Stock Markets May 27, 2026 04:15 AM

Aroundtown Q1: FFO per Share Drops 7% as Financing Costs Rise and JV Income Falls

Company reports weaker joint venture contributions and higher financial expenses, while maintaining FFO per-share guidance and raising absolute FFO I range

By Ajmal Hussain

Aroundtown SA reported a 7% decline in funds from operations (FFO) per share for the first quarter of 2026, driven by increased financial expenses and a sharp pullback in joint venture contributions. Absolute FFO I fell to €70.2 million, net rental income inched higher and like-for-like rental growth remained positive, but office vacancies climbed and leverage metrics deteriorated.

Aroundtown Q1: FFO per Share Drops 7% as Financing Costs Rise and JV Income Falls

Key Points

  • FFO I for Q1 2026 was €70.2 million, down 8% year-over-year; FFO per share was about €0.07, a 7% decline.
  • Net rental income rose 0.6% to €296.7 million; like-for-like net rental growth was 3% with offices at 1.5%, residential at 3.7% and hotels at 4%.
  • Leverage increased: EPRA LTV rose to 59% (up 100 bps), net debt to EBITDA reached 11.1x, and interest coverage fell to 3.4x.

Aroundtown SA reported a drop in first-quarter profitability metrics, with funds from operations per share down 7% as financing costs rose and joint venture income weakened, according to the company's results released on Wednesday.

FFO and operational metrics

The group posted FFO I of €70.2 million for Q1 2026, an 8% decline from the year-ago quarter. On a per-share basis, the figure translated to approximately €0.07, representing a 7% decrease versus the prior period.

The reduction in FFO was attributed to a 6% rise in total financial expenses and a fall in contributions from joint ventures, which decreased to €6 million from €13 million in Q1 2025.

Net rental income showed modest growth, increasing 0.6% to €296.7 million. Adjusted EBITDA, measured before joint venture contributions, remained unchanged at €236.1 million.

Rental performance and vacancy trends

Like-for-like net rental growth held steady at 3% across the portfolio. Performance varied by property type: office assets recorded only 1.5% growth while residential rents rose 3.7% and hotels delivered 4% rental growth.

However, the office vacancy rate increased to a new high of 13.2%, up 20 basis points from the prior quarter and 60 basis points compared with the same quarter last year.

Asset transactions and balance-sheet movements

The company completed €27 million of asset disposals in the quarter, achieving a 1% premium to book value. After the quarter closed, Aroundtown sold €270 million of Penta hotels. The group also completed €125 million in acquisitions that had been signed during 2025.

On a per-share basis, EPRA net tangible assets rose 5% year-over-year to €8.0, and were 3.2% higher than at December 2025.

Leverage metrics moved higher on a pro-forma basis: the EPRA loan-to-value ratio increased by 100 basis points quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year to 59%. Net debt to EBITDA climbed to 11.1 times, while the interest coverage ratio weakened to 3.4 times from 3.9 times in the previous quarter.

Guidance, liquidity and financing costs

Aroundtown confirmed its 2026 guidance for FFO I per share within a range of €0.24 to €0.27, even as it raised its absolute FFO I guidance range to €275 million to €305 million from the prior range of €250 million to €280 million.

The group held liquidity of €4.1 billion at the end of March 2026. The average cost of debt remained unchanged at 2.3%.


Readers should note the company-provided figures above reflect the results and measures reported by Aroundtown for the first quarter of 2026.

Risks

  • Higher financing costs and rising total financial expenses pressure cash flow and profitability - impacts company credit metrics and returns for real estate investors.
  • Worsening office market dynamics signaled by a record 13.2% office vacancy rate could weigh on office asset valuations and rental cash flow - affects the commercial real estate sector.
  • Declining joint venture contributions reduce near-term earnings support and increase dependence on core rentals and asset sales - relevant to investment and asset management strategies.

More from Stock Markets

S&P Global Upholds Fast-Entry Rules Ahead of SpaceX Public Debut Jun 4, 2026 Insperity Shares Climb After CEO Buys 233,000 Shares Jun 4, 2026 SpaceX Signals Firmness on $135 IPO Price as Roadshow Begins Jun 4, 2026 CME Chief Warns CFTC Approval of Perpetual Crypto Futures Could Create Systemic Risk Jun 4, 2026 AmperCap Raises $125 Million in NASDAQ Listing as It Targets U.S.-Mexico Middle-Market Deals Jun 4, 2026