PRIME US REIT – Steady growth in occupancy

 

 

 

 

The Positive
+ Improving portfolio fundamentals. Portfolio occupancy has been on an uptrend since 1Q25,
rising 4.2 ppts to 83.1% in 1Q26. 99k sqft of leases were secured in 1Q26 at a +4% rental
reversion, including an 11-year lease for 40k sqft with S&P Global in March 2026, which lifted
occupancy at Village Center Station I from 63% to 80.1%. With 11% of occupancy staggered to
commence cash rentals from 3Q26 and only 5.4% of leases by rental income due for renewal in
FY26, Prime US REIT is well-positioned to deliver higher cash rental income and improved
earnings visibility going forward.

The Negative

- Expect all-in interest costs to edge up. The weighted average interest rate remained stable
QoQ at 5.4%, but is expected to rise, remaining below 6%, as 50% of hedges expire in June 2026.
Aggregate leverage was 45.2% while ICR was 1.6x, within MAS limits but with room for
improvement. We do not expect any refinancing issues for the 10% and 74% of total debt due
in 3Q26 and 3Q27, respectively, given supportive liquidity conditions in the US for quality assets.

PRIME US REIT – Higher payout ratio backed by cash flow visibility

 

 

 

 

 

The Positive
+ Higher payout ratio backed by improving portfolio fundamentals. Portfolio occupancy rose
from 80.7% to 82.7% QoQ (FY24: 80%) and is expected to reach at least 85% by end-2026, with
active leasing initiatives continuing. 680k sqft of leases were secured in FY25 at a +5.6% rental
reversion amid improving leasing momentum (FY24: 592k sqft; +1.8%). WALE increased to 5.6
years (FY24: 4.4 years), enhancing income visibility, while only 7.2% of leases by income are due
for renewal in 2026.

+ Portfolio valuations rose 3.5% YoY to US$1.4bn. 11 of 13 assets posted gains, driven by
stronger contracted cash flows and 25-50bps cap rate compression.

The Negative

- Two properties recorded valuation declines due to higher cap and discount rates. 171 17th
Street fell 6% following a comparable sale in May 2025 by a seller undergoing restructuring.
Tower I at Emeryville saw a sharp 48.7% decline after a nearby comparable transaction in Sep
2025 was completed at a c.10% cap rate, leading valuers to apply a c.200bps increase in both
cap and discount rates for the asset. It is located within the San Francisco Bay Area submarket,
where leasing remains subdued, though current conditions likely reflect a cyclical trough.

PRIME US REIT – Recovery on the horizon

 

PRIME US REIT – Raising capital to fund growth

PRIME US REIT – Improving portfolio occupancy

PRIME US REIT – Laying the groundwork for future growth

PRIME US REIT – Unexpected rise in portfolio valuations

PRIME US REIT – Improving leasing volumes

 

 

 

PRIME US REIT – Refinancing finally complete

 

 

 

Prime US REIT – Pricing in some refinancing risk

 

 

 

The Positive

+ Leasing volume more than doubled YoY. Over 171.3k sq ft of leases were signed in 1Q24 (1Q23: 64.4k sq ft; 4Q23: 304.1k sq ft). Rental reversion for 1Q24 was -1.8% due to a 31.8k sq ft 11-year lease renewal in Reston Square with rents below preceding rents but above market rents. Management indicated strong leasing momentum at some of its properties, with notable leasing discussions underway at One Washingtonian Center (OWC), Park Tower, and 101 Hanley, albeit with relatively longer lead times.

 

The Negatives

- Two months left to refinance US$480mn or 69% of total debt due July 2024. Management is actively discussing refinancing this loan with lenders and believes it will be completed before maturity. 79% of total debt are either on fixed rate or hedged, with US$330mn of the US$480mn debt due for refinancing in July 2024 already hedged till June 2026. The cost of debt rose 0.1%pts QoQ to 4.1%. Aggregate leverage stood at 48.1%, with an ICR of 2.9x.

 

- 1Q24 Portfolio occupancy fell to 80.9% (FY23: 85.4%) after Sodexo vacated OWC. OWC is now undergoing an asset enhancement initiative to rejuvenate the asset, which is expected to be completed in 2H24. Excluding OWC, occupancy was 84.7%.

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