RLJ Lodging Trust Reports Second Quarter 2024 Results

Q2 RevPAR increased 2.6% above 2023

Acquired a boutique lifestyle hotel in Denver

Announced increase of quarterly dividend to $0.15 per share

BETHESDA, Md., August 01, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--RLJ Lodging Trust (the "Company") (NYSE: RLJ) today reported results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024.

Second Quarter Highlights

• Portfolio Comparable RevPAR of $157.30; an increase of 2.6% from last year

• Total Revenue of $369.3 million; an increase of 3.5% from last year

• Net Income of $37.3 million

• Comparable Hotel EBITDA of $118.6 million

• Adjusted EBITDA of $109.0 million

• Adjusted FFO per diluted common share and unit of $0.51

• Acquired Hotel Teatro in Denver for $35.5 million

• Repurchased 0.3 million shares for approximately $3.1 million at an average price of $9.72

• Addressed 2024 debt maturities

"We were encouraged to see industry RevPAR growth improve during the second quarter despite a choppy backdrop. Relative to this environment, we were pleased with our solid second quarter performance, which was driven by strong gains in a number of our urban markets that benefitted from growth in business and group segments," commented Leslie D. Hale, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Additionally, we were active on multiple fronts including, acquiring a high-quality boutique lifestyle hotel in Denver, progressing on our 2024 conversions, and repurchasing shares while increasing our quarterly dividend. Our strong execution of these initiatives once again demonstrates the optionality our strong balance sheet provides to drive multiple channels of growth simultaneously."

The prefix "comparable" as defined by the Company, denotes operating results which include results for periods prior to its ownership and excludes sold hotels. Explanations of EBITDA, EBITDAre, Adjusted EBITDA, Hotel EBITDA, Hotel EBITDA Margin, FFO, and Adjusted FFO, as well as reconciliations of those measures to net income or loss, if applicable, are included within this release.

Acquisitions and Dispositions

During the second quarter of 2024, the Company purchased the 110-room Hotel Teatro in Denver, Colorado for a purchase price of $35.5 million. The hotel is expected to generate an estimated 10% yield upon stabilization. Additionally, the Company sold a non-core 78-room Residence Inn hotel located in Indiana for a sales price of $8.1 million.

Share Repurchases

During the second quarter, the Company recycled proceeds from the sale of a non-core hotel to repurchase common shares. During the second quarter, the Company repurchased 0.3 million common shares for approximately $3.1 million at an average price of $9.72. Year-to-date, the Company has repurchased 0.5 million common shares for approximately $5.0 million at an average price of $9.66. As of August 1, the Company's 2024 share repurchase program had a remaining capacity of $245.0 million.

Balance Sheet

As of June 30, 2024, the Company had approximately $771.1 million of total liquidity, comprising approximately $371.1 million of unrestricted cash and $400.0 million available under its revolving credit facility, and $2.2 billion of debt outstanding.

In April 2024, the Company drew $200.0 million under its $600.0 million revolving credit facility and utilized the proceeds to repay $200.0 million of maturing mortgage debt.

In April 2024, the Company exercised its one-year extension options to extend the maturities of $181.0 million of mortgage loans to April 2025.

Dividends

The Company’s Board of Trustees declared a second quarter cash dividend of $0.10 per common share of beneficial interest of the Company. The dividend was paid on July 15, 2024 to shareholders of record as of June 28, 2024.

The Company's Board of Trustees declared a second quarter cash dividend of $0.4875 on the Company’s Series A Preferred Shares. The dividend was paid on July 31, 2024 to shareholders of record as of June 28, 2024.

In July, the Company's Board of Trustees approved an increase to its quarterly cash dividend to $0.15 per common share of beneficial interest of the Company starting with the third quarter of 2024. The Dividend will be paid on October 15, 2024 to shareholders of record as of September 30, 2024.

Outlook Update

The Company is updating its full-year outlook range to incorporate recent transactions, year-to-date operating performance, and the current economic environment. No future acquisitions, dispositions, financings, or share repurchases are incorporated into the Company's outlook and could result in a material change to the Company's outlook.

Additionally, the Company's full year 2024 outlook includes:

• Net interest expense of $93.0 million to $95.0 million.

• Capital expenditures related to renovations in the range of $100.0 million to $120.0 million.

• Diluted weighted average common shares and units of 155.0 million.

Earnings Call

The Company will conduct its quarterly analyst and investor conference call on August 2, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time). The conference call can be accessed by dialing (877) 407-3982 or (201) 493-6780 for international participants and requesting RLJ Lodging Trust’s second quarter earnings conference call. Additionally, a live webcast of the conference call will be available through the Company’s website at https://www.rljlodgingtrust.com. A replay of the conference call webcast will be archived and available through the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website for two weeks.

Supplemental Information

Please refer to the presentation of supplemental information for additional detail and comparable operating statistics, which will be available through the Investor Relations section of the Company's website.

About Us

RLJ Lodging Trust ("RLJ") is a self-advised, publicly traded real estate investment trust that owns 96 premium-branded, rooms-oriented, high-margin, urban-centric hotels located within the heart of demand locations. Our hotels are geographically diverse and concentrated in major urban markets that provide multiple demand generators from business, leisure, and other travelers.

Forward-Looking Statements

This information contains certain statements, other than purely historical information, including estimates, projections, statements relating to the Company’s business plans, objectives and expected operating results, and the assumptions upon which those statements are based, that are "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the use of the words "believe," "project," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "may," "will," "will continue," "intend," "should," "may," or similar expressions. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, beliefs and expectations, such forward-looking statements are not predictions of future events or guarantees of future performance and our actual results could differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The Company cautions investors not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and urges investors to carefully review the disclosures the Company makes concerning risks and uncertainties in the sections entitled "Risk Factors," "Forward-Looking Statements," and "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, which will be filed on August 2, 2024, as well as risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed in other documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For additional information or to receive press releases via email, please visit our website:
https://www.rljlodgingtrust.com

RLJ Lodging Trust
Non-GAAP and Accounting Commentary

Non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("Non-GAAP") Financial Measures

The Company considers the following non-GAAP financial measures useful to investors as key supplemental measures of its performance: (1) FFO, (2) Adjusted FFO, (3) EBITDA, (4) EBITDAre, (5) Adjusted EBITDA, (6) Hotel EBITDA, and (7) Hotel EBITDA Margin. These Non-GAAP financial measures should be considered along with, but not as alternatives to, net income or loss as a measure of its operating performance. FFO, Adjusted FFO, EBITDA, EBITDAre, Adjusted EBITDA, Hotel EBITDA, and Hotel EBITDA Margin, as calculated by the Company, may not be comparable to other companies that do not define such terms exactly as the Company defines such terms.

Funds From Operations ("FFO")

The Company calculates Funds from Operations ("FFO") in accordance with standards established by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, or NAREIT, which defines FFO as net income or loss (calculated in accordance with GAAP), excluding gains or losses from sales of real estate, impairment, the cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles, plus depreciation and amortization, and adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. Historical cost accounting for real estate assets implicitly assumes that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time. Since real estate values have instead historically risen or fallen with market conditions, most real estate industry investors consider FFO to be helpful in evaluating a real estate company’s operations. The Company believes that the presentation of FFO provides useful information to investors regarding the Company’s operating performance and can facilitate comparisons of operating performance between periods and between real estate investment trusts ("REITs"), even though FFO does not represent an amount that accrues directly to common shareholders.

The Company’s calculation of FFO may not be comparable to measures calculated by other companies who do not use the NAREIT definition of FFO or do not calculate FFO per diluted share in accordance with NAREIT guidance. Additionally, FFO may not be helpful when comparing the Company to non-REITs. The Company presents FFO attributable to common shareholders, which includes unitholders of limited partnership interest ("OP units") in RLJ Lodging Trust, L.P., the Company’s operating partnership, because the OP units may be redeemed for common shares of the Company. The Company believes it is meaningful for the investor to understand FFO attributable to all common shares and OP units.

EBITDA and EBITDAre

Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization ("EBITDA") is defined as net income or loss excluding: (1) interest expense; (2) income tax expense; and (3) depreciation and amortization expense. The Company considers EBITDA useful to an investor in evaluating and facilitating comparisons of its operating performance between periods and between REITs by removing the impact of its capital structure (primarily interest expense) and asset base (primarily depreciation and amortization expense) from its operating results. In addition, EBITDA is used as one measure in determining the value of hotel acquisitions and dispositions.

In addition to EBITDA, the Company presents EBITDAre in accordance with NAREIT guidelines, which defines EBITDAre as net income or loss (calculated in accordance with GAAP) excluding interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization expense, gains or losses from sales of real estate, impairment, and adjustments for unconsolidated joint ventures. The Company believes that the presentation of EBITDAre provides useful information to investors regarding the Company's operating performance and can facilitate comparisons of operating performance between periods and between REITs.

Adjustments to FFO and EBITDA

The Company adjusts FFO, EBITDA, and EBITDAre for certain items that the Company considers outside the normal course of operations. The Company believes that Adjusted FFO, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDAre provide useful supplemental information to investors regarding its ongoing operating performance that, when considered with net income or loss, FFO, EBITDA, and EBITDAre, are beneficial to an investor’s understanding of the Company's operating performance. The Company adjusts FFO, EBITDA, and EBITDAre for the following items:

• Transaction Costs: The Company excludes transaction costs expensed during the period

• Pre-Opening Costs: The Company excludes certain costs related to pre-opening of hotels

• Non-Cash Expenses: The Company excludes the effect of certain non-cash items such as the amortization of share-based compensation, non-cash income tax expense or benefit, and non-cash interest expense related to discontinued interest rate hedges

• Other Non-Operational Expenses: The Company excludes the effect of certain non-operational expenses representing income and expenses outside the normal course of operations

Hotel EBITDA and Hotel EBITDA Margin

With respect to Consolidated Hotel EBITDA, the Company believes that excluding the effect of corporate-level expenses and certain non-cash items provides a more complete understanding of the operating results over which individual hotels and operators have direct control. The Company believes property-level results provide investors with supplemental information about the ongoing operational performance of the Company’s hotels and the effectiveness of third-party management companies.

Comparable Hotel EBITDA and Comparable Hotel EBITDA margin include prior ownership information provided by the sellers of the hotels for periods prior to our acquisition of the hotels and excludes results from sold hotels as applicable.

Comparable adjustments: Acquired hotel

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, Comparable adjustments included the following acquired hotel:

• Hotel Teatro acquired in June 2024

Comparable adjustments: Sold hotel

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, Comparable adjustments included the following sold hotel:

• Residence Inn Merrillville sold in May 2024

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Contacts

Sean M. Mahoney, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer – (301) 280-7774