SAN DIEGO, Feb. 22, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Realty Income Corporation (Realty Income, NYSE: O), The Monthly Dividend Company^®, today announced operating results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2016.  All per share amounts presented in this press release are on a diluted per common share basis unless stated otherwise.

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS:

For the year ended December 31, 2016:

• Net income per share was $1.13
• AFFO per share increased 5.1% to $2.88, compared to the year ended December 31, 2015
• Invested $1.86 billion in 505 new properties and properties under development or expansion

For the quarter ended December 31, 2016:

• Net income per share was $0.33
• AFFO per share increased 10.3% to $0.75, compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2015
• Invested $785.6 million in 279 new properties and properties under development or expansion
• Increased the monthly dividend in December for the 89^th time and for the 77^th consecutive quarter
• Issued $600 million of 3.000% senior unsecured notes due 2027, generating net proceeds of $586.7 million

Event subsequent to December 31, 2016:

• In January 2017, increased the amount of the annualized dividend to $2.526 per share, as compared to the February 2016 annualized dividend amount of $2.382 per share, which represents an increase of 6%

CEO Comments

"We are pleased with another year of solid results as our company continues to execute across all areas of the business," said
John P. Case, Realty Income's Chief Executive Officer. "In 2016, we surpassed $1 billion in rental revenue by completing a record-high volume of property acquisitions and actively managing our portfolio to maximize value. These activities contributed to healthy AFFO per share growth of 5.1% to $2.88, which supported the payment of multiple dividend increases throughout 2016. Given the strong momentum we are seeing in our business, we increased the dividend at the beginning of 2017 by 6% compared to one year ago. For 2017, we are introducing AFFO per share guidance of $3.00 - $3.06, representing earnings growth of 4.2% - 6.3%."

"During 2016, we completed $1.86 billion in acquisitions, of which $786 million was completed during the fourth quarter, representing our most active year and quarter for property acquisitions in our company's history. We achieved this volume while maintaining investment spreads well above our historical average. Our portfolio occupancy at the end of the fourth quarter was 98.3%, unchanged from the end of the prior quarter. We maintained this high level of occupancy while recapturing approximately 105% of expiring rent on 186 properties re-leased to existing or new tenants in 2016."

"Our balance sheet continues to be in excellent shape with approximately 72% of our market capitalization represented by equity. Additionally, our credit rating remains the highest in the net lease industry, providing us with outstanding financial flexibility and contributing to our distinct cost of capital advantage."

Financial Results

Revenue
Revenue for the quarter ended December 31, 2016 increased 9.1% to $287.8 million, as compared to $263.7 million for the same quarter in 2015. Revenue for 2016 increased 7.8% to $1.103 billion, as compared to $1.023 billion for 2015.

Net Income Available to Common Stockholders
Net income available to common stockholders for the quarter ended December 31, 2016 was $85.7 million, as compared to $76.2 million for the same quarter in 2015. Net income per share for the quarter ended December 31, 2016 was $0.33, as compared to $0.31 for the same quarter in 2015.

Net income available to common stockholders for 2016 was $288.5 million, as compared to $256.7 million for 2015. Net income per share for 2016 was $1.13, as compared to $1.09 for 2015.

The calculation to determine net income for a real estate company includes impairments, gains on property sales and/or fair value adjustments on interest rate swaps. These items can vary from quarter to quarter and can significantly impact net income and period to period comparisons.

Funds From Operations Available to Common Stockholders (FFO)
FFO for the quarter ended December 31, 2016 increased 12.3% to $199.8 million, as compared to $177.9 million for the same quarter in 2015. FFO per share for the quarter ended December 31, 2016 increased 8.5% to $0.77, as compared to $0.71 for the same quarter in 2015.

FFO for 2016 increased 12.7% to $735.4 million, as compared to $652.4 million for 2015. FFO per share for 2016 increased 4.0% to $2.88, as compared to $2.77 for 2015.

Adjusted Funds From Operations Available to Common Stockholders (AFFO)
AFFO for the quarter ended December 31, 2016 increased 13.5% to $193.0 million, as compared to $170.0 million for the same quarter in 2015. AFFO per share for the quarter ended December 31, 2016 increased 10.3% to $0.75, as compared to $0.68 for the same quarter in 2015.

AFFO for 2016 increased 13.8% to $736.4 million, as compared to $647.0 million for 2015. AFFO per share for 2016 increased 5.1% to $2.88, as compared to $2.74 for 2015.

The company considers FFO and AFFO to be appropriate supplemental measures of a Real Estate Investment Trust's (REIT's) operating performance. Realty Income defines FFO, a non-GAAP measure, consistent with the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts' (NAREIT's) definition, as net income available to common stockholders, plus depreciation and amortization of real estate assets, plus impairments of real estate assets, and reduced by gains on property sales. AFFO further adjusts FFO for unique revenue and expense items, which the company believes are not as pertinent to the measurement of the company's ongoing operating performance. Presentation of the information regarding FFO and AFFO is intended to assist the reader in comparing the operating performance of different REITs, although it should be noted that not all REITs calculate FFO and AFFO in the same way, so comparisons with other REITs may not be meaningful. FFO and AFFO should not be considered as alternatives to reviewing our cash flows from operating, investing, and financing activities. In addition, FFO and AFFO should not be considered as measures of liquidity, our ability to make cash distributions, or our ability to pay interest payments. See the reconciliations of net income available to common stockholders to FFO and AFFO on pages six and seven of this press release. 

Dividend Increases
In December 2016, Realty Income announced the 77^th consecutive quarterly dividend increase, which is the 89^th increase in the amount of the dividend since the company's listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in 1994. The annualized dividend amount as of December 31, 2016 was $2.43 per share. The amount of monthly dividends paid per share increased 5.3% to $2.392 in 2016 from $2.271 in 2015.

In January 2017, Realty Income increased the amount of the annualized dividend to $2.526 per share, as compared to the February 2016 annualized dividend amount of $2.382 per share, which represents an increase of 6%. The new monthly dividend amount of $0.2105 per share was paid on February 15, 2017 to shareholders of record on February 1, 2017.

Real Estate Portfolio Update

As of December 31, 2016, Realty Income's portfolio of freestanding, single-tenant properties consisted of 4,944 properties located in 49 states and Puerto Rico, leased to 248 different commercial tenants doing business in 47 industries. The properties are leased under long-term, net lease agreements with a weighted average remaining lease term of 9.8 years.

Portfolio Management Activities
The company's portfolio of commercial real estate, owned primarily under 10- to 20-year net leases, continues to perform well and provides dependable rental revenue supporting the payment of monthly dividends. As of December 31, 2016, portfolio occupancy was 98.3% with 84 properties available for lease out of a total of 4,944 properties in the portfolio, as compared to 98.3% as of September 30, 2016, and 98.4% as of December 31, 2015. Economic occupancy, or occupancy as measured by rental revenue, was 98.9% as of December 31, 2016, as compared to 98.8% as of September 30, 2016, and 99.2% as of December 31, 2015.

Since September 30, 2016, when the company reported 82 properties available for lease, the company had 82 lease expirations, re-leased 64 properties and sold 16 vacant properties during the quarter ended December 31, 2016. Of the 64 properties re-leased during the fourth quarter of 2016, 48 properties were re-leased to the same tenants, ten were re-leased to new tenants without vacancy, and six were re-leased to new tenants after a period of vacancy. The annual new rent on these re-leases was $11,594,000, as compared to the previous annual rent of $11,012,000 on the same properties, representing a rent recapture rate of 105.3% on the properties re-leased for the quarter ended December 31, 2016.

Since December 31, 2015, when the company reported 71 properties available for lease, the company had 256 lease expirations, re-leased 186 properties and sold 57 vacant properties during 2016. Of the 186 properties re-leased during 2016, 144 properties were re-leased to the same tenants, 21 were re-leased to new tenants without vacancy, and 21 were re-leased to new tenants after a period of vacancy. The annual new rent on these re-leases was $28,571,000, as compared to the previous annual rent of $27,332,000 on the same properties, representing a rent recapture rate of 104.5% on the properties re-leased during 2016.

Rent Increases
During the quarter ended December 31, 2016, same store rents on 4,045 properties under lease increased 0.9% to $223.67 million, as compared to $221.66 million for the same quarter in 2015. During 2016, same store rents on 4,045 properties under lease increased 1.2% to $888.51 million, as compared to $878.36 million for 2015.

Investments in Real Estate
During the quarter ended December 31, 2016, Realty Income invested $785.6 million in 279 new properties and properties under development or expansion, located in 27 states. These properties are 100% leased with a weighted average lease term of approximately 14.3 years and an initial average cash lease yield of 6.1%. The tenants occupying the new properties operate in 21 industries, and the property types are 94.5% retail and 5.5% industrial, based on rental revenue. Approximately 84% of the rental revenue generated from acquisitions during the fourth quarter of 2016 is from investment grade rated tenants.

During 2016, Realty Income invested approximately $1.86 billion in 505 new properties and properties under development or expansion, located in 40 states. These properties are 100% leased with a weighted average lease term of approximately 14.7 years and an initial average cash lease yield of 6.3%. The tenants occupying the new properties operate in 28 industries, and the property types are 86.4% retail and 13.6% industrial, based on rental revenue. Approximately 64% of the rental revenue generated from acquisitions during 2016 is from investment grade rated tenants.

Property Dispositions
During the quarter ended December 31, 2016, Realty Income sold 26 properties for $35.4 million, with a gain on sales of $6.7 million, as compared to 16 properties sold for $13.9 million, with a gain on sales of $5.1 million, during the same quarter in 2015.

During 2016, Realty Income sold 77 properties for $90.5 million, with a gain on sales of $22.0 million, as compared to 38 properties sold for $65.8 million, with a gain on sales of $22.2 million, during 2015.

Liquidity and Capital Markets

Capital Raising
In October 2016, Realty Income issued $600 million of 3.000% senior unsecured notes due January 2027. The public offering price for the notes was 98.671% of the principal amount for an effective yield to maturity of 3.153%. The net proceeds of approximately $586.7 million from the offering were used to repay borrowings outstanding under the company's revolving credit facility.

During the quarter ended December 31, 2016, Realty Income raised $83.1 million from the sale of common stock at a weighted average price of $55.26 per share. During the year ended December 31, 2016, Realty Income raised $572.7 million from the sale of common stock at a weighted average price of $60.61 per share.

Credit Facility
Realty Income has a $2.25 billion unsecured credit facility. This credit facility is comprised of a $2.0 billion revolving credit facility and a $250 million five-year unsecured term loan. The credit facility also has a $1.0 billion expansion feature. As of December 31, 2016, Realty Income had a borrowing capacity of $880.0 million available on its revolving credit facility.

2017 Earnings Guidance

We estimate FFO per share for 2017 of $3.00 to $3.06, an increase of 4.2% to 6.3%, respectively, over 2016 FFO per share of $2.88. FFO per share for 2017 is based on a net income per share range of $1.27 to $1.33, plus estimated real estate depreciation of $1.80 per share, and reduced by potential estimated gains on sales of investment properties of $0.07 per share (in accordance with NAREIT's definition of FFO).

We estimate AFFO per share for 2017 of $3.00 to $3.06, an increase of 4.2% to 6.3%, respectively, over 2016 AFFO per share of $2.88. AFFO further adjusts FFO for unique revenue and expense items, which are not as pertinent to the measurement of Realty Income's ongoing operating performance.

Additional earnings guidance detail can be found in Realty Income's supplemental materials available on Realty Income's corporate website at http://investors.realtyincome.com/quarterly-results.

Conference Call Information

In conjunction with the release of Realty Income's operating results, the company will host a conference call on February 23, 2017 at 11:30 a.m. PT to discuss the results. To access the conference, dial (877) 723-9520. When prompted, provide the access code: 8192870.

A telephone replay of the conference call can also be accessed by calling (888) 203-1112 and entering the access code: 8192870. The telephone replay will be available through March 9, 2017. A live webcast will be available in listen-only mode by clicking on the webcast link on the company's home page or in the investors section at www.realtyincome.com. A replay of the conference call webcast will be available approximately two hours after the conclusion of the live broadcast. The webcast replay will be available through March 9, 2017. No access code is required for this replay.

Supplemental Materials

Supplemental materials on the fourth quarter and 2016 operating results are available on Realty Income's corporate website at http://investors.realtyincome.com/quarterly-results.

About Realty Income

Realty Income, The Monthly Dividend Company^®, is an S&P 500 company dedicated to providing stockholders with dependable monthly income. The company is structured as a REIT, and its monthly dividends are supported by the cash flow from over 4,900 real estate properties owned under long-term lease agreements with regional and national commercial tenants. To date, the company has declared 560 consecutive common stock monthly dividends throughout its 48-year operating history and increased the dividend 90 times since Realty Income's public listing in 1994 (NYSE: O). The company has in-house acquisition, portfolio management, asset management, credit research, real estate research, legal, finance and accounting, information technology, and capital markets capabilities. Additional information about the company can be obtained from the corporate website at www.realtyincome.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical are "forward-looking" statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, which may cause the company's actual future results to differ materially from expected results. These risks include, among others, general economic conditions, local real estate conditions, tenant financial health, the availability of capital to finance planned growth, continued volatility and uncertainty in the credit markets and broader financial markets, property acquisitions and the timing of these acquisitions, charges for property impairments, and the outcome of any legal proceedings to which the company is a party, as described in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Consequently, forward-looking statements should be regarded solely as reflections of the company's current operating plans and estimates. Actual operating results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecast in this press release. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date these statements were made. 

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SOURCE Realty Income Corporation