CBL Properties Reports First Quarter 2024 Results
CBL Properties Reports First Quarter 2024 Results
CBL Properties announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024. Josh Ratner, Chief Executive Officer of CBL Properties, commented on the results, "As demonstrated by first quarter results, CBL is off to a solid start in 2024. We are pleased with the strong 3.6% growth in same-center NOI for the quarter. This growth reflects the improving fundamentals and overall quality of the CBL portfolio. NOI results also include the realization of a multi-year effort to reduce real estate taxes in certain markets, which was anticipated in our original guidance provided last quarter. In addition, results benefited from lower third-party contract expense related to the new contracts signed in third quarter 2023. Maintenance and repair expense was also lower in the quarter, primarily due to timing of projects which are expected to occur later in the year.
Leasing volumes remained strong this quarter as we signed more than 220,000 square feet of new leases, highlighted by new locations for Barnes & Noble's in-line mall concept, fast-growing global lifestyle retailer MINISO, Five Below, and food court stores for Popeye's. Comparable leasing spreads were notably up more than 10% as we replaced several spaces with below market prior rents. While we are pleased with this quarter's leasing spreads, we anticipate experiencing some pressure going forward due to certain national tenants with higher occupancy costs. We were encouraged to see portfolio tenant sales improve modestly during the quarter. Although occupancy declined modestly in the quarter, the overall tenant environment is healthy, and we remain focused on capitalizing on tenant demand for new locations across the portfolio to generate occupancy growth.
Interest rate volatility and its impact on the overall financing market remains a concern; however, we are benefiting from our well-laddered maturity schedule with only three major loan maturities in 2024. Financing plans for all three are actively in process. We are also exploring various avenues, including potential sales of term loan properties, to meet our term loan extension test in 2025 while minimizing use of our corporate cash reserve.
Our focus through the remainder of the year is to build on the strong momentum generated in the first quarter while working to improve our debt maturity profile and grow our strong cash position. "