completed. Circuit City, Borders and Bed Bath and Beyond, Sports Authority, Harkins Theatre and Expo Design Center have already opened.

Progress also continues at La Encantada, a 258,000 square foot lifestyle center in Tucson, Arizona, which will feature; Adrienne Vittadini, Ann Taylor, Apple Computer, Bebe, Bose, Cache, Pottery Barn, St. John, Tommy Bahama and Williams-Sonoma. This project is open in phases through 2004.

In Boulder, at our 29th Street project (formerly known as Crossroads Mall and recently renamed based on community input) the redevelopment plan continues to progress. We have submitted our final site review application to the City of Boulder. We anticipate this process to culminate in final entitlements that will result in ground breaking for this 850,000 square foot mixed-use project this fall.

Earnings Guidance

The Company is reaffirming its previously issued year 2004 FFO per share guidance and revising its EPS guidance in the following ranges:


                                                         Range per share:
     Fully Diluted EPS                                 $1.79          $1.89
     Plus: Real Estate Depreciation and
      Amortization                                     $2.09          $2.09
     Less: impact of preferred shares
      (not dilutive to EPS)                            ($.10)         ($.10)
     Less: Gain on Sale of Assets                       $.00           $.00
     Fully Diluted FFO per share                       $3.78          $3.88
     Plus: Interest Expense per share                  $2.60          $2.60
     Plus: Non real estate depreciation, income
      taxes and ground rent expense per share           $.17           $.17
     EBITDA per share                                  $6.55          $6.65
     Less: management company expenses, REIT
      General and administrative expenses and
      EBITDA of non-comparable centers                 ($.83)         ($.83)
     Same center EBITDA per share                      $5.72          $5.82

The guidance is based on management's current view of the current market conditions in the regional mall business. Due to the uncertainty in the timing and economics of acquisitions and dispositions, the guidance ranges do not include any potential property acquisitions or dispositions other than those that have closed through May 6, 2004. The Company is not able to assess at this time the potential impact of such exclusions on future EPS and FFO. FFO does not include gains or losses on sales of depreciated operating assets.

The Macerich Company is a fully integrated self-managed and self-administered real estate investment trust, which focuses on the acquisition, leasing, management, development and redevelopment of regional malls throughout the United States. The Company is the sole general partner and owns an 81% ownership interest in The Macerich Partnership, L.P. Macerich now owns approximately 60 million square feet of gross leaseable area consisting primarily of interests in 59 regional malls. Additional information about The Macerich Company can be obtained from the Company's web site at www.macerich.com.

Investor Conference Call

The Company will provide an online Web simulcast and rebroadcast of its quarterly earnings conference call. The call will be available on The Macerich Company's website at www.macerich.com and through CCBN at www.fulldisclosure.com. The call begins today, May 7, 2004 at 10:30 AM Pacific Time. To listen to the call, please go to any of these web sites at least 15 minutes prior to the call in order to register and download audio software if needed. An online replay at www.macerich.com will be available for one year after the call.

Note: This release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements. Stockholders are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to vary materially from those anticipated, expected or projected. Such factors include, among others, general industry, economic and business conditions, which will, among other things, affect demand for retail space or retail goods, availability and creditworthiness of current and prospective tenants, anchor or tenant bankruptcies, closures, mergers or consolidations, lease rates and terms, interest rate fluctuations, availability and cost of financing and operating expenses; adverse changes in the real estate markets including, among other things, competition from other companies, retail formats and technology, risks of real estate development and redevelopment, acquisitions and dispositions; governmental actions and initiatives (including legislative and regulatory changes); environmental and safety requirements; and terrorist activities which could adversely affect all of the above factors. The reader is directed to the Company's various filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, for a discussion of such risks and uncertainties.


                               THE MACERICH COMPANY
                               FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
                     (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

                        Results before       Impact of       Results after
                         SFAS 144 (f)       SFAS 144 (f)      SFAS 144 (f)

    Results                For the            For the           For the
     of                  Three Months      Three Months       Three Months
     Operations:        Ended March 31    Ended March 31     Ended March 31
                                    Unaudited                   Unaudited
                        2004      2003      2004   2003      2004    2003

    Minimum Rents (e)  75,947    72,137      --     (937)  75,947  71,200
    Percentage Rents    2,427     1,710      --       --    2,427   1,710
    Tenant Recoveries  41,322    37,018      --     (118)  41,322  36,900
    Other Income        4,054     4,092     (82)      (7)   3,972   4,085

    Total Revenues    123,750   114,957     (82)  (1,062) 123,668 113,895

    Shopping center
     and operating
     expenses (c)      42,836    39,362      --     (386)  42,836  38,976
    Depreciation and
     amortization      34,301    23,914      --     (153)  34,301  23,761
    General,
     administrative
     and other
     expenses ( c )     3,024     2,336      --       --    3,024   2,336
    Interest expense   33,333    34,008      --       --   33,333  34,008
    Loss on early
     extinguishment
     of debt              405        --      --               405      --
    Gain (loss) on
     sale or writedown
     of assets             27       (38)    (27)     166       --     128
    Pro rata income of
     unconsolidated
     entities (c)      14,850    14,466      --            14,850  14,466
    Income (loss) of
     the Operating
     Partnership from
     continuing
     operations        24,728    29,765    (109)    (357)  24,619  29,408

    Discontinued
     Operations:
      Gain (loss) on
       sale of asset       --        --      27     (166)      27    (166)
      Income from
       discontinued
       operations          --        --      82      523       82     523
     Income before
      minority
      interests        24,728    29,765      --       --   24,728  29,765
    Income allocated
     to minority
     interests          4,400     5,145      --       --    4,400   5,145
    Net income
     before preferred
     dividends         20,328    24,620      --       --   20,328  24,620
    Dividends earned
     by preferred
     stockholders (a)   2,212     5,195      --       --    2,212   5,195
    Net income to
     common
     stockholders      18,116    19,425      --       --   18,116  19,425

    Average # of
     shares
     outstanding -
     basic             58,390    51,773                    58,390  51,773
    Average shares
     outstanding-
     basic, assuming
     full conversion
     of OP Units (d)   72,987    65,923                    72,987  65,923
    Average shares
     outstanding -
     diluted for
     FFO (d)           76,614    75,038                    76,614  75,038

    Per share
     income- diluted
     before
     discontinued
     operations            --        --                      0.31    0.36
    Net income per
     share-basic         0.31      0.38                      0.31    0.38
    Net income per
     share- diluted      0.31      0.37                      0.31    0.37
    Dividend declared
     per share           0.61      0.57                      0.61    0.57
    Funds from
     operations "FFO"
     (b) (d)- basic    66,471    58,090                    66,471  58,090
    Funds from
     operations "FFO"
     (a) (b) (d) -
     diluted           68,683    63,285                    68,683  63,285
    FFO per share-
     basic (b) (d)       0.92      0.89                      0.92    0.89
    FFO per share-
     diluted (a) (b) (d) 0.90      0.84                      0.90    0.84



                               THE MACERICH COMPANY
                               FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
                     (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

     (a)  On February 25, 1998, the Company sold $100,000 of convertible
          preferred stock and on June 16, 1998 another $150,000 of convertible
          preferred stock was issued.  The convertible preferred shares can be
          converted on a one for one basis for common stock.  These preferred
          shares are not assumed converted for purposes of net income per
          share for the period ending March 31, 2004 and 2003 as it would be
          antidilutive to that calculation.  On September 9, 2003,
          5.487 million shares of Series B convertible preferred stock were
          converted into common shares.  The weighted average preferred shares
          outstanding are assumed converted for purposes of FFO per diluted
          share as they are dilutive to that calculation for all periods
          presented.

     (b)  The Company uses FFO in addition to net income to report its
          operating and financial results and considers FFO and FFO-diluted as
          supplemental measures for the real estate industry and a supplement
          to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) measures.  NAREIT
          defines FFO as net income (computed in accordance with GAAP),
          excluding gains (or losses) from extraordinary items and sales of
          depreciated operating properties, plus real estate related
          depreciation and amortization and after adjustments for
          unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures.  Adjustments for
          unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures are calculated to
          reflect FFO on the same basis.  FFO and FFO on a fully diluted basis
          are useful to investors in comparing operating and financial results
          between periods.  This is especially true since FFO excludes real
          estate depreciation and amortization, as the Company believes real
          estate values fluctuate based on market conditions rather than
          depreciating in value ratably on a straight-line basis over time.
          FFO on a fully diluted basis is one of the measures investors find
          most useful in measuring the dilutive impact of outstanding
          convertible securities.  FFO does not represent cash flow from
          operations as defined by GAAP, should not be considered as an
          alternative to net income as defined by GAAP and is not indicative
          of cash available to fund all cash flow needs.  FFO as presented may
          not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other
          real estate investment trusts.  Effective January 1, 2003, gains or
          losses on sale of peripheral land and the impact of SFAS 141 have
          been included in FFO.  The inclusion of gains on sales of peripheral
          land increased FFO for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and
          2003 by $1,417 and $524, respectively, or by $.02 per share and
          $.01 per share, respectively.  Additionally, the impact of SFAS No.
          141 increased FFO for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003
          by $1.9 million and $1.1 million, respectively, or by $.025 per
          share and $.015 per share, respectively.  The Company adopted SFAS
          No. 141 (see Note (e) below) effective October 1, 2002.

     (c)  This includes, using the equity method of accounting, the Company's
          prorata share of the equity in income or loss of its unconsolidated
          joint ventures for all periods presented and for Macerich Management
          Company through June 30, 2003.  Effective July 1, 2003, the Company
          has consolidated Macerich Management Company.  Certain
          reclassifications have been made in the 2003 financial highlights to
          conform to the 2004 financial highlights presentation.

     (d)  The Company has operating partnership units ("OP units").  Each OP
          unit may be converted into a share of Company stock.  Conversion of
          the OP units has been assumed for purposes of calculating the FFO
          per share and the weighted average number of shares outstanding.

     (e)  Effective October 1, 2002, the Company adopted SFAS No. 141,
          Business Combinations, which requires companies that have acquired
          assets subsequent to June 2001 to reflect the discounted net present
          value of market rents in excess of rents in place at the date of
          acquisition as a deferred credit to be amortized into income over
          the average remaining life of the acquired leases.  Additionally,
          depreciation and amortization reflects the impact of SFAS 141.  The
          impact on EPS for the three months ending March 31, 2004 and 2003
          was approximately ($.08) per share and $.02 per share, respectively.

     (f)  In October 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 144, "Accounting for the
          Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets" ("SFAS 144").  SFAS 144
          addresses financial accounting and reporting for the impairment or
          disposal of long-lived assets.  The Company adopted SFAS 144 on
          January 1, 2002.  The Company sold its 67% interest in Paradise
          Village Gateway on January 2, 2003 (acquired in July 2002), and the
          loss on sale of $0.2 million has been reclassified to discontinued
          operations.  Additionally, the Company sold Bristol Center on August
          4, 2003, and the results for the period January 1, 2003 to March 31,
          2003 and the results for the period January 1, 2004 to March 31,
          2004 have been reclassified to discontinued operations.  The sale of
          Bristol Center resulted in a gain on sale of asset of $22.2 million.


                               THE MACERICH COMPANY
                               FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
                     (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

                                                     Mar 31        Dec 31
    Summarized Balance Sheet Information              2004          2003
                                                          (UNAUDITED)
    Cash and cash equivalents                        $80,937        $47,160
    Investment in real estate, net (i)            $3,226,656     $3,186,725
    Investments in unconsolidated entities (j)      $581,958       $577,908
    Total Assets                                  $4,207,064     $4,145,593
    Mortgage and notes payable                    $2,748,162     $2,682,599


                                                     Mar 31         Mar 31
    Additional financial data as of:                  2004           2003
    Occupancy of centers (g)                          91.80%         92.50%
    Comparable quarter change in same center
     sales (g) (h)                                     7.90%          0.00%

    Additional financial data for the three
     months ended:
    Acquisitions of property and equipment -
     including joint ventures prorata                $36,277         $4,227
    Redevelopment and expansions of centers-
     including joint ventures prorata                $52,897        $35,291
    Renovations of centers- including joint
     ventures at prorata                              $9,293         $1,270
    Tenant allowances- including joint ventures
     at prorata                                       $2,419         $1,470
    Deferred leasing costs- including joint
     ventures at prorata                              $3,470         $3,091

     (g)  excludes redevelopment properties-
          Crossroads Mall- Boulder, Parklane Mall,
          Queens expansion, Scottsdale 101 and
          La Encantada.
     (h)  includes mall and freestanding stores.
     (i)  includes construction in process on
          wholly owned assets of $175,731 at
          March 31, 2004 and $268,810 at
          December 31, 2003.
     (j)  the Company's prorata share of
          construction in process on
          unconsolidated entities of $7,143
          at March 31, 2004 and $8,188 at
          December 31, 2003.


                               THE MACERICH COMPANY
                               FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
                     (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

                                                      For the Three Months
    PRORATA SHARE OF JOINT VENTURES                      Ended March 31
                                                           (UNAUDITED)
     (Unaudited)                                   (All amounts in thousands)
                                                       2004           2003
    Revenues:
      Minimum rents                                  $40,061        $39,773
      Percentage rents                                 1,508          1,387
      Tenant recoveries                               17,889         16,143
      Management fee ( c )                                --          2,584
      Other                                            1,989          1,081
      Total revenues                                  61,447         60,968

    Expenses:
      Shopping center expenses                        20,700         19,117
      Interest expense                                14,956         14,163
      Management company expense ( c )                    --          2,012
      Depreciation and amortization                   12,358         11,657
      Total operating expenses                        48,014         46,949

    Gain on sale or writedown of assets                1,417            447

      Net income                                      14,850         14,466


                                                      For the Three Months
    RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO FFO                  Ended March 31
                                                   (All amounts in thousands)
                                                          (UNAUDITED)
                                                       2004           2003

    Net income - available to common
     stockholders                                    $18,116        $19,425

    Adjustments to reconcile net income to FFO-
     basic
      Minority interest                                4,400          5,145
      (Gain ) loss on sale of wholly owned
       assets                                            (27)            38
       plus gain on land sales- consolidated
        assets                                            --            128

      (Gain) loss on sale or write-down of
       assets from unconsolidated entities
       (pro rata share)                               (1,417)          (447)
       plus gain on land sales-
        unconsolidated assets                          1,417            396


      Depreciation and amortization on
       wholly owned centers                           34,301         23,914
      Depreciation and amortization on joint
       ventures and from the management companies
       (pro rata)                                     12,358         11,657
      Less: depreciation on personal property
       and amortization of loan costs and
       interest rate caps                             (2,677)        (2,166)

          Total FFO - basic                           66,471         58,090

      Additional adjustment to arrive at FFO
       -diluted
        Preferred stock dividends earned               2,212          5,195
        Effect of employee/director stock
         incentive plans                        antidilutive   antidilutive
        FFO - diluted                                 68,683         63,285
      Weighted average shares outstanding -
       diluted (d)                                    76,614         75,038


                               THE MACERICH COMPANY
                               FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
                     (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

    THE MACERICH COMPANY                              For the Three Months
    RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO EBIDTA               Ended March 31
                                                   (All amounts in thousands)
                                                          (UNAUDITED)
                                                       2004           2003

    Net income - available to common stockholders    $18,116        $19,425

      Interest expense                                33,333         34,008
      Interest expense - unconsolidated entities
       (pro rata)                                     14,956         14,163
      Depreciation and amortization - wholly-owned
       centers                                        34,301         23,914
      Depreciation and amortization - unconsolidated
       entitites (pro rata)                           12,358         11,657
      Minority interest                                4,400          5,145
      Loss on early extinguishment of debt               405             --
      Loss (gain) on sale of assets - wholly-owned
       centers                                           (27)            38
      Loss (gain) on sale of assets -
       unconsolidated entities (pro rata)             (1,417)          (447)
      Preferred dividends                              2,212          5,195

        EBITDA (k)                                  $118,637       $113,098


    THE MACERICH COMPANY
    RECONCILIATION OF EBITDA TO SAME CENTERS - NET OPERATING INCOME ("NOI")

                                                      For the Three Months
                                                         Ended March 31
                                                   (All amounts in thousands)
                                                          (UNAUDITED)
                                                      2004          2003

    EBITDA (k)                                      $118,637       $113,098

    Add: REIT general and administrative expenses      3,024          2,336
        Management Company expenses                      846          1,879
        EBITDA of non-comparable centers             (10,644)        (7,307)

        SAME CENTERS - Net operating income
         ("NOI") (l)                                $111,863       $110,006


    (k)  EBITDA represents earnings before interest, income taxes,
         depreciation, amortization, minority interest, extraordinary items,
         gain (loss) on sale of assets and preferred dividends and includes
         joint ventures at their pro rata share.  Management considers EBITDA
         to be an appropriate supplemental measure to net income because it
         helps investors understand the ability of the Company to incur and
         service debt and make capital expenditures.  EBITDA should not be
         construed as an alternative to operating income as an indicator of
         the Company's operating performance, or to cash flows from operating
         activities (as determined in accordance with GAAP) or as a measure of
         liquidity.  EBITDA, as presented, may not be comparable to similarly
         titled measurements reported by other companies.

    (l)  The Company presents same-center NOI because the Company believes it
         is useful for investors to evaluate the operating performance of
         comparable centers.  Same-center NOI is calculated using total EBITDA
         and subtracting out EBITDA from non-comparable centers and
         eliminating the management companies and the Company's general
         and administrative expenses.

SOURCE The Macerich Company

CONTACT:
Arthur Coppola,
President and Chief Executive Officer, or
Thomas E. O'Hern,
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer,
both of The Macerich Company,
+1-310-394-6000


Corporate Responsibility Report

Our company is an industry leader in sustainability, and this report details our cross-disciplinary efforts to minimize our carbon footprint while maximizing our positive impact on our communities.