What metrics do you use to UW lease terms?

In excel I have a tab for each set of deal terms I want to model and compare against each other. Calculates based on rent rate, term, escalations, free rent, TI/LC, and even factors in Opex if a FSG lease. I find the NPV of the deal (usually I use 10% discount rate), and then divide this by the # of months in the lease term. This gives me a "discounted Net effective rate" that I use as my main metric. The point of this is that it normalizes deal points that differ in lease term. For example, of course a 10 yr deal is going to have a higher NPV than a 2 yr deal, just because it's more total consideration. So to compare the two terms, I would divide the NPV's by 120 months and 24 months respectively.

Any issues you guys see with this approach? What are you guys using as your metrics to value and analyze deals?

8 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some insights and metrics that can be used to underwrite lease terms and analyze deals:

  1. Spreadsheet Tracking:

    • Create a spreadsheet that tracks all the deals you underwrite.
    • Include important high-level information such as return metrics, deal size, type, per unit costs, etc.
    • Add notes about the deal or your assumptions/feedback received.
    • Over time, this will help you identify trends and get a better idea of what deals should look like based on previous assumptions.
  2. Metrics for Valuation:

    • Return Metrics: Key financial metrics that determine the merits of an investment.
    • Deal Size and Type: Important to categorize and compare different deals.
    • Per Unit Costs: Helps in understanding the cost structure and profitability.
  3. Normalization of Deal Points:

    • Using NPV (Net Present Value) to normalize deal points that differ in lease term is a sound approach.
    • Dividing the NPV by the number of months in the lease term to get a "discounted Net effective rate" is a good way to compare deals of different durations.
  4. Discount Rate:

    • Using a 10% discount rate is common, but ensure it aligns with market conditions and the specific risk profile of the deals.
  5. Additional Considerations:

    • Rent Rate, Term, Escalations, Free Rent, TI/LC: These are essential factors to include in your model.
    • Opex (Operating Expenses): If dealing with a Full-Service Gross (FSG) lease, factoring in Opex is crucial.
  6. Comparative Analysis:

    • Comparing deals by normalizing the NPV over the lease term helps in making apples-to-apples comparisons.
    • This method ensures that longer-term deals do not inherently appear more attractive just due to their duration.

By following these guidelines and metrics, you can effectively underwrite lease terms and analyze deals with a comprehensive and normalized approach.

Sources: Thinking like an Investor: The key financial metrics, Beginners Guide to Valuation and Metrics By Sector, Beginners Guide to Valuation and Metrics By Sector, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/private-equity/thinking-like-an-investor-the-key-financial-metrics?customgpt=1, Acquisitions Analyst Advice - New Analysts

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

I use NPV to compare multiple options.


After one has emerged as a front runner I look at the MIRR to understand the return. This allows us to be more realistic about the return due to the reinvestment of cashflow at a lower rate (high yield cash acct.) than the project given how unrealistic it is to be able to immediately reinvest that capital into another project with a similar return (which is what IRR assumes).

The discount rate typically varies for each opportunity depending on the risk premium (various risk factors) involved with the property with the risk free rate staying constant. I'd be wary of using 10% as the default for each of your options.

Other metrics:
Expense as a percent of gross income
Payback period
GRM
DCR
Equity Multiple

 
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