Global Self Storage Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2018 Results

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 1, 2019 / Global Self Storage, Inc. (NASDAQ: SELF) (the ''Company''), a real estate investment trust that owns and operates self storage properties, reported results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2018.

Q4 2018 vs. Q4 2017 Highlights

• The Company's total revenues increased 6.6% to $2.1 million, total expenses increased 2.1% to $1.8 million, and operating income increased 49.5% to $276,000.
• Net income totaled approximately $75,000, or $0.01 per fully diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to net loss of $21,000, or $0.00 per fully diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2017.
• Funds from Operations (''FFO'') and Adjusted FFO (''AFFO'') totaled $0.05 and $0.08 per share, respectively, for the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to $0.04 and $0.04 per share, respectively, for the fourth quarter of 2017. This represents total FFO and AFFO growth of 20.3% and 79.5%, respectively, for the fourth quarter of 2018 versus the same time period in 2017.
• Same-store revenues increased 5.3% to $1.9 million.
• Same-store net operating income (“NOI'') increased 28.4% to $1.1 million.
• Combined same-store and non same-store (''Combined store'') revenues increased 6.6% to $2.1 million.
• Combined store NOI increased 28.3% to $1.3 million.
• Combined store leasable square footage at quarter end increased 2.3% to 766,000.
• Combined store overall square foot occupancy at quarter end increased 50 basis points to 92.5%.
• Combined store total annualized revenue per leased square foot increased 3.6% to $11.71.
• Maintained quarterly dividend of $0.065 per share of common stock.

Full Year Ended December 31, 2018 vs. Full Year Ended December 31,2017 Highlights

• The Company's total revenues increased 8.5% to $8.1 million, total expenses decreased 1.6% to $6.7 million, and operating income increased 110.4% to $1.4 million.
• Net income totaled approximately $619,000, or $0.08 per fully diluted share, for the full year ended December 31, 2018 compared to net loss of $146,000, or $0.02 per fully diluted share, for the full year ended December 31, 2017.
• FFO and AFFO totaled $0.26 and $0.30 per share, respectively, for the full year ended December 31, 2018 compared to $0.20 and $0.21 per share, respectively, for the full year ended December 31, 2017. This represents total FFO and AFFO growth of 28.9% and 39.6%, respectively, for the full year ended December 31, 2018 versus the same time period in 2017.
• Same-store revenues increased 7.7% to $7.3 million.
• Same-store NOI increased 11.7% to $4.3 million.
• Combined store revenues increased 8.6% to $8.1 million.
• Combined store NOI increased 12.0% to $4.8 million.
• Combined store total annualized revenue per leased square foot increased 5.5% to $11.46.
• Distributed dividends of $0.26 per share of common stock.
• Capital resources totaled $3.1 million, comprised of $1.5 million of cash and cash equivalents and $1.6 million of marketable securities. In addition, the Company secured a $10 million revolving credit line facility in December 2018, with interest payable at one-month LIBOR plus 3.00%.

Management Commentary

''Our results for the fourth quarter demonstrated once again our continued success in driving same-store revenue growth, maintaining expenses, and significantly expanding NOI from our properties,'' said President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Mark C. Winmill. ''We achieved record results in both the quarter and year, but more importantly, achieved full dividend coverage from FFO and AFFO for the full year of 2018—a significant milestone in our journey of maximizing shareholder value. Driving this achievement was our ability to continue successfully increasing rental rates, while managing our costs and maintaining our preferred 90%+ occupancy levels.''

''These increasingly positive results are indicative of the overall progress we have made in the last three years since our registration as an operating company. We have successfully identified and captured opportunities to grow revenues and NOI by acquiring and expanding our properties in the underserved secondary and tertiary cities in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest. These cities are experiencing significantly slower supply growth than the top MSAs, and are continuing to exhibit high barriers to entry through their stringent planning and zoning boards. In addition to this strategic geographic focus, we remain as focused as ever in building a higher-quality overall tenant base, primarily through our strategy of attracting and retaining tenants who rent for longer periods and are more inclined to accept greater rental rate increases. In fact, during 2018 we continued to see average tenant duration climb higher to approximately 3.0 years, a reflection of the success we're experiencing with this strategy. Taken altogether, our strategic focus in underserved markets, strong emphasis on higher-quality tenants, and agile nature of continuously adjusting our rates to remain competitive in each of our properties, enabled us to generate same-store revenues and NOI growth of 5.3% and 28.4%, respectively, for the fourth quarter and growth of 7.7% and 11.7%, respectively, for the full year 2018.''

''In summary, 2018 represented a milestone year for the Company: we drove record revenues and NOI, achieved full dividend coverage, and successfully completed and leased up our Merrillville, IN expansion. Throughout 2019, we will look to build on this success by continuing to increase rates for our existing tenants, increasing total leasable square footage, and increasing occupancy. We are currently evaluating proposals for the construction of our Millbrook, NY property expansion, which, when completed, will add approximately 16,500 gross square feet of our higher-margin climate-controlled units. Our recently secured credit revolver in December 2018 gives us the flexibility to support this expansion project, as well as acquire additional properties either directly or through a joint venture that we can enhance through our professional management and best practices. We are also exploring the potential of launching a third-party management platform to drive higher growth and profitability. Overall, these initiatives have us well positioned for another positive year defined by continued industry-leading results.''

Fourth Quarter 2018

The Company's fourth quarter total revenues increased 6.6%, total expenses increased 2.1%, and operating income increased 49.5%. The increase in operating income was driven primarily by the expansion of the Company's Merrillville, IN store, as well as higher rental and occupancy rates. For the fourth quarter of 2018, net income totaled $75,000 compared to net loss of $21,000 for the fourth quarter of 2017.

Same-Store Results for the Fourth Quarter of 2018 ⁽¹⁾

The Company's same-store portfolio for the fourth quarter of 2018 included ten of its eleven stores, representing 87.2% of store NOI for the quarter.

For the fourth quarter of 2018, same-store revenues increased 5.3% to $1.9 million compared with approximately $1.8 million for the fourth quarter in 2017. The increase was driven primarily by the 4.1% increase in total annualized revenue per leased square foot, which was due primarily to existing tenant rate increases, an increase in available climate-controlled leasable square feet compared to available leasing parking square feet, and, to a lesser extent, increased move-in rental rates and decreased move-in rent ''specials'' discounting.

Same-store operating expenses in the fourth quarter of 2018 totaled $755,000 compared with $904,000 in the fourth quarter of 2017. The decrease was primarily driven by the loss of the Company's Class 8 tax incentive and subsequent property expense at the Dolton, IL property, which was recorded during the fourth quarter of 2017. The decrease was partially offset by higher store level employment costs.

For the fourth quarter of 2018, same-store NOI increased 28.4% to $1.1 million compared with $855,000 for the fourth quarter of 2017. The increase was due primarily to an increase in revenues and decrease in operating expenses.

Same-store occupancy at December 31, 2018 increased 60 basis points to 92.5% from 91.9% at December 31, 2017.

⁽¹⁾ A reconciliation of net income (loss) to same-store net operating income is provided later in this release, entitled ''Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income (Loss) to Same-Store Net Operating Income.''

Combined Same-Store and Non Same-Store Results for the Fourth Quarter of 2018 ⁽²⁾

For the fourth quarter of 2018, Combined store revenues increased 6.6% to $2.1 million compared with $1.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2017. The increase was driven primarily by a 2.9% increase in net leased square footage and by the results of the Company's revenue rate management program of raising existing tenant rates. The increase in net leased square footage was a result of the Company’s Merrillville, IN store expansion, which was completed in January 2018.

Combined store operating expenses in the fourth quarter of 2018 totaled $812,000 compared with $961,000 in the fourth quarter of 2017. The decrease was primarily driven by the loss of the Company's Class 8 tax incentive and subsequent property expense at the Dolton, IL property, which was recorded during the fourth quarter of 2017. The decrease was also driven by reduced advertising and marketing costs, but was partially offset by higher store level employment costs.

For the fourth quarter of 2018, Combined store NOI increased 28.3% to $1.3 million compared with $983,000 for the fourth quarter of 2017. The increase was due primarily to an increase in revenues and a decrease in operating expenses.

⁽²⁾ A reconciliation of net income (loss) to combined same-store and non same-store net operating income is provided later in this release, entitled ''Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income (Loss) to Combined Same-Store and Non Same-Store Net Operating Income.''

Company Operating Results for the Fourth Quarter of 2018

Net income totaled approximately $75,000, or $0.01 per share, in the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to a net loss of $21,000 or $0.00 per share, for the fourth quarter of 2017.

General and administrative expenses totaled $461,000 in the fourth quarter of 2018 compared with $436,000 in the prior quarter and $438,000 in the fourth quarter of 2017. The year-over-year increase was primarily driven by compensation expense related to stock-based awards.

Business development costs for the fourth quarter of 2018 totaled $173,000 compared with $0 for the fourth quarter of 2017.

Interest expense for the fourth quarter of 2018 was $238,000 compared with $220,000 for the fourth quarter of 2017.

FFO totaled approximately $406,000, or $0.05 per share, while AFFO totaled approximately $606,000, or $0.08 per share, for the fourth quarter of 2018. This represents total FFO and AFFO growth of 20.3% and 79.5%, respectively, for the fourth quarter of 2018 versus the same time period in 2017.

FFO and AFFO for the Fourth Quarter of 2018

(1) For purposes of calculating FFO and AFFO per share, unvested restricted stock is not included.

Full Year Ended December 31, 2018

The Company's total revenues for the full year ended December 31, 2018 increased 8.5%, total expenses decreased 1.6%, and operating income increased 110.4%. The increase in operating income was driven primarily by the expansion of the Company's Merrillville, IN store, as well as higher rental and occupancy rates. For the full year ended December 31, 2018, net income totaled $619,000 compared to a net loss of $146,000 for the same period in 2017.

Same-Store Results for the Full Year Ended December 31, 2018

The Company's same-store portfolio for the full year ended December 31, 2018 included ten of its eleven stores, representing 88.1% of store NOI for the period.

For the full year ended December 31, 2018, same-store revenues increased 7.7% to $7.3 million compared with $6.8 million for the full year ended December 31, 2017. The increase was driven primarily by the 6.5% increase in total annualized revenue per leased square foot, which was due primarily to existing tenant rate increases, an increase in available climate-controlled leasable square feet compared to available leasing parking square feet, and, to a lesser extent, increased move-in rental rates and decreased move-in rent ''specials'' discounting.

Same-store operating expenses for the full year ended December 31, 2018 totaled $3.0 million compared with $2.9 million for the full year ended December 31, 2017. The increase was primarily driven by higher store level employment costs and administrative expenses, which were partially offset by reduced advertising and marketing costs and reduced property taxes as described above. The Company currently expects same-store property tax expenses to increase during 2019, primarily due to an expected phaseout of the Class 8 tax incentive granted to the Dolton, IL property.

For the full year ended December 31, 2018, same-store NOI increased 11.7% to $4.3 million compared with $3.8 million for the full year ended December 31, 2017. The increase was due primarily to an increase in revenues which were partially offset by an increase in operating expenses.

Same-store occupancy for the full year ended December 31, 2018 increased 60 basis points to 92.5% from 91.9% for the full year ended December 31, 2017.

Combined Same-Store and Non Same-Store Results for the Full Year Ended December 31, 2018

For the full year ended December 31, 2018, Combined store revenues increased 8.6% to $8.1 million compared with $7.5 million for the full year ended December 31, 2017. The increase was driven primarily by a 2.9% increase in net leased square footage, due primarily to the Merrillville, IN property expansion, and by the results of the Company's revenue rate management program of raising existing tenant rates.

Combined store operating expenses for the full year ended December 31, 2018 totaled $3.3 million compared with $3.1 million for the full year ended December 31, 2017. The increase was driven primarily by higher store level employment costs and administrative expenses, which were partially offset by reduced advertising and marketing costs. The Company currently expects Combined store property tax expenses to increase during 2019, primarily due to an expected phaseout of the Class 8 tax incentive granted to the Dolton, IL property and higher assessed values due to the completed expansion of the Company's Merrillville, IN property.

For the full year ended December 31, 2018, Combined store NOI increased 12.0% to $4.8 million compared with $4.3 million for the full year ended December 31, 2017. The increase was due primarily to an increase in revenues which was partially offset by an increase in operating expenses.

Company Operating Results for the Full Year Ended December 31, 2018

Net income totaled approximately $619,000, or $0.08 per fully diluted share, for the full year ended December 31, 2018 compared to a net loss of $146,000 or $0.02 per fully diluted share, for the full year ended December 31, 2017.

General and administrative expenses totaled $1.8 million in the full year ended December 31, 2018 compared with $1.9 million in the full year ended December 31, 2017. The year-over-year decrease was primarily driven by decreased expenses in various professional fees, employee acquisition, and stockholder communications.

Business development costs for the full year ended December 31, 2018 totaled $198,000 compared with $14,000 for the full year ended December 31, 2017.

Interest expense for the full year ended December 31, 2018 was $898,000 compared with $881,000 for the full year ended December 31, 2017.

FFO totaled approximately $2.0 million, or $0.26 per share, while AFFO totaled approximately $2.3 million, or $0.30 per share, for the full year ended December 31, 2018. This represents total FFO and AFFO growth of 28.9% and 39.6%, respectively, for the full year ended December 31, 2018 versus the same time period in 2017.

FFO and AFFO forthe Full Year Ended December 31, 2018

(1) For purposes of calculating FFO and AFFO per share, unvested restricted stock is not included.

Dividends

On December 3, 2018, the Company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.065 per share, consistent with the quarterly dividend from a year ago and last quarter.

Balance Sheet

At December 31, 2018, cash, cash equivalents, and marketable equity securities totaled $3.1 million compared with $3.7 million at December 31, 2017.

For more information on the Company's quarterly and annual results, including financial statements and notes thereto, please refer to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the full year 2018 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission today.

About Global Self Storage

Global Self Storage, Inc. is a self-administered and self-managed REIT that owns, operates, manages, acquires, develops and redevelops self storage properties in the United States. The Company's self storage properties are designed to offer affordable, easily accessible and secure storage space for residential and commercial customers. It currently owns and operates, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, eleven self storage properties located in Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina. For more information, go to http://ir.globalselfstorage.us/ or visit our self storage customer site at www.globalselfstorage.us. You can also follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures. FFO and FFO per share are non-GAAP measures defined by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (''NAREIT'') and are considered helpful measures of REIT performance by REITs and many REIT analysts. NAREIT defines FFO as a REIT’s net income, excluding gains or losses from sales of property, and adding back real estate depreciation and amortization. FFO and FFO per share are not a substitute for net income or earnings per share. FFO is not a substitute for GAAP net cash flow in evaluating our liquidity or ability to pay dividends, because it excludes financing activities presented on our statements of cash flows. In addition, other REITs may compute these measures differently, so comparisons among REITs may not be helpful. However, the Company believes that to further understand the performance of its stores, FFO should be considered along with the net income and cash flows reported in accordance with GAAP and as presented in the Company's financial statements.

AFFO represents FFO excluding the effects of business development and acquisition related costs and non-recurring items, which we believe are not indicative of the Company's operating results. We present AFFO because we believe it is a helpful measure in understanding our results of operations insofar as we believe that the items noted above that are included in FFO, but excluded from AFFO, are not indicative of our ongoing operating results. We also believe that the investment community considers our AFFO (or similar measures using different terminology) when evaluating us. Because other REITs or real estate companies may not compute AFFO in the same manner as we do, and may use different terminology, our computation of AFFO may not be comparable to AFFO reported by other REITs or real estate companies.

We believe net operating income or ''NOI'' is a meaningful measure of operating performance because we utilize NOI in making decisions with respect to, among other things, capital allocations, determining current store values, evaluating store performance, and in comparing period-to-period and market-to-market store operating results. In addition, we believe the investment community utilizes NOI in determining operating performance and real estate values, and does not consider depreciation expense because it is based upon historical cost. NOI is defined as net store earnings before general and administrative expenses, interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. A reconciliation of this measure to its most directly comparable GAAP measure is provided later in this release.

NOI is not a substitute for net income, net operating cash flow, or other related GAAP financial measures, in evaluating our operating results.

Same-Store Self Storage Operations Definition

We consider our same-store portfolio to consist of only those stores owned and operated on a stabilized basis at the beginning and at the end of the applicable periods presented. We consider a store to be stabilized once it has achieved an occupancy rate that we believe, based on our assessment of market specific data, is representative of similar self storage assets in the applicable market for a full year measured as of the most recent January 1 and has not been significantly damaged by natural disaster or undergone significant renovation or expansion. We believe that same-store results are useful to investors in evaluating our performance because they provide information relating to changes in store-level operating performance without taking into account the effects of acquisitions, dispositions or new ground-up developments. At December 31, 2018, we owned ten same-store properties and one non same-store property. The Company believes that by providing same-store results from a stabilized pool of stores, with accompanying operating metrics including, but not limited to variances in occupancy, rental revenue, operating expenses, NOI, etc., stockholders and potential investors are able to evaluate operating performance without the effects of non-stabilized occupancy levels, rent levels, expense levels, acquisitions or completed developments. Same-store results should not be used as a basis for future same-store performance or for the performance of the Company's stores as a whole.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

Certain information presented in this press release may contain “forward-looking statements'' within the meaning of the federal securities laws including, but not limited to, the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. 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, and other information that is not historical information. In some cases, forward looking statements can be identified by terminology such as ''believes,'' ''plans,'' ''intends,'' ''expects,'' ''estimates,'' ''may,'' ''will,'' ''should,'' ''anticipates,'' or the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy. All forward-looking statements by the Company involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, which may cause the Company's actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. The Company may also make additional forward looking statements from time to time. All such subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, by the Company or on its behalf, are also expressly qualified by these cautionary statements. Investors should carefully consider the risks, uncertainties, and other factors, together with all of the other information included in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and similar information. All forward-looking statements, including without limitation, the Company's examination of historical operating trends and estimates of future earnings, are based upon the Company's current expectations and various assumptions. The Company's expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith, but there can be no assurance that the Company's expectations, beliefs and projections will result or be achieved. All forward looking statements apply only as of the date made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward looking statements which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. The amount, nature, and/or frequency of dividends paid by the Company may be changed at any time without notice.

Contacts:

Global Self Storage, Inc.
Mark C. Winmill
President and Chief Executive Officer
mwinmill@globalselfstorage.us
1-212-785-0900, ext. 201

Liolios Investor Relations
Scott Liolios or Najim Mostamand, CFA
SELF@liolios.com
1-949-574-3860

SOURCE: Global Self Storage, Inc.

Released April 1, 2019