Coronavirus Prompts US REITs to Tap Into $37B of Revolving Credit Lines in Q1

Real estate investment trusts turned to revolving credit lines to stay afloat amid the coronavirus pandemic as they collectively drew down $37.19 billion in this year’s first quarter, analysis shows.

COVID-19 spread across the US in the beginning of the year with the World Health Organization declaring the disease a pandemic on March 11. To stop the spread of the new coronavirus, states and local governments closed non-essential businesses.

Hotels as well as retailers who aren’t grocery stores and others deemed necessary have been most impacted, forcing them to most aggressively turn to their credit facilities. They collectively withdrew $18.78 billion in the first quarter, with retailers drawing $13.18 billion and hoteliers $5.6 billion, according to financial data and research organization S&P Global Market Intelligence.

S&P Global Market Intelligence, a subsidiary of publicly traded New York City-based financial information and analytics group S&P Global Inc., analyzed all REITs publicly traded on the Nasdaq composite, New York Stock Exchange and NYSE American that reported earnings as of June 9.

These REITs had a total market capitalization of $1.18 trillion as of June 9.

Out of the 175 REITs analyzed, 165 carry credit facilities.

The retail REITs analyzed own properties across the gamut, including shopping centers, regional malls as well as single-tenant and outlet centers. Shopping center landlords drew down the most out of their other retail counterparts with Maryland-based Federal Realty Investment Trust leading the group.

It took out $990 million, or almost all of its $1 billion facility, followed by Illinois-based Retail Properties of America Inc. at $831.7 million. SITE Centers Corp., based in Ohio, took out $640 million and New York-based Brixmor Property Group Inc. $638.5 million.

After shopping centers, the seven regional mall REITs were the second biggest group to turn to their credit facilities as they withdrew $5.49 billion. Simon Property Group Inc., the largest mall investor in the US, led equity REITs by taking out $3.76 billion with $3.63 billion remaining capacity. That’s the third highest capacity of any REIT.

Other regional mall REITs that turned to their credit lines were California-based Macerich Co., which drew down $660.6 million from its $1.5 billion revolving credit; Tennessee-based CBL Properties, which drew down $365 million; and Ohio-based Washington Prime Group Inc, which drew down $320.3 million.

Out of the hotel REITs, the biggest one by market capitalization also withdrew the most from its revolving credit. Host Hotels & Resorts Inc., based in Maryland with $10.19 billion in market capitalization, withdrew $1.49 billion, or almost all of its $1.5 billion facility. It was followed by Virginia-based Park Hotels & Resorts Inc., which withdrew its entire $1 billion line.

Some of the other hotel REITs that turned to their credit facilities are Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, which withdrew about $478.2 million, and RLJ Lodging Trust withdrew $400 million. Both are based in Maryland.

Tennessee-based Ryman Hospitality Properties Inc. drew down $391.9 million.

Ten US REITs that invest across asset classes were left with no revolving credit at the close of the first quarter and in the midst of a pandemic that continues to infect more people, although states and local governments have started to cautiously reopen businesses.

They include Arizona-based diversified STORE Capital Corp., which withdrew its $600 million line, and Nevada-based entertainment and leisure resorts investor MGM Growth Properties LLC, which withdrew its $1.35 billion line.