Extra Space Storage Inc.
(
EXR
) raised its FFO (funds from operations) outlook for this year
during its stellar second quarter 2012 report, and also offers a
dividend yield of 2.3%. Shares of this Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy),
self storage REIT (real estate investment trust) have been
advancing for almost a year now and are currently hovering around
the all-time high of $35.17.
Strong Second Quarter
Extra Space Storage reported strong second quarter results on July
30, with a 21.8% year-over-year growth in total revenues to $95.0
million. The healthy top-line growth was attributable to
incremental market share gains, as the company leveraged its
resources and sophisticated revenue management software to drive
traffic to its website and properties. Same-store revenue increased
6.7% year over year to $68.5 million, while same-store net
operating income (NOI) surged 10.2% to $47.3 million.
Second quarter 2012 FFO of 38 cents per share jumped nearly 41%
from last year's 27 cents and exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate
by 3 cents. Average physical occupancy for same-store properties
spiked 270 basis points to 90.4% from 87.7% in the year-ago
quarter.
Outlook Raised
Based on better-than-expected second quarter results, management
raised the FFO guidance for 2012 to between $1.47 and $1.53 per
share from the earlier range of $1.40 - $1.46. The increased
guidance is based on a same-store revenue growth of 4.8%-6.0% and a
same-store NOI growth of 6.0%-9.0%.
Analysts have revised their earnings estimates upward for both 2012
and 2013, helping the stock attain a Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy).
Over the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2012
increased by 7 cents or 4.8% to $1.53, which is at the upper-end of
the company's guidance range. This implies a year-over-year growth
of 24.5%. For 2013, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased by 7
cents or 4.3% to $1.71 over the past 60 days, representing growth
of 11.8%.
Dividend Payout
Extra Space Storage paid a dividend of 20 cents per share in the
second quarter of 2012. The quarterly dividend represented a 42.9%
increase from the payout in the year-ago quarter. The current
dividend payment affirms a yield of 2.3%.
Premium Valuation
Extra Space Storage is trading at a premium on a price-to-earnings
(P/E) and price-to-sales (P/S) basis. On a forward P/E basis,
shares trade at 22.76x versus the peer group average of 16.02x. On
a P/S basis, shares trade at 10.00x versus 5.34x for the peer group
average. A healthy earnings growth prospect warrants the premium
valuation of the company.
Since October 21, 2011, Extra Space Storage shares have fared
better than the simple moving average for 200 days or SMA (200). In
addition, the stock has outperformed the S&P 500 index since
April 14, 2011. The year-to-date return for the stock is noteworthy
at 45.8% compared to the S&P 500 tally of 14.8%.
With a favorable supply/demand relationship, rising earnings
estimates, robust growth projections and a healthy dividend yield,
Extra Space Storage offers an enticing upside potential going
forward. In addition, over 30 years of operating experience in the
self-storage industry bodes well for its long-term growth.
Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Extra Space Storage owns and
operates self-storage properties across the U.S. The company
provides a wide array of conveniently located and secure storage
solutions across the country, including boat storage, RV storage
and business storage. Presently, its portfolio includes 882
self-storage properties in 34 states and Washington, D.C., totaling
585,000 units and spanning 64 million square feet of rentable
space. With a market cap of $3.6 billion, Extra Space Storage is
currently the second largest owner and operator of self-storage
properties in the U.S.
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