Takeaway: Just don't see a way to spin this UHAL quarter positive - a true "Quad 4 print"

Hedgeye Cartoon of the Day: Bull Sitdown

UHAL 3Q23 RESULTS | U-MISS'ED THE QUARTER | 2.9.23 (UHAL) - Dovetail 

It is 2.9.23, and Active Short MPW is overvalued by approximately... whatever the current share price is. Believe us yet? Just FYI, MPW is NOT, we repeat NOT, trading at an implied ~10% cap rate, despite what "outsourced IR" would have you to believe. That's about ~350-400bps too high based on our estimates and the cash economics actually being thrown off by this business. We ascribe zero value to the OpCo stakes and have MPW trading at a ~6.17% net effective cash cap rate today. If you value the OpCo stakes at book value that adds roughly ~50bps to the calculation. Think about the "mark-up" on the OpCos and loans required to approach ~10%. Also we believe investors CANNOT ignore the cash G&A load and MPW's recurring "capex" burden, which are true and demonstrable costs to shareholders. Who writes this stuff? If that math is coming from MPW's management, we would encourage the company to release a detailed NAV build-up schedule with levels of disclosure consistent with other REITs, so that we all can evaluate for ourselves. We'll save you time - It's nonsense

Ticker: UHAL

Company Name: Active Short U-Haul Holding Company 

Subsector: Self-Storage / DIY Equipment Rentals

Headline: Storage cannot save UHAL from normalizing DIY earnings power

  • Active Short UHAL reported what we consider to be a very disappointing 3Q23, characterized by a faster deceleration in the DIY equipment rental business than we had modeled. We calculate 3Q23 Adj. EPS of $0.74/share (excluding ~$0.27/share of after-tax real estate and equipment gains), or -$0.15/share / -17% below Hedgeye ( - ) and roughly half of FactSet consensus at ~$1.45/share. To be fair, "consensus" consists of a single number and it is not clear whether that analyst normalizes for gains to arrive at a "core" or "recurring" earnings figure. Regardless, the magnitude of the miss is much larger. 
  • We just do not see how it could be possible to "spin" this quarter positive, and think UHAL is on its way back to "normalized" or "recurring" earnings power of roughly ~$3/share as out-of-state move activity reverts, margins get squeezed and UHAL deals with the capital needs of a delayed equipment replacement cycle. On the last point, this means that the ~$2.4 billion cash balance is not the "true" cash balance for valuation purposes given the increased capital intensity of the business. These are all equipment rental issues. On the storage side occupancy declined a little bit more than we modeled but that business is fine. It just doesn't comprise a large enough share of the pie to stabilize a rapid deceleration in ~70% of UHAL's revenues.   
  • Bulls would argue that fiscal 3Q is less important than 1Q/2Q which is true, but we would counter by saying (1) the y/y deceleration is picking up steam and (2) on a forward-looking basis UHAL is about to lap arguably the toughest 2-year base effects in the company's history. 
  • 3Q23 Variances:
    • Self-Moving Equipment Rental Revenues (~70% of total): -$0.16/share, or ~$900 million vs. Hedgeye at $930.7 million ( - )
    • Self-Storage Revenues (~15% of total): +$0.01/share ( + )
      • Wtd. Avg. Occupancy -249bps q/q to 84.8% vs. Hedgeye at -175bps q/q ( - )
      • Avg. Realized Rates +8.2% y/y vs. Hedgeye at +7% ( + )
      • Balance comprised of higher unit counts + development activity in the quarter. UHAL does not provide a same store pool of assets akin to the storage REITs, but we think our model is getting it close enough
    • Other Revenues (consists of U-Box contracts and service fees from Move Help): -$0.15/share, or ~$28.7 vs. Hedgeye ( - ) 
    • Total Revenues: ~$1.296 billion, or -$44.3 million below Hedgeye and down -1.9% y/y ( - )  
    • UHAL's Share of EBITDA: ~$418 million, -$54 million vs. Hedgeye and down -21% y/y, ~32.9% margin vs. Hedgeye at ~35% ( - ) 
    • The balance of the delta was made up of lower taxes/other (+$0.07/share), higher net investment income (+$0.05/share), higher storage product sales (+$0.02/share) and then rounding on other items. 
    • As a reminder we model the captive insurance operations as part of equity in earnings of subsidiaries, so as to capture the core of UHAL's business. We estimate these subsidiaries contribute roughly ~10% of UHAL's annual earnings power. 
  • As we wrote yesterday, assuming an ~8x multiple applied to "normalized" annual EBITDA + a 33-50% reduction in the existing cash balance to account for equipment replenishment and storage development activities = ~$50/share for -25-30% downside from current levels
  • There is a non-zero chance that what is occurring right now is a slow-motion take-private by the Schoens given the voting share purchases, and we are paying close attention to KM's signals on how to move forward from here.    

Figure 1: UHAL 3Q23 Earnings Variances

UHAL 3Q23 RESULTS | U-MISS'ED THE QUARTER | 2.9.23 (UHAL) - Capture9

PDF LINK

Source: Company Reports, FactSet, Hedgeye Estimates  

Figure 2: Hedgeye REITs Position Monitor

UHAL 3Q23 RESULTS | U-MISS'ED THE QUARTER | 2.9.23 (UHAL) - Capture 1 

PDF LINK

Source: Company Reports, FactSet, Hedgeye

Prior Notes:

2.8.23 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | ESS 4Q RESULTS + UHAL + POSITION MONITOR UPDATES | 2.8.23 (ESS, IRT, UHAL)

2.7.23 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | STORAGE DEAL + UDR RESULTS + INVH CLASS ACTION | 2.7.23 (LSI, PSA, INVH, UDR)

2.5.23 - SUNDAY NIGHT REIT READ | WHO BLINKS FIRST? WE THINK SELLERS AS WELL | 2.5.23 | (CPT, EPR, MPW)

2.3.23 - REITS WEEKLY VALUATION HANDBOOK | 2.3.23

2.3.23 - CPT 4Q22 RESULTS | OUTRIGHT MISS ON THE QUARTER AND FY23 GUIDE | 2.3.23 (CPT)

2.3.23 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOL. XLIII | CHERNOBYL IS REBUILDING | 2.3.23 (MPW)

2.2.23 - MAA 4Q22 RESULTS | MIXED BAG, BUT WE LEAN SLIGHT "MISS" ON FY23 GUIDE VS. EXPECTATIONS | (MAA)

2.1.23 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOL. XLII FLASH | STEWARD'S PRESIDENT DEPARTING | 2.1.23 (MPW)

2.1.23 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | SFR "PRICING POWER" NARRATIVE TO BE TESTED | 2.1.23 (AMH, INVH, TCN)

1.31.23 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | INVH CFO DEPARTURE + ADDING AMH TO ACTIVE SHORT LIST | 1.31.23 (AMH, INVH)

1.29.23 - SUNDAY NIGHT REIT READ | "RENTER BILL OF RIGHTS" + STEWARD WTF | 1.29.23 | (APARTMENTS, SFR, MPW)

1.27.23 - REITS WEEKLY VALUATION HANDBOOK | 1.27.23

1.27.23 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOL. XLI | REBUTTING THE SHASTA REBUTTAL | 1.27.23 (MPW)

1.26.23 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | RADI SALE PROCESS CONCLUDING NEXT MONTH? | 1.26.23 (EPR/AMC, RADI, SLG)

1.22.23 - SUNDAY NIGHT REIT READ | POTENTIAL FY23 BEATS & MISSES | 1.22.23 (AMH, CUBE, INVH, IRM, MPW, STAG)

1.20.23 - REITS WEEKLY VALUATION HANDBOOK | 1.20.23

1.20.23 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | OUR NOTES FROM THE PLD CALL | 1.20.23 (PLD)

1.20.23 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOL. XXXX | PROSPECT CROZER MIGHT BE A TOTAL LOSS | 1.20.23 (MPW)

1.16.23 - MONDAY NIGHT REIT READ | MULTIFAMILY UNDERWRITING + EPR + PIPELINE | 1.16.23 (EPR, APARTMENTS, MPW)

1.13.23 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOL. XXXIX | PIPELINE HEALTH IS SIMPLY INCREDIBLE | 1.13.23 (MPW)

1.13.23 - REITS WEEKLY VALUATION HANDBOOK | 1.13.23

1.13.23 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | UPDATING SFR #s FOR HIGHER NC PROPERTY TAXES | 1.13.23 (AMH, INVH)

1.12.23 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | POSITION MONITOR UPDATES | 1.12.23 (AMT, HIW, MAA, NSA, SBAC, VTR)

1.10.23 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | ADDING/REMOVING CUBE/SBAC TO ACTIVE SHORT LIST | 1.10.23 (CUBE, EXR, SBAC, WPC)

1.8.23 - SUNDAY NIGHT REIT READ | SD WHISTLEBLOWER CASE ACTIVITY + EPR FEEDBACK | 1.8.23 (INVH, EPR, MPW)

1.7.23 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOL. XXXVIII | ADD'L STEWARD VENDOR COMPLAINTS | 1.7.23 (MPW)

1.6.23 - REITS WEEKLY VALUATION HANDBOOK | 1.6.23

1.6.23 - EVENT REPLAY | NEW ACTIVE SHORT EPR PROPERTIES BLACK BOOK | 1.6.23 (EPR)

1.4.23 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOLUME XXXVII | ARTICLE ON "PONZI HOSPITALS" | 1.4.23 (MPW)

1.4.23 - FLASH | JUDGE DENIES INVH'S MTD | 1.4.23 (INVH)

1.3.23 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | INITIAL THOUGHTS ON EPR | 1.3.23 (EPR)

1.1.23 - EVENT INVITE UPDATE | EPR PROPERTIES (EPR) BLACK BOOK | THURSDAY, 1/5 @ 12:30 PM ET

12.30.22 - REITS WEEKLY VALUATION HANDBOOK | 12.30.22

12.26.22 - MONDAY NIGHT REIT READ | MPW "CHEAT SHEET" | 12.26.22 (EPR, MPW)

12.23.22 - REITS WEEKLY VALUATION HANDBOOK | 12.23.22

12.22.22 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOLUME XXXVI | STEWARD ABL EXTENSION + OUR QUESTIONS | 12.22.22 (MPW)

12.22.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | POSITION MONITOR UPDATE | 12.22.22 (EPR)

12.20.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 12.20.22 (CUBE, EXR, LSI, NSA, PSA, MPW)

12.18.22 - SUNDAY NIGHT REIT READ | TAKING AN "L" ON HR | 12.18.22 (HR, DOC)

12.16.22 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOLUME XXXV | GOAL POSTS TORN DOWN? | 12.16.22 (MPW)

12.16.22 - REITS WEEKLY VALUATION HANDBOOK | 12.16.22

12.15.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | FLORIDA REINSURANCE BILL + MPW/STEWARD WTF? | 12.15.22 (AMH, INVH, TCN, MPW)

12.14.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | RENT CONTROL MEASURES + CEO CHANGE AT DLR | 12.14.22 (APARTMENTS, DLR)

12.14.22 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOLUME XXXIV | GOALPOSTS CONSTANTLY MOVING... | 12.14.22 (MPW)

12.12.22 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOLUME XXXIII | PIPELINE AUCTION CALLED OFF | 12.12.22 (MPW)

12.11.22 - SUNDAY NIGHT REIT READ | APARTMENT ITEMS + BREIT/SREIT + MPW MUSINGS | 12.11.22 (APARTMENTS, MPW)

12.9.22 - REITS WEEKLY VALUATION HANDBOOK | 12.9.22

12.9.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | INVH TAKES OUT 2018-1 SECURITIZATION | 12.9.22 (INVH)

12.6.22 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOLUME XXXII | CIRCULATING THE CBS REPORT ON PROSPECT | 12.6.22 (MPW)

12.2.22 - REITS WEEKLY VALUATION HANDBOOK | 12.2.22

12.1.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | EQT "IN DISCUSSIONS" TO ACQUIRE RADI? | 12.1.22 (RADI)

11.29.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | HEALTHSCOPE PUSHED BACK + INDT BID | 11.29.22 (MPW, INDT)

11.28.22 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOLUME XXX | PIPELINE BK UPDATE + STOCK IS NOT "CHEAP" | 11.28.22 (MPW)

11.27.22 - SUNDAY NIGHT REIT READ | POSITION MONITOR + VAL HANDBOOK | 11.27.22 (DLR, EQIX, HR, DOC, SBAC, MPW)

11.22.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | RESI NEWS ITEMS | 11.22.22

11.20.22 - SUNDAY NIGHT REIT READ | UHAL NUMBERS + POSITION MONITOR UPDATE | 11.20.22 (UHAL)

11.19.22 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOLUME XXIX | UPON FURTHER REVIEW... | 11.19.22 (MPW)

11.18.22 - REITS WEEKLY VALUATION HANDBOOK | 11.18.22

11.16.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | NOTES FROM NAREIT DAY #1 | 11.16.22

11.15.22 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOLUME XXVIII | IMPORTANT UPDATES FROM CMAX | 11.15.22 (MPW)

11.14.22 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOLUME XXVII | HEALTHSCOPE PORTFOLIO SALE UPDATE | 11.14.22 (MPW)

11.13.22 - SUNDAY NIGHT REIT READ | POSITION MONITOR UPDATE | 11.13.22 (IRM, PGRE)

11.11.22 - REITS WEEKLY VALUATION HANDBOOK | 11.11.22

11.9.22 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | 3Q22 10-Q REVIEW | 11.9.22 (MPW)

11.9.22 - RADI 3Q22 RESULTS | 11.9.22

11.7.22 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | HEADING BACK TO CHERNOBYL... | 11.7.22 (MPW)

11.6.22 - SUNDAY NIGHT REIT READ | POSITION MONITOR UPDATE + SBAC REVIEW | 11.6.22 (ADC, O, NTST, SBAC)

11.5.22 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOLUME XXIV | OPERATIONS SUSPENDED AT DCMH | 11.5.22 (MPW)

11.4.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | SOME FOLLOW UP ITEMS, INCLUDING ON INVH | 11.4.22

11.4.22 - REITS WEEKLY VALUATION HANDBOOK | 11.4.22

11.3.22 - AMH 3Q22 RESULTS | MORE PROPERTY TAX MEDICINE | 11.3.22

11.3.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | POSITION MONITOR UPDATE | 11.3.22

11.2.22 - LSI 3Q22 RESULTS | LSI TO THE RESCUE? | 11.2.22 (LSI)

11.2.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | OCTOBER APARTMENT RENT TRACKER | 11.2.22

11.2.22 - EXR 3Q22 RESULTS | OOF | 11.2.22 (EXR)

11.2.22 - PSA 3Q22 RESULTS | 11.2.22 (PSA)

11.1.22 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOLUME XXIII | REAL-TIME LOOK AT TEXARKANA | 11.1.22 (MPW)

11.1.22 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOLUME XXII | PIPELINE UNSECURED CREDITOR OBJECTION | 11.1.22 (MPW)

10.31.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | WE MADE A MISTAKE - ADJUSTING INVH NUMBERS | 10.31.22 (INVH)

10.31.22 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOLUME XXI | PIPELINE BK UPDATE | 10.31.22 (MPW)

10.30.22 - SUNDAY NIGHT REIT READ | UPDATED INVH MODEL ASSUMPTIONS | 10.30.22 (INVH, MPW)

10.28.22 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOLUME XX | BACK TO THAT DRY HOLE IN TX... | 10.28.22 (MPW)

10.28.22 - REITS WEEKLY VALUATION HANDBOOK | 10.28.22

10.28.22 - STAG 3Q22 RESULTS | 10.28.22 (STAG)

10.27.22 - INVH POST-3Q22 CALL THOUGHTS | 10.27.22 (INVH)

10.26.22 - MAA 3Q22 RESULTS | 10.27.22 (MAA)

10.26.22 - INVH 3Q22 RESULTS | PERHAPS THE WORST QTR IN RECENT MEMORY FOR A "BLUE CHIP" | 10.26.22 (INVH)

10.26.22 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOLUME XIX | 3Q22 PREVIEW | 10.26.22 (MPW)

10.26.22 - EQR 3Q22 RESULTS | ANOTHER DECEL IN LEASING SPREADS | 10.26.22 (EQR)

10.25.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | THOUGHTS ON NXRT'S 3Q22 | 10.25.22 (NXRT)

10.25.22 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOLUME XVIII | I'M THE CAPTAIN NOW... | (MPW)

10.25.22 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOLUME XVII | THAT'S SOME EXPENSIVE GRASS! | (MPW)

10.23.22 - SUNDAY NIGHT REIT READ | LOT'S TO READ ON SFR | 10.23.22 (VRE, AMH, INVH, TCN, MPW, SBAC)

10.21.22 - REITS WEEKLY VALUATION HANDBOOK | 10.21.22

10.21.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | THC NEGATIVE READ ACROSS FOR STEWARD ET AL | 10.21.22 (MPW)

10.20.22 - REITS CLIENT ALERT | 10.20.22 (MPW)

10.20.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 3Q22 EARNINGS NOTES | 10.20.22 (REXR, CCI)

10.19.22 - CLARIFICATION ON MAA PORTION OF PRIOR NOTE | 10.19.22 (MAA)

10.19.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | NOTES FROM PLD'S 3Q + SUDDEN MAA CHANGE | 10.19.22 (PLD, MAA, MPW)

10.17.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | ELS MISS + SFR CONSIDERATIONS AROUND QUARTERRA | 10.18.22 (ELS, AMH, INVH, TCN)

10.16.22 - SUNDAY NIGHT REIT READ | ADDING STAG TO ACTIVE LONG LIST | 10.16.22 (STAG, MPW)

10.15.22 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOLUME XV | RESPONDING TO CEO INTERVIEW | (MPW)

10.14.22 - REITS WEEKLY VALUATION HANDBOOK | 10.14.22

10.11.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 10.11.22 (CPT, INVH, MPW)

10.10.22 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOLUME XIV | WE CALL YOUR BLUFF | (MPW)

10.10.22 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOLUME XIII | HEALTHSCOPE SALE WOULD LIKELY BE DILUTIVE | (MPW)

10.9.22 - SUNDAY NIGHT REIT READ | 10.9.22 (RE FUND FLOWS, MPW, VNO)

10.7.22 - REITS WEEKLY VALUATION HANDBOOK | 10.7.22

10.7.22 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOLUME XII | WHAT EXACTLY IS "CREF?" | (MPW)

10.6.22 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOLUME XI | PROSPECT BUYING BACK CT HOSPITALS FROM MPW | (MPW)

10.5.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | FACEBOOK TERMINATING 225 PARK AVE LEASE | 10.5.22 (GATEWAY OFFICE, MAA)

10.4.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | WHERE ARE INVH'S + SUI'S IAN UPDATES? | 10.4.22 (INVH, SUI, MPW)

10.3.22 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOLUME X | TAKEAWAYS FROM INITIAL PIPELINE FILINGS | (MPW)

10.3.22 - FLASH | THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOLUME IX | MPW's ~#12 TENANT FILES IN BK COURT | (MPW)

10.3.22 - SUNDAY NIGHT REIT READ (ON MONDAY MORNING) | 10.3.22 (SBAC, WY)

10.1.22 - REITS WEEKLY VALUATION HANDBOOK | 10.1.22

9.30.22 - FLASH | (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOLUME VIII - DID STEWARD JUST BLOW UP? | (MPW)

9.30.22 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOLUME VII - NOTHING TO SAY? | (MPW)

9.29.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | DIVVY HOMES LAYOFFS / GENERAL EXTERNAL GROWTH SLOWDOW | 9.29.22 (AMH, INVH, TCN)

9.28.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | WEN STEWARD CREDIT FACILITY? | 9.28.22 (MPW, APARTMENTS)

9.28.22 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOLUME VI - A FAMILY AFFAIR (MPW)

9.26.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | IAN MUCH MORE THREATENING | 9.26.22 (ELS, SUI, AMH, INVH)

9.25.22 - SUNDAY NIGHT REIT READ | TS IAN SWINGING WEST | 9.25.22 (RESIDENTIAL)

9.23.22 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOLUME V - THE CURIOUS CASE OF DISAPPEARING WORK EXPERIENCE | 9.23.22

9.23.22 - REITS WEEKLY VALUATION HANDBOOK | 9.23.22

9.20.22 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOLUME IV - SO... ABOUT THAT ~$335 MILLION LOAN | 9.20.22 (MPW)

9.18.22 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOLUME III - I'M ON A BOAT! | 9.18.22 (MPW)

9.16.22 - REITS WEEKLY VALUATION HANDBOOK & POSITION MONITOR UPDATE | 9.16.22 (STOR)

9.15.22 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOLUME 2 - WHATS A WHISTLEBLOWER TO DO? | 9.15.22 (MPW)

9.15.22 - THE (DIS)TRUST SERIES | VOLUME 1 - SEMC NLRB COMPLAINT | 9.15.22 (MPW)

9.14.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | 9.14.22 (CPT, MAA, NXRT)

9.13.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | RESIDENTIAL UPDATES FLOODING IN | 9.13.22 (AMH, INVH)

9.9.22 - REITS WEEKLY VALUATION HANDBOOK | 9.9.22

9.7.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF PART II | WHAT REALLY HAPPENED W/ WATSONVILLE? | 9.7.22 (MPW)

9.7.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | LOOK AT RENT CONTROL MEASURES ON THE NOV BALLOT | 9.7.22 (RESIDENTIAL)

9.5.22 - MONDAY NIGHT REIT READ | INVH ADDED TO S&P 500 + MORE MPW THOUGHTS | 9.5.22 (INVH, MPW)

9.2.22 - REITS WEEKLY VALUATION HANDBOOK | 9.2.22

9.1.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF PART II | PROBABILITY UP THAT COMPLAINT GOES MULTI-STATE | 9.1.22 (INVH)

9.1.22 - REITS DAILY BRIEF | POSITION MONITOR UPDATES | 9.1.22 (EQR, PGRE)

 

Please e-mail with any questions.

Rob Simone, CFA
Managing Director
Twitter: @HedgeyeREITs