Whitestone REIT Raises Quarterly Dividend 5.6% to $0.1425, Shifts to Quarterly Schedule
Whitestone REIT declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.1425 per share for the first quarter of 2026, marking a 5.6% increase from its previous quarterly payout. The retail-focused REIT also shifted from monthly to quarterly dividend payments.
Whitestone REIT (NYSE: WSR), a retail property owner focused on community-centered shopping centers, declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.1425 per share for the first quarter of 2026. The payout represents a 5.6% increase over the company's previous quarterly dividend amount of $0.1350. Read more dividend announcements.
The board approved the shift from a monthly to quarterly dividend payment schedule on December 18, 2025. The new quarterly dividend will be paid on March 30, 2026 to shareholders of record as of March 16, 2026.
| Dividend Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Dividend Amount | $0.1425 per share |
| Record Date | March 16, 2026 |
| Payment Date | March 30, 2026 |
| Frequency | Quarterly |
| Change from Previous | +5.6% |
2025 Operating Performance
Whitestone reported funds from operations of $54.6 million for 2025, up from $50.7 million in 2024. FFO per diluted share climbed to $1.03 from $0.98 year-over-year. Same-store net operating income grew 4% to $97.5 million versus $93.8 million in 2024.
Fourth quarter occupancy across wholly owned properties reached 94.6%, up from 94.1% in the prior-year period. Properties larger than 10,000 square feet posted 97.7% occupancy, while smaller spaces showed 92.7% occupancy rates.
Rental rate growth on a GAAP basis totaled 18.2% in the fourth quarter. New leases achieved 25.9% rental rate growth, while renewals posted 16.6% increases.
Balance Sheet and Guidance
As of December 31, 2025, Whitestone held total debt of $649.4 million and undepreciated real estate assets of $1.4 billion. The company maintained $220.4 million in available capacity under its $375 million revolving credit facility.
For 2026, Whitestone projected GAAP net income of $0.38 to $0.43 per diluted share and core FFO of $1.10 to $1.14 per diluted share. The company forecast same-store NOI growth of 3.0% to 4.75% and interest expense between $32.6 million and $34.1 million.