ProLogis Q3 FFO Down, Revises FY09 Guidance - Update

Thursday, real estate investment trust ProLogis (PLD) posted a significant decrease in funds from operations for the third quarter compared to the year-ago period, mainly due to an impairment of real estate properties and lower occupancy. The company also revised its guidance for FFO for the full year.

Denver-based ProLogis' FFO came down to $65.2 million or $0.14 per share from $158 million or $0.59 per share in the year-ago period.

FFO, excluding significant non-cash items and non-recurring charges, decreased to $0.21 per share from $0.59 per share in the prior-year period.

The non-cash items included impairment of real estate properties and other assets and non-recurring charges associated with write-offs of certain corporate assets and costs associated with the company's workforce reduction.

Impairment of real estate properties and other assets of $46.27 million or $0.07 per share negatively impacted the FFO. This was partially offset by the $12.01 million gains on early extinguishment of debt.

On an average, 15 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected earnings of $0.19 for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude one-time items.

ProLogis posted net loss of $11.78 million or $0.03 per share for the third quarter, compared to net income of $32.15 million or $0.12 per share in the year-ago period.

The company's revenue went down to $273.93 million from $988.89 million in the year-ago period; compared with Wall Street expectations of $227.62 million for the quarter.

For the nine-months, FFO was down to $444.64 million or $1.16 per share from $793.93 million or $2.95 per share in the year-ago period. FFO, excluding significant non-cash items, was down to $404.96 million or $1.06 per share from $793.93 million or $2.95 per share in the prior-year period.

Net earnings for the nine-months were down to $405.80 million or $1.06 per share from $422.00 million or $1.57 per share in the year-earlier quarter.

Revenue for the nine-month period was down to $973.67 million from $4.10 billion a year back.

Looking ahead, the company revised its full-year guidance to $1.39 to $1.43 per share of FFO, excluding significant non-cash items and non-recurring charges, and $0.96 to $1.00 in earnings per share. Analysts expect FFO of $1.42 for the full year.

ProLogis (PLD) is currently trading at $12.44, up $0.71, on the NYSE.

by RTTNews Staff Writer

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