Frasers Centrepoint Trust – Defensive malls weather macro uncertainty

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Positives
+ Healthy portfolio operations. Portfolio occupancy improved 1.7 ppts QoQ to 99.8%, driven
by the backfilling of cinema spaces at Causeway Point and Century Square. Golden Village
has also exited Tiong Bahru Plaza as of 29 March, with the space to be taken up by Xventure,
a new indoor sports and adventure park concept. Despite macro uncertainty, shopper traffic
rose 2.4% YoY, and tenants’ sales increased 3.6% YoY in 2Q26, compared with FY25 growth
of 1.6% and 3.7%, respectively, underscoring the resilience of FCT’s portfolio anchored by
essential services.

+ Stable capital and cost management. The average all-in cost of debt improved by 30 bps
QoQ to 3.2% in 2Q26, with 66% of borrowings hedged to fixed rates. Aggregate leverage also
improved slightly to 40% from 40.3% QoQ. Having refinanced all FY26 maturities, the all-in
cost of debt is expected to be around 3.3% for FY26e (FY25: 3.5%). On utilities, FCT is fully
hedged for the remainder of FY26 and partially hedged for FY27, supporting cost stability.

Frasers Centrepoint Trust – Back to 99.9% occupancy

 

The Positives
+ Portfolio occupancy improved to 99.9% post-1Q26 with healthy operating metrics. The
cinema spaces at Causeway Point and Century Square have been successfully backfilled by
SAS Cineplex and Golden Village, respectively. Shopper traffic and tenant sales remained
resilient, increasing by 1.3% and 2.7% in 1Q26, respectively.

+ Stable financial metrics. In 1Q26, the quarter average all-in cost of debt remained stable
at 3.5% QoQ, with 81.2% of borrowings hedged to fixed rates. Aggregate leverage increased
slightly from 39.6% to 40.3% QoQ, reflecting ongoing capex at Hougang Mall. With interest
rates still trending lower, the all-in cost of debt is expected to decline further in FY26e,
potentially reaching 3.3% (FY25: 3.5%).


The Negative

- nil

Frasers Centrepoint Trust – Continued positive rental reversions expected

 

Frasers Centrepoint Trust – 99.9% retail portfolio occupancy

Frasers Centrepoint Trust – Defensive earnings from suburban malls

 

 

Frasers Centrepoint Trust – Key metrics remain healthy

 

 

Frasers Centrepoint Trust – Upside from Tampines 1 AEI completion

 

Frasers Centrepoint Trust – Low occupancy cost to drive rental reversion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frasers Centrepoint Trust – Robust operating performance in 1H24

 

The Positives

+ 2Q24 retail portfolio occupancy remained almost full at 99.9% (unchanged QoQ). Occupancy was at least 99% across all the malls. 1H24 rental reversion of +7.5% exceeded our expectations, and it was above 1H23 rental reversion of +4.3%. We expect this healthy positive rental reversion trend to continue for the remaining 14% of leases (by GRI) that expire in FY24.

 

+ Improvements in tenants’ sales and shopper traffic. 2Q24 tenants’ sales and shopper traffic were 4.3% and 8.1% higher YoY, respectively. Portfolio shopper traffic is now only 2% below pre-COVID levels, while tenant sales are c.20% higher than pre-COVID levels. We expect tenants’ sales to remain robust, supported by the various government handouts to Singapore residents in 2024.

 

+ All-in cost of debt improved 10bps QoQ to 4.2%, as FCT used the proceeds from the divestments of Changi City Point and interest in Hektar REIT to pay off some of the higher-cost debt. Aggregate leverage rose 1.3%pts QoQ to 38.5% as loans were drawn down to finance the increased stake in NEX and the Tampines 1 AEI. 68.5% of debt is hedged to a fixed rate. FCT has no debt expiring in FY24, and its ICR is 3.26 times. FY24e all-in cost of debt is expected to be low 4%.

 

The Negative

- nil

Frasers Centrepoint Trust – Increasing stake in NEX

 

The Positives

+ Retail portfolio occupancy is almost full at 99.9% (+1.5ppts YoY; +0.2ppts QoQ). Management guided that rental reversions for the quarter were above FY23’s +4.7%, and we expect this positive rental reversion trend to continue for the 20.3% of leases (by GRI) that expire in FY24.

 

+ Gearing improved from 39.3% to 37.2%, after using the proceeds from the divestments of Changi City Point and interest in Hektar REIT to pay off some debt. The all-in cost of debt increased 20bps QoQ to 4.3%, and the proportion of fixed-interest rate borrowings stands at 63.4%. Green loans now account for 72.5% of total borrowings. FCT has no debt expiring in FY24.

 

The Negative

- Tenant sales were down 0.7% YoY in 1Q24 due to several key anchor tenants undergoing renovations, and from a higher base in 2023. Excluding this, it was up 1.1% and was 18% above pre-COVID levels. Portfolio shopper traffic was 3.1% higher YoY, and F&B continues to be the key demand driver. Occupancy cost remains healthy at 15.5%.

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