Takeaway: Office utilization rates grind higher, remain below pre-Omicron levels

Hedgeye Chart of the Day: Over the Cuckoo's Nest

REITS DAILY BRIEF | 3.9.22 | (OFFICE UTILIZATION) - Cuckoo

Tickers: PGRE, SLG, VNO, BXP, KRC, DEI, ESRT, JBGS, BDN, CUZ, HIW, WE, HPP, ONL, WRE, NYC, PDM, OFC

Subsector: CBD / Suburban Office

Headline: Kastle Systems Back-to-Work Barometer

Office Utilization: Kastle Systems released its weekly office utilization tracker for the 7-day period ending 3/2, which showed a +120bps sequential increase in the 10-city average utilization rate to 38%, which is the third consecutive weekly increase and a sequential acceleration (Figure 1 below). Utilization rates remain below pre-Omicron variant levels across most markets. As a reminder this metric tracks "bodies through turnstiles," and is different than "occupancy" in the traditional real estate sense which represents tenant leased/occupied space as a percentage of total square feet. 9 of 10 markets showed improvement for the week, led by Chicago (+330bps to 33.6%)New York (+300bps to 33.8%), Washington (+210bps to 35%) and LA (+200bps to 37.3%). Dallas was the only decliner, down -320bps to 40.9%. San Francisco, San Jose and New York remain at the low-end of the pecking order in terms of utilization, while the Texas markets continue to lead in the ~40-50% range. As more time elapses, we are increasingly convinced that utilization rates will settle out at a level below pre-pandemic rates and perhaps never return to 100%.   

Figure 1: Kastle Back-to-Work Barometer for Week Ending 3/2/22

REITS DAILY BRIEF | 3.9.22 | (OFFICE UTILIZATION) - Capture1

REITS DAILY BRIEF | 3.9.22 | (OFFICE UTILIZATION) - Capture2

Source: Kastle.com

Prior Notes:

3.8.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 3.8.22 | (APARTMENT RENT TRACKER, AMH, INVH, TCN, ILPT)

3.6.22 - SUNDAY NIGHT REIT READ | 3.6.22 | (WE)

3.4.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | POSITION MONITOR UPDATE | 3.4.22 | (WE)

3.4.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 3.4.22 | (RADI MODEL UPDATE)

3.1.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 3.1.22 | (WE)

3.1.22 - FOLLOWING UP W/ ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS ON HR | 2.28.22 | (HR, HTA)

2.28.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | POSITION MONITOR UPDATE | 2.28.22 | (HR, HTA)

2.27.22 - SUNDAY NIGHT REIT READ | 2.27.22 | (HR, HTA)

2.26.22 - UPDATE FOLLOWING MONARCH BID | POSITION MONITOR UPDATE | 2.26.22 | (PGRE)

2.24.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 2.24.22 | (COLD 4Q21 RESULTS)

2.24.22 - UPDATE ON INVH COURT CASE | 2.24.22 | (INVH)

2.24.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 2.24.22 | (PGRE)

2.23.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | POSITION MONITOR UPDATE | 2.23.22 | (INVH, COLD)

2.20.22 - SUNDAY NIGHT REIT READ (A LITTLE EARLY FOR FUN!) | 2.20.22 | (INVH SHORT)

2.17.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | POSITION MONITOR UPDATE | 2.17.22 | (INVH)

2.16.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | POSITION MONITOR UPDATE | 2.16.22 | (UHAL)

2.15.22 - INVH 4Q21 RESULTS | JUST NOT ENOUGH | 2.15.22 | (INVH)

2.13.22 - SUNDAY NIGHT REIT READ - SUPER BOWL EDITION | 2.13.22 | (UHAL)

2.11.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 2.11.22 | (OFC 4Q21 RESULTS)

2.10.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 2.10.22 | (REXR 4Q21 FOLLOW-UP)

2.9.22 - REXR'S FY22 OUTLOOK DISAPPOINTING | 2.9.22 | (REXR)

2.9.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 2.9.22 | (EGP)

2.8.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 2.8.22 | (REXR, APARTMENT RENT TRACKER)

2.6.22 - SUNDAY NIGHT REIT READ | 2.6.22 | (RADI)

2.4.22 - EVENT REPLAY | RADIUS GLOBAL INFRASRUCTURE (RADI) BLACK BOOK

2.2.22 - AVB FY22 GUIDANCE CONSERVATIVE | 2.2.22 | (AVB)

2.1.22 - EQR 4Q21 EARNINGS BEAT | 2.1.22 | (EQR)

1.31.22 - POSITION MONITOR UPDATE | 1.31.22 | (O, NNN, WY, CUBE, LSI)

1.30.22 - SUNDAY NIGHT REIT READ | 1.30.22 (AVB, EQR, WE)

1.27.22 - EVENT INVITE | RADIUS GLOBAL INFRASRUCTURE (RADI) BLACK BOOK | FRIDAY, 2/4 @ 10:00AM ET

1.27.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 1.27.22 | (OFC)

1.26.22: REITS DAILY BRIEF PART II | 1.26.22 | (RADI)

1.26.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 1.26.22 | (COLD)

1.25.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 1.25.22 | (APARTMENTS, OFFICE UTILIZATION)

1.25.22 - Will $MSTR Be Forced To Sell Their Bitcoin? (Bonus)

1.23.22 - SUNDAY NIGHT REIT READ | 1.23.22

1.22.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 1.21.22 | (COLD)

1.21.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 1.19.22 | (AMH, WE)

1.19.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 1.19.22 | (PLD, COLD)

1.17.22 - MONDAY NIGHT HOLIDAY REIT READ | 1.17.22 (RADI, PLD)

1.12.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 1.12.22 | (APARTMENT RENT TRACKER)

1.11.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 1.11.22 | (POSITION MONITOR UPDATE)

1.10.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 1.10.22 | (WE, REXR)

1.9.22 - SUNDAY NIGHT REIT READ | 1.9.22

1.6.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 1.6.22 | (PSA, POSITION MONITOR)

1.5.22 - ESRT <--> PGRE: A WIN-WIN ALL AROUND? | 1.5.22 | (ESRT, PGRE)

1.4.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 1.4.22 | (PGRE)

1.3.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 1.3.22 | (POSITION MONITOR UPDATE, PGRE)

12.29.21 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 12.29.21 | (Position Monitor, TCN, DLR, EQIX, ELS, SUI)

12.23.21 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 12.23.21 | (AVB, CPT, EQR, MAA)

12.21.21 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 12.21.21 | (BRG, U.S. OFFICE UTILIZATION)

12.19.21 - SUNDAY NIGHT REIT READ | 12.19.21 | (PSA)

12.17.21 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 12.17.21 | (Storage, Manhattan Office)

12.16.21 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 12.16.21 | (FR)

12.15.21 - EVENT REPLAY | FIRESIDE CHAT W/ WEWORK CEO SANDEEP MATHRANI

12.14.21 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 12.14.21 | (U.S. OFFICE UTILIZATION)

12.12.21 - SUNDAY NIGHT REIT READ | 12.12.21 | (WE)

12.11.21 - EVENT REMINDER | FIRESIDE CHAT W/ WEWORK CEO SANDEEP MATHRANI

12.10.21 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 12.10.21 | (ESRT)

12.8.21 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 12.8.21 | (APARTMENT RENT TRACKER, U.S. OFFICE UTILIZATION)

12.7.21 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 12.7.21 | (SLG)

12.6.21 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 12.6.21 | (WE NOVEMBER OPERATIONS UPDATE)

12.5.21 - SUNDAY NIGHT REIT READ | 12.5.21 | (PGRE, EGP, PLYM, MAA, CPT, O, EPR)

12.2.21 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 12.2.21 | (WE)

12.1.21 - IGNORE CNBC RE: WEWORK RESTATEMENT | 12.1.21 | (WE)

12.1.21 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 12.1.21 | (U.S. OFFICE UTILIZATION, WE)

11.30.21 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 11.30.21 | (AMH)

11.28.21 - SUNDAY NIGHT REIT READ | 11.28.21 | (COLD)

11.23.21 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 11.23.21 | (U.S. OFFICE UTILIZATION, WE)

11.21.21 - SUNDAY NIGHT REIT READ | 11.21.21 | (WE)

11.19.21 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 11.19.21 | (CUBE)

11.17.21 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 11.17.21 | (STYLE FACTOR WORK)

11.16.21 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 11.16.21 | (U.S. OFFICE UTILIZATION)

11.15.21 - CUBE ANNOUNCES STABILIZED ACQUISITION | 11.15.21

11.15.21 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 11.15.21 | (WE, ILPT)

11.14.21 - SUNDAY NIGHT REIT READ | 11.14.21 | (CUBE, EXR, LSI, NSA)

11.11.21 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 11.11.21 | (LSI, NYC CBD OFFICE)

11.10.21 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 11.10.21 | (UHAL, CONE, COR, NSA, PSA)

11.9.21 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 11.9.21 | (U.S. OFFICE UTILIZATION, SFR)

11.7.21 - SUNDAY NIGHT REIT READ | 11.7.21 | (APARTMENT RENTAL RATE TRACKER, POSITION MONITOR UPDATE)

11.4.21 - REIT RECAP | 11.4.21 | AMH 3Q21 RESULTS

11.4.21 - REIT RECAP | 11.4.21 | CUBE 3Q21 RESULTS

11.4.21 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 11.4.21 | (COLD, IRM, EARNINGS SURPRISE MONITOR)

11.3.21 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 11.2.21 | (LSI, POSITION MONITOR UPDATE)

11.2.21 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 11.2.21 | (PSA, U.S. OFFICE UTILIZATION)

11.1.21 - REIT RECAP | 11.1.21 | PSA 3Q21 RESULTS

10.31.21 - SUNDAY NIGHT REIT READ | 10.31.21 | (3Q21 EARNINGS SURPRISES, POSITION MONITOR)

10.28.21 - REIT RECAP | 10.28.21 | CPT 3Q21 RESULTS

10.28.21 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 10.28.21 | (EXR)

10.28.21 - REIT RECAP | 10/28/21 | INVH 3Q21 RESULTS

10.28.21 - REIT RECAP | 10/27/21 | AVB 3Q21 RESULTS

10.27.21 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 10.27.21 | (3Q21 Earnings, AVB, EXR, Office)

10.26.21 - REIT RECAP | 10/26/21 | EXR 3Q21 RESULTS

10.26.21 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 10.26.21 | (EQR, REXR)

10.25.21 - SUNDAY NIGHT REIT READ | 10.24.21 | (POSITION MONITOR)

10.21.21. - REIT RECAP | 10/21/21 | REXR 3Q21 RESULTS

10.20.21 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 10.20.21 | (EGP, PLYM, REXR, ILPT)

10.19.21 - VIDEO | American Homes 4 Rent (AMH) Thesis

10.19.21 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 10.19.21 | (COLD, SLG, VNO, AMH, U.S. Office Utilization)

10.18.21 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 10.18.21 | (PLD)

10.17.21 - SUNDAY NIGHT REIT READ | 10.17.21 | (PLD, POSITION MONITOR)

10.15.21 - REIT RECAP | 10/15/21 | PLD 3Q21 RESULTS

10.13.21 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 10.13.21 | (PLD)

10.10.21 - SUNDAY NIGHT REIT READ | 10.10.21 | (POSITION MONITOR UPDATE)

10.8.21 - BLACK BOOK ROUND-UP | AMERCO (UHAL)

10.7.21 - BEST IDEA ROUND-UP | AMERICOLD REALTY TRUST (COLD)

Please e-mail with any questions.

Rob Simone, CFA
Managing Director
Twitter: @HedgeyeREITs