Dexus net profit down 27% due to revaluation on investment properties

Dexus made a half yearly net profit after tax of $726.4 million, down 27%, mainly due to net revaluation gains of investment properties being lower, according to their half year results.

The funds from operation, the more accurate measure for real estate investment trusts, was $353 million, up 9.8 per cent on the previous corresponding period.

They have restated a goal/guidance for distribution per security growth of circa 5% for FY2019.

Dexus Chief Executive Officer, Darren Steinberg said it had been a productive six-month period where the company added value through enhancing our development pipeline and attracting new investors to our funds management business.

"This has all been achieved while maintaining low balance sheet gearing."

“In our office portfolio we continue to outperform the MSCI office benchmark over one, three and five years through driving higher rents and lower incentives, particularly in Sydney which has been reflected in property valuations during the period."

“In our funds management business, we now have $15 billion under management with investors and partners that can invest alongside us through the cycle, reinforcing our objective of being the wholesale partner of choice in Australian property,” he concluded.

Funds from Operations (FFO) reached $353.3 million, up 9.8% on the previous corresponding period.

Gearing was down to 23.7% from 24.1% at 30 June 2018.

There was a one-year unlevered total return of 13% in the Dexus office portfolio and 15.5% in the Dexus industrial portfolio

Office portfolio occupancy increased to 97.3% with Sydney office leasing spreads of +18%.

The group’s $5.2 billion development pipeline progressed, replenishing both the industrial and office development pipelines.

Dexus established a new circa $2 billion unlisted trust that invests in Australian logistics properties seeded from Dexus’s existing portfolio.

They delivered $34.7 million of trading profits (post-tax).

Dexus shares closed up 1¢ to $11.85 per security.