Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance(REFI) - 2025 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company's net interest income for Q1 2025 was $13 million, a 7.3% decrease from$ 14.1 million in Q4 2024, primarily due to a decrease in non-recurring fees and the impact of a 50 basis point decrease in the prime rate [14][18] - The loan portfolio principal totaled $407 million across 30 portfolio companies, with a weighted average yield to maturity of 16.9%, down from 17.2% in the previous quarter [10][11] - Total leverage was 28% of book equity as of March 31, compared to 34% at the end of 2024 [11] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Gross originations during the quarter were$ 4.4 million, with $500,000 funded to new borrowers and$ 3.9 million to existing borrowers on delayed draw, offset by sales and repayments of $9.2 million [10] - The percentage of fixed-rate loans and floating-rate loans with floors at or above the prevailing prime rate was 71.2% [10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The cannabis pipeline across the Chicago Intake platform stands at$ 462 million, with expectations for deployments to accelerate in Q2 and Q3 [8][21] - The company remains the third top-performing exchange-listed mortgage REIT, outperforming the median and average total return for all exchange-listed mortgage REITs by approximately 51% and 55% respectively since inception [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to create a differentiated and low-levered risk-return profile insulated from cannabis equity volatility, focusing on credit and collateral first [6][8] - The management emphasizes a disciplined and patient approach to capital deployment, prioritizing credit protection and risk-adjusted returns [8] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the current operating environment is characterized by volatility in the cannabis equity markets, which affects capital providers [6] - The company is optimistic about net portfolio growth in 2025, with significant maturities expected and a focus on refinancing strong-performing assets [30][42] Other Important Information - The company raised approximately $1 million in net proceeds from the issuance of common stock through its ATM program, with a weighted average selling price representing a premium to book value [18] - The CECL reserve on loans held for investment decreased to approximately$ 3.3 million from $4.4 million, primarily due to the reversal of reserves related to loan number nine [15][16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide details on the near-term pipeline of$ 462 million? - Management indicated that the pipeline is generally related to CapEx and expects deployments to accelerate in Q2 and Q3 [21][22] Question: How are pricing assumptions being adjusted in underwriting? - Management noted that pricing in the industry is evolving, with downward price compression observed in various states, including Massachusetts [24][26] Question: What visibility do you have into repayments and net portfolio growth? - Management aims for net portfolio growth in 2025, with a focus on refinancing strong-performing assets [30][42] Question: How would rescheduling impact the business? - Management believes rescheduling would significantly increase after-tax free cash flow for borrowers, enhancing downside protection and supporting growth [33] Question: What are the unfunded commitments at the end of the quarter? - The company has approximately $19.8 million in unfunded commitments, which are contingent on meeting certain conditions [44] Question: How does the allocation process for funding opportunities work? - Management explained that all opportunities are given equal consideration across funds, but specific allocations depend on eligibility and diversification requirements [50]