The Arena REIT (ASX: ARF) share price is in focus today after the company posted an 8% lift in net operating profit to $79.1 million and hiked its distribution per security by 5.5% for FY2026.
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What did Arena REIT report?
- Net operating profit (distributable income) of $79.1 million, up 8% on FY2025
- Statutory net profit of $132 million, up 62% year over year
- Operating earnings per security (EPS) of 19.60 cents, up 5.7%
- Distributions per security (DPS) of 19.25 cents, up 5.5%
- Total assets grew to $2.0 billion, up 8%
- Net Asset Value (NAV) per security rose to $3.60, up 4%
What else do investors need to know?
Arena finished the year with a strong balance sheet, reporting low gearing of 24.5% and a 100% portfolio occupancy rate. The company's portfolio of 307 properties posted a valuation uplift of $47.4 million, with a weighted average lease expiry of 17.5 years.
The Edge Early Learning portfolio, comprising 31 properties (14% of Arena's annual rental income), has hit some turbulence after Edge failed to pay August rent. Arena has issued default notices and taken steps to protect its income and assets, including signing new lease agreements for two newly developed centres. Management has also reaffirmed that its legal rights and security arrangements are in place.
Arena saw active portfolio management during FY2026: eleven early learning centre (ELC) properties were divested for $53.5 million at a premium, while the company completed $87 million in development projects and maintains a pipeline of 29 projects.
What did Arena REIT management say?
Managing Director Justin Bailey commented:
FY2026 delivered strong growth in earnings, distributions and net assets, underpinned by contracted rental growth, development completions and active portfolio management. Throughout the year we continued to improve portfolio quality through disciplined capital allocation, development activity and targeted divestments.
What's next for Arena REIT?
Arena is guiding for a FY2027 distribution of at least 18.0 cents per security. This conservative outlook factors in the uncertainty around the Edge portfolio and assumes no income from those properties beyond the existing security pool.
Looking ahead, Arena says it will focus on resolving the Edge Early Learning situation, carefully managing its portfolio through the current market environment, and progressing its development pipeline. The company also continues to prioritise a strong balance sheet and disciplined investment decisions.
Arena REIT share price snapshot
The Arena REIT share price has significantly underperformed the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) over the past 12 months with a decline of 40%.
