Power REIT (NYSE-AMEX: PW and PW.PRA) (“Power REIT” or the
“Trust”), with a focused “Triple Bottom Line” strategy and a
commitment to people, planet, and profit, today announced that it
is has filed its quarterly report for the three months ended March
31, 2022 on Form 10Q with the SEC. The information provided below
is an update that includes highlights from its quarterly report and
current business activities.
FINANCIAL
HIGHLIGHTS
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
|
2022 |
|
2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
|
$ |
1,985,516 |
|
|
$ |
1,820,927 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Income Attributable to Common Shareholders |
|
$ |
997,880 |
|
|
$ |
1,108,128 |
|
Net Income per Common Share (basic) |
|
|
0.25 |
|
|
|
0.34 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Core FFO Available to Common Shareholders |
|
$ |
1,348,533 |
|
|
$ |
1,274,939 |
|
Core FFO per Common Share |
|
|
0.40 |
|
|
|
0.46 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Growth Rates: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
|
|
9 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Net Income Attributable to Common Shareholders |
|
|
-10 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Net Income per Common Share (basic) |
|
|
-27 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Core FFO Available to Common Shareholders |
|
|
6 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Core FFO per Common Share |
|
|
-13 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Commenting on the results and Q1-2021
achievements, David Lesser, Chief Executive Officer
stated, “As our investment platform continues to evolve,
we remain focused on sustainable farming solutions by investing in
Controlled Environment Agriculture properties in the form of
greenhouses. Our legacy is in other sustainable real estate assets
and we continue to embrace that ethos. The price for wholesale
cannabis has compressed dramatically over the past several
quarters, which has had a significant impact on our cannabis
tenants. As we work through these headwinds, we are proactively
backfilling space and are in active negotiations with replacement
tenants. We have also now diversified to add a greenhouse focused
on the cultivation of tomatoes.”
Mr. Lesser continued, “We remain optimistic that
our investments in greenhouse properties provide a sustainable
platform for indoor farming of food as well as cannabis.
Greenhouses are more cost efficient to build and more energy
efficient to operate than warehouse style indoor cultivation
facilities. We are also encouraged that the tenant at our Michigan
greenhouse commenced hemp cultivation having received a license
from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
that governs such activity. This will help our tenant gain valuable
experience growing a strain of cannabis plant and we believe it may
also support our belief that the greenhouse carries an agricultural
property designation while growing cannabis.”
- During the first quarter of 2022,
the Trust reported Core FFO of $0.40 per share (as adjusted),
compared to Core FFO per share of $0.46 for the comparable period
in 2021. Excluding one-time items and other adjustments Core FFO
would have been $0.46 per share for the period ended, March 31,
2022, compared to $0.46 per share for the period ended March 31,
2021. These results reflect the following one-time
adjustments:
|
○ |
Core FFO for the period ended March 31, 2022 would have been $0.46
per share excluding two, one-time adjustments that in total reduced
FFO by $0.06 per share related to eliminating straight-line rent
for two tenants based on concerns about rent collectability at two
properties located in Huerfano County, Colorado. |
|
|
|
|
○ |
Core FFO for the period ended March 31, 2022 of $0.40 per share
compares to $0.35 per share for the quarter ended December 31,
2021. |
As previously disclosed, the Trust has stopped
including revenue from our property located in Michigan due to
uncertainty around cannabis licensing that is the subject of a
previously announced litigation related to the designation of the
property as an agricultural use while growing cannabis. Had the
straight-line rent for the Michigan property been included in the
first quarter 2022 calculation, the incremental FFO would increase
by approximately $0.38 per share per quarter. Effective April 27,
2022, our tenant received a license for the cultivation of Hemp and
has commenced growing operations.
ACQUISITION ACTIVITY
On March 31, 2022, Power REIT, through a newly
formed wholly owned subsidiary, PW MillPro NE LLC, (“PW MillPro”),
acquired its largest greenhouse property to date for $9.35 million
in O’Neill, Nebraska. The greenhouse is a 1,121,513 square foot
cultivation facility (the “MillPro Facility”) on approximately
86-acres, which will be used for the cultivation of tomatoes. The
acquisition included an additional 4.88-acre property with a
21-room employee housing building, which is a key strategic benefit
for attracting the necessary labor to operate the greenhouse. As
part of the transaction, the Trust agreed to fund the replacement
of Energy Curtains for $534,430. Simultaneous with the acquisition,
PW MillPro entered into a 10-year “triple-net” lease (the “MillPro
Lease”) with Millennium Produce of Nebraska LLC (“MillPro”), a
subsidiary of Millennium Sustainable Ventures Corp., of which David
Lesser is CEO and Chairman. MillPro will operate the MillPro
Facility for the sustainable cultivation of tomatoes. The lease
requires MillPro to pay all property related expenses including
maintenance, insurance and taxes. The MillPro Lease is structured
to provide an annual straight-line rent of approximately
$1,099,387, representing an estimated yield on costs of 11%.
Mr. Lesser commented on
the recent acquisition, “The Nebraska
transaction was funded using the Trust’s debt facility with a 5.52%
interest rate, representing a significant investment spread to our
cost of capital relative to traditional real estate asset classes.
Assuming no value is assigned to the employee housing facility or
the extra land for expansion, Power REIT’s cost basis for the
greenhouse is approximately $8.81 per square foot and represents a
substantial discount to replacement cost. This should help our
tenant operator which is focused on becoming a large-scale low-cost
tomato producer. This acquisition diversifies our exposure to the
cannabis industry gyrations while continuing our focus on the
benefits of Controlled Environment Agriculture in the form of
greenhouses.”
LEASING AND
TENANT ACTIVITY
On January 1, 2022, Power REIT’s subsidiary, (PW
CO CanRE Walsenburg LLC), entered into a lease amendment with
Walsenburg Cannabis LLC amended (the “Walsenburg Lease Amendment”)
to provide $625,000 funding to add processing space and equipment
that will be housed on the one Property owned by Power REIT
pursuant to a sublease with Power REIT’s tenant. The Walsenburg
Lease Amendment reflects a ten-year term with no renewal options
and is structured to provide an annual straight-line rent of
approximately $120,000.
On January 1, 2022, Power REIT’s subsidiary, (PW
CO CanRE Grail LLC) entered into a triple-net lease (the “Sandlot
Lease”) with a new tenant, The Sandlot, LLC (“SL Tenant”), which
replaces a prior tenant at this property who vacated the property
in November 2021. The Sandlot Lease is a 20-year term and provides
four, five-year extension options. Power REIT’s total commitment to
this project is approximately $2,432,000. The Sandlot Lease also
has financial guarantees from affiliates of the SL Tenant, which
intends to operate as a licensed cannabis cultivation and
processing facility. The annual straight-line annual rent is
approximately $462,000.
On January 15, 2022, Power REIT’s subsidiary,
(“PW CanRE Cloud Nine”) filed for the eviction of Cloud Nine LLC
(“Cloud Nine”) for its failure to pay rent. On February 11, 2022
the court granted a Writ of Restitution for the eviction of Cloud
Nine who has appealed the eviction ruling and filed counterclaims
against PW CanRE Cloud Nine. The appeal is currently pending and
Cloud Nine has posted a $25,000 bond. PW CanRE Cloud Nine has filed
a motion to increase the bond to an amount that reflects the back
rent due.
On March 1, 2022, the Sweet Dirt Lease was
amended (the “Sweet Dirt Lease Second Amendment”) to provide
funding in the amount of $3,508,000 to add additional items to the
property improvement budget for the construction of a Cogeneration
/ Absorption Chiller project to the Sweet Dirt Property. The term
of the Sweet Dirt Lease Second Amendment is coterminous with the
original lease and is structured to provide an annual straight-line
rent of approximately $654,000.
PORTFOLIO
Power REIT’s portfolio currently comprises:
- 22 Controlled Environment
Agriculture (CEA) properties (greenhouses) totaling more than
2,100,000 square feet;
- 7 solar farm ground leases totaling
601 acres; and
- 112 miles of railroad
property.
CAPITAL MARKETS
ACTIVITY
As previously announced, Power REIT entered into
a Debt Facility with initial availability of $20 million with a
5.52% fixed interest rate. As of March 31, 2022, $11,500,000 was
drawn on the Debt Facility.
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
As previously disclosed, On April 1, 2022, Power
REIT’s wholly owned subsidiary (“PW Marengo”), filed a Complaint,
Petition for Writ of Mandamus and Jury Demand against the Marengo,
Michigan. The Complaint was filed in the United States District
Court – Western District of Michigan – Southern Division and the
Case Number is: 1:22-cv-00321. The Complaint is an action for
equitable, declaratory and injunctive relief arising out of
Township’s false promises, constitutional violations by the
Township’s deprivation of Plaintiffs’ civil rights through its
refusal and failure to comply with its own ordinances and state law
as well as a common dispute resolution mechanism. On April 7, 2022
PW Marengo filed a motion for an expedited hearing and on April 21,
2022 a reply brief was filed. We are awaiting a ruling from the
court.
On April 8, 2022, JKL2 Inc., Chelsey Joseph,
Alan Kane and Jill Lamoureux filed a complaint in District Court,
Crowley County Colorado (Case Number: 2022CV30009) against PW CO
CanRe JKL LLC, Power REIT and David H. Lesser (the “Power REIT
parties”) and Crowley County Builders, LLC and Dean Hiat (the “CC
Parties”). The complaint is seeking a judgement against the Power
REIT Parties for (i) fraudulent inducement and (ii)breach of duty
of good faith and fair dealing and (iii) civil conspiracy and (iv)
unjust enrichment. On April, May 2, 2022, PW CO CanRe JKL LLC
commenced an eviction process against JKL2 Inc. for failure to pay
rent when due and will be counter-claiming, seeking damages for
unpaid rent.
DISTRIBUTIONS
During the three months ended March 31, 2022,
the Trust paid quarterly dividends of approximately $163,000
($0.484375 per share) on Power REIT’s 7.75% Series A Cumulative
Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock., which was payable on March
15, 2022 to shareholders of record on February 15, 2022.
UPDATED INVESTMENT
PRESENTATION
Power REIT has posted an updated investor
presentation which is available using the following link:
https://www.pwreit.com/investors
STATEMENT ON SUSTAINABILITY
Power REIT owns real estate related to
infrastructure assets including properties for Controlled
Environment Agriculture facilities with a focus on greenhouses,
Renewable Energy and Transportation.
CEA facilities in the form of greenhouses,
provide an extremely environmentally friendly solution, which
consume approximately 70% less energy than indoor growing
operations that do not benefit from “free” sunlight. greenhouses
use 90% less water than field grown plants, and Power REIT’s
greenhouse properties operate without the use of pesticides and
avoid agricultural runoff of fertilizers and pesticides. These
facilities cultivate medical Cannabis, which has been recommended
to help manage a myriad of medical symptoms, including seizures and
spasms, multiple sclerosis, post-traumatic stress disorder,
migraines, arthritis, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer’s. To
date, the FDA has not approved a marketing application for cannabis
for the treatment of any disease or condition.
Renewable Energy assets are
comprised of land and infrastructure associated with utility scale
solar farms. These projects produce power without the use of fossil
fuels thereby lowering carbon emissions. The solar farms produce
approximately 50,000,000 kWh of electricity annually which is
enough to power approximately 4,600 homes on a carbon free
basis.
Transportation assets are
comprised of land associated with a railroad, an environmentally
friendly mode of bulk transportation.
ABOUT POWER REIT
Power REIT, with a focus on the “Triple Bottom
Line” and a commitment to people, planet and profit, is a
specialized real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns
sustainable real estate related to infrastructure assets including
properties for Controlled Environment Agriculture, Renewable Energy
and Transportation. Power REIT is actively seeking to expand its
real estate portfolio related to Controlled Environment Agriculture
in the form of greenhouses for the cultivation of food and
cannabis.
Additional information about Power REIT can be
found on its website: www.pwreit.com
Cautionary Statement About
Forward-Looking Statements
This document includes forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the U.S. securities laws.
Forward-looking statements are those that predict or describe
future events or trends and that do not relate solely to historical
matters. You can generally identify forward-looking statements as
statements containing the words "believe," "expect," "will,"
"anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "project," "plan," "assume",
"seek" or other similar expressions, or negatives of those
expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain
these identifying words. All statements contained in this document
regarding our future strategy, future operations, future prospects,
the future of our industries and results that might be obtained by
pursuing management's current or future plans and objectives are
forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on
any forward-looking statements because the matters they describe
are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond our control. Our
forward-looking statements are based on the information currently
available to us and speak only as of the date of the filing of this
document. Over time, our actual results, performance, financial
condition or achievements may differ from the anticipated results,
performance, financial condition or achievements that are expressed
or implied by our forward-looking statements, and such differences
may be significant and materially adverse to our security
holders.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This document contains supplemental financial
measures that are not calculated pursuant to U.S. generally
accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), including the measure
identified by us as Core Funds From Operations Available to Common
Shares (“Core FFO”). Management believes that Core FFO is a useful
supplemental measure of the Trust’s operating performance.
Management believes that alternative measures of performance, such
as net income computed under GAAP, or Funds From Operations
computed in accordance with the definition used by the National
Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”), include
certain financial items that are not indicative of the results
provided by the Trust’s asset portfolio and inappropriately affect
the comparability of the Trust’s period-over-period performance.
These items include non-recurring expenses, such as those incurred
in connection with litigation, one-time upfront acquisition
expenses that are not capitalized under ASC-805 and certain
non-cash expenses, including non-cash, stock-based compensation
expense. Therefore, management uses Core FFO and defines it as net
income excluding such items. Management believes that, for the
foregoing reasons, these adjustments to net income are appropriate.
The Trust believes that Core FFO is a useful supplemental measure
for the investing community to employ, including when comparing the
Trust to other REITs that disclose similarly adjusted FFO figures,
and when analyzing changes in the Trust’s performance over time.
Readers are cautioned that other REITs may use different
adjustments to their GAAP financial measures than we do, and that
as a result the Trust’s Core FFO may not be comparable to the FFO
measures used by other REITs or to other non-GAAP or GAAP financial
measures used by REITs or other companies.
RECONCILIATION NET INCOME TO CORE
FFO
Management believes that Core FFO is a useful
supplemental measure of the Trust's operating performance.
Management believes that alternative measures of performance, such
as net income computed 56 under GAAP, or Funds From Operations
computed in accordance with the definition used by the National
Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts ("NAREIT"), include
certain financial items that are not indicative of the results
provided by the Trust's asset portfolio and inappropriately affect
the comparability of the Trust's period-over-period performance.
These items include non-recurring expenses, such as those incurred
in connection with litigation, one-time upfront acquisition
expenses that are not capitalized under ASC-805 and certain
non-cash expenses, including stock-based compensation expense
amortization and certain up front financing costs. Therefore,
management uses Core FFO and defines it as net income excluding
such items. Management believes that, for the foregoing reasons,
these adjustments to net income are appropriate. The Trust believes
that Core FFO is a useful supplemental measure for the investing
community to employ, including when comparing the Trust to other
REITs that disclose similarly adjusted FFO figures, and when
analyzing changes in the Trust's performance over time. Readers are
cautioned that other REITs may use different adjustments to their
GAAP financial measures than Power REIT do, and that as a result,
the Trust's Core FFO may not be comparable to the FFO measures used
by other REITs or to other non-GAAP or GAAP financial measures used
by REITs or other companies.
A reconciliation of our Core FFO to net income
for the three months ended March 31, 2022, and 2021 is included in
the table below:
CORE FUNDS FROM OPERATIONS
(FFO)(Unaudited)
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
|
2022 |
|
2021 |
Revenue |
|
$ |
1,985,516 |
|
|
$ |
1,820,927 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Income |
|
$ |
997,880 |
|
|
$ |
1,108,128 |
|
Stock-Based Compensation |
|
|
109,100 |
|
|
|
66,158 |
|
Interest Expense - Amortization of Debt Costs |
|
|
21,976 |
|
|
|
8,527 |
|
Amortization of Intangible Lease Asset |
|
|
104,172 |
|
|
|
59,285 |
|
Amortization of Intangible Lease Liability |
|
|
(9,925 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Depreciation on Land Improvements |
|
|
288,537 |
|
|
|
196,051 |
|
Core FFO Available to Preferred and Common Stock |
|
|
1,511,740 |
|
|
|
1,438,149 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred Stock Dividends |
|
|
(163,207 |
) |
|
|
(163,210 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Core FFO Available to Common Shares |
|
$ |
1,348,533 |
|
|
$ |
1,274,939 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding (basic) |
|
|
3,367,531 |
|
|
|
2,755,502 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Core FFO per Common Share |
|
|
0.40 |
|
|
|
0.46 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Growth Rates: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
|
|
9 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Net Income |
|
|
-10 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Core FFO Available to Common Shareholders |
|
|
6 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Core FFO per Common Share |
|
|
-13 |
% |
|
|
|
|
CONACT:
David H. Lesser, Chairman & CEO |
Mary Jensen, Investor Relations |
dlesser@pwreit.com |
mary@irrealized.com |
212-750-0371 |
310-526-1707 |
|
|
301 Winding RoadOld Bethpage, NY
11804 |
|
www.pwreit.com |
|
Power REIT (AMEX:PW)
Historical Stock Chart
From Nov 2024 to Dec 2024
Power REIT (AMEX:PW)
Historical Stock Chart
From Dec 2023 to Dec 2024