UMH Properties, Inc. Reports Results For The Year Ended And The Fourth Quarter Ended December 31, 2017

FREEHOLD, N.J., March 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- UMH Properties, Inc. (NYSE: UMH) reported Total Income of $112,648,000 for the year ended December 31, 2017 as compared to $99,214,000 for the year ended December 31, 2016, representing an increase of 14%.  Total Income for the quarter ended December 31, 2017 was $28,697,000 as compared to $25,144,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2016, representing an increase of 14%.  Net Loss Attributable to Common Shareholders amounted to $7,679,000 or $0.24 per diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2017 as compared to $2,569,000 or $0.10 per diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2016.  This increase was primarily due to a non-recurring, non-cash $3.5 million preferred redemption charge and to an increase in depreciation expense, attributable to acquisitions made.  Net Loss Attributable to Common Shareholders amounted to $796,000 or $0.03 per diluted share for the quarter ended December 31, 2017 as compared to $413,000 or $0.02 per diluted share for the quarter ended December 31, 2016.

Core Funds from Operations ("Core FFO") was $23,462,000 or $0.71 per diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2017 as compared to $20,731,000 or $0.74 per diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2016, representing a decrease in Core FFO per diluted share of 4%.   Core FFO was $6,553,000 or $0.19 per diluted share for the quarter ended December 31, 2017 as compared to $5,719,000 or $0.20 per diluted share for the quarter ended December 31, 2016, representing a decrease in Core FFO per diluted share of 5%.  Normalized Funds from Operations ("Normalized FFO"), was $21,714,000 or $0.66 per diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to $18,446,000 or $0.66 per diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2016.  Normalized FFO was $6,324,000 or $0.18 per diluted share for the quarter ended December 31, 2017, as compared to $5,333,000 or $0.18 per diluted share for the quarter ended December 31, 2016. 

A summary of significant financial information for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 is as follows:

A summary of significant balance sheet information as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 is as follows:

Samuel A. Landy, President and CEO, commented on the 2017 results.

"We are pleased to announce a very productive 2017.  We have generated solid operating results, achieved strong growth and improved our financial position.  We have reached a number of milestones this year.  We now own and operate 112 manufactured home communities with over 20,000 developed homesites.  We have been included in the MSCI REIT index.  We have reached an all-time high stock price of $17.90.  Our total market capitalization is over $1 billion with an equity market capitalization of over $500 million.  Our accomplishments during the year include:

• Increased Rental and Related Income by 12.3%;
• Increased Community Net Operating Income ("NOI") by 12.3%;
• Increased Same Property NOI by 7.6%
• Increased Same Property Occupancy by 150 basis points from 81.2% to 82.7%;
• Increased home sales by 27.1%;
• Acquired 11 communities containing approximately 2,000 home sites for a total cost of $63.3 million, including our first community in Maryland, bringing our total property portfolio to 112 manufactured home communities with over 20,000 developed homesites;
• Completed Phase I of a redevelopment community, Memphis Blues, our first all rental community;
• Increased our rental home portfolio by 948 homes to approximately 5,600 total rental homes, representing an increase of 20.3%;
• Increased rental home occupancy by 150 basis points from 91.5% to 93.0%;
• Reduced the weighted average interest rate on our mortgage debt from 4.3% to 4.2%;
• Reduced the weighted average interest rate on our total debt from 4.1% to 4.0%;
• Issued 5,750,000 shares of a new 6.75% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, for net proceeds after deducting the underwriting discount and other estimated offering expenses, of approximately $139 million;
• Redeemed our high coupon 8.25% Series A Preferred Stock, resulting in $1.4 million in annual preferred dividend savings;
• Issued 1,400,000 shares of our common stock raising net proceeds of $22.5 million, in conjunction with our inclusion in the MSCI REIT Index;
• Raised $60.4 million through our Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan;
• Reduced our Net Debt to Total Market Capitalization from 35.4% to 31.7% and our Net Debt Less Securities to Total Market Capitalization from 24.3% to 20.2%; and,
• Increased our total market capitalization to $1.2 billion, representing an increase of 18%."

Mr. Landy stated, "This year, we successfully replaced all of the outstanding shares of our high coupon 8.25% Series A Preferred Stock with our new 6.75% Series C Perpetual Preferred Stock.  This 150 basis point reduction will result in $1.4 million in annual preferred dividend savings going forward.  Our 2017 earnings were impacted due to the expenses associated with completing this transaction, including a non-recurring, non-cash $3.5 million preferred redemption charge, and the short-term dilution associated with carrying the additional preferred stock until it was fully deployed.  For the fourth quarter, our Normalized FFO was $0.18 per diluted share.  We are pleased that our Normalized FFO for the quarter fully covered our $0.18 dividend."

"Subsequent to yearend, UMH issued and sold 2,000,000 shares of a new  6.375% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, and received net proceeds from the offering after expenses of approximately $48.1 million.  We expect increased earnings as we fully deploy these proceeds."

"In 2017, we increased our community portfolio by 11%.  We acquired 11 communities containing approximately 2,000 developed homesites for an aggregate cost of approximately $63.3 million.  The average occupancy of these communities is 67%.  These communities are located within our existing footprint and provide additional growth opportunities through the filling of vacant sites and from expansion capabilities."

"Home sales have been improving and increased 27% this year.  With population growth, rising wages and steady job creation, housing demand should continue to increase. Our customers are seeing increased wages which is translating into rising housing demand."

"Same Property NOI increased by 7.6% this year, driven by a 150 basis point increase in occupancy and a 310 basis point increase in site rent.  Our 2017 accomplishments reflect consistent strong performance across our portfolio and position us for continued success in 2018."

UMH Properties, Inc. will host its Fourth Quarter and Year End 2017 Financial Results Webcast and Conference Call.  Senior management will discuss the results, current market conditions and future outlook on Friday, March 9, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

The Company's 2017 fourth quarter and yearend financial results being released herein will be available on the Company's website at www.umh.reit in the "Financial Information and Filings" section.

To participate in the webcast, select the microphone icon found on the homepage www.umh.reit to access the call.  Interested parties can also participate via conferencecall by calling toll free 877-513-1898 (domestically) or 412-902-4147 (internationally).

The replay of the conference call will be available at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday,  March 9, 2018.  It will be available until June 9, 2018, and can be accessed by dialing toll free 877-344-7529 (domestically) and 412-317-0088 (internationally) and entering the passcode 10116327.  A transcript of the call and the webcast replay will be available at the Company's website, www.umh.reit.  

UMH Properties, Inc., which was organized in 1968, is a public equity REIT that owns and operates 112 manufactured home communities containing approximately 20,000 developed homesites.  These communities are located in New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Indiana, Michigan and Maryland.  In addition, the Company owns a portfolio of REIT securities.

Certain statements included in this press release which are not historical facts may be deemed forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Any such forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations and involve various risks and uncertainties.  Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, the Company can provide no assurance those expectations will be achieved. The risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from expectations are contained in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K and described from time to time in the Company's other filings with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Note:

The reconciliation of the Company's U.S. GAAP net loss to the Company's FFO, Core FFO and Normalized FFO for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 are calculated as follows:

The diluted weighted shares outstanding used in the calculation of Core FFO per Diluted Common Share and Normalized FFO per Diluted Common Share were 35,478,000 and 33,146,000 shares for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2017, respectively, and 29,279,000 and 28,136,000 for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2016, respectively.  Common stock equivalents resulting from stock options in the amount of 406,000 and 470,000 shares for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2017, respectively, and 449,000 and 327,000 shares for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2016, respectively, are included in the diluted weighted shares outstanding.  Common stock equivalents were excluded from the computation of the Diluted Net Loss per Share as their effect would be anti-dilutive.

The following are the cash flows provided (used) by operating, investing and financing activities for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016:

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SOURCE UMH Properties, Inc.