CubeSmart Reports Third Quarter 2019 Results


MALVERN, Pa., Oct. 24, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CubeSmart (NYSE: CUBE) today announced its operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019.

“We are encouraged by our third quarter performance in light of the continued impact from supply and the difficult year-over-year operating expense comparison,” commented Christopher P. Marr, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Despite the competitive operating environment, we see positive signs in markets that experienced supply growth early in the cycle and remain confident in the long-term performance of our high-quality portfolio.”

Key Highlights for the Quarter

  • Reported earnings per share (“EPS”) attributable to the Company’s common shareholders of $0.22.
  • Reported funds from operations (“FFO”) per share, as adjusted, of $0.44, representing a year-over-year increase of 2.3%.
  • Increased same-store (467 stores) net operating income (“NOI”) 0.1% year over year, driven by 1.5% revenue growth and a 5.3% increase in property operating expenses.
  • Averaged 93.1% same-store occupancy during the quarter and ended the quarter at 92.5%.  
  • Closed on two property acquisitions totaling $17.9 million.
  • Opened for operation one development property for a total cost of $18.0 million.
  • Sold 1.8 million common shares at an average sales price of $34.93 per share, resulting in net proceeds of $61.2 million.
  • Added 48 stores to our third-party management platform during the quarter, bringing our total third-party managed store count to 652.

Financial Results

Net income attributable to the Company’s common shareholders was $42.2 million for the third quarter of 2019, compared with $42.9 million for the third quarter of 2018. EPS attributable to the Company’s common shareholders was $0.22 for the third quarter of 2019, compared with $0.23 for the same period last year.

FFO, as adjusted, was $86.8 million for the third quarter of 2019, compared with $80.7 million for the third quarter of 2018. FFO per share, as adjusted, increased 2.3% to $0.44 for the third quarter of 2019, compared with $0.43 for the same period last year. 

Investment Activity

Acquisition Activity

During the quarter ended September 30, 2019, the Company acquired two stores located in Georgia and South Carolina for $17.9 million. In total for the year through the date of this press release, the Company has acquired 24 properties for $188.7 million and currently has five additional properties under contract for $87.9 million that are expected to close by the first quarter of 2020.

Disposition Activity

Subsequent to September 30, 2019, the Company sold a store located in Texas for a sales price of $4.1 million.

Unconsolidated Joint Venture Activity

During the third quarter of 2019, the Company’s joint venture, HVP IV, acquired two properties located in Texas for $46.0 million. In total for the year through the date of this press release, HVP IV has acquired six properties for $88.2 million and currently has two additional properties under contract for $34.3 million that are expected to close by year end. 

Development Activity

During the third quarter of 2019, the Company opened for operation a development property located in Massachusetts for a total cost of $18.0 million. As of September 30, 2019, the Company had five joint venture development properties under construction. The Company anticipates investing a total of $131.9 million related to these projects and had invested $54.2 million of that total as of September 30, 2019. These stores are located in New York (2), Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia and are expected to open at various times between the fourth quarter of 2019 and the second quarter of 2021.

Third-Party Management

As of September 30, 2019, the Company’s third-party management program included 652 stores totaling 43.1 million square feet. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, the Company added 48 stores and 153 stores, respectively, to its third-party management program.

Same-Store Results

The Company’s same-store portfolio at September 30, 2019 included 467 stores containing approximately 32.4 million rentable square feet, or approximately 89.3% of the aggregate rentable square feet of the Company’s 519 owned stores.  These same-store properties represented approximately 90.9% of property net operating income for the quarter ended September 30, 2019.

Same-store physical occupancy as of September 30, 2019 and 2018 was 92.5%. Same-store revenues for the third quarter of 2019 increased 1.5% and same-store operating expenses increased 5.3% from the same quarter in 2018. Same-store net operating income increased 0.1%, as compared with the same period in 2018.

Operating Results

As of September 30, 2019, the Company’s total owned portfolio included 519 stores containing 36.3 million rentable square feet and had a physical occupancy of 90.6%.

Revenues increased $13.2 million and property operating expenses increased $4.7 million in the third quarter of 2019, as compared with the same period in 2018.  Increases in revenues were primarily attributable to increased net effective rents in the same-store portfolio as well as revenues generated from property acquisitions and recently opened development properties. Increases in property operating expenses were primarily attributable to property taxes and increased expenses associated with newly acquired or developed stores.

Interest expense increased from $15.2 million during the three months ended September 30, 2018 to $18.2 million during the three months ended September 30, 2019, an increase of $3.0 million. The increase is attributable to a higher amount of outstanding debt and higher interest rates during the 2019 period. To fund a portion of the Company’s growth, the average debt balance during the three months ended September 30, 2019 increased approximately $196 million from the same period in 2018 from $1,656 million to $1,852 million. The weighted average effective interest rate on our outstanding debt increased from 3.91% for the three months ended September 30, 2018 to 4.05% for the three months ended September 30, 2019. 

Financing Activity

During the third quarter, the Company sold 1.8 million common shares of beneficial interest through its “at-the-market” equity program (“ATM”) at an average sales price of $34.93 per share, resulting in net proceeds of $61.2 million, after deducting offering costs. As of September 30, 2019, the Company had 4.6 million shares available for issuance under the existing equity distribution agreements.

On October 11, 2019, the Operating Partnership issued $350 million in aggregate principal amount of unsecured senior notes due February 15, 2030 that bear interest at a rate of 3.00% per annum (the “2030 Notes”). The 2030 Notes were priced at 99.623% of the principal amount with a yield to maturity of 3.043%. Net proceeds from the offering were used to repay all the outstanding indebtedness incurred under our unsecured revolving credit facility maturing in June 2024. The remaining net proceeds from the offering will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes.

Quarterly Dividend

On July 23, 2019, the Company declared a dividend of $0.32 per common share. The dividend was paid on October 15, 2019 to common shareholders of record on October 1, 2019.

2019 Financial Outlook

“Utilizing our investment-grade balance sheet, we raised over $400 million of attractively priced capital since the start of the third quarter through ATM equity issuances and our sixth senior note offering with an interest rate of 3.0%,” commented Tim Martin, Chief Financial Officer. “As a result of our capital markets activity and third quarter results, we are adjusting estimates and various guidance assumptions for 2019.”

Fully diluted FFO per share, as adjusted, for 2019 will be between $1.67 and $1.69 (previously $1.66 to $1.69) and fully diluted earnings per share for the year will be between $0.86 and $0.88 (previously $0.85 to $0.88). Changes to the underlying assumptions for 2019 guidance are detailed in the table below. Due to uncertainty related to the timing and terms of transactions, the impact of any potential future speculative investment activity is excluded from guidance.  For 2019, the same store pool consists of 467 properties totaling 32.4 million rentable square feet.

                    
    Current Ranges for     
2019 Full Year Guidance Range Summary   Annual Assumptions   Prior Guidance(1) 
Same-store revenue growth   1.50% to 2.25%   1.50% to 2.50% 
Same-store expense growth   3.25% to 4.00%   3.00% to 4.00% 
Same-store NOI growth   0.75% to 1.50%   1.00% to 2.25% 
                    
Acquisition of wholly-owned operating properties   $250.0M to $300.0M   $200.0M to $250.0M 
Acquisition of properties at C/O   $0    $0   $0    $0 
New development openings   $133.6M    $133.6M   $131.6M    $131.6M 
Dispositions   $4.1M to $4.1M   $0 to $50.0M 
Dilution from properties in lease-up   $(0.09) to $(0.10)   $(0.09) to $(0.10) 
                    
Property management fee income   $23.0M to $24.0M   $22.0M to $24.0M 
General and administrative expenses   $38.5M to $39.0M   $38.5M to $39.5M 
Interest and loan amortization expense   $75.5M to $76.5M   $76.5M to $78.5M 
Full year weighted average shares and units   193.6M    193.6M   194.4M    194.4M 
                    
Earnings per diluted share allocated to common shareholders   $0.86 to $0.88   $0.85 to $0.88 
Plus: real estate depreciation and amortization   $0.87    $0.87   $0.87    $0.87 
Less: gain from sale of real estate   $(0.06)    $(0.06)   $(0.06)    $(0.06) 
FFO per diluted share, as adjusted   $1.67 to $1.69   $1.66 to $1.69 
                    

(1) Prior guidance as included in our second quarter earnings release dated July 25, 2019.

           
4th Quarter 2019 Guidance Range or Value 
Earnings per diluted share allocated to common shareholders $0.20 to $0.21 
Plus: real estate depreciation and amortization  0.21    0.21 
FFO per diluted share, as adjusted $0.41 to $0.42 
           

Conference Call

Management will host a conference call at 11:00 a.m. ET on Friday, October 25, 2019 to discuss financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019.

A live webcast of the conference call will be available online from the investor relations page of the Company's corporate website at www.cubesmart.com. Telephone participants may avoid any delays in joining the conference call by pre-registering for the call using the following link to receive a special dial-in number and PIN: http://dpregister.com/10135252.

Telephone participants who are unable to pre-register for the conference call may join on the day of the call using 1-877-506-3281 for domestic callers, +1-412-902-6677 for international callers, or 1-855-669-9657 for callers in Canada. After the live webcast, the call will remain available on CubeSmart's website for 30 days. In addition, a telephonic replay of the call will be available through November 25, 2019. The replay numbers are 1-877-344-7529 for domestic callers, +1-412-317-0088 for international callers, and 1-855-669-9658 for callers in Canada. For callers accessing a telephonic replay, the conference number is 10135252.

Supplemental operating and financial data as of September 30, 2019 is available on the Company’s corporate website under Investor Relations - Financial Information - Financial Reports.

About CubeSmart

CubeSmart is a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust. The Company's self-storage properties are designed to offer affordable, easily accessible and secure storage space for residential and commercial customers.  According to the 2019 Self-Storage Almanac, CubeSmart is one of the top three owners and operators of self-storage properties in the United States.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Funds from operations (“FFO”) is a widely used performance measure for real estate companies and is provided here as a supplemental measure of operating performance. The April 2002 National Policy Bulletin of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (the “White Paper”), as amended and restated, defines FFO as net income (computed in accordance with GAAP), excluding gains (or losses) from sales of real estate and related impairment charges, plus real estate depreciation and amortization, and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures.   

Management uses FFO as a key performance indicator in evaluating the operations of the Company's stores. Given the nature of its business as a real estate owner and operator, the Company considers FFO a key measure of its operating performance that is not specifically defined by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The Company believes that FFO is useful to management and investors as a starting point in measuring its operational performance because FFO excludes various items included in net income that do not relate to or are not indicative of its operating performance such as gains (or losses) from sales of real estate, gains from remeasurement of investments in real estate ventures, impairments of depreciable assets, and depreciation, which can make periodic and peer analyses of operating performance more difficult. The Company’s computation of FFO may not be comparable to FFO reported by other REITs or real estate companies.  

FFO should not be considered as an alternative to net income (determined in accordance with GAAP) as an indication of the Company’s performance. FFO does not represent cash generated from operating activities determined in accordance with GAAP and is not a measure of liquidity or an indicator of the Company’s ability to make cash distributions. The Company believes that to further understand its performance, FFO should be compared with its reported net income and considered in addition to cash flows computed in accordance with GAAP, as presented in its Consolidated Financial Statements.

FFO, as adjusted represents FFO as defined above, excluding the effects of acquisition related costs, gains or losses from early extinguishment of debt, and other non-recurring items, which the Company believes are not indicative of the Company’s operating results.

The Company defines net operating income, which it refers to as “NOI,” as total continuing revenues less continuing property operating expenses. NOI also can be calculated by adding back to net income (loss): interest expense on loans, loan procurement amortization expense, loan procurement amortization expense – early repayment of debt, acquisition related costs, equity in losses of real estate ventures, other expense, depreciation and amortization expense, general and administrative expense, and deducting from net income (loss): gains from sale of real estate, net, other income, gains from remeasurement of investments in real estate ventures and interest income. NOI is not a measure of performance calculated in accordance with GAAP.

Management uses NOI as a measure of operating performance at each of its stores, and for all of its stores in the aggregate. NOI should not be considered as a substitute for net income, cash flows provided by operating, investing and financing activities, or other income statement or cash flow statement data prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Company believes NOI is useful to investors in evaluating operating performance because it is one of the primary measures used by management and store managers to evaluate the economic productivity of the Company’s stores, including the ability to lease stores, increase pricing and occupancy, and control property operating expenses. Additionally, NOI helps the Company’s investors meaningfully compare the results of its operating performance from period to period by removing the impact of its capital structure (primarily interest expense on outstanding indebtedness) and depreciation of the basis in its assets from operating results.

Forward-Looking Statements

This presentation, together with other statements and information publicly disseminated by CubeSmart (“we,” “us,” “our” or the “Company”), contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the “Exchange Act.” Forward-looking statements include statements concerning the Company’s plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events, future revenues or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs, plans or intentions relating to acquisitions and other information that is not historical information. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “believes,” “expects,” “estimates,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “anticipates,” or “intends” or the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy. Such statements are based on assumptions and expectations that may not be realized and are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which cannot be predicted with accuracy and some of which might not even be anticipated. Although we believe the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, future events and actual results, performance, transactions or achievements, financial and otherwise, may differ materially from the results, performance, transactions or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. As a result, you should not rely on or construe any forward-looking statements in this presentation, or which management or persons acting on their behalf may make orally or in writing from time to time, as predictions of future events or as guarantees of future performance. We caution you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this presentation or as of the dates otherwise indicated in such forward-looking statements. All of our forward-looking statements, including those in this presentation, are qualified in their entirety by this statement.

There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in or contemplated by this presentation. Any forward-looking statements should be considered in light of the risks and uncertainties referred to in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). These risks include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • adverse changes in the national and local economic, business, real estate and other market conditions;
  • the effect of competition from existing and new self-storage properties on our ability to maintain or raise occupancy and rental rates;
  • the execution of our business plan;
  • reduced availability and increased costs of external sources of capital;
  • financing risks, including the risk of over-leverage and the corresponding risk of default on our mortgage and other debt and potential inability to refinance existing indebtedness;
  • increases in interest rates and operating costs;
  • counterparty non-performance related to the use of derivative financial instruments;
  • risks related to our ability to maintain our qualification as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) for federal income tax purposes;
  • failure of acquisitions and developments to close on expected terms, or at all, or to perform as expected;
  • increases in taxes, fees, and assessments from state and local jurisdictions;
  • the failure of our joint venture partners to fulfill their obligations to us or their pursuit of actions that are inconsistent with our objectives;
  • reductions in asset valuations and related impairment charges;
  • security breaches or a failure of our networks, systems or technology, which could adversely impact our business, customer and employee relationships;
  • changes in real estate and zoning laws or regulations;
  • risks related to natural disasters or acts of violence, terrorism, or war that affect the markets in which we operate;
  • potential environmental and other liabilities;
  • uninsured losses and the ability to obtain insurance coverage against risks and losses;
  • the ability to attract and retain talent in the current labor market;
  • other factors affecting the real estate industry generally or the self-storage industry in particular; and
  • other risks identified in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K and, from time to time, in other reports that we file with the SEC or in other documents that we publicly disseminate.

Given these uncertainties, we caution readers not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.  We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as may be required in securities laws.

Contact:
                                  
CubeSmart                            
Charles Place
Director, Investor Relations
(610) 535-5700

CUBESMART AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share data)

       
  September 30,  December 31, 
  2019  2018 
  (unaudited)   
       
ASSETS      
Storage properties $4,674,717  $4,463,455 
Less: Accumulated depreciation  (936,862)  (862,487)
Storage properties, net (including VIE assets of $87,428 and $330,986, respectively)  3,737,855   3,600,968 
Cash and cash equivalents  7,293   3,764 
Restricted cash  5,555   2,718 
Loan procurement costs, net of amortization  4,284   963 
Investment in real estate ventures, at equity  88,812   95,796 
Assets held for sale  2,403    
Other assets, net  104,128   48,763 
Total assets $3,950,330  $3,752,972 
       
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY      
Unsecured senior notes, net $1,489,483  $1,143,524 
Revolving credit facility  237,980   195,525 
Unsecured term loans, net     299,799 
Mortgage loans and notes payable, net  96,810   108,246 
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities  150,532   149,914 
Distributions payable  62,645   60,627 
Deferred revenue  25,611   22,595 
Security deposits  470   474 
Liabilities held for sale  53    
Total liabilities  2,063,584   1,980,704 
       
Noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership  65,108   55,819 
       
Commitments and contingencies      
       
Equity      
Common shares $.01 par value, 400,000,000 shares authorized, 193,554,347 and 187,145,103 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively  1,936   1,871 
Additional paid-in capital  2,673,440   2,500,751 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss  (749)  (1,029)
Accumulated deficit  (860,985)  (791,915)
Total CubeSmart shareholders’ equity  1,813,642   1,709,678 
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries  7,996   6,771 
Total equity  1,821,638   1,716,449 
Total liabilities and equity $3,950,330  $3,752,972 
         
         

CUBESMART AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except share data)
(unaudited)

             
  Three Months Ended September 30,  Nine Months Ended September 30, 
  2019  2018  2019  2018 
             
REVENUES            
Rental income $142,207  $132,476  $409,826  $384,480 
Other property related income  18,054   15,494   50,651   44,788 
Property management fee income  6,286   5,400   17,932   14,794 
Total revenues  166,547   153,370   478,409   444,062 
OPERATING EXPENSES            
Property operating expenses  53,465   48,755   155,010   147,037 
Depreciation and amortization  43,379   35,239   122,484   105,251 
General and administrative  10,011   9,780   28,958   26,865 
Total operating expenses  106,855   93,774   306,452   279,153 
OTHER (EXPENSE) INCOME            
Interest:            
Interest expense on loans  (18,207)  (15,191)  (53,858)  (45,797)
Loan procurement amortization expense  (687)  (578)  (2,082)  (1,735)
Equity in earnings (losses) of real estate ventures  152   (292)  10,940   (785)
Other  1,647   (233)  1,304   260 
Total other expense  (17,095)  (16,294)  (43,696)  (48,057)
NET INCOME  42,597   43,302   128,261   116,852 
NET (INCOME) LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS            
Noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership  (426)  (476)  (1,283)  (1,285)
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries  (17)  74   94   166 
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE COMPANY’S COMMON SHAREHOLDERS $42,154  $42,900  $127,072  $115,733 
             
Basic earnings per share attributable to common shareholders $0.22  $0.23  $0.67  $0.63 
Diluted earnings per share attributable to common shareholders $0.22  $0.23  $0.67  $0.63 
             
Weighted average basic shares outstanding  192,927   186,074   189,970   184,036 
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding  193,817   186,916   190,774   184,829 
             


Same-Store Facility Results (467 stores)
(in thousands, except percentage and per square foot data)
(unaudited)

                   
  Three Months Ended    Nine Months Ended   
  September 30,  Percent   September 30,  Percent 
  2019  2018  Change 2019  2018  Change
                   
REVENUES                  
Rental income $129,423  $127,920  1.2 % $380,257  $373,403  1.8 %
Other property related income  13,843   13,176  5.1 %  40,296   38,716  4.1 %
Total revenues  143,266   141,096  1.5 %  420,553   412,119  2.0 %
                   
OPERATING EXPENSES                  
Property taxes  15,420   14,298  7.8 %  46,071   43,686  5.5 %
Personnel expense  11,376   11,169  1.9 %  34,113   33,126  3.0 %
Advertising  2,398   2,309  3.9 %  6,724   6,584  2.1 %
Repair and maintenance  1,700   1,341  26.8 %  4,970   4,460  11.4 %
Utilities  4,145   4,242  (2.3)%  11,848   12,355  (4.1)%
Property insurance  901   716  25.8 %  2,481   2,120  17.0 %
Other expenses  5,514   5,279  4.5 %  17,447   16,819  3.7 %
                   
Total operating expenses  41,454   39,354  5.3 %  123,654   119,150  3.8 %
                   
Net operating income (1) $101,812  $101,742  0.1 % $296,899  $292,969  1.3 %
                   
Gross margin  71.1 % 72.1 %    70.6 % 71.1 %  
                   
Period end occupancy (2)  92.5 % 92.5 %    92.5 % 92.5 %  
                   
Period average occupancy (3)  93.1 % 93.2 %    92.6 % 92.7 %  
                   
Total rentable square feet  32,426         32,426       
                   
Realized annual rent per occupied square foot (4) $17.15  $16.96  1.1 % $16.89  $16.57  1.9 %
                   
Reconciliation of Same-Store Net Operating Income to Operating Income                  
                   
Same-store net operating income (1) $101,812  $101,742     $296,899  $292,969    
Non same-store net operating income (1)  9,100   2,677      19,987   6,269    
Indirect property overhead (5)  2,170   196      6,513   (2,213)   
Depreciation and amortization  (43,379)  (35,239)     (122,484)  (105,251)   
General and administrative expense  (10,011)  (9,780)     (28,958)  (26,865)   
Interest expense on loans  (18,207)  (15,191)     (53,858)  (45,797)   
Loan procurement amortization expense  (687)  (578)     (2,082)  (1,735)   
Equity in earnings (losses) of real estate ventures  152   (292)     10,940   (785)   
Other  1,647   (233)     1,304   260    
                   
Net income $42,597  $43,302     $128,261  $116,852    
                   

(1) Net operating income (“NOI”) in a non-GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) financial measure. The above table reconciles same-store NOI to GAAP Net income.
(2) Represents occupancy at September 30 of the respective year.
(3) Represents the weighted average occupancy for the period.
(4) Realized annual rent per occupied square foot is computed by dividing rental income by the weighted average occupied square feet for the period.
(5) Includes property management income earned in conjunction with managed properties.

Non-GAAP Measure – Computation of Funds From Operations
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)

              
  Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended  
  September 30,  September 30,  
  2019  2018 2019  2018 
              
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders $42,154 $42,900 $127,072  $115,733 
              
Add (deduct):             
Real estate depreciation and amortization:             
Real property  42,599  34,537  120,228   103,142 
Company's share of unconsolidated real estate ventures  1,612  2,752  5,368   7,763 
Gains from sale of real estate, net (1)      (10,667)   
Noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership  426  476  1,283   1,285 
              
FFO attributable to common shareholders and OP unitholders $86,791 $80,665 $243,284  $227,923 
              
Add:             
Loan procurement amortization expense - early repayment of debt      141    
              
FFO, as adjusted, attributable to common shareholders and OP unitholders $86,791 $80,665 $243,425  $227,923 
              
Earnings per share attributable to common shareholders - basic $0.22 $0.23 $0.67  $0.63 
Earnings per share attributable to common shareholders - diluted $0.22 $0.23 $0.67  $0.63 
FFO per share and unit - fully diluted $0.44 $0.43 $1.26  $1.22 
FFO, as adjusted per share and unit - fully diluted $0.44 $0.43 $1.26  $1.22 
              
Weighted average basic shares outstanding  192,927  186,074  189,970   184,036 
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding  193,817  186,916  190,774   184,829 
Weighted average diluted shares and units outstanding  195,683  188,954  192,660   186,846 
              
Dividend per common share and unit $0.32 $0.30 $0.96  $0.90 
Payout ratio of FFO, as adjusted  72.7% 69.8% 76.2 % 73.8%

(1) The nine months ended September 30, 2019 include $10.7 million of gains from sale of real estate, net that are included in the Company’s share of equity in earnings (losses) of real estate ventures.