Elevated LeverageMaterially higher leverage increases financial sensitivity to operating setbacks or rising financing costs. Even with fixed-rate debt today, elevated debt-to-equity reduces strategic flexibility, heightens default/refinancing risk under stress, and narrows capacity for opportunistic investments.
Deliberately Low Tenant RetentionA strategic decision to accept lower retention to capture stronger retenanting spreads increases short-term vacancy and retenanting costs. This structural trade-off raises execution risk, can depress same-center NOI temporarily, and may pressure FFO and cash flow timing over several quarters.
Competitive Acquisition Market & Retail ChurnHeightened competition for assets raises acquisition prices and compresses returns, constraining durable external growth. Coupled with retailer bankruptcies/closures that drive churn, this structural backdrop limits accretive M&A options and increases the importance of disciplined capital allocation.