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United Dominion Realty Trust, Inc. Announces First Quarter Results

Company Release - 4/18/2005 4:56 PM ET

RICHMOND, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 18, 2005--United Dominion Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:UDR) today reported Funds From Operations ("FFO") of $57.9 million, or $0.39 per share (diluted), for the quarter ended March 31, 2005. This compares to FFO of $54.8 million, or $0.38 per share (diluted), for the same period a year ago.

"Our first quarter results demonstrate a continuation of the strengthening fundamentals we registered last quarter," stated Thomas W. Toomey, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We achieved same store average occupancy of 94.4%, the highest level in over four years. This is up 1.1% from last year and up 0.3% from last quarter. All four drivers of revenue improved, helping us record a 3.8% increase in net operating income. I'm very pleased with our progress and expect to see continued strength in future quarters."

    Highlights from the First Quarter

    --  Acquired one apartment community for $106 million

    --  Sold 10 apartment communities for $69.1 million

    --  Issued $100 million of senior unsecured notes due 2015 at an
        effective rate of 5.17%

    --  Repaid $110 million of secured debt, reducing our secured debt
        ratio from 42% to 37%

    --  Received $12.3 million in proceeds from the sale of shares in
        Rent.com to eBay

"During the first quarter, we took steps to strengthen the Company by reinvesting the gain on the sale of our Rent.com shares in areas having long-term benefits for our investors," stated Mr. Toomey. "We financed initiatives that continue to strengthen our balance sheet and we funded incentive programs to benefit our associates. These steps are consistent with our goal of value creation over time."

Portfolio Operating Performance and Same Community Results

During the first quarter, 63,893 apartment homes, or 82% of total apartment homes, were classified as Same Community. The Company defines Same Community as all multifamily communities owned and stabilized for at least five quarters as of the beginning of the most recent quarter.

                  Same Community Results, Year/Year
                ($ in thousands, except monthly rent)

                                    1st Qtr '05  1st Qtr '04  % Change
                                    -----------  -----------  --------
Rent and other income                  $138,859     $135,704      2.3%
Concessions                               3,421        3,645     -6.1%
Bad debt                                    144          360    -59.9%
Total income                            135,294      131,699      2.7%
Expenses                                 52,307       51,723      1.1%
Net operating income                     82,987       79,976      3.8%

Avg. monthly collections per
 occupied home                             $716         $706      1.4%
Avg. monthly reimbursements per
 occupied home                               31           30      3.3%
Avg. physical occupancy                    94.4%        93.3%  110 bps
Operating margin                           61.3%        60.7%   60 bps
Annualized resident turnover rate          56.1%        56.6%  -50 bps
Resident credit loss, % of effective rent   0.1%         0.3%  -20 bps

On a quarter-over-quarter basis, first quarter 2005 Same Community Net Operating Income ("NOI") improved 3.8% as a result of a 2.7% increase in revenues from rental and other income and a 1.1% increase in operating expenses.

Same Community represents 41 markets, of which 28 markets, or 68%, generated positive Same Community NOI growth first quarter 2005 compared to first quarter 2004.

               Same Community Results, Quarter/Quarter
                ($ in thousands, except monthly rent)

                                    1st Qtr '05  4th Qtr '04  % Change
                                    -----------  -----------  --------
Rent and other income                  $138,859     $138,088      0.6%
Concessions                               3,421        4,008    -14.6%
Bad debt                                    144          733    -80.3%
Total income                            135,294      133,347      1.5%
Expenses                                 52,307       51,099      2.4%
Net operating income                     82,987       82,248      0.9%

Avg. monthly collections per
 occupied home                             $716         $709      1.0%
Avg. monthly reimbursements per
 occupied home                               31           30      3.3%
Avg. physical occupancy                    94.4%        94.1%   30 bps
Operating margin                           61.3%        61.7%  -40 bps
Annualized resident turnover rate          56.1%        57.4% -130 bps
Resident credit loss, % of effective rent   0.1%         0.5%  -40 bps

Sequentially, comparing first quarter 2005 to fourth quarter 2004, Same Community NOI improved 0.9% due to a 1.5% increase in revenues from rental and other income and a 2.4% increase in expenses.

Same Community represents 41 markets, of which 25 markets, or 61%, generated positive Same Community NOI growth first quarter 2005 over fourth quarter 2004.

Non-Mature Properties

The composition of the Company's portfolio has changed significantly over the past three years. Currently, 18% of the portfolio is considered 'non-mature,' meaning that the communities have not been owned or stabilized for more than five quarters. In the coming quarters, the Same Community portfolio will benefit from an influx of acquired properties currently considered non-mature in California, Metropolitan Washington D.C. and Florida, which are high rent and high occupancy markets. These high barrier markets comprise approximately 85% of non-mature NOI. The overall average monthly rental rate of our non-mature assets is approximately $1,000 per month.

Portfolio Repositioning

During the first quarter, the Company acquired one apartment community in Newport Beach, California, with 715 apartment homes for a purchase price of $106 million (averaging $148,252 per home.) This property was acquired at a cap rate of 5.5% using forward twelve months of operations and a reserve for capital expenditures of $510 per home. This property was one of the two remaining communities to be purchased in the ESSEX transaction. For more details on this transaction, see our press release dated September 7, 2004.

The Company also sold 10 older communities in Houston and Phoenix with 1,855 apartment homes for a total of $69.1 million at a blended cap rate of 5.5% using trailing twelve months of operations less an actual capital expenditure reserve of $510 per home and a management fee of 2.75%. On average, these homes were 24 years old, approximately 900 square feet in size, and generated $629 per month in rent.

Financing Activities

During the first quarter, the Company issued $100 million of senior unsecured notes with an effective average coupon of 5.17% or a spread of 92.5 basis points to the benchmark 10 year Treasury yield. These notes represented a re-opening of the 5.25% coupon notes that were originally issued on November 1, 2004, which mature on January 15, 2015, bringing the aggregate principal amount outstanding of these notes to $200 million.

eBay Purchase of Rent.com

In February, eBay (Nasdaq:EBAY) completed its acquisition of Rent.com, a leading Internet listing web site in the apartment and rental housing industry, for approximately $415 million in cash, plus acquisition costs, net of Rent.com's cash on hand. United Dominion owned shares in Rent.com. As a result of that sale, the Company recorded a gain of $12.3 million in the first quarter. The Company utilized approximately $9 million of the proceeds to fund prepayment penalties and offset the write off of deferred financing costs on approximately $90 million of single asset secured mortgages and $20 million outstanding debt on a $70 million secured credit facility that was terminated. These activities plus the issuance of unsecured debt reduced the Company's secured debt ratio from 42% to 37%. The remaining proceeds were reserved to fund incentive programs to benefit our associates.

Earnings Guidance

United Dominion believes that financial results for 2005 will be affected by international, national and regional economic trends and events, the acquisition and/or disposition of apartment communities and other factors. The Company's guidance for the second quarter 2005 FFO is $0.39 to $0.41 per share (diluted) and $1.57 to $1.70 per share (diluted) for the full year 2005. All guidance is based on the current expectations and judgment of the Company's management team.

Detailed assumptions for the Company's 2005 guidance can be found on our website at: http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/irol/11/112440/guidance/ guidance.pdf. (Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)

A reconciliation of the range provided for projected 2005 FFO per share for the full year to Earnings Per Share ("EPS") for the full year is as follows:

                                                        2005
                                                 High-end  Low-end
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Funds From Operations(1)                           $1.70    $1.57
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Conversion to GAAP Share Count (2)                  0.22     0.21
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Minority Interest of OP Unit Holders (2)           (0.02)   (0.04)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Depreciation (3)                                   (1.58)   (1.48)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Gains (3)                                           0.15     0.30
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Preferred Dividends                                (0.07)   (0.07)
-------------------------------------------------=====================
Expected Earnings Per Share                        $0.40    $0.49
----------------------------------------------------------------------

(1) The National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts ("NAREIT") defines funds from operations ("FFO") (April 2002 White Paper) as net income (computed in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP)), excluding gains (or losses) from sales of depreciable property, plus depreciation and amortization, and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. The Company believes that FFO is helpful to investors as a supplemental measure of the operating performance of a real estate company because it provides investors an understanding of the ability of the Company to incur and service debt and to make capital expenditures. FFO in and of itself does not represent net income or net cash flows from operating activities in accordance with GAAP. Therefore, FFO should not be exclusively considered as an alternative to net income or to net cash flows from operating activities as determined by GAAP or as a measure of liquidity.

(2) Operating Partnership units are not considered to be common stock equivalents for GAAP purposes.

(3) Due to the uncertain timing and extent of property dispositions and acquisitions, actual results could differ materially from expected EPS.

Supplemental Information

The Company offers Supplemental Information that provides information regarding the financial position and operating results of the Company. This Supplemental Information is available on the Company's website at: www.udrt.com/resources/files/Investor_Relations/1Q2005.pdf

    Conference Call Information

    Date: April 19, 2005
    Time: 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time

    To Participate in the Telephone Conference Call:
    Domestic: 800-218-0713
    International: 303-262-2075
    If you have any questions, please contact:
    Karen Droba: 312-640-6770
    E-mail: kdroba@financialrelationsboard.com

    Conference Call Playback:
    Domestic: 800-405-2236
    International: 303-590-3000
    Passcode: 11027221
    The playback can be accessed through April 29, 2005.

    Webcast

The conference call will also be available on UDR's website at www.udrt.com and at www.ccbn.com. To listen to a live broadcast, go to one of these sites at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time in order to register, download and install any necessary audio software. A replay will also be available for 90 days on UDR's website and also on CCBN's website.

About United Dominion Realty Trust, Inc.

United Dominion is the fourth largest apartment REIT, owning and operating apartment communities nationwide. The Company has raised the dividend each of the last 29 years. United Dominion is included in the S&P MidCap 400 Index. At March 31, 2005, the Company owned 77,704 apartment homes and had 807 homes under development. Additional information about United Dominion may be found on its Web site at www.udrt.com.

Statements contained in this press release, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements, as the term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the Company's use of words such as "expects," "plans," "estimates," "projects," "intends," "believes," and similar expressions that do not relate to historical matters. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which can cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated, due to a number of factors, which include, but are not limited to, unfavorable changes in the apartment market, changing economic conditions, the impact of competition and competitive pricing, acquisitions or new developments not achieving anticipated results, the expectation that approximately 50% of projected 2005 net operating income will come from California, Florida and Metropolitan Washington D.C., delays in completing developments and lease-ups on schedule, difficulties in selling existing apartment communities, and other risk factors discussed in documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. All forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of today, based upon information known to management as of the date hereof. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any of its forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes show that indicated results or events will not be realized.

Attachment 1
------------

                  UNITED DOMINION REALTY TRUST, INC.
                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                              (Unaudited)

                                                   Three Months Ended
                                                        March 31,
                                                   -------------------
In thousands, except per share amounts               2005      2004
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Rental income                                      $171,331  $143,231

Rental  expenses:
        Real estate taxes and insurance              20,864    17,675
        Personnel                                    17,536    14,950
        Utilities                                    10,363     9,254
        Repair and maintenance                       10,687     8,486
        Administrative and marketing                  6,080     5,020
        Property management                           4,813     4,361
        Other operating expenses                        290       270
                                                   --------- ---------
                                                     70,633    60,016
Non-property income:
        Sale of technology investment                12,306         -
        Other income                                    668       395
                                                   --------- ---------
                                                     12,974       395
Other expenses:
        Real estate depreciation and amortization    51,715    39,111
        Interest                                     39,160    28,913
        General and administrative                    7,000     4,754
        Loss on early debt retirement                 8,464         5
        Other depreciation and amortization             671       909
                                                   --------- ---------
                                                    107,010    73,692

Income before minority interests and discontinued
 operations                                           6,662     9,918
Minority interests of outside partnerships              (58)      (64)
Minority interests of unitholders in operating
 partnerships                                          (162)     (209)
                                                   --------- ---------
Income before discontinued operations, net of
 minority interests                                   6,442     9,645
Income from discontinued operations, net of
 minority interests (including gain on sales) (A)     8,499     5,667
                                                   --------- ---------
Net income                                           14,941    15,312
Distributions to preferred stockholders - Series B   (2,911)   (2,911)
Distributions to preferred stockholders - Series D
 (Convertible)                                            -    (1,036)
Distributions to preferred stockholders - Series E
 (Convertible)                                         (931)   (1,138)
Premium on preferred stock conversions                    -    (1,562)
                                                   --------- ---------
Net income available to common stockholders         $11,099    $8,665
                                                   ========= =========

Earnings per weighted average common share - basic
 and diluted:
     Income from continuing operations available to
      common stockholders, net of minority
      interests                                       $0.02     $0.02
     Income from discontinued operations, net of
      minority interests                              $0.06     $0.05
     Net income available to common stockholders      $0.08     $0.07

Common distributions declared per share             $0.3000   $0.2925

Weighted average number of common shares
 outstanding - basic                                136,067   126,984
Weighted average number of common shares
 outstanding - diluted                              137,073   127,953


(A) Discontinued operations represents all properties sold since
    January 1, 2002, and properties that are currently classified as
    held for disposition at March 31, 2005.
Attachment 2
------------

                  UNITED DOMINION REALTY TRUST, INC.
                         FUNDS FROM OPERATIONS
                              (Unaudited)

                                                   Three Months Ended
                                                        March 31,
                                                  --------------------
In thousands, except per share amounts               2005       2004
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Net income                                          $14,941   $15,312

Adjustments:
   Distributions to preferred stockholders           (3,842)   (5,085)
   Real estate depreciation and amortization         51,715    39,111
   Minority interests of unitholders in
    operating partnership                               162       209
   Real estate depreciation related to
    unconsolidated entities                              62        57

Discontinued Operations:
   Real estate depreciation                               4     3,800
   Minority interests of unitholders in
    operating partnership                               529       397
   Net gain on sale of depreciable property          (7,023)   (1,205)
                                                  ---------- ---------
Funds from operations ("FFO") - basic               $56,548   $52,596
                                                  ========== =========

   Distribution to preferred stockholders - Series
    D and E (Convertible)                               931     2,174

                                                  ---------- ---------
Funds from operations - diluted                     $57,479   $54,770
                                                  ========== =========

   Gains on the disposition of real estate
    developed for sale (A)                              459         -

                                                  ---------- ---------
FFO with gains on the disposition of real estate
 developed for sale - diluted                       $57,938   $54,770
                                                  ========== =========


Weighted average number of common shares and OP
 Units outstanding - basic                          144,683   135,901
Weighted average number of common shares, OP
 Units, and common stock equivalents
 outstanding - diluted                              150,187   145,163

FFO per common share - basic                          $0.39     $0.39
                                                  ========== =========
FFO per common share - diluted                        $0.39     $0.38
                                                  ========== =========

FFO is defined as net income (computed in accordance with GAAP),
excluding gains (or losses) from sales of depreciable property, plus
real estate depreciation and amortization, and after adjustments for
unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. This definition
conforms with the National Association of Real Estate Investment
Trust's definition issued in April 2002. United Dominion considers FFO
in evaluating property acquisitions and its operating performance and
believes that FFO should be considered along with, but not as an
alternative to, net income and cash flows as a measure of United
Dominion's activities in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles and is not necessarily indicative of cash available to fund
cash needs.

For the three months ended March 31, 2004, distributions to preferred
stockholders excludes $1.6 million related to premiums on preferred
stock conversions.

(A) See Attachment 2(A) for further discussion.
Attachment 2(A)
---------------

                  UNITED DOMINION REALTY TRUST, INC.
                   FUNDS FROM OPERATIONS (continued)
                              (Unaudited)

The following is a reconciliation of GAAP gains from the disposition
of real estate developed for sale to gross gains from the disposition
of real estate developed for sale.

                                                  Three Months Ended
                                                       March 31,
                                                 ---------------------
In thousands                                         2005      2004
---------------------------------------------    ---------------------
GAAP gains from the disposition of real estate
 developed for sale                                    $466        $-
Less: accumulated depreciation                           (7)        -
                                                 ----------- ---------
Gains from the disposition of real estate
 developed for sale                                    $459        $-
                                                 =========== =========


Gains from the disposition of real estate investments developed for
sale is defined as net sales proceeds less a tax provision (such
development by REITs must be conducted in a TRS) and the gross
investment basis of the asset before accumulated depreciation. We
consider FFO with gains/losses on real estate developed for sale to be
a meaningful supplemental measure of performance because the
short-term use of funds produce a profit which differs from the
traditional long-term investment in real estate for REITs.
Attachment 3
------------

                  UNITED DOMINION REALTY TRUST, INC.
                      CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                              (Unaudited)

In thousands, except share and
 per share amounts                          March 31,    December 31,
                                              2005           2004
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ASSETS

Real estate owned:
 Real estate held for investment            $5,167,321     $5,029,084
  Less: accumulated depreciation            (1,021,170)      (978,159)
                                           ------------  -------------
                                             4,146,151      4,050,925
 Real estate under development                  74,859         63,729
 Real estate held for disposition (net of
  accumulated depreciation of $10,328 and
  $29,728)                                      58,655        120,755
                                           ------------  -------------
 Total real estate owned, net of
  accumulated depreciation                   4,279,665      4,235,409
Cash and cash equivalents                        1,661          7,904
Restricted cash                                  5,921          6,086
Deferred financing costs, net                   23,463         25,151
Investment in unconsolidated development
 joint venture                                     436            458
Funds held in escrow from 1031 exchanges
 pending the acquisition of real estate              -         17,039
Note receivable                                  5,000          5,000
Other assets                                    36,590         34,347
Other assets - real estate held for
 disposition                                     1,280            607
                                           ------------  -------------
 Total assets                               $4,354,016     $4,332,001
                                           ============  =============

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Secured debt                                $1,088,451     $1,197,924
Unsecured debt                               1,852,663      1,682,058
Real estate taxes payable                       19,330         31,377
Accrued interest payable                        24,736         18,773
Security deposits and prepaid rent              26,306         25,168
Distributions payable                           45,800         44,624
Accounts payable, accrued expenses, and
 other liabilities                              46,945         50,217
Other liabilities - real estate held for
 disposition                                     1,115          2,816
                                           ------------  -------------
 Total liabilities                           3,105,346      3,052,957

Minority interests                              79,942         83,593

Stockholders' equity
 Preferred stock, no par value; $25
  liquidation preference,
   25,000,000 shares authorized;
  5,416,009 shares of 8.60% Series B
   Cumulative Redeemable issued and
   outstanding
     (5,416,009 shares in 2004)                135,400        135,400
  2,803,812 shares of 8.00% Series E
   Cumulative Convertible issued
    and outstanding (2,803,812 shares in
     2004)                                      46,571         46,571
 Common stock, $1 par value; 250,000,000
  shares authorized
  136,940,069 shares issued and outstanding
   (136,429,592 shares in 2004)                136,940        136,430
 Additional paid-in capital                  1,625,479      1,614,916
 Distributions in excess of net income        (761,905)      (731,808)
 Deferred compensation - unearned
  restricted stock awards                      (13,757)        (6,058)
                                           ------------  -------------
 Total stockholders' equity                  1,168,728      1,195,451
                                           ------------  -------------
 Total liabilities and
  stockholders' equity                      $4,354,016     $4,332,001
                                           ============  =============
    CONTACT: United Dominion Realty Trust, Inc.Larry Thede, 720-283-2450
             ir@udrt.comwww.udrt.com

    SOURCE: United Dominion Realty Trust, Inc.