DALLAS, May 15, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- American Realty Investors, Inc. (NYSE:ARL) Wednesday announced first quarter 2002 net income of $594,000, or $.05 per share, on revenue of $38.28 million, as compared to net income of $1.75 million, or $.17 per share, on revenue of $41.45 million in the comparable period of 2001. The decreased income resulted from lower rental income due to property sales and reduced gains on land sales.
Details of income and expense of operations and sales and cost of sales for first quarter 2002 are as follows:
* Rents decreased to $29.35 million, from $33.21 million in 2001, due to the sale of 17 apartments in 2001. The decrease in apartment rent was partially offset by increased occupancy at the commercial properties. * Property operations expenses decreased to $19.89 million, from $23.45 million in 2001, mostly due to apartments sold in 2001 and lower expenses at the hotels, which partially offset increased taxes on land. * Pizza parlor sales increased to $8.54 million, from $7.83 million. Cost of sales increased to $6.95 million from $6.42 million in 2001. Gross margins rose to $1.59 million, from $1.40 million in 2001, due to opening three new stores in 2001 and an 8.75 percent increase in same-store sales. * Land sales and cost of sales decreased to $5.58 million and $3.38 million, from $20.49 million and $16.70 million in 2001. Gains on sales were $2.20 million, compared to $3.79 million in 2001. Other first quarter 2002 income included: * Interest income from notes receivable increased to $612,000, from $384,000 in 2001, due to funding of mortgage notes receivable in 2001. * Equity in the income of investees increased to $119,000, from a loss of $5,000 in 2001, due to increased net income of affiliates. * Minority interest decreased to $787,000, from $1.58 million in 2001, due to the repurchase of partnership units in 2001. * Loss on sale of investments in equity investees was $531,000, compared to no loss in 2001.
Expenses (excluding operations expenses and cost of sales) decreased to $28.71 million, from $29.40 million in 2001. Details on expenses in 2002 are:
* Interest expense increased to $18.79 million, from $18.07 million in 2001, due to higher balances and interest rates on stock loans. * Depreciation, depletion and amortization decreased to $3.56 million, from $4.08 million in 2001, due to sales of 17 apartments and one commercial property in 2001 * Incentive fee decreased to $152,000, from $1.52 million in 2001. * Net income fee was $374,000, compared to no fee in 2001. * General and administrative expenses increased to $3.31 million, from $2.40 million in 2001, due to increased legal fees.
American Realty Investors, Inc., a Dallas-based real estate investment company, holds a diverse portfolio of equity real estate located across the U.S., including office buildings, apartments, hotels, shopping centers, and developed and undeveloped land. For more information, go to the web site at www.amrealtytrust.com.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (dollars in thousands, except share and per share data) Three months ended March 31, 2002 2001 Income from rents $ 29,352 $ 33,213 Expense from operations 19,892 23,451 Operating income 9,460 9,762 Land sales 5,580 20,490 Cost of sales 3,381 16,701 Gain on land sales 2,199 3,789 Pizza sales 8,540 7,826 Cost of sales 6,953 6,422 Gross margin 1,587 1,404 Income from operations $ 13,246 $ 14,955 Other income 384 412 Gain on sale of real estate 16,283 16,426 Other expense 28,708 29,403 Net income $ 1,205 $ 2,390 Preferred dividend requirement (611) (642) Net income applicable to Common shares $ 594 $ 1,748 Earnings Per Share Net income $ .05 $ .17 Weighted average common shares used to compute earnings per share 11,375,127 10,104,268