Safestore Faces Turbulence with Earnings Report and Stock Decline

Safestore Experiences Significant Stock Decline

Shares of Safestore (LSE: SAFE) have witnessed a substantial drop of 8% following the release of its latest earnings report, which highlighted a disappointing earnings performance and raised concerns about the company's profitability in the immediate future.

Earnings Report Highlights

The self-storage company's EPRA earnings were reported at £92.7 million, which fell short of the expectations set by analysts, notably missing Barclays' forecast by 1.7%. The shortfall was primarily attributed to increases in general and administrative (G&A) and finance costs.

Revenue Insights

Safestore pre-announced revenue figures of £223.4 million, with like-for-like (LFL) revenue remaining largely unchanged. This stagnation is reflective of varying performances across different markets. Specifically, the UK market saw a minor decline of 1.2%, whereas Paris achieved a modest increase of 1.4%. Furthermore, the expansion markets, including Spain and the Benelux region, experienced a notable growth rate of 12.9%.

Occupancy and Revenue Per Available Foot (RevPAF)

The company's occupancy levels exhibited mixed results, with LFL closing occupancy declining by 50 basis points year-over-year to settle at 78.8%. Total occupancy dropped 240 basis points YoY to 74.6%. The Paris market was particularly weak, reporting a 2.0 percentage point decrease in LFL occupancy, while the UK managed a smaller decline of 0.4 percentage points. In contrast, expansion markets reported a positive shift of 2.9 percentage points in their occupancy levels.

Revenue per available foot (RevPAF) also followed a declining trend, down 0.2% on a like-for-like basis and 3.6% when considering the total portfolio. The UK segment faced a decline of 1.5% YoY on a like-for-like basis, but Paris and the expansion markets showed gains of 1.3% and 11.5%, respectively.

Analysts' Perspectives

Analysts from Barclays shared insights into the earnings report, noting that while revenue expectations were pre-announced, the unexpected features were attributed to slightly elevated G&A and finance costs. They further highlighted that management has indicated a possible improvement in LFL performance post fiscal year. However, guidance for the upcoming fiscal year indicates potential inflationary pressures and negative impacts attributed to new store openings.

Development Projects and Future Outlook

Safestore is actively engaged in 31 ongoing development projects. While these initiatives hold the promise of driving future revenue and earnings growth, they are currently posing challenges to profitability. The economic headwinds faced in the UK and across Continental Europe are expected to further complicate conditions for the self-storage sector.

Despite these challenges, there is a silver lining as Safestore reports an upswing in occupancy rates following the fiscal year-end, with group LFL occupancy trending positively at +2.4%, buoyed primarily by the expansion markets showing an impressive growth rate of +21.4%.

Frequently Asked Questions

What caused the drop in Safestore's stock price?

The stock price fell due to a disappointing earnings report that revealed higher costs impacting profitability.

How did Safestore's revenue perform?

The company reported revenue of £223.4 million, but like-for-like revenue remained flat across markets.

What are the prospects for Safestore's development projects?

While the ongoing development projects aim to enhance future revenue, they are currently creating challenges for profitability.

What regions showed positive occupancy growth for Safestore?

Expansion markets, including Spain and Benelux, reported strong occupancy growth numbers, contributing positively to overall performance.

What is the outlook for the self-storage sector?

The self-storage sector faces challenges due to economic pressures, although some markets are showing resilience with occupancy growth.

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