Q4 2025 Cousins Properties Inc Earnings Call Transcript
Key Points
- Cousins Properties Inc (CUZ) reported a strong financial performance with $0.71 per share in FFO for the fourth quarter, aligning with consensus expectations.
- The company achieved a 5.6% growth in FFO per share for the full year 2025, reaching $2.84, indicating robust financial health.
- Leasing activity was impressive, with 700,000 square feet of leases completed in the fourth quarter, marking the second-highest quarterly volume in the past four years.
- The acquisition of 300 South Tryon in Charlotte for $317 million strategically expands Cousins Properties Inc's presence in the uptown submarket.
- The company introduced 2026 FFO guidance of $2.92 per share at the midpoint, implying a 2.8% growth over 2025, marking the third consecutive year of FFO growth.
- The slowing labor market raises concerns about office leasing, although demand is reportedly accelerating.
- Occupancy at the end of the quarter was 88.3%, reflecting the expiration of Bank of America's lease in Charlotte, which could impact future occupancy targets.
- The company faces timing risks in achieving its goal of 90% occupancy by year-end 2026, as lease commencements are outside of its control.
- Leasing concessions were above trend at $10.58, resulting in a lower average net effective rent of $23.18 for the quarter.
- The company recognized impairments on two noncore assets, including a $13.3 million impairment at Harbor View Plaza, impacting financial results.
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Cousins Properties fourth-quarter conference call. (Operator Instructions) This call is being recorded on Friday, February 6, 2026.
I would now like to turn the conference over to Pamela Roper, General Counsel. Please go ahead.
Thank you. Good morning, and welcome to Cousins Properties fourth-quarter earnings conference call. With me today are Colin Connolly, our President and Chief Executive Officer; Richard Hickson, our Executive Vice President of Operations; Gregg Adzema, our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; and Kennedy Hicks, our Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer.
The press release and supplemental package were distributed yesterday afternoon as well as furnished on Form 8-K. In the supplemental package, the company has reconciled all non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures in accordance with Reg G requirements
| Access to All Earning Calls and Stock Analysis | |
| 30-Year Financial on one screen | |
| All-in-one Stock Screener with unlimited filters | |
| Customizable Stock Dashboard | |
| Real Time Insider Trading Transactions | |
| 8,000+ Institutional investors’ 13F holdings | |
| Powerful Excel Add-in and Google sheets Add-on | |
| All data downloadable | |
| Quick customer support | |
| And much more... |

