QTS Reports Fourth Quarter And Full Year 2019 Operating Results

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- QTS Realty Trust, Inc. ("QTS" or the "Company") (NYSE: QTS) today announced operating results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2019.

Fourth Quarter and Full Year GAAP & Other Highlights




                                      Three Months Ended               
      
       Year Ended



                                  
     
       December 31,                   
      
       December 31,



                ($ in thousands
                 except per share
                 data)                              2019                 2018                      2019 2018



     Total revenue                                        $
       123,707                     $
      112,337        $
        480,818        $
        450,524


     Net income (loss)                                    $
       (6,102)                      $
      6,402         $
        29,169        $
        (7,175)


     Net income (loss)
      attributable to
      common
      stockholders                                       $
       (11,795)                      $
      (569)           $
        883       $
        (21,126)


     Net income (loss)
      per share
      attributable to
      basic common
      shares (1)                                           $
       (0.24)                     $
      (0.02)        $
        (0.13)        $
        (0.44)


     Net income (loss)
      per share
      attributable to
      diluted common
      shares (1)                                           $
       (0.24)                     $
      (0.02)        $
        (0.13)        $
        (0.44)


     FFO available to
      common
      stockholders &
      OP unit holders                                      $
       43,562    (2)               $
      34,997        $
        160,476 (2)    $
        112,278


     ___________________________________



     (1)              Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share were calculated using the two-class
                         method.



     (2)   
              Includes QTS's pro rata share of results from its unconsolidated entity.

Additional Fourth Quarter and Full Year Highlights

Note: Prior period 2018 metrics represent results of the Core business only. See the 'Definitions' section for a more detailed description of the Core business.

    --  Recognized total consolidated revenues of $123.7 million and $480.8
        million for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2019, respectively,
        an increase of 10.1% and 6.7% compared to the same periods in 2018. In
        addition, total consolidated revenue recognized for the quarter and year
        ended December 31, 2019 increased 10.2% and 13.7%, respectively,
        compared to total consolidated Core revenue for the same periods in
        2018. Total consolidated revenues do not include QTS' pro rata share of
        revenue attributable to its unconsolidated joint venture of $1.9 million
        and $4.8 million for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2019,
        respectively.
    --  Reported Adjusted EBITDA of $66.3 million and $250.4 million for the
        quarter and year ended December 31, 2019, respectively, an increase of
        11.8% and 14.8% compared to Core Adjusted EBITDA of $59.3 million and
        $218.1 million for the same periods in 2018.
    --  Reported Operating FFO available to common stockholders and OP unit
        holders of $45.7 million and $165.7 million for the quarter and year
        ended December 31, 2019, respectively, an increase of 14.1% and 11.0%
        compared to Core Operating FFO available to common stockholders and OP
        unit holders of $40.1 million and $149.3 million for the same periods in
        2018.
    --  Reported Operating FFO per fully diluted share of $0.69 for the quarter
        ended December 31, 2019, compared to Core Operating FFO per fully
        diluted share of $0.69 in the same period of 2018. Reported Operating
        FFO per fully diluted share of $2.63 for the year ended December 31,
        2019, compared to Core Operating FFO per fully diluted share of $2.57 in
        the same period of 2018.
    --  Signed new and modified renewal leases during the fourth quarter of 2019
        aggregating to $27.7 million of incremental annualized rent, net of
        downgrades, representing the highest quarterly performance in Company
        history.
    --  Reported a Company record high annualized booked-not-billed monthly
        recurring revenue ("MRR") balance of $93.1 million as of December 31,
        2019 compared to $79.8 million as of September 30, 2019.
    --  Through QTS' March 2019 forward equity offering and incremental common
        stock issued on a forward basis through its "at-the-market" ("ATM")
        equity offering program, the Company currently has access to
        approximately $220 million of undrawn net proceeds through sales of the
        aforementioned forward stock.

"2019 represented another year of strong execution for QTS highlighted by a record-setting leasing performance in both the fourth quarter and full-year. We were pleased to close out 2019 with a $93 million booked-not-billed backlog which provides solid momentum and visibility into another year of strong growth in 2020," said Chad Williams, Chairman and CEO of QTS.

Williams added, "Our focus at QTS remains on delivering consistent financial performance over both the near- and long-term while enabling the continued growth of our target hyperscale, hybrid colocation and federal customers. Through our broad footprint of cost-advantaged infrastructure, software-defined platform and leadership position in sustainability initiatives, QTS is strategically positioned to drive continued growth and stockholder value creation."

Financial Results

Quarterly Results

QTS recognized a net loss of $6.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2019, compared to net income of $6.4 million recognized in the fourth quarter of 2018. Net loss attributable to common stockholders recognized in the fourth quarter of 2019 was $11.8 million ($0.24 net loss per basic and diluted common share), compared to net loss attributable to common stockholders of $0.6 million ($0.02 net loss per basic and diluted common share) recognized in the fourth quarter of 2018. The change in net income (loss) and net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders was primarily driven by a $14.0 million impairment loss in the fourth quarter of 2019 related to the Company's write-down of certain data center assets and equipment in one of its Dulles, Virginia data centers. The Dulles campus has two data center buildings and the Company is currently relocating customers from the smaller and older facility to the newer facility in an effort to optimize its operating cost structure.

QTS generated total revenues of $123.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2019, an increase of 10.1% compared to total Core revenue of $112.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2018. MRR as of December 31, 2019 was $34.0 million compared to Core MRR as of December 31, 2018 of $31.1 million.

QTS generated $66.3 million of Adjusted EBITDA in the fourth quarter of 2019, an increase of 11.8% compared to Core Adjusted EBITDA of $59.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2018.

Additionally, QTS generated Operating FFO available to common stockholders and OP unit holders of $45.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2019, an increase of 14.1% compared to Core Operating FFO available to common stockholders and OP unit holders of $40.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Operating FFO per fully diluted share was $0.69 in the fourth quarter of 2019, compared to Core Operating FFO per fully diluted share of $0.69 in the fourth quarter of 2018.

2019 Results

QTS recognized net income of $29.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to net loss of $7.2 million recognized for the year ended December 31, 2018. Net income attributable to common stockholders recognized for the year ended December 31, 2019 was $0.9 million ($0.13 net loss per basic and diluted common share), compared to net loss attributable to common stockholders of $21.1 million ($0.44 net loss per basic and diluted common share) recognized for the year ended December 31, 2018. The change in net income (loss) and net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders was primarily driven by a reduction in restructuring expenses of approximately $37.9 million related to costs incurred in the prior year associated with the Company's strategic growth plan as well as $14.8 million of gain on sale of real estate recognized in the current year primarily associated with the Company's assets that were contributed to a joint venture, partially offset by the aforementioned $14.0 million impairment loss in the fourth quarter of 2019.

QTS generated total revenues of $480.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2019, an increase of 13.7% compared to total Core revenue of $422.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2018.

QTS generated $250.4 million of Adjusted EBITDA during the year ended December 31, 2019, an increase of 14.8% compared to Core Adjusted EBITDA of $218.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2018.

Additionally, QTS generated Operating FFO available to common stockholders and OP unit holders of $165.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2019, an increase of 11.0% compared to Core Operating FFO available to common stockholders and OP unit holders of $149.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2018.

Operating FFO per fully diluted share was $2.63 for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to Core Operating FFO per fully diluted share of $2.57 for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Leasing Activity

During the quarter and year ended December 31, 2019, QTS entered into new and modified renewal leases aggregating to $27.7 million and $76.1 million, respectively, of incremental annualized rent. The Company's fourth quarter leasing performance was the highest in Company history and primarily driven by continued momentum in the Company's hyperscale business, highlighted by an existing hyperscale tenant's expansion into a 12 megawatt deployment in QTS' Atlanta-Metro campus, as well as consistent performance in the hybrid colocation product vertical.

During the quarter and year ended December 31, 2019, QTS renewed leases with total annualized rent of $11.5 million and $62.8 million at an average rent per square foot of $777 and $673, respectively, which was 2.2% lower and 1.0% higher than the annualized rent prior to their respective renewals. The decline in the renewal rate of 2.2% for the quarter ended December 31, 2019 was largely due to one customer's change in power density upon renewal. Excluding this customer lease from the renewal base, QTS' renewal rates on a per square foot basis would have represented a 2.7% increase relative to pre-renewal rates. There is variability in the Company's renewal rates based on the mix of product types renewed, and renewal rates are generally expected to increase in the low to mid-single digits as compared to pre-renewal pricing.

As part of its continued focus on operational efficiency, during the quarter ended December 31, 2019 the Company exited two non-strategic, leased facilities in Hong Kong and London. The two leased facilities were subscale with below average profitability and presented a limited path for incremental growth. Proactive management of the Company's strategy in these facilities is consistent with the Company's constant effort to evaluate its platform for opportunities to enhance operating efficiency. Rental Churn (which the Company defines as MRR lost in the period to a customer intending to fully exit the QTS platform in the near term compared to total MRR at the beginning of the period) was 1.7% for the three months ended December 31, 2019, and 5.2% for the year ended December 31, 2019, which includes the intentional customer churn associated with the Company's deliberate strategy to exit these non-strategic leased facilities. Excluding the impact related to the exit of these facilities, rental churn would have been approximately 0.8% for the fourth quarter of 2019, and 4.3% for the year ended December 31, 2019.

As of December 31, 2019, the booked-not-billed MRR balance (which represents customer leases that have been executed, but for which lease payments have not commenced as of December 31, 2019) was the highest in Company history and represented $7.8 million, or $93.1 million of annualized rent, and compares to $6.6 million, or $79.8 million of annualized rent at September 30, 2019. The booked-not-billed balance is expected to contribute an incremental $24.0 million to MRR in 2020 (representing $41.5 million in annualized MRR), an incremental $22.5 million in 2021 (representing $32.5 million in annualized MRR), and an incremental $19.0 million in annualized MRR thereafter.

Development

During the quarter ended December 31, 2019, the Company brought online approximately nine megawatts of gross power and approximately 62,000 net rentable square feet ("NRSF") of raised floor and customer specific capital at its Ashburn, Chicago, Irving, Santa Clara and Piscataway facilities at an aggregate cost of approximately $74.0 million. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company brought online approximately 28 megawatts of gross power and approximately 177,000 NRSF of raised floor and customer specific capital at its Ashburn, Chicago, Irving, Piscataway, Atlanta-Metro, Fort Worth and Santa Clara facilities at an aggregate cost of approximately $202.0 million. Additionally, during the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company sold certain land improvements near its Atlanta-Metro facility and entered into an underlying ground lease and services agreement with the buyer.

During the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company's significant development activity continued at the Ashburn, Atlanta-Metro, Hillsboro, Fort Worth, Irving, Chicago and Piscataway facilities to have space ready for customers in 2020 and forward. The Company expects to bring an additional 167,000 raised floor NRSF into service in 2020 at an aggregate cost of approximately $437 million, of which $243 million has already been spent as of December 31, 2019.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

As of December 31, 2019, the Company's total net indebtedness, inclusive of its pro rata share of joint venture net debt, was approximately $1.5 billion, resulting in a net debt to annualized Adjusted EBITDA of 5.6x. The Company's leverage ratio pro forma for the effects of cash expected to be received upon the full physical settlement of, and issuance of, 4.6 million shares of common stock pursuant to forward equity sales described below, assuming such proceeds were used to repay a portion of the Company's outstanding debt, is approximately 4.8x. The Company expects to use proceeds from these forward equity agreements to fund future capital expenditures.

In September 2019 the Company settled a portion of the forward sale entered into in the first quarter of 2019 by issuing 2.8 million shares of common stock for net proceeds of approximately $110 million, which was used to repay amounts outstanding under its revolving credit facility. Following this partial settlement, the Company has approximately $36 million of proceeds remaining available under this forward sale, which it expects to physically settle prior to March 31, 2020.

In June 2019, the Company established a new "at-the-market" ("ATM") equity offering program pursuant to which the Company may issue, from time to time, up to $400 million of its Class A common stock, which may include shares to be issued on a forward basis. Pursuant to this ATM program, through the date of this report the Company sold on a forward basis approximately 3.6 million shares of QTS' Class A common stock at an average of approximately $52 per share, representing available proceeds upon physical settlement of approximately $184 million. The Company expects to physically settle (by delivering shares of common stock) these forward sales prior to their first anniversary date. When combined with the approximately $36 million of proceeds remaining available under the forward sale entered into in the first quarter of 2019, the Company currently has access to approximately $220 million of net proceeds through forward stock sales.

During the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company amended its unsecured credit facility with extended and expanded terms. The amended unsecured credit facility has a total capacity of $1.7 billion and includes a $225 million term loan which matures in December 2024, a $225 million term loan which matures in April 2025, a third term loan for $250 million which matures in October 2026 and a $1.0 billion revolving portion of the credit facility which matures in December 2023, with a one year extension option. Interest rates can vary based on leverage levels. The interest rate as of December 31, 2019 is LIBOR plus 1.20% on both $225 million term loans, LIBOR plus 1.50% on the seven year $250 million term loan and LIBOR plus 1.25% for the revolving portion of the credit facility. The pricing on the two $225 million term loans and the revolving portion of the credit facility represents a 10 basis point reduction from the interest rate on QTS' credit facility prior to the amendment. The amended unsecured credit facility also provides for borrowing capacity of up to $300 million in various foreign currencies, and a $500 million accordion feature to increase the credit facility up to $2.2 billion, subject to certain conditions, including consent of the agent and obtaining additional loan commitments.

As of December 31, 2019, the Company had total available liquidity of approximately $695 million which was comprised of $679 million of available capacity under the Company's unsecured revolving credit facility and approximately $16 million of cash and cash equivalents. Pro forma for approximately $220 million of available proceeds at the Company's election to physically settle the aforementioned forward equity sales, the Company's total available liquidity is approximately $915 million.

2020 Guidance




                                                                              2019
                                                                             Actuals           2020 Guidance




       
                
                  ($ in millions except per share amounts)                            Low           High

    ---


       Revenue                                                                      $
      480.8                $
      523       $
      537



       Adjusted EBITDA                                                              $
      250.4                $
      275       $
      285



       Operating FFO per fully diluted share                                         $
      2.63               $
      2.69      $
      2.83

The Company's 2020 guidance assumes rental churn for the full year of between 3% and 6%. In addition, for the full-year 2020, QTS expects to spend between $550 million and $600 million in cash capital expenditures, excluding any acquisitions. The Company's 2020 capital expenditure guidance includes its proportionate share of cash capital expenditures associated with the unconsolidated joint venture.

The Company's 2020 guidance includes the effects of the Company's joint venture, which is reflected as an unconsolidated joint venture on QTS' reported financial statements. Consistent with GAAP accounting standards, revenue from the unconsolidated joint venture is not included in QTS' reported consolidated GAAP financial statements. Also consistent with NAREIT-defined standards, QTS includes its proportionate ownership of non-GAAP measures such as EBITDAre and FFO from the joint venture in its reported EBITDAre and FFO results, respectively.

QTS does not provide reconciliations for the non-GAAP financial measures included in its guidance provided above due to the inherent difficulty in forecasting and quantifying certain amounts that are necessary for such reconciliations, including net income (loss) and adjustments that could be made for restructuring costs, transaction costs, lease exit costs, asset impairments and gain (loss) on disposals and other charges as those amounts are subject to significant variability based on future transactions that are not yet known, the amount of which, based on historical experience, could be significant.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures that management believes are helpful in understanding the Company's business, as further described below. The Company does not, nor does it suggest investors should, consider such non-GAAP financial measures in isolation from, or as a substitute for, GAAP financial information. The Company believes that the presentation of non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information to both management and investors that is indicative of the Company's operations. The Company has included a reconciliation of this additional information to the most comparable GAAP measure in the selected financial information below.

Definitions

Core. The Core business consists primarily of the Company's hyperscale and hybrid colocation business, along with technology and services revenue from the Company's cloud and managed services business that supports hyperscale and hybrid colocation customers. Core financial measures and operating statistics represent the financial results or operating statistics, as applicable, of the Company's Core business for the applicable period following the Company's announcement of its strategic growth plan in the first quarter of 2018. The Company exited its "Non-Core" business (i.e., business other than the Core business) over the course of 2018, ending in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Non-Core. Non-Core represents the portion of the Company's business that the Company exited in accordance with its strategic growth plan announced in the first quarter of 2018 and completed in the fourth quarter of 2018. The Non-Core business consisted of certain products and services within the Company's cloud and managed services business, primarily managed hosting, as well as colocation revenue attached to certain customers in the managed services business. Non-Core financial measures and operating statistics represent the financial results or operating statistics, as applicable, of the Company's Non-Core business for the applicable period.

Conference Call Details

The Company will host a conference call and webcast on February 19, 2020, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time (7:30 a.m. Central time) to discuss its financial results, current business trends and market conditions.

The dial-in number for the conference call is (877) 883-0383 (U.S.) or (412) 902-6506 (International). The participant entry number is 2850077# and callers are asked to dial in ten minutes prior to start time. A link to the live broadcast and the replay will be available on the Company's website (www.qtsdatacenters.com) under the Investors tab.

About QTS

QTS Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: QTS) is a leading provider of data center solutions across a diverse footprint spanning more than 6 million square feet of owned data center space throughout primarily North America and Europe. Through its software-defined technology platform, QTS is able to deliver secure, compliant infrastructure solutions, robust connectivity and premium customer service to leading hyperscale technology companies, enterprises, and government entities. QTS owns, operates or manages 24 data centers and supports more than 1,200 customers primarily in North America and Europe.

QTS Investor Relations Contact

Stephen Douglas - EVP - Finance
ir@qtsdatacenters.com

Forward Looking Statements

Some of the statements contained in this release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. In particular, statements pertaining to the Company's capital resources, liquidity, portfolio performance, results of operations, anticipated growth in our funds from operations and anticipated market conditions contain forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "intends," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," or "potential" or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases which are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and which do not relate solely to historical matters. You also can identify forward-looking statements by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions.

The forward-looking statements contained in this release reflect the Company's current views about future events and are subject to numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and changes in circumstances that may cause actual results to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. The Company does not guarantee that the transactions and events described will happen as described (or that they will happen at all). The following factors, among others, could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those set forth or contemplated in the forward-looking statements: adverse economic or real estate developments in the Company's markets or the technology industry; obsolescence or reduction in marketability of our infrastructure due to changing industry demands; global, national and local economic conditions; risks related to the Company's international operations; difficulties in identifying properties to acquire and completing acquisitions; the Company's failure to successfully develop, redevelop and operate acquired properties or lines of business; significant increases in construction and development costs; the increasingly competitive environment in which the Company operates; defaults on, or termination or non-renewal of leases by customers; decreased rental rates or increased vacancy rates; increased interest rates and operating costs, including increased energy costs; financing risks, including the Company's failure to obtain necessary outside financing; dependence on third parties to provide Internet, telecommunications and network connectivity to the Company's data centers; the Company's failure to qualify and maintain its qualification as a real estate investment trust; environmental uncertainties and risks related to natural disasters; financial market fluctuations; changes in real estate and zoning laws, revaluations for tax purposes and increases in real property tax rates; and limitations inherent in our current and any future joint venture investments, such as lack of sole decision-making authority and reliance on our partners' financial condition.

While forward-looking statements reflect the Company's good faith beliefs, they are not guarantees of future performance. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it was made. The Company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, of new information, data or methods, future events or other changes. For a further discussion of these and other factors that could cause the Company's future results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements, see the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and other periodic reports the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission.



       Consolidated Balance Sheets

    ---


       
                (unaudited and in thousands except shares data)




                                                                                                                            December 31,                December 31,


                                                                                                                                2019 (1)                    2018 (1)




       
                
                  ASSETS

    ---


       Real Estate Assets



       Land                                                                                                                               $
       130,605                $
        105,541



       Buildings, improvements and equipment                                                                                                 2,172,838                    1,917,251



       Less: Accumulated depreciation                                                                                                        (554,993)                   (467,644)



                                                                                                                                              1,748,450                    1,555,148



       Construction in progress  (2)                                                                                                           914,167                      790,064




       Real Estate Assets, net                                                                                                               2,662,617                    2,345,212




       Investments in unconsolidated entity                                                                                                     30,218



       Operating lease right-of-use assets, net                                                                                                 57,141



       Cash and cash equivalents                                                                                                                15,653                       11,759



       Rents and other receivables, net                                                                                                         81,181                       55,093



       Acquired intangibles, net                                                                                                                81,679                       95,451



       Deferred costs, net  (3) (4)                                                                                                             52,363                       45,096



       Prepaid expenses                                                                                                                         10,586                        6,822



       Goodwill                                                                                                                                173,843                      173,843



       Assets held for sale                                                                                                                                                 71,800



       Other assets, net (5)                                                                                                                    55,756                       56,893




       TOTAL ASSETS                                                                                                                     $
       3,221,037              $
        2,861,969




       
                
                  LIABILITIES

    ---


       Unsecured credit facility, net  (4)                                                                                              $
       1,010,640                $
        945,657



       Senior notes, net of debt issuance costs  (4)                                                                                           395,549                      394,786



       Finance leases and mortgage notes payable                                                                                                46,876                        4,674



       Operating lease liabilities                                                                                                              64,416



       Accounts payable and accrued liabilities                                                                                                142,547                       99,166



       Dividends and distributions payable                                                                                                      34,500                       29,633



       Advance rents, security deposits and other liabilities                                                                                   18,027                       29,709



       Derivative liabilities                                                                                                                   26,609                        2,970



       Liabilities held for sale                                                                                                                                            24,349



       Deferred income taxes                                                                                                                       749                        1,097



       Deferred income                                                                                                                          39,169                       33,241




       TOTAL LIABILITIES                                                                                                                     1,779,082                    1,565,282




       
                
                  EQUITY

    ---

        7.125% Series A cumulative redeemable perpetual preferred stock: $0.01 par value (liquidation preference $25.00 per
         share), 4,600,000 shares authorized, 4,280,000 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and December
         31, 2018, respectively (6)                                                                                                             103,212                      103,212


        6.50% Series B cumulative convertible perpetual preferred stock: $0.01 par value (liquidation preference $100.00
         per share), 3,162,500 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018,
         respectively (7)                                                                                                                       304,223                      304,265


        Common stock: $0.01 par value, 450,133,000 shares authorized, 58,227,523 and 51,123,417 shares issued and
         outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively                                                                    582                          511



       Additional paid-in capital                                                                                                            1,330,433                    1,062,473



       Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)                                                                                          (24,642)                       2,073



       Accumulated dividends in excess of earnings                                                                                           (378,230)                   (278,548)




       Total stockholders' equity                                                                                                            1,335,578                    1,193,986



       Noncontrolling interests                                                                                                                106,377                      102,701




       TOTAL EQUITY                                                                                                                          1,441,955                    1,296,687




       TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY                                                                                                     $
       3,221,037              $
        2,861,969


     ____________________________________



     (1)              The balance sheet at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, has been derived from
                         the consolidated financial statements at that date, but does not include all of the
                         information and footnotes required by United States generally accepted accounting
                         principles for complete financial statements.



     (2)              As of December 31, 2019, construction in progress included $199.4 million related to
                         land acquisitions whereby the initiation of development activities has begun to
                         prepare the property for its intended use.



     (3)              As of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, deferred costs, net included $8.0
                         million and $7.7 million of deferred financing costs net of amortization,
                         respectively, and $44.3 million and $37.4 million of deferred leasing costs net of
                         amortization, respectively.



     (4)              Debt issuance costs, net related to the Senior Notes and term loan portion of the
                         Company's unsecured credit facility aggregating $10.8 million and $11.6 million at
                         December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, have been netted against the
                         related debt liability line items for both periods presented.



     (5)              As of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, other assets, net included $52.6
                         million and $48.8 million of corporate fixed assets, respectively, primarily relating
                         to construction of corporate offices, leasehold improvements and product related
                         assets.



     (6)              As of December 31, 2019, the total liquidation preference of the Series A Preferred
                         Stock was $107.0 million, calculated as $25.00 liquidation preference per share times
                         4,280,000 shares outstanding.



     (7)              As of December 31, 2019, the total liquidation preference of the Series B Preferred
                         Stock was $316.3 million, calculated as $100.00 liquidation preference per share
                         times 3,162,500 shares outstanding.



       Consolidated Statements of Operations

    ---


       
                (unaudited and in thousands except share and per share data)




                                                                                  
           
          Three Months Ended                Year Ended

                                                                                                                          ---

                                                                             December 31,                           September 30,     December 31,      December 31,



                                                                                     2019                                     2019          2018                   2019                2018

                                                                                                                                                   (1)                                      (1)




       Revenues:



       Rental (2)                                                                           $
          119,282                        $
              121,475                  $
        107,846            $
          465,123     $
          413,620



       Other (3)                                                                                      4,425                                      3,780                          4,491                     15,695              36,904




       Total revenues                                                                               123,707                                    125,255                        112,337                    480,818             450,524




       Operating expenses:



       Property operating costs                                                                      38,645                                     44,730                         35,721                    156,048             148,236


        Real estate taxes and insurance                                                                4,068                                      3,713                          3,297                     14,503              12,193


        Depreciation and amortization                                                                 45,161                                     42,875                         38,258                    168,305             149,891


        General and administrative (4)                                                                20,866                                     19,504                         17,670                     80,385              80,857


        Transaction, integration and
         impairment costs (5)                                                                         14,606                                        827                            269                     17,686               2,743



       Restructuring                                                                                                                                                          4,246                                        37,943




       Total operating expenses                                                                     123,346                                    111,649                         99,461                    436,927             431,863


        Gain on sale of real estate, net                                                               1,361                                                                                             14,769




       Operating income                                                                               1,722                                     13,606                         12,876                     58,660              18,661



       Other income and expense:



       Interest income                                                                                    8                                         22                             58                        111                 150



       Interest expense                                                                             (6,264)                                   (6,724)                       (6,050)                  (26,593)           (28,749)



       Debt restructuring costs                                                                     (1,523)                                                                   (605)                   (1,523)              (605)



       Other income (expense)                                                                         (380)                                       370                                                     (50)


        Equity in net loss of unconsolidated
         entity                                                                                        (481)                                     (317)                                                 (1,473)




       Income (loss) before taxes                                                                   (6,918)                                     6,957                          6,279                     29,132            (10,543)


        Tax benefit (expense) of taxable REIT
         subsidiaries                                                                                    816                                      (369)                           123                         37               3,368




       Net income (loss)                                                                            (6,102)                                     6,588                          6,402                     29,169             (7,175)


        Net (income) loss attributable to
         noncontrolling interests  (6)                                                                 1,352                                         49                             74                      (106)              2,715



        Net income (loss) attributable to QTS
         Realty Trust, Inc.                                                                  $
          (4,750)                         $
              6,637                    $
        6,476             $
          29,063     $
          (4,460)




       Preferred stock dividends                                                                    (7,045)                                   (7,045)                       (7,045)                  (28,180)           (16,666)



        Net income (loss) attributable to
         common stockholders                                                                $
          (11,795)                         $
              (408)                   $
        (569)               $
          883    $
          (21,126)





        Net loss per share attributable to
         common shares:



            Basic  (7)                                                                       $
          (0.24)                        $
              (0.05)                  $
        (0.02)            $
          (0.13)     $
          (0.44)



            Diluted  (7)                                                                             (0.24)                                    (0.05)                        (0.02)                    (0.13)             (0.44)


     ___________________________________



     (1)              Pursuant to the Company's adoption of ASC 842 "Leases" on January 1, 2019,
                         historical revenue categories have been reclassified to conform to current
                         presentation of two categories. The new categories incorporate a reclassification
                         of straight line rent from the "Other" line item into the "Rental" line item, a
                         reclassification of "Recoveries from Customers" from its own line item into the
                         "Rental" line item and a combination of the "Cloud and managed services" and
                         "Other" line items into a single "Other" line item.



     (2)              Represents lease revenue, inclusive of recoveries from customers as well as
                         straight line rent. Recoveries from customers was $14.0 million, $17.6 million,
                         and $11.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019, September 30,
                         2019, and December 31, 2018, respectively, and $55.0 million and $45.4 million for
                         the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Straight line rent was
                         $3.3 million, $2.3 million and $2.1 million for the three months ended December
                         31, 2019, September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, and $8.1 million
                         and $7.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.



     (3)              Includes revenue from managed services, sales of scrap metals and other unused
                         materials and various other revenue items.



     (4)              Includes personnel costs, sales and marketing costs, professional fees, travel
                         costs, product investment costs and other corporate general and administrative
                         expenses. General and administrative expenses were 16.9%, 15.6%, and 15.7% of
                         total revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2019, September 30, 2019
                         and December 31, 2018, respectively, and 16.7% million and 17.9% million for the
                         years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.



     (5)              Includes $14.0 million of impairment costs related to the Company's write-down of
                         certain data center assets and equipment in one of its Dulles, VA data centers.
                         The Dulles campus has two data center buildings and the Company is currently
                         relocating customers from the smaller and older facility to the newer facility in
                         an effort to optimize its operating cost structure.



     (6)              The weighted average noncontrolling ownership interest of QualityTech, LP was
                         10.3%, 10.7% and 11.5% for the three months ended December 31, 2019, September 30,
                         2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, and 10.7% and 11.5% for the years ended
                         December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.



     (7)              Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share were calculated using the two-class
                         method.



       Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

    ---


       
                (unaudited and in thousands)




                                                             
           
          Three Months Ended                  Year Ended

                                                                                                     ---

                                                        December 31,                           September 30,       December 31,   December 31,



                                                                2019                                     2019                2018            2019              2018




       Net income (loss)                                              $
          (6,102)                        $
              6,588                     $
       6,402      $
        29,169   $
       (7,175)


        Other comprehensive income (loss):


        Foreign currency translation
         adjustment gain (loss)                                                    394                                     (426)                                             34


        Increase (decrease) in fair value
         of derivative contracts                                                 4,349                                   (5,733)                       (9,079)         (29,843)           895


        Reclassification of other
         comprehensive income to utilities
         expense                                                                   262                                       218                                             749


        Reclassification of other
         comprehensive income to interest
         expense                                                                   169                                     (235)                         (300)          (1,031)           110



        Comprehensive income (loss)                                              (928)                                      412                        (2,977)            (922)       (6,170)


        Comprehensive (income) loss
         attributable to noncontrolling
         interests                                                                  95                                      (22)                           343                99            711



        Comprehensive income (loss)
         attributable to QTS Realty Trust,
         Inc.                                                            $
          (833)                          $
              390                   $
       (2,634)      $
        (823)  $
       (5,459)

FFO, Operating FFO, and Adjusted Operating FFO

The Company considers funds from operations ("FFO"), to be a supplemental measure of its performance which should be considered along with, but not as an alternative to, net income (loss) and cash provided by operating activities as a measure of operating performance. The Company calculates FFO in accordance with the standards established by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts ("NAREIT"). FFO represents net income (loss) (computed in accordance with GAAP), adjusted to exclude gains (or losses) from sales of depreciable real estate related to its primary business, impairment write-downs of depreciable real estate related to its primary business, real estate-related depreciation and amortization and similar adjustments for unconsolidated entities. To the extent the Company incurs gains or losses from the sale of assets that are incidental to its primary business, or incurs impairment write-downs associated with assets that are incidental to its primary business, it includes such charges in its calculation of FFO. The Company's management uses FFO as a supplemental operating performance measure because, in excluding real estate-related depreciation and amortization, impairment write-downs of depreciable real estate and gains and losses from property dispositions, it provides a performance measure that, when compared year over year, captures trends in occupancy rates, rental rates and operating costs.

Due to the volatility and nature of certain significant charges and gains recorded in the Company's operating results that management believes are not reflective of its operating performance, management computes an adjusted measure of FFO, which the Company refers to as Operating funds from operations ("Operating FFO"). Operating FFO is a non-GAAP measure that is used as a supplemental operating measure and to provide additional information to users of the financial statements. The Company generally calculates Operating FFO as FFO excluding certain non-routine charges and gains and losses that management believes are not indicative of the results of the Company's operating real estate portfolio. The Company believes that Operating FFO provides investors with another financial measure that may facilitate comparisons of operating performance between periods and, to the extent they calculate Operating FFO on a comparable basis, between REITs.

Adjusted Operating Funds From Operations ("Adjusted Operating FFO") is a non-GAAP measure that is used as a supplemental operating measure and to provide additional information to users of the financial statements. The Company calculates Adjusted Operating FFO by adding or subtracting from Operating FFO items such as: maintenance capital investment, paid leasing commissions, amortization of deferred financing costs, non-real estate depreciation and amortization, straight line rent adjustments, income taxes, non-cash compensation and similar adjustments for unconsolidated entities.

The Company offers these measures because it recognizes that FFO, Operating FFO and Adjusted Operating FFO will be used by investors as a basis to compare its operating performance with that of other REITs. However, because FFO, Operating FFO and Adjusted Operating FFO exclude real estate depreciation and amortization and capture neither the changes in the value of the Company's properties that result from use or market conditions, nor the level of capital expenditures and capitalized leasing commissions necessary to maintain the operating performance of its properties, all of which have real economic effect and could materially impact its financial condition, cash flows and results of operations, the utility of FFO, Operating FFO and Adjusted Operating FFO as measures of its operating performance is limited. The Company's calculation of FFO may not be comparable to measures calculated by other companies who do not use the NAREIT definition of FFO or do not calculate FFO in accordance with NAREIT guidance. In addition, the Company's calculations of FFO, Operating FFO and Adjusted Operating FFO are not necessarily comparable to FFO, Operating FFO and Adjusted Operating FFO as calculated by other REITs that do not use the same definition or implementation guidelines or interpret the standards differently from us. FFO, Operating FFO and Adjusted Operating FFO are non-GAAP measures and should not be considered a measure of the Company's results of operations or liquidity or as a substitute for, or an alternative to, net income (loss), cash provided by operating activities or any other performance measure determined in accordance with GAAP, nor is it indicative of funds available to fund its cash needs, including its ability to make distributions to its stockholders.

For periods in 2018, Core FFO, Core Operating FFO and Adjusted Core Operating FFO represent FFO, Operating FFO and Adjusted Operating FFO of the Company's Core business, respectively, and are used as supplemental performance measures because they reflect results of the portion of the business the Company retained following completion of the strategic growth plan.

A reconciliation of net income (loss) to FFO, Operating FFO and Adjusted Operating FFO on a consolidated, Core and non-Core basis is presented below (unaudited and in thousands):




                                                           
     
         Three Months Ended

                                                                                                         ---

                                         December 31, 2019                            September 30, 2019     
     
        December 31, 2018



                                                Total                                        Total                    Core            Non-Core               Total



                  FFO


     Net income (loss)                                        $
       (6,102)                                       $
        6,588                   $
        10,474        $
        (4,072)  $
         6,402


     Equity in net loss of
      unconsolidated entity                                            481                                                317


     Real estate
      depreciation and
      amortization                                                  41,947                                             39,969                         35,640                             35,640


     Impairments of
      depreciated property                                          13,957


     Pro rata share of FFO
      from unconsolidated
      entity                                                           324                                                369



                  FFO (1)                                           50,607                                             47,243                         46,114              (4,072)        42,042


     Preferred stock
      dividends                                                    (7,045)                                           (7,045)                       (7,045)                           (7,045)



                  FFO available to
                   common stockholders &
                   OP unit holders                                  43,562                                             40,198                         39,069              (4,072)        34,997





     Debt restructuring
      costs                                                          1,523                                                                              605                                605


     Restructuring costs                                                                                                                               138                4,108          4,246


     Transaction and
      integration costs                                                649                                                827                            269                                269


     Tax benefit associated
      with restructuring,
      transaction and
      integration costs                                                                                                                                                  (161)         (161)



                  Operating FFO
                   available to common
                   stockholders & OP
                   unit holders (2)                                 45,734                                             41,025                         40,081                (125)        39,956





     Maintenance capital
      expenditures                                                   (910)                                             (381)                       (1,460)                           (1,460)


     Leasing commissions
      paid                                                        (10,757)                                           (7,302)                       (5,204)                           (5,204)


     Amortization of
      deferred financing
      costs and bond
      discount                                                         982                                                978                            974                                974


     Non real estate
      depreciation and
      amortization                                                   3,214                                              2,906                          2,619                              2,619


     Straight line rent
      revenue and expense
      and other                                                    (3,243)                                           (2,278)                       (1,958)                   6        (1,952)


     Tax expense (benefit)
      from operating
      results                                                        (816)                                               369                             38                                 38


     Equity-based
      compensation expense                                           4,360                                              4,456                          3,531                              3,531


     Similar adjustments
      for unconsolidated
      entity                                                            75                                                 63



                  Adjusted Operating FFO
                   available to common
                   stockholders & OP
                   unit holders (2)                            $
       38,639                                       $
        39,836                   $
        38,621          $
        (119) $
         38,502


     ___________________________________



     (1)              FFO for the three months ended December 31, 2019 includes a $1.4 million gain on
                         sale of real estate related to certain assets considered incidental to our primary
                         business and were included in the "Gain on sale of real estate, net" line item of
                         the consolidated statement of operations. FFO for the three months ended December
                         31, 2018, includes $1.3 million of impairment losses related to certain non-real
                         estate product related assets that were considered incidental to our primary
                         business and were included in the "Restructuring" line item of the consolidated
                         statement of operations. No gains, losses or impairment write-downs associated
                         with assets incidental to our primary business were incurred during the three
                         months ended September 30, 2019.



     (2)              The Company's calculations of Operating FFO and Adjusted Operating FFO may not be
                         comparable to Operating FFO and Adjusted Operating FFO as calculated by other
                         REITs that do not use the same definition.




                                                          
     
         Year Ended

                                                                                       ---

                                         December 31, 2019                      
        
         December 31, 2018



                                                Total                             Core                          Non-Core  Total



                  FFO


     Net income (loss)                                         $
            29,169                              $
        28,530       $
         (35,705) $
         (7,175)


     Equity in net loss of
      unconsolidated entity                                               1,473


     Real estate
      depreciation and
      amortization                                                      156,387                                   133,948                 2,171         136,119


     Gain on sale of real
      estate, net                                                      (13,408)


     Impairments of
      depreciated property                                               13,957


     Pro rata share of FFO
      from unconsolidated
      entity                                                              1,078



                  FFO (1)                                               188,656                                   162,478              (33,534)        128,944


     Preferred stock
      dividends                                                        (28,180)                                 (16,666)                            (16,666)



                  FFO available to
                   common stockholders &
                   OP unit holders                                      160,476                                   145,812              (33,534)        112,278





     Debt restructuring
      costs                                                               1,523                                       605                                  605


     Restructuring costs                                                                                             138                37,805          37,943


     Transaction and
      integration costs                                                   3,729                                     2,743                                2,743


     Tax benefit associated
      with restructuring,
      transaction and
      integration costs                                                                                                               (2,408)        (2,408)



                  Operating FFO
                   available to common
                   stockholders & OP
                   unit holders (2)                                     165,728                                   149,298                 1,863         151,161





     Maintenance capital
      expenditures                                                      (4,233)                                  (6,662)                             (6,662)


     Leasing commissions
      paid                                                             (31,102)                                 (23,855)                (391)       (24,246)


     Amortization of
      deferred financing
      costs and bond
      discount                                                            3,917                                     3,856                                3,856


     Non real estate
      depreciation and
      amortization                                                       11,918                                     9,577                 4,195          13,772


     Straight line rent
      revenue and expense
      and other                                                         (7,922)                                  (6,780)                   10         (6,770)


     Tax benefit from
      operating results                                                    (37)                                    (960)                               (960)


     Equity-based
      compensation expense                                               16,412                                    14,972                               14,972


     Similar adjustments
      for unconsolidated
      entity                                                                118



                  Adjusted Operating FFO
                   available to common
                   stockholders & OP
                   unit holders (2)                           $
            154,799                             $
        139,446          $
         5,677  $
         145,123


     __________________________________



     (1)              FFO for the year ended December 31, 2019 includes a $1.4 million gain on sale of
                         real estate related to certain assets considered incidental to our primary
                         business and were included in the "Gain on sale of real estate, net" line item
                         of the consolidated statement of operations. FFO for the year ended December 31,
                         2018 includes $15.8 million of impairment losses related to certain non-real
                         estate product related assets that were considered incidental to our primary
                         business and were included in the "Restructuring" line item of the consolidated
                         statement of operations.



     (2)              The Company's calculations of Operating FFO and Adjusted Operating FFO may not be
                         comparable to Operating FFO and Adjusted Operating FFO as calculated by other
                         REITs that do not use the same definition.

Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization for Real Estate (EBITDAre) and Adjusted EBITDA

The Company calculates EBITDAre in accordance with the standards established by NAREIT. EBITDAre represents net income (loss) (computed in accordance with GAAP), adjusted to exclude gains (or losses) from sales of depreciated property related to its primary business, income tax expense (or benefit), interest expense, depreciation and amortization, impairments of depreciated property and unconsolidated entities related to its primary business, and similar adjustments for unconsolidated entities. The Company's management uses EBITDAre as a supplemental performance measure because it provides performance measures that, when compared year over year, captures the performance of the Company's operations by removing the impact of capital structure (primarily interest expense) and asset base charges (primarily depreciation and amortization) from its operating results.

Due to the volatility and nature of certain significant charges and gains recorded in the Company's operating results that management believes are not reflective of its operating performance, management computes an adjusted measure of EBITDAre, which the Company refers to as Adjusted EBITDA. The Company generally calculates Adjusted EBITDA excluding certain non-routine charges, write off of unamortized deferred financing costs, gains (losses) on extinguishment of debt, restructuring costs, and transaction and integration costs, as well as the Company's pro-rata share of each of those respective expenses associated with the unconsolidated entity aggregated into one line item categorized as "Adjustments for the unconsolidated entity." In addition, the Company calculates Adjusted EBITDA excluding certain non-cash recurring costs such as equity-based compensation. The Company believes that Adjusted EBITDA provides investors with another financial measure that may facilitate comparisons of operating performance between periods and, to the extent other REITs calculate Adjusted EBITDA on a comparable basis, between REITs.

Management uses EBITDAre and Adjusted EBITDA as supplemental performance measures as they provide useful measures of assessing the Company's operating results. Other companies may not calculate EBITDAre or Adjusted EBITDA in the same manner. Accordingly, the Company's EBITDAre and Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to others. EBITDAre and Adjusted EBITDA should be considered only as supplements to net income (loss) as measures of the Company's performance and should not be used as substitutes for net income (loss), as measures of its results of operations or liquidity or as an indications of funds available to meet its cash needs, including its ability to make distributions to its stockholders.

For periods in 2018, Core EBITDAre and Core Adjusted EBITDA are used as supplemental performance measures because they reflect results of the portion of the business of the Company retained following completion of the strategic growth plan.

A reconciliation of net income (loss) to EBITDAre and Adjusted EBITDA on a consolidated, Core and non-Core basis is presented below (unaudited and in thousands):




                                                          
     
        Three Months Ended

                                                                                                       ---

                                        December 31, 2019                           September 30, 2019     
     
        December 31, 2018



                                               Total                                       Total                    Core            Non-Core             Total



                  EBITDAre and Adjusted
                   EBITDA


     Net income (loss)                                       $
      (6,102)                                       $
        6,588                   $
      10,474        $
        (4,072)  $
       6,402


     Equity in net loss of
      unconsolidated entity                                          481                                                317


     Interest income                                                 (8)                                              (22)                        (58)                            (58)


     Interest expense                                              6,264                                              6,724                        6,050                            6,050


     Tax expense (benefit)
      of taxable REIT
      subsidiaries                                                 (816)                                               369                           38                (161)       (123)


     Depreciation and
      amortization                                                45,161                                             42,875                       38,259                           38,259


     Gain on disposition of
      depreciated property                                                                                                                                           (135)       (135)


     Impairments of
      depreciated property                                        13,957                                                                                              1,423        1,423


     Pro rata share of
      EBITDAre from
      unconsolidated entity                                          830                                                867



                  EBITDAre (1)                                $
      59,767                                       $
        57,718                   $
      54,763        $
        (2,945) $
       51,818





     Debt restructuring
      costs                                                        1,523                                                                            605                              605


     Equity-based
      compensation expense                                         4,360                                              4,456                        3,531                            3,531


     Restructuring costs                                                                                                                           138                2,820        2,958


     Transaction and
      integration costs                                              649                                                827                          269                              269



                  Adjusted EBITDA                             $
      66,299                                       $
        63,001                   $
      59,306          $
        (125) $
       59,181


     __________________________________



     (1)              EBITDAre for the three months ended December 31, 2019 includes a $1.4 million
                         gain on sale of real estate related to certain assets considered incidental to
                         our primary business and were included in the "Gain on sale of real estate, net"
                         line item of the consolidated statement of operations. No gains, losses or
                         impairment write-downs associated with assets incidental to our primary
                         business were included in EBITDAre during the three months ended September 30,
                         2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.




                                                         
     
         Year Ended

                                                                                      ---

                                        December 31, 2019                      
        
         December 31, 2018



                                               Total                             Core                          Non-Core  Total



                  EBITDAre and Adjusted
                   EBITDA


     Net income (loss)                                        $
            29,169                              $
        28,530       $
         (35,705) $
        (7,175)


     Equity in net loss of
      unconsolidated entity                                              1,473


     Interest income                                                     (111)                                    (150)                              (150)


     Interest expense                                                   26,593                                    28,736                    13         28,749


     Tax benefit of taxable
      REIT subsidiaries                                                   (37)                                    (960)              (2,408)       (3,368)


     Depreciation and
      amortization                                                     168,305                                   143,525                 6,366        149,891


     (Gain) loss on
      disposition of
      depreciated property                                            (13,408)                                                         6,994          6,994


     Impairments of
      depreciated property                                              13,957                                                          8,842          8,842


     Pro rata share of
      EBITDAre from
      unconsolidated entity                                              2,775



                  EBITDAre (1)                               $
            228,716                             $
        199,681       $
         (15,898) $
        183,783





     Debt restructuring
      costs                                                              1,523                                       605                                 605


     Equity-based
      compensation expense                                              16,412                                    14,972                              14,972


     Restructuring costs                                                                                            138                21,969         22,107


     Transaction and
      integration costs                                                  3,729                                     2,743                               2,743



                  Adjusted EBITDA                            $
            250,380                             $
        218,139          $
         6,071  $
        224,210


     __________________________________



     (1)              EBITDAre for the year ended December 31, 2019 includes a $1.4 million gain on
                         sale of real estate related to certain assets considered incidental to our
                         primary business and were included in the "Gain on sale of real estate, net"
                         line item of the consolidated statement of operations. No gains, losses or
                         impairment write-downs associated with assets incidental to our primary
                         business were included in EBITDAre for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Net Operating Income (NOI)

The Company calculates net operating income ("NOI") as net income (loss) (computed in accordance with GAAP), excluding: interest expense, interest income, tax expense (benefit) of taxable REIT subsidiaries, depreciation and amortization, write off of unamortized deferred financing costs, other (income) expense, debt restructuring costs, transaction and integration costs, gain (loss) on sale of real estate, restructuring costs, general and administrative expenses and similar adjustments for unconsolidated entities. The Company allocates a management fee charge of 4% of cash revenues for all facilities as a property operating cost and a corresponding reduction to general and administrative expense to cover the day-to-day administrative costs to operate our data centers. The management fee charge is reflected as a reduction to net operating income.

Management uses NOI as a supplemental performance measure because it provides a useful measure of the operating results from its customer leases. In addition, management believes it is useful to investors in evaluating and comparing the operating performance of its properties and to compute the fair value of its properties. The Company's NOI may not be comparable to other REITs' NOI as other REITs may not calculate NOI in the same manner. NOI should be considered only as a supplement to net income as a measure of the Company's performance and should not be used as a measure of results of operations or liquidity or as an indication of funds available to meet cash needs, including the ability to make distributions to stockholders. NOI is a measure of the operating performance of the Company's properties and not of the Company's performance as a whole. NOI is therefore not a substitute for net income (loss) as computed in accordance with GAAP.

For periods in 2018, Core NOI is used as a supplemental performance measure because it reflects results of the portion of the business the Company retained following completion of the strategic growth plan.

A reconciliation of net income (loss) to NOI on a consolidated, Core and non-Core basis is presented below (unaudited and in thousands):




                                                                
     
        Three Months Ended

                                                                                                             ---

                                              December 31, 2019                           September 30, 2019     
     
        December 31, 2018



                                                     Total                                       Total                    Core            Non-Core             Total



                   Net Operating Income (NOI)


      Net income (loss)                                            $
      (6,102)                                       $
        6,588                   $
      10,474        $
        (4,072)  $
      6,402


      Equity in net loss of
       unconsolidated entity                                               481                                                317



     Interest income                                                      (8)                                              (22)                        (58)                           (58)


      Interest expense                                                   6,264                                              6,724                        6,050                           6,050


      Depreciation and
       amortization                                                     45,161                                             42,875                       38,259                          38,259


      Debt restructuring costs                                           1,523                                                                            605                             605


      Other (income) expense                                               380                                              (370)


      Tax expense (benefit) of
       taxable REIT subsidiaries                                         (816)                                               369                           38                (161)      (123)


      Transaction, integration
       and impairment costs                                             14,606                                                827                          269                             269


      General and administrative
       expenses                                                         20,866                                             19,504                       17,551                  118      17,669


      Gain on sale of real
       estate, net                                                     (1,361)



     Restructuring                                                                                                                                      138                4,108       4,246



                   NOI from consolidated
                    operations (1)                                  $
      80,994                                       $
        76,812                   $
      73,326          $
          (7) $
      73,319



      Pro rata share of NOI from
       unconsolidated entity                                               841                                                872



                   Total NOI (1)                                    $
      81,835                                       $
        77,684                   $
      73,326          $
          (7) $
      73,319


     __________________________________



     (1)              Includes facility level general and administrative allocation charges of 4% of
                         cash revenue for all facilities. These allocated charges aggregated to $4.7
                         million, $4.8 million and $5.1 million for the three months ended December 31,
                         2019, September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.




                                                               
     
         Year Ended

                                                                                             ---

                                              December 31, 2019                       
        
         December 31, 2018



                                                     Total                              Core                          Non-Core  Total



                   Net Operating Income (NOI)


      Net income (loss)                                             $
             29,169                              $
        28,530       $
        (35,705) $
        (7,175)


      Equity in net loss of
       unconsolidated entity                                                    1,473



     Interest income                                                           (111)                                    (150)                             (150)


      Interest expense                                                         26,593                                    28,736                   13         28,749


      Depreciation and
       amortization                                                           168,305                                   143,525                6,366        149,891


      Debt restructuring costs                                                  1,523                                       605                                605



     Other expense                                                                50


      Tax benefit of taxable
       REIT subsidiaries                                                         (37)                                    (960)             (2,408)       (3,368)


      Transaction, integration
       and impairment costs                                                    17,686                                     2,743                              2,743


      General and administrative
       expenses                                                                80,385                                    71,401                9,456         80,857


      Gain on sale of real
       estate, net                                                           (14,769)



     Restructuring                                                                                                        138               37,805         37,943



                   NOI from consolidated
                    operations (1)                                 $
             310,267                             $
        274,568         $
        15,527  $
        290,095



      Pro rata share of NOI from
       unconsolidated entity                                                    2,789



                   Total NOI (1)                                   $
             313,056                             $
        274,568         $
        15,527  $
        290,095


     __________________________________



     (1)              Includes facility level general and administrative allocation charges of 4% of
                         cash revenue for all facilities. These allocated charges aggregated to $18.6
                         million and $18.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018,
                         respectively.

Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) and Recognized MRR

The Company calculates MRR as monthly contractual revenue under signed leases as of a particular date, which includes revenue from its rental and managed services activities, but excludes customer recoveries, deferred set-up fees, variable related revenues, non-cash revenues and other one-time revenues. MRR is also calculated to include the Company's pro rata share of monthly contractual revenue under signed leases as of a particular date associated with unconsolidated entities, which includes revenue from the unconsolidated entity's rental and managed services activities, but excludes the unconsolidated entity's customer recoveries, deferred set-up fees, variable related revenues, non-cash revenues and other one-time revenues. MRR reflects the annualized cash rental payments. It does not include the impact from booked-not-billed leases as of a particular date, unless otherwise specifically noted.

Separately, the Company calculates recognized MRR as the recurring revenue recognized during a given period, which includes revenue from its rental and managed services activities, but excludes customer recoveries, deferred set up fees, variable related revenues, non-cash revenues and other one-time revenues.

Management uses MRR and recognized MRR as supplemental performance measures because they provide useful measures of increases in contractual revenue from the Company's customer leases and customer leases attributable to the Company's business. MRR and recognized MRR should not be viewed by investors as alternatives to actual monthly revenue, as determined in accordance with GAAP. Other companies may not calculate MRR or recognized MRR in the same manner. Accordingly, the Company's MRR and recognized MRR may not be comparable to other companies' MRR and recognized MRR. MRR and recognized MRR should be considered only as supplements to total revenues as a measure of its performance. MRR and recognized MRR should not be used as measures of the Company's results of operations or liquidity, nor is it indicative of funds available to meet its cash needs, including its ability to make distributions to its stockholders.

For periods in 2018, Core Recognized MRR and Core MRR are used as supplemental performance measures because they reflect results of the portion of the business the Company retained following completion of the strategic growth plan.

A reconciliation of total revenues to recognized MRR in the period and MRR at period-end on a consolidated, Core and non-Core basis is presented below (unaudited and in thousands):




                                                          
     
         Three Months Ended

                                                                                                        ---

                                        December 31, 2019                            September 30, 2019     
     
         December 31, 2018



                                               Total                                        Total                    Core             Non-Core                Total



                  Recognized MRR in the
                   period


     Total period revenues
      (GAAP basis)                                            $
       123,707                                      $
        125,255                  $
         112,334           $
           3 $
          112,337


     Less: Total period
      variable lease
      revenue from
      recoveries                                                  (14,018)                                          (17,563)                       (11,629)                           (11,629)


     Total period deferred
      setup fees                                                   (4,062)                                           (4,041)                        (3,104)                            (3,104)


     Total period straight
      line rent and other                                          (5,156)                                           (4,768)                        (4,465)                (34)        (4,499)



                  Recognized MRR in the
                   period                                          100,471                                             98,883                          93,136                 (31)         93,105





                  MRR at period end


     Total period revenues
      (GAAP basis)                                            $
       123,707                                      $
        125,255                  $
         112,334           $
           3 $
          112,337


     Less: Total revenues
      excluding last month                                        (81,699)                                          (81,114)                       (73,852)                 (2)       (73,854)



     Total revenues for
      last month of period                                          42,008                                             44,141                          38,482                    1          38,483


     Less: Last month
      variable lease
      revenue from
      recoveries                                                   (4,578)                                           (6,369)                        (3,822)                            (3,822)


     Last month deferred
      setup fees                                                   (1,333)                                           (1,684)                        (1,015)                            (1,015)


     Last month straight
      line rent and other                                          (2,413)                                           (3,452)                        (2,504)                 (1)        (2,505)


     Add: Pro rata share of
      MRR at period end of
      unconsolidated entity                                            350                                                343



                  MRR at period end                            $
       34,034                                       $
        32,979                   $
         31,141       
     $            $
          31,141




                                                         
     
         Year Ended

                                                                                       ---

                                        December 31, 2019                       
        
         December 31, 2018



                                               Total                              Core                           Non-Core    Total



                  Recognized MRR in the
                   period


     Total period revenues
      (GAAP basis)                                           $
             480,818                             $
         422,786           $
         27,738 $
          450,524


     Less: Total period
      variable lease
      revenue from
      recoveries                                                       (55,046)                                  (45,386)                              (45,386)


     Total period deferred
      setup fees                                                       (15,156)                                  (12,239)                  (236)       (12,475)


     Total period straight
      line rent and other                                              (20,349)                                  (12,087)                (5,061)       (17,148)



                  Recognized MRR in the
                   period                                               390,267                                    353,074                  22,441         375,515





                  MRR at period end


     Total period revenues
      (GAAP basis)                                           $
             480,818                             $
         422,786           $
         27,738 $
          450,524


     Less: Total revenues
      excluding last month                                            (438,810)                                 (384,304)               (27,737)      (412,041)



     Total revenues for
      last month of period                                               42,008                                     38,482                       1          38,483


     Less: Last month
      variable lease
      revenue from
      recoveries                                                        (4,578)                                   (3,822)                               (3,822)


     Last month deferred
      setup fees                                                        (1,333)                                   (1,015)                               (1,015)


     Last month straight
      line rent and other                                               (2,413)                                   (2,504)                    (1)        (2,505)


     Add: Pro rata share of
      MRR at period end of
      unconsolidated entity                                                 350



                  MRR at period end                           $
             34,034                              $
         31,141 
           $               $
          31,141

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/qts-reports-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-2019-operating-results-301006996.html

SOURCE QTS Realty Trust, Inc.